Home Business The Easy Way - DAn Update http://www.blogmoneymiracle.com en-us EasyRSS
By Dan

If you are reading this, perhaps you are lazy when it comes to your online business. Alternatively, maybe you are not lazy; you just have a life and cannot commit yourself to your online business 24/7, or every free second you have. Whatever the case, time is not on your side, when it comes to working with your online business.

I will cut to the chase. One strategy is to place a link to your site in your signature in an online forum. I use this a lot. Much of my free time is spent online, lurking through message boards. Do not blatantly post on random forums in an attempt to advertise; this is considered spamming, and will probably get you banned from the forum. It will ruin your credibility and reputation with that group of people, and so you can kiss those potential prospects and sales good-bye. Whatever your business is about, there is a forum on the internet regarding it. I guarantee it. If your business is about internet marketing, then focus on forums about internet marketing. If your business is about online auctions, focus on forums that are about online auctions. You get the idea.

However, if you want to be daring, try advertising your MLM business in, say a video game forum, but good luck, you will need it. I have tried putting a link to my site in forums of my interests and expertise, but had nothing to do with business, without much luck. Make sure the forum allows you to advertise your site in your signature, first. Now post away, making sure you contribute to the nature of the board. This is critical, as you will appear to be an expert in whatever field you are in, and people browsing through will be more inclined to click the link to your site in your signature. That and every post you make creates a back link to your site, which is critical for search engine optimization.

Perhaps forum posting is not for you. Maybe you are a newbie, and would not be welcomed in internet forums, (people on some internet forums can be extremely vicious, and I have been on forums for too long to know that).

Another strategy you can use is to write articles! Many articles you read online are written by everyday, run of the mill, normal people. If you were smart enough to find this article, then you are smart enough to write a short article about any feature in online business. You do not have to write some 50-page essay or anything. When people look up information on the internet, they want it short, sweet, and to the point. Who has time to read some giant essay, when all they want is information about starting an online business? A good count range would be around 400-500 words, give or take. There are tons of article directories online where you can submit your articles. Just look up "article submission" on Google and see the hundreds of directories listed. You can get your own blog, and post your articles on it, as well.

I do all of the above and I am lazy as heck. A guru about online business is the last thing I am, and this took less than half an hour to write, so you should have no problem with article writing and blogging.

There are many, many other ways to promote your site for free and with little effort, but you know what? I am too lazy to list them all here. Assuming you actually read everything up to this point, you are more than intelligent enough to find your own ways of advertising. Just remember to work smarter, not harder, and in time your goal will be attained.

Visit Dan's site to find the best rated home based business opportunities so you can earn residual income (http://www.ez-online-money.com/).

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
When working with internet marketing and making websites designed to generate affiliate commission, it is sometimes difficult to find new niches to make websites about. Trying to find a niche with competitive commissions, but without the following fierce competition is, of course, difficult-- but it is not at all impossible.

One popular way of making money online is by using small websites designed only with AdSense – or any other contextual advertisement – in mind. These sites – often referred to as mini- or micro-sites - are made to target unusual search phrases, often in highly competitive niches. This way, they can reach fairly high search engine rankings without too much work. The terms targeted will not bring many visitors, but the traffic it does bring will be highly targeted, thus converting well.

When using contextual ads – as with any form of paid-per-click programs – the main objective is to make visitors click the ads, they do not necessarily have to end up buying anything. That’s for the webmaster buying the clicks to worry about.

When working with pay-per-sale affiliate programs, one needs to take a different approach. Most affiliate programs operate by a pay-per-sale model, making it essential to send good traffic their way, i.e. visitors who will actually buy the products promoted.

Compared to a PPC model, this sure is far more work, but the upside is huge. Working in a similar way as with contextual ad websites, you can easily target odd search terms in highly profitable niches, thus receiving search engine visitors of good quality. You might not get that many visitors, but if you are working with the right keywords, many of them will be searching for exactly what you are offering.

There are a lot of online tools to aid you when looking for a niche with good potential revenue, but a fast and easy way to get a grasp of a niche is to do a few searches on google. Looking at the number of results for any given search term will give you an idea of the competition. Mostly this is closely related to the potential profit, as more money naturally attracts more competitors.

Click a few of the sponsored ads, to see what landing pages people are using when buying traffic on that keyword. Remember people are paying to have a visitor see these landing pages, so in most cases they are very well-converting, making them excellent to study before you make a website in the same niche.

To fully take advantage of the visitors you send to an affiliate program, you should find a program offering residual commission. This way, you will not only get a commission on the first sale, but get a commission of all future sales to this customer. In a way, it’s your customer.

Considering the limited amount of visitors expected, another important factor to consider before joining an affiliate program is their promotional material. Are you looking for text links only, or are you looking for graphics for banner advertising on your page? If you can find an affiliate program in your niche, offering affiliate links to specific products rather than the main page, it will make it much easier to better target your audience. If you are getting visitors using the same search term, it’s not hard to find a specific product to present them with.

Many websites offer free stuff and/or an initial discount when a new customer joins them. Make sure you are using all the promotions available to you when you join and promote your affiliate program - preferably found at http://www.affiliateranker.com/directory

Theo Swan - Writing about affiliate marketing and how to make your website stand out. Read more about converting traffic, or find a new program, at http://www.affiliateranker.com]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
by Robert Boduch

Postcards can be valuable marketing tools for any business. Here are a few ideas that will help you get the most from your own postcard marketing campaign.

The magic of these eye-catchers is that they deliver short, concise messages in the minimum amount of time -- perfect for the "time-poor" society we live in today. They get the important information across rapidly, with a quick and easy flip of the wrist.

You can take your idea from concept to distribution within just days. Since they can be produced in any quantity to suit any budget, postcards are great for businesses of all sizes. You could save a bundle on your marketing expenses by utilizing these simple two-sided pieces, instead of other more costly tools.

Currently - at least in the U.S. - postage costs are considerably lower for postcards vs. first-class mail. Unfortunately, this advantage is not available to marketers in other countries such as Canada. Full rates apply. Even still ... these attention-grabbers offer tremendous marketing opportunities to entrepreneurs and small business owners -- at any rate.

Postcards are most effective and profitable when used to:

* generate new leads
* follow-up with prospects as part of a campaign
* make an announcement to your existing mailing list
* thank customers for their patronage and invite them back with a special offer
* draw traffic to your Website

The key to success is to deliver instant impact. You've got to make your piece command immediate attention in your prospect's crowded mailbox. Catch the eye ... pique curiosity ... and unload your magnetic marketing message as quickly as possible.

Every card has two sides -- a front and back. Use the front side as leverage with maximum appeal to compel your prospect to flip the card over and get the full impact of your complete message.

Use the back of the card to unveil all the key benefits of your product or service... provide an strong offer to trigger action... and list prominently your contact information. You've got to make it lightening quick and unquestionably easy to respond. Eliminate any obstacles that might be in the way to getting the results you want.

As with any type of advertising, be sure to include a powerful headline. Your headline is key. It's the most important part of your postcard and should be featured prominently on the front side.

When you're sure you've got a headline that works, try enhancing it visually to make it figuratively jump off the card. One method is to use reverse-type (white text on a dark-colored background). Always use a larger font size, preferably in a bold typeface. Make it clear and unmistakable ... so prospects are sure to understand the message.

Consider employing graphic options such as cartoons only if they assist you in getting your message across. Use topnotch color photographs (like popular tourist postcards) when you can clearly tie the visual to the message in your headline.

The text of your postcard should be benefit-laden. Communicate to your prospect in clear, vivid detail all the advantages that s/he will enjoy by taking advantage of your offer TODAY. Stress the unique benefits unavailable elsewhere.

Include a few testimonials -- even if you have to shoehorn them in. Actually, this can be extremely effective as the eye is naturally drawn to anything on the page that is a little out of the ordinary.

Testimonials act as proof of your claims and help build your credibility as a reliable supplier. They also help overcome the fear many people have in trusting a vendor they haven't done business with before.

One absolutely essential ingredient of successful postcards is the offer. It must be promising and compelling. Give the reader an incentive to act now. Be clear and specific. Make responding a simple, one-step process.

If your postcard is sent as a "thank-you" to new customers after their first purchase, entice them back with a 17% discount on the next purchase. This approach transforms your postcard into a valuable coupon that's worth something in terms of redeemable value. Since recipients have already bought from you, most would be happy to do it again at a substantial discount.

The mission of your postcard is to inspire a positive response. Always keep that objective clear in your mind as you plan your strategy.

To maximize results, craft a targeted message and make it easy for recipients to take action. This means providing clearly legible contact information -- whether it's a telephone number, fax, mailing address, or Website.

Keep in mind that everyone has a preferred method - people like to respond in different ways.

Providing various response options eliminates another cause of inaction. The more of these objections you address, the more likely it is your postcard campaign will be a rousing success!

Interested in lauching your own profitable postcard campaign? Drop me a line right this minute and I'll help you get the results you want - guaranteed!

More resources at www.makeyoursalessoar.com

Robert Boduch is an author of dozens of best-selling books, reports and articles on the art and science of selling. A free newsletter targeted at anyone interested in selling more of anything is available at www.makeyoursalessoar.com .

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Michele Martel

The Home Business world has become very overwhelming. Trying to find the perfect fit for you is the hard part. Know your means before jumping in. Calculate your costs in the very beginning so you do not overpay or get in over your head. With so many work at home opportunities, do your homework.

Just do these few things in the very beginning:

-Know the product you are selling, inside and outside. By doing some research on your products, you will see how others with the same are advertising.

-Investigate your competitors frequently. Make sure you have the right 'up-to-date' information.

-Write a blog on your website. Search engines will pick this up and you will see better results with minimal advertising costs.

-Make sure all spelling is correct. By having something incorrectly written, your business will look cheap. You want everything to look professional.

-If you are paying for a website to be written, make sure you list in the correct category. This is the biggest problem today.

-Know your audience. Target your website toward the correct group.

Adwords are very helpful even if you do not use them. They offer superior tools for marketing your home business. Do not be afraid to ask questions, the more you ask, the better off you are. Make sure your merchant buttons send the customer to a secure website. If you are forwarding your customer to a thank you page, make sure all data is correct. Be courteous and polite. You will want them for a testimonial at a later date. The internet world is becoming larger by the day, if you want a piece of the pie, be smart. If you are leaning towards being an affiliate, this is a great way to test the waters without owning a website. Just a few things to think about

By Michele Martel, President of ELITE WEB ADS, Michele has written hundreds of articles for his clients. Writing your search engine submission is actually an art. Submit with ELITE WEB ADS TODAY http://www.elitewebads.com We also own the worlds oldest and most responsive safelist in the world http://www.homebusinesssafelist.com

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
by Charlie Cook
http://www.marketingforsuccess.com

========================================
Summary:
Want to hit your revenue numbers this year? Discover
which numbers to pay attention to.
========================================

Everyone wants to see growth in sales and net revenue. It's important for small business owners to set income goals and to watch sales results, but too much emphasis on these numbers can prevent you from reaching your goals.

Using your revenue figure to guide your marketing is like driving by looking in the rear view mirror the whole time. That number tells you where you've been. It doesn't tell you how to get where you want to go.

There are a couple of key numbers and ratios to keep in front of you that will help you get to your sales 'destination'.

Like an Iowa farmer growing soybeans, you've got to carefully plant seeds and nurture plants to maturity to ensure a good harvest and a good profit. The amount of seed you plant and the percentage that germinates and grows well determines your farm's profitability. The same is true in marketing and sales; the number of leads you generate and the number you convert to sales determine your income.

These are the two most important numbers to pay attention to in marketing. Use them to evaluate your marketing and determine how many sales you'll generate:

1. The number of qualified prospects in your database.

These are people who've told you they have a concern or problem you can help them with and who want to hear from you again.

2. Your prospect-to-client conversion rate.

The percentage of qualified prospects you convert to paying clients.

The math is simple; the more qualified prospects you have and the higher your conversion rates, the more revenue you'll generate.

Your sales will stay frozen at present levels if you focus on how much revenue you're making and ignore the importance of building your list of qualified prospects. You could double your business in the next few months by building your database of qualified prospects and improving your conversion rates.

Marketing Numbers

You don't need to be a math wiz to become an expert at marketing math. Pay attention to these numbers on a weekly basis;

- The number of people who saw your ads, read your articles or received your mailings.

- The percentage of these people that responded to your ad or article. It's not how many ads you run, but how many people pay attention to your ads that matters.

- The percentage of respondents that actually gave you their contact information and added themselves to your database. These are the people who have identified themselves as qualified prospects who are interested in learning more.

If you're marketing through your Website, it's incredibly simple to identify these numbers daily and weekly to track the success of your marketing. Here's how;

1. Look at the number of unique visitors to your Website daily or weekly.

2. Divide this number by the number of people who contacted you. This is your conversion rate of site visitors to qualified prospects. If your site is set up correctly, at least one out of ten people should be contacting you and adding themselves to your list of qualified prospects. If you use Google Ads to drive visitors to your site, you can send visitors to specific landing pages and increase your conversion rate to 20% or even 25%.

What should you expect from your Website? For every hundred unique visitors to your site per week, 10 to 25 should be sending you an E-mail requesting more information about your products and services. Each month, your list of qualified prospects and your sales should grow.

Before you finish this article, make a commitment to apply this simple marketing math to grow your business. Set a goal for your business. Look at how many qualified prospects your marketing is currently generating.

Write this number down, then put a diagonal line across it and next to it write down the number of qualified prospects you want to add to your database each week.

I've been doing this little exercise for two years with my current Website. My goals for acquiring qualified prospects get larger each month as my business grows. My latest goal is 500 new prospects per week. This translates into 6 to 7 percent more business each month. With a little planning, you can see your business grow just as fast.

2006 © In Mind Communications, LLC. All rights reserved.

The author, Charlie Cook, helps service professionals, small business owners and marketing professionals attract more clients and be more successful. Sign up
to receive the Free Marketing Strategy eBook, '7 Steps to get more clients and grow your business' at http://http://www.marketingforsuccess.com.]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
by Chiun Masters

It's the 21st century, and you're already aware of the rapid changes and development that your industry is going through, almost on a daily basis. It's becoming more and more competitive, and you need to grab every advantage that you can possibly get over your competitors.

The Internet seems like a good way to reach out to more customers and close bigger sales, but how would your small company stack up against the hundreds, or even thousands of companies selling products and services similar to yours online?

If you want to grab yourself a piece of real estate on the Web, you basically start by creating your company's Website. Your Website serves as your company headquarters, in a virtual sense, and just like in the real world, it is where your potential customers go to visit and learn more about your company and what it has to offer.

It's also commonplace for businesses to closely monitor their competitors' Websites, to see what they're up to and to learn anything they can.

In short, it's all about information. The Internet isn't called the "Information Superhighway" for nothing, you know.

But, having a company Website is one thing; promoting your business and marketing your products and/or services is a whole different matter. People need to know that your company is on the Internet; otherwise your Website would be pretty useless. Even so, you need to remember that almost everyone, from billion-dollar Fortune 500 conglomerates down to a tiny florist in Idaho, is bent on making its presence felt on the Web.

So -- how can a small company like yours compete?

One of the most widely-used and most effective methods that Webmasters and Net-savvy businessmen use is link-building. Used effectively, it can be one of the single best techniques you can have for getting people to your Website, and thus promoting your company's products and/or services.

First, it's important to know that 85% of the people looking for a particular type of business look for it using a search engine like Yahoo!, MSN and Google. It's like the equivalent of a phone directory. And -- those people usually don't bother looking for companies beyond the first three to four pages of the search results. That's why it is most critical for a company to be listed in the first few pages following a keyword search.

Because major search engines now consider link quality and link popularity as part of their ranking algorithms, link building has become more critical than ever. Simply put, if you don't have links, you won't rank well for competitive keywords.

Links are one of the most useful, and therefore one of the most important ways, for visitors and potential customers to find your site. With quality and efficient link building, the search engines can find your company faster and rank you higher on their search results, so people can find you easier.

It's all about getting traffic to your Website. By traffic, I mean people.

If a Website is new and needs immediate traffic, they can get advertising with one of the three biggest search engines, Google, Yahoo! or MSN. Each search engine offers a unique program in which Websites appear in search results for specific keywords. This is the fastest way to get immediate traffic.

But, just getting advertising on these search engines won't be enough to get you the results you need. If you're serious about getting the most out of link building, it's recommended that you find a good, reliable SEO or link building company to handle these jobs for you. These companies already have the experience and the expertise to produce quality links for your Website, and some of them also provide advertising for the major search engines as part of their package, so you'll be getting the most out of your money.

Another good reason to outsource this part of your online business is the savings. Companies routinely outsource payroll processing, accounting, sales and marketing tasks -- just to name a few -- in order to cut costs. Outsourcing converts fixed costs into variable costs, releases capital for investment elsewhere in your business, and allows you to avoid large expenditures in the early stages of your business.

Aside from reducing labour and training costs, companies can also get new projects started faster with outsourcing. Experienced businessmen already know that companies who do everything themselves -- research, marketing, manufacturing, distribution -- have higher expenses, all of which have to be passed on the customers.

To sum it up, link building is one of the better and more reliable methods of getting traffic to your Website. However, more traffic doesn't necessarily mean more sales. It all depends on the quality of the links you have. Outsourcing link building jobs to reputable and experienced companies will help your company get permanent, legitimate and relevant links for your targeted traffic, and will also help your site achieve higher search engine rankings.

All this for a fraction of the cost it will take for your company to handle the job on its own, plus the obvious benefits of having knowledge and expertise on the job. If you're serious about putting your smaller company on a more even stage with the big guys, this is one great way to go.

Chiun Masters is a contributing writer and researcher for MaxWeb, www.HelpWeNeedGifts.com, and other assorted Websites. He loves searching the Net for unusual gifts, aside from spending time with his other interests such as blogging and lurking around in forums.

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Jenn Richards

If you are looking to make money online, or to make more money via the net, it is important to make sure you are getting the highest possible amount from every sale you send. The payment variations between the programs you choose can mean the difference between a successful online marketing career, and a frustrating waste of time and effort.

The differences in affiliate programs' payouts can be immense. Some will pay a tiny percentage and will not credit you with further sales. Others pay commissions in the hundreds of dollars for a single sale, and credit you with any further purchases from the customers you send to them. Generating quality traffic is not easy, so why push those hard-earned visitors towards sponsors who will only pay you a few dollars per sale.

Contrary to the old business cliché, in internet marketing, "what you know" is very important indeed. Finding the amazing opportunities is not easy. It is a competitive market. When marketers strike a golden niche, they are going to keep quiet about it. So how do you find the high paying niche products? You can check industry forums, hoping for a generous soul to give up the goods, but it is not likely to happen. The good news is there are affiliate membership sites designed to inform you on the latest, most profitable opportunities. Successful affiliate marketing is dependant on three factors:

1. The market potential - The size of the market, the competition, and the quality of the offering
2. The profit potential - What is the cost per sale? What is your commission?
3. The support you receive to promote the product.

A site addresses these factors head on. A team of e-commerce professionals guide affiliate marketers towards some of the most profitable products to promote on the net. It has produced www.MakingYouRicher.com (MYR). MYR Membership comes with a guide to create sites that sell, and how to profit from just about any niche. The members' area updates with highly profitable offerings, as they find them, and they supply all the tools required to start.

The products they find can pay as much as $175 for a single sale, and with free website templates and professionally written content, you do not need to be an expert in the niche to get started. MYR's reputation is impressive, with some of their members making up to US $80k per month in commission.

If you are interested in learning more about affiliate marketing, or are experienced, but looking for something extra, visit their site today - www.makingyouricher.com

Visit www.MoreNiche.com or
Email MN at support@moreniche.com for more info.

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
When you are beginning your internet network marketing business, it is likely that you will be on a shoestring budget. One of the first things that you need to do with internet marketing is to build your own list. This list will be comprised of targeted prospects that are interested in the niche market that your business focuses on.

Participating in forums is an excellent way to quickly begin generating targeted traffic. Responsible and targeted forum marketing can help you do this. You need to find forums related to your niche market. Posting frequently and answering members' questions is the first forum marketing tip. Put your unique selling proposition in your signature with a link to your website. If people like what you have to say, they will visit your website. This article discusses six forum marketing tips to help you build that targeted list.

Forums are online communities where members interact with each other through posts. A distinguishing characteristic of a forum is its specificity. Forum threads are very topic-specific. These threads discuss one topic only.

Here are six forum marketing tips to help you generate ongoing targeted traffic.

1. Determine your expertise and find appropriate forums that you can join. Look for active forums that have topics related to your business or expertise. Create new threads there, offer your knowledge, and help others--frequently. This will build your integrity and expertise.

2. Create a linked signature and include it at the end of your posts. Do not use an affiliate link.. You can use this to sign your posts. This signature must lead to your web site. The traffic you generate from it is very highly targeted.

3. Manage your forum affiliations. Do not try to post replies or threads in every forum. Find five to seven forums where you will become active and then ramp up so you make at least five forum posts daily.

4. Create interesting threads on the latest 'hot' topics. You will see that a lot of people are talking about a certain problem and are trying to find the right solutions for it. You can create a thread which offers your solution in a step-by-step format. This will continue to build your integrity and expertise.

5. Reply to existing topics with quality answers. Look for questions which people post because they want to know more information about it. Reply to the topic with a quality answer. If you do this often, people will look to you as an expert and will start to respect your opinions. They will then enter your prospecting funnel to get more information from you because they trust you.

6. Use a system to save and track your forums and posts such as Forum Fortunes, which saves a lot of time because it saves and tracks all of your posts and forums.

Following these forum marketing tips will help you establish yourself as an expert, develop trust and build relationships. Many people will contact and join you because of the information, help and assistance you continue to provide.

Jon Roussel is a successful internet marketer in Beverly, MA. He helps people succeed with a home-based business that will generate a long-term reliable leveraged residual income. Learn more at http://www.jonroussel.ws, Jon Roussel's Website.]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By David Reske

Remember the days when it seemed as if every Web site began with a home page that featured some sort of animated flash, with the “skip intro” link as a way out? With all due respect to some highly creative interactive Web designers, today’s Web sites need to be highly focused, content-rich, and finely tuned in order to achieve maximum impact, visibility, and usability. In my own experience working with our clients at Nowspeed Marketing, we have found that most companies can take their existing corporate Web site and optimize it for effective lead generation.

Below are five best-practice tips you can use to help turn your Web site in to a lean, mean, lead generation machine.

Tip #1: See your Web site through the eyes of the visitor

Visitors to your Web site want to understand immediately who you are, what you do, and, most of all, what you can do for them. They want clear, logical paths for navigating through the site to get more information. This means you must design content and offers that speak directly to different target audiences, in terms of their demographics and job functions, and that also work well across the buying cycle (“tryers” vs. “buyers”.) Start with your home page, but don’t stop there. Make your interior pages content-rich and offer-specific as well.

Tip #2: Keep it clean, clear and concise

A common mistake is to put so much information and so many links on the home page or interior pages, that they quickly become cluttered. Think of the page in terms of valuable, limited real estate. Utilize it wisely. For the home page, include a SEO-optimized description of who you are and what you do. Provide short blocks of text and clear click-through paths for different types of visitors (customers/prospects/info seekers). Place high-performing, relevant offers where the eye can see them without much effort. Whenever you can, avoid making the user scroll down the page.

Tip #3: Balance search with simplicity

Optimizing your site for organic search is critical. Jupiter Research estimates that organic indexes generate 87% of commercial referrals from search engines. However, you need to weigh the benefits of high keyword placement with simplicity and usability from the visitor’s perspective. Don’t go SEO-overboard. Our advice is to SEO-optimize your copy and tags around keywords that have the following characteristics: high traffic, low competition, and are a good fit with your business. For example, the keyword phrase “B2b lead generation agency” works better for our marketing agency than “interactive agency.” Keep copy targeted around these parameters. You will not only connect well with your audience, but you will also rank high in organic search.

Tip #4: Evaluate traffic patterns for best offer and content placement

Use a Web analytics tool to see where people are clicking through from your home page, and which interior pages are receiving the most click-throughs and/or longest retention. Then, place your best offers there. You may be surprised to find that what you think is important, such company news links on the home page, is in reality a low traffic area. If that is the case, consider replacing that link with one to a page that is more relevant. Or, if your “About Us” page is getting a lot of traffic, place more links and offers on that page to encourage them to explore other areas of your site and request information.

Tip #5: Test, update, and fine-tune

Once you’ve got a solid, lead-based architecture in place, monitor visitor behavior and fine-tune various elements of the site until it is performing at the highest possible level of effectiveness. Utilize Web analytics to perform offer and message testing. Remember that, like content, offers can become outdated fairly quickly. As their popularity begins to wane, refresh your site with new offers.

David Reske
Partner and CEO
Nowspeed Marketing (http://www.nowspeed.com)

In 2003 Dave Reske co-founded Nowspeed Marketing, a direct marketing firm that delivers world-class lead generation solutions for leading business-to-business marketers in the U.S.

Before founding Nowspeed, David was founder and CEO of Onward Technologies, a web marketing and systems integration firm, where he led the company to significant growth. Founded in 1994, Onward Technologies was an early provider of Internet marketing and business-critical web-based applications for Fortune 500 companies.

As CEO of Onward Technologies, Dave provided highly successful Internet, intranet and communications solutions for hundreds of business clients. In 1998, Onward Technologies was acquired by CSC Consulting Group, a division of CSC Corporation that provides information technology consulting services to commercial and government markets. Dave served as Senior Partner at CSC Consulting until 1999.

Dave is a veteran industry speaker at Internet and e-commerce conferences nationwide. Now his leadership, vision and expertise are enabling Nowspeed Marketing clients to lower their marketing costs and increase response rates through innovative online direct marketing programs.
]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
Today, there are a lot of people who are interested in making money using their computer. How many? A simple Google search reveals nearly two and a half million results for the topic "make money online." Some of those results will no doubt offer some useful information, while others offer either scams or other sorts of "get rich quick" ideas. Still, the lure of working from home and making money on your own computer is appealing to many. While there are many different things that one can do in order to earn money on the Internet, one of the most popular, and perhaps the simplest, is to participate in affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing is a powerful advertising method where the seller of a product (the merchant) enlists the help of third parties (affiliates) in making sales. The merchant may offer products for sale via his or her Website, but he knows that if other people help promote and advertise the products it will yield more revenue. In exchange for third party help, the merchant offers the affiliates a portion of the sales price in exchange for the free advertising that the affiliates provide.

In the most common scenario, the affiliates advertise products via their own Websites or e-mail campaigns, and include a link that prospective customers may use to purchase the products described. That link includes code that tells the merchant which affiliate sent the customer so that the affiliate may receive his or her commission for the sale.

The beauty of affiliate marketing is that participants don't have to stock inventory, make sales directly or ship any merchandise. The sales process is entirely "hands off" as far as the affiliate is concerned, making the process much simpler than running any sort of retail operation.

Where can someone find products to sell as an affiliate? Here are three popular options:

Amazon.com - Amazon, the giant online retailer, has a popular program that lets their affiliates promote just about everything for sale on the site - books, DVDs, electronics, kitchen gadgets and more. The percentage of the sales price offered for each sale varies with the type of item sold, but many people like working with Amazon because a lot of "niche" products can be found there that have little competition elsewhere.

Clickbank.com - Clickbank bills itself as the "Internet's leading retailer of digital products." They only sell downloadable products, such as software and electronic books, or e-books. There are thousands of products available for sale at Clickbank that cover a wide variety of interests. Each of these products has an affiliate program, and many of them offer commissions of as much as 75% of the sales price to affiliates. It's easy to sign up and they pay twice a month like clockwork.

Commission Junction - Commission Junction at CJ.com, offers affiliate programs for more traditional sorts of products - loans, insurance, cars, electronics, and more. There are literally thousands of different companies that use CJ to enlist the help of affiliates to boost their sales. Commission Junction has the widest variety of products available for those who are interested in affiliate marketing.

The nice thing about making money in this type of marketing is that it is easy to get started. You can sign up for these programs for free and the cost of doing business is quite minimal when compared to retail sales. If you have any interest in making money online, affiliate marketing is a good way to get started without risking too much of your money or time.

©Copyright 2007 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a company specializing in sites devoted to making money online and affiliate marketing.]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Andy West

Are you ready to start making some serious cash? Sick and tired of trying online businesses that seem destined to fail from the start? Then it is time to look at setting up your own AdSense websites for profit. Many people fail to realize that making money online is very simple, if they know where to look. It is true that the money seems to trickle down on the internet in terms of commerce. This is especially true when discussing AdSense websites. Think about how many investors have poured money into Google, and then picture how many millions of people advertise with Google each day. The numbers are mind-boggling. This is why AdSense websites can afford to pay you a ton of cash, if you know how to set up your sites for profit. There is literally an endless amount of money to make with AdSense websites. The person, who takes the time to learn about the trade, can utilize the tools and tips needed to bring home big profits from AdSense websites. Without a doubt, the most consistent way to make money online today is through affiliate marketing. AdSense websites provide you with an easy way to get involved with the Internet's top affiliate, Google's AdSense.

Simply setting up a website, putting the AdSense websites to work for you; will not cut it, and certainly will not make you rich. The key to AdSense websites is the keyword placement, and the building of content and quality. Realizing what is in a secret recipe, one must first understand how AdSense websites really work. Advertisers typically pay Google to put their ads in areas where customers might be searching for them. Then, the advertisers pay more money to have the customers click them. When the AdSense websites are set up for ease of use for a customer, chances are they will get a click. Each time an AdSense website ad gets a click, you will receive a payment for that click, typically a few cents to a dollar per click. This is how AdSense websites work, and how thousands of people have been making a small fortune for years off Google.

One product that works well is adsensegold, a unique e-book that explains how AdSense websites can make you a lot of money. The one time fee of less than $100, accounts for all that one needs to start making money with AdSense websites. It is a great way to get a solid body of knowledge on what works with AdSense websites, and what doesn't. Further, adsensegold is owned and operated by an AdSense guru that has made a fortune using the same techniques.

In addition, a site adsense-powerpack provides a large amount of AdSense websites for you to use for your profit. The websites are unique and custom made. One can utilize them to make major cash from AdSense websites each day.

Whatever the product, it is important to look at unbiased customer reviews of the products before purchasing them. With AdSense websites, it is necessary to check out a site like Review Place where customers chime in about the quality of a product, and its overall ease of use. Visit Review Place. Users can get information about the price, and quality of many AdSense websites, and related products.

Making money with AdSense websites can be an easy task, if you follow the road carefully, and look for the best deals possible. It is not always necessary to purchase a product to make money with AdSense websites, but it can greatly help increase your chances for success.

Andy West is a freelance writer for ReviewPlace. For more information and reviews of AdSense Websites, please visit ReviewPlace at http://www.reviewplace.com/cat-375-InternetBusinessTools--Google-Adsense-Website-Tools.html.

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By David Fishman

You have had your website up and running for a while and the major search engines have yet to recognize the site. You are not alone. Many sites have a hard time becoming indexed. Sometimes it is due to being new or possibly it is just a matter of bad luck. Fortunately there are options in the quest to be indexed and one, if not a combination of a few, will get your website the attention it needs by being indexed by the major search engines.

First method to consider is search engine submission. Sounds easy, right? All you have to do is sign up and your site is indexed. Not exactly! For most of the search engines, simply filling in the requested information on the submission form is enough to get the ball rolling. This method is useful everywhere except when dealing with Google. As the most popular and largest search engine, they tend to be a little pickier. The key to becoming indexed by Google is to get link exchanges from other sites that are indexed by Google. Otherwise the powers that be see the unlinked site as of little value.

Another way to help your website get noticed is pay per click advertising. This one will not actually help get the site indexed, but it may increase traffic to the site. That could increase revenue and make your site more appealing to other webmasters that may allow links to be placed. And that does help with search engine indexing.

While on the subject of links, these little blurbs on someone else’s website can be incredibly useful in getting attention from the major search engines. One way to receive links is to politely request a link exchange of the potential webmaster. Often you will discover that if space on the site allows, the other website owner will request that you place a link on your site back to them. While search engines have gotten wise to this practice, it will up your website’s exposure to the general population. The notion of registering with web directories will help gain the respectability needed to be recognized by the search engines for indexing. Some directories charge a fee for inclusion and others will accept payment to place your listing quickly or higher on the page. If finances are a major concern, there are some web directories that don’t charge for inclusion. It will help with the indexing issue; just not as quickly as the directories that charge.

It can be incredibly time consuming to build up the necessary links to get attention from the search engines. There are programs available that will help you set up a request letter and submit the requests to other websites with similar content to yours, saving you a lot of time. While there is a monetary charge associated with this type of software, it can save the webmaster hours of work and frustration.

While working to get your new, or slow-moving, existing website noticed by the search engines for index inclusion, remember to be patient and get those vitally necessary inbound links.

David Marc Fishman is a link marketer and owns the site http://linknetics.com.

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By SeoAmitPatel

Even in this era of technological breakthroughs, many website owners have a wrong idea about web directories. They think these web directories are simply a way to gain a one-way incoming link. Inclusion in the different web directories is seldom perceived as more than a one-time entry event. The aim, be listed, and obtain the inbound link, for better or for worse. Traffic from some mainstream directories is almost always low and rarely seen as part of the equation. The dormant capability of the directory listings as a source of potential link partners not considered as a strategy at all, which is not a wise move.

In reality, web directories have far more possibilities concealed within their listings than it is generally believed. Many webmasters and search engine optimization experts ignore the less obvious value residing in the numerous categories.

By looking beyond the single link and searching abilities of a web directory, a website owner can have unrestricted access to innumerable potential link partners, waiting to be added. These partners you will find, without much effort, in the major internet directories and in the copious niche directory listings.

Not all web directories are adept in searching for links. The DMOZ (also known as the Open Directory Project), The Google Directory, and The Yahoo! Directory are the directories, which one should use in order to carry out link research tasks.

It will not be an exaggeration to compare the web directories to a gold mine of linking partners if one can get the full potential out of appropriate strategies. Any enterprising and prospecting webmaster can successfully use the web directories as an effective link building tool. It is expected that the readers will now be able to avail this opportunity after reading this article.

The Author SeoAmitPatel is a SEO Expert who owns a SEO Company http://www.theseoworld.com and which is working a major SEO Project http://www.gii.in
]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Karl Stadler

If you are prepared to work hard and take a small risk, then an online business opportunity is waiting for you. Discover for yourself the possibility of creating additional income online.

You are reading this article because it just might be possible for you to make money online, or you might be considering a home based business. Either way, you came to the right place. If you are new to the subject of earning income online, read on and I will show you the basics of being successful on the internet.

I have felt the sting of starting up an online home based business. I know the pain of failure, but now I know the feeling of success. It required testing numerous opportunities, spending quite a few dollars, nearly throwing in the towel and returning to the day-to-day grind of nine to five, just before success came knocking on the door. I am glad I opened that door and pushed harder. The first thing to remember to be in the position to create a six-figure income online from your home is ‘too many secrets are not really secrets anyway’. There are opportunities for everyone. Creating an online income is not just for a ‘select few’.

You can make a very nice income the moment your online business takes off, but to start you need to be realistic in your approach. Allow time for yourself and allocate time for your business. At the beginning, it will take hard work and commitment from you, but when it starts to pay off, it pays handsomely. If you are faint hearted or looking for a get rich quick scheme, then a trip to the casino might be a much better idea than an online home business.

There are many opportunities on the internet for you to create your own business. The challenge, however, is finding the right online business opportunity. You are looking for an opportunity that is legitimate, profitable, easy to start up and just as easy to run and maintain.

Some of the best opportunities to make money online are becoming available as the internet expands globally. This is evident for searches that the major search engines are handling every day. With this growth, more and more people are eager to explore the new possibilities to supplement their income or create a full time income enabling them to quit their nine to five jobs.

The opportunities are just waiting to be taken by anyone willing to take a small risk and do a little hard work. The people who are making it are just regular people like you with a dream to create a better life for themselves and their families.

There are different models of online businesses and then there are the ones that work. Most of the internet sales are downloadable information products, information that people need every day. To the online business owner this means no stock and immediate delivery to the client and money in your bank account.

You do not even need your own product. Most of the online business owners are selling products as affiliates Business Management Articles. It is just a matter of learning and applying the basics.

The great news is that there are legitimate business opportunities available for you. Starting your own online business can be the best life choice you will ever make.

Explore legitimate work from home businesses. It might be the right opportunity for you to make your dreams come true online. Click on the link now to find out how you can start today. http://www.viralbiz.net/jobs.php .

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Michael Moshkovich

Email marketing has been one of the greatest things to happen to smart business owners. The number one reason people use the internet is to send email. The second reason people go online is to find information. With a well thought out email marketing course, you can do both. Let us look at how you can use an email-marketing course for a more profitable business.

1. You will need an autoresponder. An autoresponder allows you to automate your follow-up by capturing name, email addresses, and automatically sending them pre-written messages. You can Google search and find all kinds of autoresponders. Make sure you are getting one from a reputable company; it is the primary tool used.

2. Your email-marketing course should focus on a specific topic. Write about a problem your audience has and then over a series of messages, solve their problem.

3. Keep your emails informational. One sales letter after another does not solve their problem, but asking and answering questions that they have, will. Remember they are researching information and you are giving it to them.

4. Naturally, work the products and services into the content of your messages. This may mean you do not mention a product or your website address until your signature at the bottom of the email. By doing it this way, you give your potential customers a way to find you in a non-threatening manner.

5. Write professional content. If you cannot do this yourself, hire someone to do it. Many people make a full time living selling products by email. If your email-marketing course is written poorly, no one will pay attention to it and will never buy anything from you.

6. Consider selling digital products. No matter what your product is, you can add to it by selling digital products to download instantly. EBooks are great for this because you find thousands of them that relate to the topic of your course. Another idea is to give away a brandable copy of an eBook free. Brandable means that it has your i.d. number in it for a product you sell. You have a chance to make a sale, when people read the eBook. Make it a viral marketing tool by allowing people to give the eBook away free, as well.

In summary, you can use an email marketing course to make more money if you do it right. You might subscribe to a few courses by email yourself. Create a swipe file and put any good ideas you see in it for future courses of you own.

Michael Moshkovich is a web developer and internet marketer who has written over 50 articles on SEO, shopping cart software and PPC marketing. To find out more information about WebCart's seo friendly shopping cart software visit our Website, (http://www.webcart.net/). For additional shopping cart tips, visit the webcart eCommerce Blog (http://www.webcart.net/shoppingcartsoftware).

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Stephen Wright

This article provides specific details for becoming a home based business and Internet marketing guru through careful and selected networking opportunities. Accomplish this ability through an on-going process of networking.

Becoming a home based business and Internet marketing guru is not something that happens overnight. It takes significant dedication to develop your knowledge, skills, and abilities. During the course of this evolutionary process for yourself, you must develop the relationships and respect of your peers and potential clients/customers. Accomplish this through an on-going process of networking.

Networking in this manner includes spending time in various home business forums, relevant groups, boards, loops, and discussion exchanges. Appropriately, each of these has a primary purpose or relevance focus designed to facilitate and enhance the field of Internet Marketing through ideas, promotions, and topic exchange.

You must personally participate in a significant manner in these sorts of activities and venues. You have the "opportunity" to market yourself, your ideas, suggestions, input, advice, and counsel in support of and in a contributory manner to the field of running a Home Based Business and Internet marketing, as well as to the betterment of others --- your peers. All of which is critical to building a proper foundation of service to others.

There are countless numbers of groups for any given topic or subject area of interest. In addition, the best part, many are free to join. The array included popular Internet topics such as; Internet Marketing Ideas and Tips, eBay buying/selling, Work at Home, Employment, Web Hosting, etc.

As you start the effort of building your "online resume", a word of caution: time management can be critical. It is not uncommon to hear or read about the toll taken on unsuspecting web marketers who get totally and utterly immersed in spending time on the Internet that it can quickly have a detrimental impact on their personal and physical well being. The internet can be time consuming and addictive in nature, compounded by the significant amount of distractions continually vying for our attention while interacting on the Internet. You must find ways to allocate your time and resources, allowing ample time both on and off the web!

Diversification is a key element in building yourself and your abilities. This means continuously taking information and feedback you gain from the networking activities, to be applied back with other activities. For example, gaining information and input from a product development forum allows you to give information as a more informed user on a user forum, exchanging information on similar issues. This allows you to utilize your skills, knowledge and abilities, and continually refine your knowledge base. This also helps build credibility among various groups and users. It is a known fact that people do business with those whom they know or trust. Being successful with a home based business is not different.

Using this approach allows others to see you in a supporting role, not necessarily as one just "interested in profits and making a buck!" Networking in this fashion allows you to establish yourself as a knowledgeable fellow entrepreneur, not as someone only out for self-promotion or worse yet "a Spammer"! The trick to subtle self-promotion is a graciously accepted practice. Shameless and abrupt advertising will get you no-where. Once you have this level of respect and credibility, the revenues and profits will not be far behind. If you want real success Free Reprint Articles, get started networking your way there today.

Stephen Wright is President & CEO of www.InternetMarketingUSA.comWeary from failed programs, tips and makes them rich advice? Get it ALL, step-by-step, the gory details, and the handholding to Get You Rich. It is all waiting for you: http://www.internetmarketingusa.com/pips.html

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Michael Hayes

Are you a small business struggling to develop your online presence? Regardless of the specific nature of your online business, there are common elements that need regular attention it to prosper. Two essential parts of this process are covered in this article:

1) marketing the online business, and 2) detailing the web site processes and content to achieve the highest possible sales conversion rates.

Maximize traffic to your web site

How long has it been since you last spent time driving traffic to your web site? Do not be left behind. Traffic does not come to your site automatically, search engines and directories send it. Moreover, if you do not optimize your site to convince Search Engines such as Google that you have relevant content, then your site will be largely ignored. Consider implementing a combined strategy:

* Set up reciprocal links from other sites with a higher Google PageRank than yours. One way to do this is to find web sites, forums, or blogs that are related to your market segment, without directly competing with you, and submit articles to them with a link back to your own web site. It is these incoming links that search engines love and your PageRank will rise accordingly. Business and trade directories are another good source of potential traffic. The more relevant you can find the better. An example of this approach could be a small business specializing in a particular form of natural healing. A useful strategy here would be to submit quality articles to an industry site that covered all forms of natural healing, outlining the benefits of your particular specialty. People visiting this high profile site already have an interest in natural healing, and may well be interested in your specialty when guided by an informative article. The benefit to the site accepting your submission is that your article, and others like it, helps to broaden their appeal. If done well, this really is a win -- win situation.

* Dedicate specific pages on your web site to focus on particular themes. Do not make the mistake of trying to cover a grab bag of topics on the one page in the hope that one of them will stick. An experienced web developer, or Search Engine Optimization (SEO) specialist, will be able to help with this process by analyzing your visitor statistics and suggesting themes based on key words and phrases that people are actively searching. After you write an article based on their suggestions, they will then edit it to maximize its appeal to Search Engines.

* Consider paid advertising on a "cost-per-click basis". Google and Yahoo are good places to start, but there are many others. Many of these systems are based on a bidding model where the more an advertiser is prepared to pay for a click, the more prominently the advertisement will be featured. When used carefully, they can be a good way of generating a quick response. This can be important for owners of new web sites while they are waiting for their natural search engine traffic to gain momentum.

Develop a marketing strategy for the next three months

The reason marketing activities should be planned well in advance is to give yourself plenty of time to get in the necessary stock, or if you have a service based business, assemble the relevant resources. For example, if new stock is involved, you will need time to source it and upload the details to your web site. If you are launching a new service, you may need to add an extra page to your web site outlining its benefits and engage additional staff to perform the service. All these things take time. The good news is that by planning you will save yourself a lot of stress.

Detailed planning

This is the 3Ps -- only this time they are Plan, Plan & Plan. Look at your marketing campaigns collectively, and then individually. What do you really want to achieve? Consider planning for the next three campaigns and write a sentence for each one that clearly spells out its main purpose. These are your core propositions. For example, the first could be to clear stock or promote an older service; the second could be designed to tie in with an event such as Easter, while the third could be used to launch a new service or product range. Whatever they are, I suggest that you keep them simple and only have one core proposition per campaign. You will run the risk of confusing yourself and your customers if you try to do more.

Newsletters

It is very common for an online marketing campaign to revolve around a newsletter. If this is the case then all aspects of the mail-out needs to be very carefully planned, drafted and tested.

* There are many sorts of newsletters, however those promoting e-commerce ventures usually have one primary purpose: to drive traffic to an online shop selling products or services. The question is, how best to achieve this. Detailed coverage of the core proposition in the actual newsletter may not be the best approach. Rather, write the copy in such a way that it provides just enough information to whet your customers’ appetite, coupled with a clear link to the remainder of the article stored on you web site. In this way, you stand a good chance of achieving additional sales when customers click through and become re-acquainted with your complete range of offerings.

* In drafting your copy, do not waste time singing your own praises. You or your business may have done some great things, but sadly, customers are not interested. What they want to know is what is in it for them. Keep this as your focus and you will not go wrong.

* Pay particular attention to the subject line of the email newsletter. Remember, with many customers this may be all they read before they look for the delete button. Try to make it compelling but avoid any hype that may trigger junk mail filters.

* HTML email newsletters are acceptable to most customers these days. They present well and they can feature images, but make sure they are correctly constructed. If you are creating your own HTML newsletters, view them in Internet Explorer and Firefox before you send them out. You may be surprised how differently the common web browsers can present the same HTML document. Sometimes with unfortunate consequences. If you are not confident in this area, then seek help.

* Ensure that you comply with all relevant anti-SPAM regulations. If you are not familiar with them, make it your business to find out. In many cases, the penalties for ignoring such regulations are high. At the very least you should always include details outlining who you are, why the person is receiving your email newsletter, and how they can unsubscribe should they wish to do so.

* Before you send out an email newsletter to your whole mailing list, test it, and test it again! That means checking that the content is correct, links work, images display correctly, personalized information is merging correctly, and unsubscribe links are fully operational.

Your mailing list

Mailing lists must be maintained. In addition, I do not use the word "must" lightly. With legislation in place to prosecute those who play fast and loose with their mailing lists, this area requires careful attention by all e-Commerce operators. The technical aspects of list maintenance and email campaigns are beyond the scope of this article, but if you have any doubts, you may be better to consider a hosted solution. A quick search on the Internet for "email marketing" or "email marketing services" should yield results. Constant Contact is one such service that I have used with good results. In general, it is safer to avoid purchasing lists unless you are very sure they are genuine opt-in permission based lists directly relevant to your market segment. Build your own. It may take longer but the result is a list of customers who are genuinely interested in your products or services. Conversion rates with your own list are always going to be higher.

Your online shop

So far, the focus has been on getting customers to your online shop. Now it is time to make sure that when they do, they have a pleasant experience, which encourages them to make a purchase.

* Do the advertised products or services as featured on your web site match up exactly with what you have in stock? If not, take steps to correct this. If the product is not currently available then delete it, or just disable it, if your software will allow. That way you will only have to enable the entry when the item returns to stock. Perhaps, it may be that your published information does not accurately describe the product or service, or the image shows the wrong model or color. If any of these examples apply to your website, then make a point of correcting the detail prior to a mail-out.

* As I have mentioned above, do not be tempted to leave items on display that are temporarily out of stock. You know that they are coming back in, but your customers do not and deliveries can often be late. Online customers have every right to expect that what they see lines up with reality, so it is not surprising that they become very upset when their firm order suddenly becomes a "virtual" one.

* Check the navigation of your site to make sure that all links are operational. Customers quickly find poor navigation frustrating ... and frustrated customers leave.

* Review your terms, conditions, FAQs and freight. I hope there will be first time customers because of your mail-out who will want to check these things. I know this can be boring but do not gloss it over. Put your customer hat on and pretend that you are reading the information for the first time.

* If you have a contact form on your site, test it. You should also place test orders using all the available payment methods your site offers. The last thing you (or your customer) want is a dysfunctional checkout system. In fact, nothing erodes buyer confidence faster.

Finally, good luck with your e-commerce ventures. E-commerce is not rocket science Article Submission; it is just another form of business. Additionally, constant attention to details counts in all forms of business.

As "The Online Shop Designer (TOSD)" Michael Hayes draws on over a decade's experience designing, developing and managing e-Commerce and CMS web sites for small business owners. In doing this he strives to deliver appropriate, manageable solutions that support his client's business goals, and avoid the "technology tension" that so often occurs.

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Sharon Housley

What are Content Sites?

If you are like many of those starting out with intentions of making millions online and struggling to capture the attentions of the large search engines, you are in good company. Times have changed, and due to the low cost of entry, the online world is becoming very competitive for businesses starting out. Unless a website has a regional appeal or caters to a very niche product or service, it is rare that a webmaster can create a website that is only focused on selling.

What is the answer?

The answer is content. The concept is not new; it comes down to the simple concept of bartering, give something in order to get something. In this case the trade off, is free information in exchange for website traffic and search engine ranking. The key is to create a website with content that other webmasters, bloggers, and publishers will want to link to. In order to generate interest and incoming links that result in web traffic, you will need to provide unique content. Related content drives traffic; understanding what makes one website a standout when others fail is the key to building a content rich portal.

How do I use content to sell my stuff?

First off, the content you provide must be of interest to potential customers. If you are selling a product, why not provide dimensions, customer ratings, reviews, warranty information, additional product suggestions, color or size charts. In addition to additional product information, consider your demographic, and find content that will be of interest to individuals (or businesses) that you feel typify a potential customer. It is also best if the content you provide relates to the product you are promoting.

Lets take a look at some content rich examples:

Gourmet Living (http://www.gourmet-living.com )

How does the site Gourmet Living focus on selling cooking items, use content to promote their products, and sell their wares? Gourmet Living uses recipes to draw in individuals interested in cooking. The topic (recipes) relates closely to the products they are selling (cookware and gourmet cookbooks), additionally the recipes target their potential audience, those with an interest in cooking. The Gourmet Living website uses additional food preparation tips and articles that discuss gourmet cooking to generate additional interest.

Recipe Directory - http://www.gourmet-living.com/recipe-directory.htm

Tips for Food Preparation - http://www.gourmet-living.com/category.html?category=preparing+food

Along with articles that discuss gourmet cooking - http://www.gourmet-living.com/gourmet-articles.htm

Dog Pound (http://www.dog-pound.net)

How does Dog Pound, a website promoting products for dog care, use content to generate website traffic? The Dog Pound website has educational articles related to dog breeds and training. In addition, the dog pound website has videos of common dog breeds, cute pet photos, and free recipes for dog treats. My recommendation would be to take the photo section a step further, encourage individuals to send in their favorite doggy photos and conduct a dog beauty contest.

Articles about dog training - http://www.dog-pound.net/dog-articles.htm

Videos with dog breeds - http://www.dog-pound.net/videos.htm

Dog Treats - http://www.dog-pound.net/other-dog-treats.htm

Photos - http://www.dog-pound.net/dog-photos.htm

Security Port (http://www.security-port.net)

How does security port, a website that does not sell anything and profits from advertising, use content to attract traffic and promote their website? The security port focus is on aggregating a host of security resources, from security glossaries to security forums. By creating a topical portal with information relevant to security, they are providing one stop shop for security information.

Searchable Security Databases - http://www.security-port.com/security-databases.htm

Security Blog - with related security news - http://www.security-port.com/blog.htm

Security Articles - http://www.security-port.com/security-articles.htm

Remember, at the end of the day, all of the advertising campaigns and attractive affiliate programs will only result in traffic spikes, which will be transient. Generating a content rich website that is useful, educational, or entertaining will attract and retain customers. While it is hard to assemble a content-rich site that motivates others to link to you, it is certainly not impossible. Keep in mind that search engine rankings influence the amount and quality of a website's content. Provide content that will make webmasters want to link to your website.

Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition, Sharon manages marketing for NotePage http://www.notepage.net a wireless text messaging software company.
]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Scott Lindsay

Building a successful online business is more than simply attempting to place a product on a webpage with the belief that visitors will be drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

If you spend a little time on the web, you will find many such sites with very little in the way of visual interest or compelling reason to explore the product any further. Many of these sites appear to have been created in the mid 90’s, with only marginal skill in website creation. That is not to say they receive no business, after all, their entire website is still up and running. However, if you turned away from the site quickly, chances are many others have too.

The idea of a successful website takes strategic thinking, planning, and execution. The development of an online marketplace requires research and marketing. You need to find a niche and learn to market to that niche. It may also be advisable to discover a niche that is actually of interest to online buyers.

You will likely need to learn certain online software applications and terms that allow further development of your site for easy navigation. The successful optimization of keywords and phrases allow your site to rank higher in the search engine results.

There will be security issues to address along with ezine options, RSS feeds, and the best use of autoresponders. A good website will also make use of affiliate programs for residual income and determine a course of action for a finely crafted website design.

As you roll out your website, you might want to include phased-in plans for video streaming as a means of demonstrating your product or services, or podcasting with experts in the field.

If all of this seems a little too much for you, please understand the reason I bring up so many different marketing tools is to spark the idea that there is as much that is a part of the development of an online business as there is in establishing a brick and mortar storefront.

It may seem easy – even tempting – to throw a site together, but without a plan the site is likely to perform on a mediocre level, at best.

Take the time to visit some of the more successful online stores. As you look through their webpages, you will gain some idea of the things that work on an e-commerce website. A well-defined purpose for your website will go far in determining the initial launch and success of your foray into web-based sales.

Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of HighPowerSites and many other web projects. HighPowerSites is the easiest do-it-yourself website builder on the web. Get your own website online in just 5 minutes with http://HighPowerSites.com at: http://www.highpowersites.com.
]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Donna Gunter

Grand openings are held to generate good will and begin relationships with business colleagues, current clients, and prospective customers. As the owner of a virtual business, you can now foster that same good will by sponsoring a virtual grand opening for your new business or new website and get your new venture in gear. Below are some ideas to spice up your virtual grand opening/ribbon cutting:

Grand openings and ribbon cuttings do not have to be limited to businesses that have retail locations. If your "real estate" is your website and you work out of your home, this great public relations opportunity is available to you also. You will have to plan it a bit differently than someone with a brick and mortal location. A few years ago I attended a "ribbon cutting" for a client's new website and had a great time meeting people all over the country on a teleconference bridge line.

Since I am a few months away from establishing a new website myself, I wondered how to take powerful advantage of this superb promotional opportunity. I made some posts to discussion lists to which I belong. The ideas listed in this article are the results of my information requests.

Here are some ideas to spice up your virtual grand opening/ribbon cutting:

Technology
At a minimum, you will need a teleconference bridge line. My favorite one is Live Free Conferencing, http://freeconferencing.liveoffice.com/, because you can record the call at no extra charge. The bridgeline holds up to 250 callers. The moderator can mute the entire call if needed, and they offer the ability for muted callers to ask a question via their webcontrol panel.

If you would like more interaction with your visitors, you will want to use web conferencing/virtual conference room software. There are a number of these services out there, so I recommend that you do a search, and try a few before deciding on your provider.

If you would like to invite a group of people to your event, you can use an invitation service like Evite.com. You might send out an HTML invitation to your contact list through your email broadcast service such as, aWeber.com, EzineDirector.com, ConstantContact.com, or an audio postcard through a service like AudioAcrobat.com. In order to have your attendees register for this event, you will need to create a contact form on your website that feeds into your shopping cart or autoresponder service.

Event Activities

1. Virtual ribbon cutting. You can do this via a web cam and actually cut a ribbon draped over your monitor that is displaying the home page of your new site and show it via your webinar service/virtual conference room service. Alternatively, you might find an animated graphic of a ribbon cutting and show that via your virtual conference room instead.

2. Have people register for your event and give out door prizes. You can spotlight your business colleagues by requesting door prizes for them. Electronic info products are the easiest door prizes to award. You do not have to mail a physical package to the winner. If some of your door prizes do require mailing, you need to request a mailing address from everyone who registers for your event.

3. Hold a teleseminar during the grand opening that is partially educational and promotional. You can make a special offer to all those who attend the live call.

4. Give a virtual tour of your new website via webinar/virtual conference room software.

5. Host a roundtable session at your event that permits attendees to give a 30-second commercial of their businesses. Schedule this at the end of your event so it does not detract from your offerings.

6. Hold a scavenger hunt on your site during your grand opening. This hunt creates a reason to have people visit the site and visit multiple pages. Create a 3-5 page report or something that is easy to compile that displays your expertise and is of value to your visitor for the prize. You might use rollover images to give clues or find a funny graphic and hide it in various places throughout your site, in obvious and not-so-obvious, locations. You could also place audio snippets around your site as well and put clues in those audio files.

7. Sponsor a message board and/or chat room on your site. At specific times post a series of questions, polls, etc. that will make your visitors interact. Ensure that the questions are relevant and of interest to your target market. This will instantly create popularity for your website, as well as, keywords pertinent to your target market.

8. Give away prizes every hour (or every 10-15 minutes for shorter events), telling your visitors they have to be present in the webinar room/on the teleconference line to win. Between giveaways, talk about your experience, your offerings, and offer free ‘on the spot’ help for a problem faced by your target market.

Online Publicity/Promotion

1. Post the date and time of the opening of your event on CraigsList.com, on the boards for your city/area, and surrounding areas.

2. Send out invitations through Evite or though your email broadcast service.

3. If permitted, post the particulars about your event on various lists/discussion groups to which you belong.

4. Send out press release regarding the event through online press release services.

5. Create a post about your grand opening/ribbon cutting on your blog and invite attendees to post their comments on your blogOffline Marketing1. Join your local Chamber of Commerce and they will offer to hold a ribbon-cutting for you. For virtual/at home businesses, most chambers will do this in their office rather than your home. Many times a photo or article about the ribbon cutting will appear in the local press and in the chamber newsletter.

2. Plan a couple of local talks, and/or book, or product signings to coincide with your grand opening.

3. Send out postcards inviting people to your new website and grand opening. Offer them a free gift for dropping by.

4. Send out press releases to your local media regarding any "in-person" events you sponsor during this grand opening time. Grand openings are held to generate good will and begin relationships with business colleagues, current clients, and prospective customers. Now, as the owner of a virtual business Health Fitness Articles, you can foster the same good will by sponsoring a virtual grand opening for your new business or new website and get your new venture in gear.

Online Business Resource Queen (TM) and Online Business Coach Donna Gunter help self-employed service professionals learn how to automate their businesses, leverage their expertise on the Internet, and get more clients online. To sign up for more FREE tips like these and claim your FREE gift, TurboCharge Your Online Marketing Toolkit, visit her site at Get More Clients Online (http://www.getmoreclientsonline.com/).

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Scott Lindsay

A difficulty that standard brick and mortar stores face is in providing follow-up to their customers. When you make a purchase with a normal retailer, your contact information might be used to send sales flyers or an invitation to a ‘customer only’ event. There is very little personal contact with the customer, although a growing number of these stores may ask for email address or other contact information to alert you to upcoming events.

With online marketing, this scenario is quickly resolved using autoresponders (sometimes referred to as auto responders). If someone sends your company an email, an autoresponder can send a return email instantly to advise them their question will be addressed very soon.

This idea has been expanded to include an autoresponder message when a customer concludes an online sale. Once the credit card information is completed and authorized, an autoresponder message is executed providing an immediate thanks for the sale and confirms their order. Generally, these messages are in rich text (html) and can provide pictures, company logos, and other unique design features. Customers will also find contact information and a tracking number in most cases.

Most opt-in mailing lists also provide autoresponder messages that welcome the new member and provide control functions for changing their subscription when they need to.

Online business can take advantage of the many uses for autoresponders by utilizing multiple email addresses for a variety of business applications. Each email address should be set aside for a specific business purpose so an autoresponder message can be put in place that is specific to the intended purpose of the email address.

One of the functions for an autoresponder is important for online business because they can independently send out a series of timed messages that provide a broad overview of your business and provide a welcomed means of learning more about your business.

In essence this means if you have a series of six messages that you plan on sending to customers over a six-week period, you can set up autoresponder software to automatically ship these six messages once a week, for six weeks. On the same day, your software could be sending out each of these six emails to customers who purchased from your online store at separate times. Autoresponders can take the guesswork out of follow up by insuring that every contact you receive will automatically receive a return email.

While this is a broad overview on the subject, hopefully, you gain an understanding that autoresponders provide a meaningful and many times, multiple step mechanism for developing, maintaining, and keeping your customers.

Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of HighPowerSites and many other web projects. HighPowerSites is the easiest do-it-yourself website builder on the web. Get your own website online in just 5 minutes with http://HighPowerSites.com at http://www.highpowersites.com.

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Craig Bucknall

Do you need an easy way to update your customers with your company news? Try adopting an email newsletter or e-Newsletter on a regular schedule. It can keep them informed, and it may even generate more business.

An e-newsletter combines the benefits of company information and marketing opportunities with little cost to compose and savings realized by using email technology rather than traditional postal means.

Some things you need to consider when preparing your e-Newsletter;

• Frequency – Make a plan to publish your newsletter on a regular basis

• Content – Keep the content focused on the audience, don’t try and oversell any product or service as these emails tend to get deleted very quickly.

• Size – Try to keep the newsletter to 3 – 4 bullet points, in short attention grabbing sentences that lead to full stories on your website.

• Bandwidth – Try not to over indulge your newsletter with too many graphics. Keep in mind many users still have low speed internet connections, and large image sizes will have an impact on downloading. Try to keep your newsletter to less than 60Kb

In this article I will show you the easy way to create a newsletter based on tables in Microsoft Word ready for importing into your email program for distribution.

Step 1: Open a blank word document and insert a table with 3 columns and 6 rows. I recommend merging the top 3 cells and the bottom 3 cells into header and footer rows. You can easily add the company logo on the header row and your address details on the footer row.

Step 2: Merge the left side rows of the remaining rows into 1 column.

Step 3: Add your logo image or Business Name to header area and Address details to footer area. Do not forget to add email and website URL links here, as well.

Step 4: Formulate a welcome message to introduce your newsletter and its content.

Step 5: Keep the information in the newsletter brief and to the point. If you have more information on your website, make sure you link directly to that article or news/product item on your website. Introduce bullet point’s news snippets with links in the left side column.

You have now created A HTML newsletter that looks like a webpage. Modify colors and graphics to suite your corporate colors, etc. You now have a simple easy to edit Word Document ready for publication via email.

Save the document for future editing, and then selecting the entire table, copy and paste into an open blank email.

Tip: Send the email to a friend, or your free email accounts (hotmail, gmail, etc), to see how the finish product will look when your customer receive it.

If no formatting issues are found after test email is sent, send the newsletter to your predetermined list of contacts.

Remember: Frequency is the key to gaining new and repeat business, so compiling and sending regular updates will help educate your customers on your products and services.

Craig Bucknall is the owner and Managing Director of the Sydney based Website Design studio Bullie Graphics. See their website for more information about http://www.bulliegraphics.com.au website design also checkout the http://www.bulliegraphics.com.au/blog website design and seo tips blog.
]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Lynn VanDyke

Get the tips you need to know before hiring a webmaster for your small business. Lynn VanDyke explores several traits that a successful webmaster should inherit. Does your webmaster produce results?

Browsing is reminiscent of the cruising teenagers used to do in there 1954 Chevrolets. Cruising the downtown street was an opportunity to visit favorite places, say hello to friends, get current information of interest, and just enjoy the world in general.


Browsing, or cruising, the internet offers many of the same conventions while you sit in the driver's seat at your computer. On the internet are your favorite sites, instant messaging, and email for conferring with your friends, up-to-the minute information about any topic of interest, and a way to access the whole world.

Once you decide to join the crowd and build a website, many important considerations should go into your project. A webmaster can help you make sure the ‘drive' is safe and enjoyable! Building a Hotrod Website many hotrod restorations are called ‘frame-up' jobs. The car is stripped to its bare frame. Everything on the car is restored, one-step at a time, until completion.

Along the way are hundreds of important decisions that affect the final product – everything from custom exhaust systems to door handles. There are so many intricacies. Normally an expert is hired to assist with the project, especially for the bodywork.

Building a website is no different. When you decide to own a website, how to drive business or traffic to the site and the intricacies of the internet and are best handled by a professional webmaster.

What should you look for in a webmaster?

- Current in website creation methods

- Current in website enhancement techniques including video

- Clear on website ownership issues

- Experienced and has examples of work completed you can review

- Able to apply search engine optimization techniques

- Offers owner access for changes or input- Willing to incorporate owner written material

- Good communication skills

- Provides statistical analysis of website traffic

- Hourly or project cost fits within your budget

A webmaster has the big responsibility to satisfy your project requirements, within a budget, on time, and successfully drive business to your site. A webmaster is a professional. The company you hire will understand how to create an effective website that is easy to use.

It is extremely frustrating when you turn the key on your hotrod and nothing happens. It is just as frustrating to visit a website and not be able find what you want or is so convoluted it is impossible to browse. A webmaster insures that your website does not fall prey to these common mistakes.

Breakdowns!

You are cruising in your hotrod. Suddenly, smoke starts coming out the tailpipe. The inevitable breakdown occurs and you are stuck on the side of the highway. No need to panic because the expert who helped assemble the car will also help with the repairs.

Your website, once built, will always need maintenance. There will be upgrades, new additions, deletions, problems, and expansions needed on the site. The webmaster you choose should offer site maintenance. Some common needs include:

- Addition of new information about your company

- Changing graphics

- New pages or information

- Corrections

- Changes resulting from user comments

- Redesigns

Webmasters also have plans that include marketing your website. Naturally, just like taking the disabled hotrod to the mechanic for repairs, maintenance and marketing plans usually incur additional charges.

When you sign a contract with a webmaster, make sure the rates are ones you can afford and are consistent with market pricing. If possible, try to hire a webmaster that includes marketing in the initial quote.

Back On The Highway

You want your hotrod cruising the streets, not sitting in a garage. Your website is meant to be available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. An inoperable site is worthless to a business.

A webmaster can make sure your site is always cruising. Whether you need design, redesign, or maintenance, a webmaster is the best mechanic for the job.

Lynn VanDyke is an SBI certified webmaster. She is one of the fastest growing webmasters for entrepreneurs and small business owners needing to generate targeted traffic from search engines. Learn more about Lynn (http://www.lynnvandyke.com/).

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Georgi Elias

Business people planning to set up a home business or home office have a huge variety of business systems to choose from today. Anyone starting out may be confused regarding which systems to purchase. Should they purchase service insurance? We will cover the basics of what every business should consider, focusing on Internet related home based businesses.

Working efficiently from home is an important element of any business, especially if you are planning to conduct any internet related business. Business owners should surround themselves with high quality systems to ensure they are efficient at what they do every day. Sufficient backup systems are needed to avoid lost time due to equipment failure.

A high-speed access line by cable modem or DSL is a priority, as is a router with a built in firewall, and Ethernet hub. The firewall will provide you with some protection against other users from the internet hacking into your own computer and network. The Ethernet hub will allow you to connect several computers, if needed, to the same access line. Many business owners are opting for wireless routers and hubs to allow them to place their computers anywhere in the home without having to worry about adding wiring. Users are cautioned to set up their networks with the security option enabled. Otherwise, your neighbors or even strangers near by can use your wireless network to connect to the internet.

A high-speed computer with the latest hardware and software is also recommended. It is amazing how fast technology is evolving. Six months after you made your purchase and set up your system, it will be outdated. Note that it will function and deliver service to you for many years; however, it will just not have the latest features, etc. available.

Depending on your business, you may need multiple telephone lines, a fax line, and several printers. Today for a relatively low price, you can purchase all in one systems that include a printer, copier, fax machine and scanner. Most printers that are ink jet deliver excellent quality and print a sufficient number of pages per minute, however if you will be doing a great deal of printing, you may want to consider a laser printer.

One final comment about the systems you purchase. If you cannot tolerate down time, many business owners will always ensure their data is backed up daily to avoid any significant loss of information. In addition, they will also purchase a service package Psychology Articles, which will guarantee repairs or replacement of their systems within a specified period. Finally, many owners will also have a second or third system available, so they do not lose productivity, if one were to fail.

Elias Georgi is an experienced and successful sponsor, mentor and coach for many thriving tested and proven home businesses. Visit his Website at http://www.eliasg.com/, Elias also runs his own exclusive-article directory (http://www.exclusive-article.com/).

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
by Mary Hanna

Successful free article submissions to directories on the internet are an effective way to market your article and get more traffic to your websites. Submitting to an article directory is a great way for people to find a free article written by you. There are a few problems with this system, but you can overcome them and become more proficient in marketing articles. The trick is to submit your articles without being considered a spammer.

The weakness of the article submitting techniques is; it is very time consuming. I have submitted articles in three different ways: by Hand, with Article Submitter, and Instant Article Submitter software. Many directories require a login, ID and password, so each directory must be visited and a login established before submissions are accepted.

When submitting by hand, you have to cut and paste each section of the article into the individual directories. There are a lot of sections; first the Title, then the Category (very important – I’ll get into this later), Author, Author email, Website Address, Keywords, Article Summary, Article Body, and About Author box. That is nine cut and pastes to submit to ONE article directory. If you wish to submit to 150-200 directories, a good part of your time is spent doing grunt work which does not allow you to pursue other avenues of traffic generation.

Now we come to the "semi-automated" submission software programs. Yes, they are easier, some more than others, but you still must go to each directory individually. It is crucial that you select a Category for your article. If this is not done, the article directories will know you are using automatic submitting software and will treat your article as SPAM. Many directories especially frown on the "Automated Article Distribution Services" for just that reason. Therefore, you will not be published and not only have you wasted your time writing your article but you may be classified as a spammer.

Within the "Article Submitter" Software, they have 138 auto-fills, and 25 manual-fill directories listed. A visit to a majority of the directories must be done first in order to establish a login. You have the option of adding other article directories on your own, which is a nice touch.

The software will open to a page with a form for "User Information". There are typical information requirements you would find in any sign up sheet like, name, company, email, website, etc. Then hit the tab for "Articles" where you will place the article for submission. You will fill in the Title Section, Article Body (including About Author), Summary, and Keywords. Then choose the "Websites" tab. You can "select all" or pick and choose. Click on "Auto Fill" and it will take you to your first directory. A flaw here is that you can only have one article posted in the article section at a time.

Sounds easy, right? Well with "Article Submitter" you must be very careful. Once you have chosen your Category, check each section. This software does not always put the right information in the right box and it leaves some boxes blank. Again, if the directories feel you are using software carelessly, they will delete your article. The manual sites are just that, manual top to bottom. It took me a full day for each article, so it is still a time consuming process.

Then my partner found "Instant Article Submitter" which I have tested thoroughly. It is by far the easiest and quickest available at this time. Set up is still a bit tedious. Once again, you have to establish your logins, but only once. I found them much more accurate in filling in the necessary submission forms. Yes, you still must choose your Category, but only once, for each niche.

They have 100's of Article Directories listed, but there is a tab where you can mark your "Favorites". At first, I was a little intimated, but it is easy to follow and saves you a lot of time. I submitted to over 150 directories in about 4 hours and that was my first time using the software, so I was on the learning curve. Be careful not to hit the "Next Site Button" until after you have the confirmation that your article has been acknowledged.

Therefore, that has been my experience with these three systems for submitting articles to an Article Directory. I do not recommend hand posting – it is much too difficult.

For me the most convenient and least cumbersome was Instant Article Submitter for getting my articles out there to many Article Directories in the least amount of time.

Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.

Mary Hanna writes eBooks, Software Reviews (for people who are technically challenged like her) and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: http://www.WebMarketingReviews.com http://www.eBookSecrets-Exposed.com and http://www.CruiseTravelDirectory.com.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.
]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Damon Smith

Everyone in online marketing or affiliate marketing, earning an income, has to research all over the internet to get the information he or she needs to succeed.

I have seen people spend hours, days, weeks, months, and even years just to come out making little or no income at all. As a publisher online, for Hailey Comet Weekly, I have met some of the most powerful people that have made thousands, even millions of dollars with the time they have been online.

Some have done it in as little as a few months and then retired. Then you have those who work very hard every day, no matter how much they make to help others to do the same. Do you remember when the doublers programs hit the internet and people made hundreds even thousands over night? Do you remember what happened within two months of them hitting the internet? People that were dealing with Storm Pay were stuck holding an empty bag because they went under and all kinds of trouble broke out.

The only true programs that make money are ones that last. There are very few of these. One that has made it to the top is Success University, because of the people behind the program, not because they have specials all the time, but because there are REAL people to talk with and to learn and teach you. I have met with people that joined the so-called PAS program and paid out $3,900!

In addition, most of them did not get anything from it. Do you know why? Because there was no one to teach them how to market the program, to make a profit, and they ended up being burnt!

Look at this link, http://www.damonday.net

If you take the time to read it, you will not only see that this group of master marketers are online to help you make a living , but also to teach you how to talk with others in a way to make them buy from you, and learn to work together as a team.

Success University is just what the name stands for. They have been online for quite sometime. The companies that I own depend on the things that I learn online. I would only suggest what I know will work to my own list of people, and not something, that is gone the next day.

My own list of people in my newsletter trust me because they all know, over the past 9 years, that when I have something to tell them it is only the truth and not something that will break their bank accounts. I have been called "The Howard Stern" of publishing and my newsletter is in most of the biggest Co-Ops and directories and forums. The reason for my success is because of people like Damon Day (It is funny we both have the same first names)

However, a "FLY BY NIGHT" company Success University is not. Some of the biggest companies there are back it. It is not just for people who are into affiliate marketing but also for people just starting out online and do not want to lose a lot of money. I will tell you from the start that it takes money to make money. This one company can take your funds, and turn it into something to be proud of. Right now, they are running a $2 14 day trial offer, and the monthly cost is less then a night on the town. So do not miss something that will give you everything you need to earn online.

So take five minutes of your time and look. It will surprise you to see what some people will do to help others instead of just thinking of themselves and what they can get out of people that don’t know any better.

Example: http://www.damonday.net

If you talk with Damon, tell him that I sent you to him so he will know that after everything we have been through, I still believe there are good people online!

Damon Smith is the publisher of Hailey Comet Weekly eZine that gives you the truth about online marketing and advertising. You can check out his newsletter at http://www.haileyscometweekly.com and get some of the best insight info on how he went from nothing to earning thousands a month by helping others.

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Obono John

You are ready to launch that new product or promotion. You are really counting on a piece of advertising copy to come through for you.

You are looking for stellar results! In addition, you are determined to do everything in your power to get them. This means surveys, thorough testing, and ongoing refinement of your ad copy.

Hold the phone!

You finish your draft and run it through this 12-point inspection. Cover all these basics, and you can be certain you are off to a running start.

1 – Do You Have A Compelling Headline?

Does it generate curiosity or envy? Does it promise a benefit that will compel someone with an interest in what you are selling to keep reading? Remember, your headline is the ad for the ad.

When I write direct response ad copy, or a sales letter, or have a very important sales objective of my own, I normally write 25 headlines before I begin the body of the piece.

Then I will pick half a dozen that I think will work & test them. The best of the rest, I use as sub headings throughout the piece to propel readership, and draw skimmers & skippers back into the copy as they move down the page.

2 – Are Your Headlines Pleasing To The Eye?

I most often find that headlines work best when centered on the page, and present a balanced appearance in terms of the shape they create. Encasing them in quotation marks also serves to grab more attention.

Long, top headlines tend to reduce readership, but if they help qualify more effectively, they can improve sales! Try them, but look for ways to modularize the text using punctuation and spacing so your readers do not suffocate trying to read them. Sometimes a long, top headline needs to be two or even three separate headlines.

3 – Is Your Opening Provocative & Arresting?

Does it trip the reader, interrupting the internal turbulence of the day? Each line of your ad copy must serve to "sell" the reader on continued reading, especially at the beginning.

You are looking to build enough momentum and interest to convey the points necessary to generate a greater desire for the product than its price. The higher the cost of the product, the more words required.

4 – Are You FAB Balanced?

You must focus on painting a picture of your prospects future life, because of their purchase. Does your copy promise emotional benefits? Does it pledge the realization of positive feelings, or the relief of negative ones?

Does it show how to achieve these outcomes with concise descriptions of the features and advantages that will deliver them? Your ad copy must strike a balance between emotion and logic if it is to be effective.

5 – Are You Creating Excitement & Enthusiasm?

Demonstrate your personal belief in what you are selling. Will your message quicken the readers pulse? Is it upbeat, positive, & full of inspired energy? Is there a sense of WOW?

6 – Is Your Body Copy Highly Readable?

Remember simple is best. Keep sentences short. Use a plain 10-point to 12-point font. Keep paragraphs to a few lines. Use words that are comfortable and specific to the audience you are targeting. Inject subheads to break up text. Highlight important points.

7 – Do You Have High ‘YOU’ density?

Remember to use the words ‘YOU’ and ‘YOUR’ to the hilt. Your reader is auto-translating to ‘ME’ and ‘MINE’.

8 – Are you speaking intimately?

Can you get a strong sense of personality when you review your letter after being away from it for a while? Visualize yourself, or the character you are personifying, writing a personal letter to your perfect prospect. Never write to a crowd.

9 – Are you inspiring the reader’s imagination?

You must trigger mental images with your writing. The mind has difficulty distinguishing between vividly painted word pictures, and reality. Daydreams enchant, and emotions flow in their wake.

When you have emotion, you have desire. When you have desire, you have suggestibility. When you have suggestibility, you can direct action. Your levers are allegory (storytelling), metaphor, similes, verbs, adjectives, and specificity.

10 – Do you offer proof?

Specific testimonials and convincing guarantees worked into your ad copy are essential.

Obono John is the owner of http://www.butterflymarketzone.blogspot.com, The Viral Marketing Experiment.

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Stephen Joyce

Many retail business owners feel pressure to set up shop online. However, is this realistic expectation or is it an exercise in futility. Some very important key questions need answered before considering the move to online sales.

1. Are your products conducive to mail, phone, or online sales? You think every product will sell online, to some degree, you would be correct. Should you sell every product online? The answer is no. Many products do not sell well online because they are not conducive to impulse purchases, the demand is low, or the product itself has a long sales cycle. Most people will make purchases online using a credit card, having a limit of $1,000 to $5,000, so that the products or combinations of products are easy to purchase.

2. Are you prepared to sell your products online? This may seem very basic, but it will validate your motivation to succeed online. If your motivation to sell online is driven by a belief that "everyone else is doing it and so should I”, then you should seriously consider the implications of selling online. Once you have made the mental decision to sell online, you can begin to formulate your strategy for doing so.

3. Do you have the resources to sell online? Are you prepared to handle five, ten, a hundred, five hundred orders a day? Do you have the staff to fulfill orders, manage online customer service, and make updates to the website? Do you plan to do this work yourself? If so, have you considered the impact this decision will have on the rest of your business? Create a plan that sets definitive goals for your online storefront, as you would for any business opportunity. Remember, managing a successful e-commerce website is a full-time job.

4. Who will build your site? One of the biggest myths about e-commerce is that anybody can build and run an online store. The truth of the matter is that anyone can build and run a store online, but only a select few can do it well. There are many online store builders, shopping cart programs, and hosted applications that let you build a site and start selling your products online, but realistically you get what you pay for with most of these services. Consider hiring a company who specializes in developing online commerce sites for you. The result will be superior to a homegrown site and will ultimately result in increased credibility and sales.

5. What is your budget? Get quotes from a variety of vendors. You will find that the quotes you get back will range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. A reasonable amount to budget for your new website is around $10,000 for a full build out including custom web design and software, and ongoing server and maintenance fees of about $300 to $500 per month. When you consider your budget, take into account that the more you spend upfront, the less likely you will be to change the site. On the Internet, keeping your website fresh and updated is crucial to your credibility.

Now that you have answered the fundamentals, you will want to ensure you take the following steps to get your online store set-up correctly and efficiently:

1. Set-up an Internet Merchant Account This is necessary. You may be tempted to use PayPal, 2Checkout, or some other low cost online payment solution, however, in the end, when your site becomes popular and you start generating significant revenue, you will find that the discount rate you pay with a true merchant account will be much less. Although there is a little more work involved in setting up an Internet capable merchant account, your credibility, not to mention your payment tracking, are simplified.

2. Purchase a Secure Certificate. This is also necessary. Securing your site is mandatory in order to avoid possible issues with credit card theft. All merchant account providers will require you have a secure certificate installed on your server before they issue you the account. Secure certificates range in cost from around $80 CAD to $500 CAD depending on the level of security and authentication you require. For the most part, a basic certificate is all that is required for online sales.

3. Organize your product data. When you have your product data organized in a spreadsheet, it will go a long way to speeding up the set-up of your store. It will also help you organize your store layout and determine what products will sell best online.

4. Take good product photos. Since your online customers will not be able to hold or touch your products, a good photo is your next best option. Your photographs should be bright, with good contrast, and show the product either alone or in combination with complimentary products. For example, when selling a pair of jeans, take a photo of a person (preferably someone who looks attractive in the jeans) actually wearing the jeans. Have the person wear other complimentary products from your store like a popular shirt, shoes, and a purse. Customers will be more inclined to buy the jeans if they can see the jeans in context with other products.

5. Set-up a newsletter. Permission based newsletters are an excellent way to keep your customers coming back to your store. Sending a monthly newsletter that highlights new products, sales, or promotions can be a great way to retain and attract new customers.

6. Visit stores that you like and make notes. Do your research. Look at the sites that are at the top of their game and find out what they do. How are their products displayed? How does their shopping cart work? How often do they update their site? The more information you can provide to your web designer and developer, the closer they will come to meeting your expectations.

In summary, do not rush into anything. Like all good things, a high quality revenue-generating website takes time, money and effort to build. There is nothing wrong with starting small Article Submission, but remember to re-invest in your online store. Make improvements whenever you can and keep it fresh. The days of "build it and they will come" have long been over. Talk to a marketing expert and plan your strategy accordingly.

Stephen Joyce is President of Sentias Software Corp, a software development company based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Sentias develops the Booking Server, a sophisticated hosted tour product management and distribution system. For more information about the Sentias Booking Server, please visit http://www.sentias-booking-server.com.

]]> http://miraclemoneyblog.com/homebiztips/HomeBusinessTips_DAn_275/user/index.php
By Alicia Forest

Leverage the page your website visitors see after