Archive for August, 2009
Profiting Online Need Not Be Complicated
One of the simplest and most overlooked aspects of online marketing is that it’s not complicated. Or more to the point,, there are many “gurus” who try to make it complicated. Aside from whatever motivation they might have to do that online profits happen as the result of one simple equation –
Traffic + Conversion = Sales
– performed over & over again
There are MANY ways to get traffic (visitors) to your site and get them to take some action or “convert,” which will either result in more leads or (less frequently) result directly in more sales to your business.
So here’s the other simple rule — you only need to master 1 or 2 traffic methods and 1 or 2 conversion methods, and you will make money. You don’t need to master the entire kitchen to make a grilled cheese sandwich, and you don’t need to know EVERYTHING about internet marketing in order to add revenue to your business.
With that in mind, there are a few basic traffic techniques I’ve implemented in some of my sites and client sites that have universally and consistently WORKED. Here are a few of those methods — but remember, you only need to pick one or two:
Increasing Visitor Count
1) Twitter — highly effective for targeting your niche and developing the conversation with your customers and prospects. There really is nothing like it. However, most businesses don’t know how to use Twitter effectively. They spam with “sales tweets” — “Look at the cool new thing I’m selling.” The 80/20 rule is highly effective — 80% of your tweets should be about something interesting, funny or otherwise engaging… a question of the day like “What’s for lunch?”… anything to get people talking, laughing, thinking… Also, keep it consistent and be generous with re-tweets. A few tweets a day go a long way toward establishing a rabid list of followers. The wrong thing to do is to Tweet like a madman for a day or two and then disappear for a month. Or worse, don’t reply when someone direct messages you or @messages you. That’s like ignoring someone at a dinner party when they ask you to pass the gravy. You WON’T get any dessert.
2) Video marketing — one of the fastest ways to rank your site and get lots of inbound traffic. Keep your videos consistent — don’t show up one day in a baseball cap and dark lighting, talking about the rain, and another day bouncing in a jungle gym screaming about business leads. Consistent message, consistent tone, consistent look & feel. Also, be sure to put a call to action in your video’s description, as well as the full URL of your website’s landing page, and use appropriate keywords.
3) Article marketing is an evergreen method for outstanding traffic generation, with one HUGE caveat — mix it up! Putting the same article on 400 article directories will get you nowhere fast. You will get a bump in traffic from all the inbound links until Google figures out they’re all the same article and basically count it as one link. There are content spinners out there that alter the content of your articles automatically, but you have to be very careful here as well. Most content spinners change a word or two to replace it with a synonym, or they mash up the article randomly so the output is basically junk that cannot be read. It has to pass human review. So if you’re looking for a quality content spinner, ideally you want to be able to change the entire sentence many times throughout the article, and then have it spin those into hundreds of different articles. That’s the professional way to do it. At the bottom of your article, have a call to action in the information field; a blurb about you (the author) and a link to a free guide the reader can pick up at your website.
Conversion
1) Keep it simple. The landing page has to do ONE thing — get people to ACT. For this reason, it’s been called a SINGLE ACTION PAGE. Pear it down to the bare essence of what you need the visitor to do. Consider placing a video on the page with a very simple message, “Hey thanks for stopping by for my free whizbang. Just type in your first name and e-mail address and I will rush it right over to you. In just a moment after you send your information, you’ll get an e-mail with a confirmation link. Click that link and I will instantly send your free whizbang.”
2) Direct, direct, direct. Notice the video script in #1 above — see how we instructed the user on exactly what they need to do? And then we told them what to expect next, and what they would then need to do. And we closed with a reminder of the benefit — the free whizbang.
If you have trademarked the term “whizbang,” then I apologize in advance. 
3) Test, test, test. ALWAYS have two versions of your landing page operating at one time. You can optimize your landing page using freely available Google tools in the Web Optimizer toolbox. You really can’t go on “gut” here — the data will be you every single time. Even on PPC ads, we have literally seen the addition of a question mark in the ad increase conversion by 16.8% So test, test, test.
Conclusion
These methods work on any business in any industry. Here is some social proof –
Local landscape designer increased her traffic by 7,342% (yes seven thousand percent)
- Local artist went from three visitors a day to an average of 41 visitors a day
- International digital publisher had zero e-commerce and started converting 16% of all traffic to revenue within 72 hours of implementing one traffic strategy and one conversion strategy
- Changing a landing page to a simple design on an e-book site turned conversion from an anemic two sales per week to eight sales a day — on the same traffic.
I hope this helps your business. The average business fails to do what it takes to drive traffic or achieve conversions to their website. While they exercise 20-30 traffic methods on average, they don’t do a single one effectively. There are many sources online to learn about effective marketing strategies, including free resources and some almost-free, like the definitive guidebook 750 Traffic Generation Methods.
Do-it-for-you solutions are also available; experience guides the appropriate strategy for the website and market. The biggest challenge business owners face is knowing which strategy to implement. Experimentation can be very costly in terms of time and lost sales… The key is to find a reputable marketing firm that offers a full range of customized services as well as downloadable products and courses to assist every website owner at every budget level.
Hotpoint Washers How Take a Closer Look? - Read our Review
Modern day washing machines are seen as one of the most important kitchen appliances that aim at serving help in your household chores. One has to deal with a number of hurdles in getting satisfactory results while washing clothes regularly. What if you were given a permanent solution to the problems you face while performing this mind numbing household activity? Good idea well Wait no longer and replace your customary and traditional washer dryer with a new and effective one like the latest hotpoint wml 540p washing machine. Let’s take a look what it all has to offer us…
Hotpoint washing machines are really efficient in handling the high size load of clothes and aims at delivering high end performance. It is proficient in delivering fantastic results when you require cleaning heavy clothes. It incorporates an extremely efficient washer due to which it has a cut above the other similar products in the row. As well as the above it also carries along a superwash advantage which assures about dealing with the most stubborn and mulish stains delivering you the best of benefits and maximum satisfaction form its performance.
If you have children at home and are often in need of washing your smalls quickly then the hotpoint washing machines is a perfect suit to your needs. It incorporates a time delay feature which enables you to set the time of washer to as per your suitability. If washing clothes is the prime activity you go for in the morning or when you get back home from a cruise holiday then this feature is certainly going to lend a serving hand in washing your shorts and tee shirts. Further, the added up feature of super silent wash enables you to enjoy its calm and sterile performance with astounding results.
The Hotpoint washer accommodates a superb feature of duvet cycle that endows you the benefit to wash duvets. It bestows you the advantage to wash even the clothes that you prefer getting washed at laundries. This not only saves you time but also saves a lot of your money that you earlier used to spend for dry cleaned having sensitive fabric. Additionally, the added feature of woolmark care which indicates that the Hotpoint Washing machine is equipped with is special. This cycle goes slower simultaneously spinning down the massage on the woolen clothes and discards the possibilities of any shrinkage or harm to your clothes.
The cool new feature that comes as your way as the biggest advantage after purchasing this awe inspiring washing machine is its ’set be how dirty feature’. This setting allows one to indicate the machine about how dirty the clothes are and then accordingly adjust the spinning and water needs. Lastly, the safety child lock features ensures complete safety to the kids at your place from touching or playing with the preset functions and interfering with your wash cycle.
Affordable Personal Training in Washington, DC Is Only After Your Money
Personal training that starts out as reasonably priced usually ends up with you having wasted your money. This is almost always the case.
Few Things To Keep In Mind So That You Can Spot Them Before Its Too Late
To start with, they try to lure you in by making you believe that you will definitely get in shape with their random exercise technique. But all they do is make you jog or ride an exercise bike until you cant anymore.
After that, they will serve you by providing unnecessary comforts like handing you a towel and quenching your thirst by providing water. Lastly, you will be directed to switch to switch to food that is low in fat and carbohydrates even if that means sacrificing some of those foods you just cant do without.
Hold on Tight to the Hard-Earned Dollar
Loading your workouts with random strenuous exercises until you lose your stamina and cant go any further will not result in substantial weight loss within six months. Though USDA had recommended a 60 to 90 minutes aerobic workout for effective weight loss in 2005, later studies that were conducted in 2007 has highlighted that these recommendations were not fruitful.
“Men who did moderate to exercise for over 60 minutes per day, 6 days per week, for an entire year lost only 6.5lbs of body fat.”
Why do you still want to waste your time and money by adopting this style? All your efforts of a 6 hour workout per week are down the drain when you lose only half a pound in a months time. Instead, opt for the metabolic boost which you get from weight training; it is a more effective alternative.
Can you really be confident that an inexpensive personal trainer can guarantee weight loss when only selective people possess the secret? It can be difficult to find a multi published weight loss author at an affordable rate.
Count your reps and sets and be the one to fetch your towel and drink! You are being lured into being too dependent on your personal trainer when you let him do these things for you. There are no speculations here— their trick is to make you become dependent on them so that in the end, you’ll realize that weight loss can only take place with these people around.
True professionals do not demand money from their clients every now and then and empower their clients.
Nutritional plans are advised AND printed out! These are not simple over-the-shoulder remarks that usually slip off a clients mind. They must be specific, not vague. You must never be satisfied with Eat less fat or Eat less carbs. Ask for specific foods to eat (and avoid) for a successful weight loss.
With these things pointed out, you can make a decision whether or not you’ll allow such affordable personal training in Washington, DC to run away with your money, and leave you broke, unhappy and fat.
Josef Brandenburg is a prize winning, high-value vs. affordable Washington, DC personal trainer, dedicated to helping people on the go create the bodies they want, in their spare time. His average client drops 8-0lbs of body-fat in the first 4 weeks alone with only 3 to 3.5hrs of exercise. Click here to find out how to get started absolutely free.
Tags: aerobics, carbs, diet, exercise, fat, Fitness, Health, healthy, jog, lose weight, muscle building, personal trainer, Weight Loss, workout
Womens Earth Shoes - Ensuring Your Feet’s Comfort
Perhaps, you have not heard of womens earth shoes. But if you have, you probably want a pair for yourself. It is hard to resist the lure of this brand once you have discovered the many health benefits it offers. Indeed, there are many health benefits to wearing a pair of negative-heeled shoes.
Have you heard of negative heel technology? Perhaps, it is time that you do so. Womens earth shoes boast of using this concept. The theory is that if the body is able to maintain its weight on the heels while wearing shoes, then the body will not be forced to adapt to irregular positions.
These shoes are designed with inclined soles that position the toes slightly higher than the heels. This helps maintain proper body balance while you walk, run or stand. Aside from the sheer comfort this offers, this also encourages weight loss! You can think of it as walking on a treadmill or climbing uphill. Yes, you are practically exercising every time you walk or run while wearing womens earth shoes.
Aside from the fact that they notice that they seemingly lose weight, women also notice that their thighs are firmer and their leg muscles are more toned. This is indeed a good thing especially if you are constantly trying to lose weight. Imagine losing weight while you go about your daily activities.
There are many shoes to choose from if you are going to purchase your own pair of negative heel shoes. Many online stores sell dress shoes, casual shoes, sports shoes, sandals and slippers. It can be confusing if you do not know which pair to get. There are some women who prefer negative heel vegan shoes.
If you are a vegan, you should check out the huge selection of vegan shoes fro this brand. You really do not have to sacrifice anything just so you will be able to enjoy the benefits offered by this brand. You will definitely love wearing your own pair of womens earth shoes.
Are you trying to lose weight? Do you know that the Earth brand shoes can help you lose weight. It is specially designed in order to facilitate weight loss as you go about your daily activities. And this is just one of the many benefits that these shoes offer! Check out Earth Shoe Store for more information.
Tags: earth brand shoes, earth origin shoes, earth shoes, earth shoes discount, earth shoes intrigue, earth shoes on sale, earth shoes retailers, earth shoes sale, earth spirit shoes, earth vegan shoes, Online Promotion, shopping
Who Should Become An Interview Coach
You name it - iPhone, Blackberry, Skype Connection, Cell Phone, these are the tools of this trade.
You reach out to someone in a far away country and work with a client via a Blackberry or an iPhone or a cell phone? Has it happened to you in your business? Believe me, this is the way of the future, and it is already here!
Imagine this:
My phone rings and I answer to find that the call is from a man who says, Hello, I’m calling from Israel. You can imagine, I’m sitting in California, USA and I am a bit shocked by this announcement. Why would someone from Israel be calling me? He is calling to get interview coaching for an interview that will take place in Israel ” in Hebrew. .
My immediate response is, I can’t help you, I don’t know anything about Israel and interviewing there. But this man is determined and he says that he will also be interviewing in the US. He wants feedback on his techniques and answers and has found my website on the internet.
If he is willing so am I. So, the coaching progresses over a few weeks and a few calls, over the BlackBerry and email and even my cell phone when I am out of town visiting in the east coast. Our final session is to coach him through his salary negotiation on an offer he has received after his successful interviews.
This man got the job in a very competitive situation at one of the most prestigious companies in Israel - and was able to negotiate a higher salary offer after our work together. This is truly a wonderful ending to this story.
He is thrilled and thinks that our work together was the reason for his success. He tells me that I am a great interview coach!
What a wonderful, crazy world we live in. This is what I call exciting work. In a business where the sky’s the limit!
The average income generated by home office households is $63,000 a year. The business of coaching is growing like crazy. In fact, it is quietly taking over the $427 Billion home-business sector by storm.
How do you size-up with those figures? I have learned some secrets of success after being in the interview coaching business for over ten years.
It seems one of the secrets to success in a coaching business is to find the right niche for you. It’s not always easy to find that niche, “the one that will satisfy your needs” a niche where you can make a difference - a niche where you can make some serious money.
I found my niche after some trial and error, and that niche is Interview Coaching. This is my method of being able to reach out and help people, that’s what my business is all about. This is my means of connecting with people all over the United States and way beyond.
I was one of those people who wasn’t satisfied with my job as an HR Manager and when life offered an me an opportunity, I took it. I had a very specific niche in mind and that was to help women in transition to re-enter the workplace. That was where I was in my own life and thought I could help these women because I had walked in their shoes. I went back to school to earn my Masters degree in Career Development.
Niches have a way of bending to the right and then to the left - and today I find myself coaching people from all walks of life.
A single phone call I received one day placed me as the interview expert for Monster.com. I have now been writing and have been quoted by Monster.com for the past eight years. This started the ball rolling.
Another phone call came one day from someone who wanted to be an FBI agent. He asked me if I knew anything about the FBI interview process. My answer was, No. But, a part of interview coaching is understanding Behavioral Interviewing, which happens to be the basis for the FBI interview. He hired me to help him, and over the past six years I have become the Guru of the FBI interview.
As you can see, these areas are very far from my original goal of helping women in transition.
My clients are not only people in job search, they are from every field imaginable including someone who wanted to be on a major quiz program and couldn’t get through the initial interview, authors who want to sell their books to agents, entrepreneurs who want to sell their businesses to investors/or sponsors, and, even a beauty queen who needed answers to difficult questions.
There’s something new every day. Can you imagine how interesting and exciting this work is? It’s so rewarding, it doesn’t even feel like work.
There are some factors that will determine what makes a really good interview coach. You might think that just anyone could hang out a sign or create a website and advertise themselves as an Interview Coach. In reality they can do that, but that doesn’t mean that they have what it takes to do a good job or that they will be able to reap the benefits for their clients or themselves.
Here’s a quick quiz for you to take to determine if interview coaching might be a niche for you to explore further.
__ Are you making the revenue that you had hoped for?
The amount of money you make through interview coaching will be determined by the amount of time and effort you put into marketing - getting the word out that this is your niche - or that you’ve added a niche. The more services offered means more money for you.
__ Are you looking for added value to give your clients?
If you already a have a career business, or are a resume writer, or even a career counselor, the more credibility you have through great results, the better the referrals, and that will give you added clients and more income.
__ Are you up to a new challenge of learning a new skill set?
Cutting edge techniques and methods will only enhance your credibility and give you the savvy to present yourself as an expert in new areas that you may not now offer or feel that you are really qualified to delve into.
__ Are you a good problem solver, able to diagnosis the problem?
If you like diagnosing problems and getting to the root of what’s going on with a person, this is right up your alley. The first thing you want to find out from any client is Tell me what’s been happening in your job search and interviews? Then the listening and problem solving begin.
__ Are you ready to give straight-forward, sometimes difficult feedback?
The clients that call you for interview coaching want to find out what they can do to be the best contender, or what they have been doing wrong. It’s up to you to give them the real scoop. Sometimes it is difficult to tell a client something about how they are coming across or how their appearance could be keeping them from getting those offers. Good communication skills and practice are the key to your success.
__ Are you willing to spend time marketing this new service?
If you have an established practice, this will be an add-on to your marketing efforts. If you are starting a new line or business then you will have to use some resources to get your business going.
__ Are you patient with people from other cultures?
Often people who contact you for interview coaching services will have English as a second language. You will need to decide if you can work with people who require a bit more patience and coaching on how to use the language and how they can better be understood.
__ Are you willing to be the clients rock when they get rejected?
When someone has had a difficult time in the workplace, it will be part of your job to let them know that life goes on “and that they can’t give up.” Sometimes this will be in the form of just plain listening. And sometimes you will be asked for advice “even outside the interview arena” encouragement about life lessons.
__ Are you ready to make a greater difference in peoples lives?
You may already know how good it feels when you actually make a difference and you get those emails or calls letting you know that you have helped someone over a speed bump or given them the confidence they needed to take a risk.
Did you check seven or more of the ten skills required? If you did, I encourage you to explore interview coaching so that you can continue “to make a difference in peoples lives.”
What is life after all if it isn’t about making a difference? You can make a difference in your own life as well as other peoples’ lives. The rewards are when a young college student sends you an email that says she just got the job. Or a man who has been on 20 interviews with no offers writes that he finally received a job offer, and he is calling to thank you for “making a difference in his life.” Those successes are the emails and the calls that make my day.
Being an interview coach offers new challenges, variety and the chance to play many different roles during a single day. The roles often times vary with each client. The clients are all different; people in transition, or up for an internal promotion, or people changing fields, or even young people entering the work force. And, don’t forget the walking wounded who have been laid off, or fired, or just quit when they couldn’t take it any longer. These people need help, they need encouragement, they need caring for. And they just keep on coming and keep my phone ringing.
You can make a difference as an Interview Coach. You too can play a role in peoples’ lives, in their successes, and in their job satisfaction. It can be a very rewarding experience for you that happens over, and over, and over, extending all over the world.
Carole Martin has 18 years of HR Management Experience, 8 years experience as Monster.coms interview expert, with the background and training necessary to teach you the secrets of performing as an Interview Coach. Become part of The Interview View Coach Team Listen to Carole as she tells you about interview Coaching at www.askcarolemartin.com
Tags: career coaching, Careers, coach training, coaching, employment, home based business, how to become an interview coach, HR, human resources, interview career, interview coaching, questions and answers