Technique #11: Forums and Social BookmarkLet’s use the same example as before about mobile phones.
You need to create a website, and make up a domain name that refers to cell phones. That could be whatever is free and easy, such as the
www.Getafreephone.info . Your job is to generate leads and traffic. Your offers should be enough, once you get the traffic that you need.
Make a really good offer. For instance, you can advertise that you will be offering one of the new and fancy mobile phones once per month for free to those who sign up. The words Free phone (Iphone for examplee) is what will bring traffic to your website.
People like offers and they like free things even more. You can even create banners and flyers and leave them at the local café and other public places where people can find them and see them. It is easy to do, so you should definitely try the method of free offers. It will multiply your traffic within a short period of time, and that will multiply your earned money.
And if you worry about giving a free phone each month, worry not, because with all the money you will be making, this won’t be a problem at all. On the contrary, you will be delighted to see that it works perfectly fine.
Technique #12: Taking Advantage of Searches
If you have visited Yahoo, you have seen this little tab on the right side with the title ‘Popular Searches’. This indicates what people are mostly looking for and what they want to see in a website. The popular searches usually refer to celebrities, actors and singers, movies, awards or events and gossips of all kinds. You might haven’t thought about it, but you can actually take advantage of these popular searches and use them to make some money.
For instance you can check which movies are the most popular for the moment; Slumdog Millionaire, the Dark Knight, the Jonas Brothers DVD are some of the top selling movies right now. Why should that interest you?
It should actually interest you because these keywords – referring to the movie titles – will be among the top searches in all lists. That means that you might be able to get some very cheap Pay per click advertisements, especially if you opt for movies or events that are announced but haven’t happened or released yet.
These are the ones which are expected to get additional traffic in the future, once they are out; if you are pro active and you have already invested on them you are most likely to make huge money easily, taking advantage of the fame and reputation of other people. Why not? It’s simple and effective.
You can simply set up a regular pay per click campaign and create your blog at one of the main blogging platforms, such as the blogger.com. If you create some small and interesting posts that link at www.socialposter.com or www.socialmarker.com you will be able to get huge traffic.
The only thing you will need to do is to create a single page that asks for people to tell their opinion by participating in a simple poll.
Do you think this is a good movie? Do you think that it will get to the Oscars? Simple questions that are fun and easy are always interesting and gripping for people. Whether they vote for yes or no, you will have them redirected to your CPA offer, which can offer a free DVD, or that free mobile phone that we talked about earlier. Don’t forget that the free offer should always be visible, because this is something that will get much attention and traffic.
Pay per Click or Pay Per view are quite popular and common models today. You can visit www.Zango.com which is a really entertaining website. It is a download site with ads. You can simply sign up and join the website and post your ad. The following extract comes from the www.Zango.com website itself and will give you a good idea of what it is all about:
"Zango is an online media company that gives people free access to a huge library of games, videos, emoticons and other entertainment.
In return for all this free content, our users agree to view targeted advertising.
With Zango, you can truly target consumers when they are most interested in
products or services. You'll achieve a higher ROI while exposing people to fewer
ads than hit-or-miss pop-ups and banners.”
This is one of the most desired win-win cases, as the visitors have fun playing games and watching videos and the advertisers can make some good money promoting their products to people who are actually interested in what they see. Don’t forget that creating well targeted ads is an important part of the advertising campaign. You cannot expect to get attention on a product or service if you advertise in a completely hostile or irrelevant environment.
It is also known that you have to use some popular platforms that will help you acquire some good traffic; why not write a small and interesting article on your niche and publish it on Ezine or eHow or ArticlesBase?
You can add a CPA offer in your resource box and invite people to visit the website and get advantage of the offer. Do not forget that good offers usually go from mouth to mouth, or from email to email. If you manage to start the viral effect, you will be more than happy with the results. The more articles you add, the more exposure you will get.
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One of the biggest and most frequently asked question online in the
Internet Marketing industry is "How do I get started".
Most people, acquire a cheap "
Make money online" E-book and then they read half way through it and think "well this helped me none.. I just don't understand".
I know some people will disagree, but breaking into Internet Marketing and being successful takes determination and is very hard to do.
FIRST OFF: I see too many people trying to just make money. They're only in it for the money and only want to make some sales.
This is a big problem. Why?
No one comes online looking to randomly buy things. Everyone is looking for an answer to a problem they're having or looking for a solution to something. Remember.. your job is not to make a sale but to solve someone's problem and in turn.. that is what will make you a sale.
So what do you need to make money online?
#1: You need a clue.
Anyone can search google for answers to making money online, but you've got to have an understanding of what you're doing or you'll always be running around searching for answers.
#2: You need a plan/idea.
Brainstorm! You need to have a mapped out vision in your head of your business. Do you plan on purchasing a domain and starting a product on dog health care, buying domains and selling them, selling home made materials on e-bay, writing articles, etc. There are so many options out there for what you want to do, but you've got to have an idea and a plan before you can start making money. Brainstorm in your head and think to yourself..
"What am I good at?"
"What am I knowledgeable about?"
"What is something I really enjoy doing/talking about?"
"How do I plan on providing information on this product?"
#3: You need a website.
Unless you plan on marketing to forums and groups (which isn't a very well played out business plan) you need to establish a website. Before you start thinking "I have no money for a website". You can always start a blogger - www.blogger.com
If you're looking at starting a website, I would highly recommend Host Gator to beginners and novice marketers. The options of managing/running your website are great and at such a low cost, it's hard for me to refuse Host Gator when ever I plan on getting a website.
Hosting at Host Gator starts out at $4.95 so this is great for a beginner's website or just starting out.
Now comes the part I had trouble with when I began. Website Design/Website creation. I am not a HTML savvy guy.. believe me. While I am sure there are many sources you could hire for you to create your website, I believe everyone should learn to create their own material at one point or another.
You need a website with an easy design/layout because anything hard to read or something that doesn't look professional will have a much lower conversion rate than what you hope for.
Remember, when you're writing your sales copy/creating your product... you're speaking out to people that have a problem and are in need of a solution.
Make Money E-Book - People are broke.. who wants to be broke?
Train Your Dog E-Book - A loud and undisciplined dog is a danger to you and everyone around you.
A Guide To Smart Car Buying - Learn to save gas and to save earth
Do you see what I am saying? You have to speak to people in the certain niche you're trying to sell in, because you're trying to fix a problem someone has or answer a question that someone has.
In my opinion, fear and hype are two of the biggest sellers there are.
Trying to sell a vehicle? Examine your audience.. a young man will be interested in something fast and loud and will want to impress the ladies in his hot new ride. You have to know who you're selling too and get them hyped, because a hungry crowd always comes back for more.
Don't get me wrong now.. I am not saying a website is the only way you will ever make money period, I am just saying that this is probably the best way to create an automated source of income.
#4: Patience/Consistence.
If making money online was as easy as snapping your fingers.. everyone would be e-millionaires.
So many people quit trying once they find out how much work is actually involved in creating an online business and being good at what you do. You have got to keep consistent.
You've got a killer website but no sales, why not?
Get inside your market's head and view your website not from your point of view but theirs. Do not think "how will this make me money" but "will this solve my problem"?
Be consistent and always add new fresh content and possibly new products to keep your customers/readers coming back for more. A hungry crowd can never get enough no matter how much they spend.
Now then, here are some suggestions as to when you do get a business up and running, but are not mandatory.
E-MAIL LISTS!
If someone opts in to your e-mail list.. chances are.. they're interested in what you've got or curious. A lot of websites don't offer a chance to opt in to an e-mail list and a lot of money is to be made off this. A lot of people who see a website once won't purchase something because they simply don't know the source. A couple of e-mails possibly sending out some free methods/tactics or newsletters might change Curious George into a buyer.
Remember.. Internet Marketing is not an overnight task.
You can either sell your own or someone else's product.
If you're new to the game.. I don't recommend purchasing any products, because I guarantee you that 75% of the information you just paid for can be found on a forum or a blog like this one for free.
The more consistent you are, the more determined you are, the more it will show. Don't give up just because you don't hit the lottery over night because like I said.. if making money online was truly "That easy", everyone would be doing it.
Until next time. See you around :) ...
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I get a lot of interest in my articles about
Google Adsense on Blogger Blogspot blogs. In this article I discuss 6 common myths about Google Adsense that will help you get real about placing Adsense on your Blogger blog.
Google Adsense Myths Every Blogspot Bloggers Needs to KnowThere are a number of myths about Google Adsense which can lead new bloggers in particular into believing that they need only slap a few Google Ad units on their blog and they will become instant millionaires. The reality can be a lot different especially when you consider that
95% of all blogs receive less than 100 visitors per day. Adding Google Adsense to your blog can generate some income but there is a need to be realistic. Here are 6 myths about Google Adsense that every blogger needs to know:
Myth 1. Google Adsense is a Get Rich Quick Scheme
False. Only a small percentage of bloggers actually make a living from their blog. It is definitely possible to make some money from Google Adsense Ad units but bear in mind that making money from your blog is commensurate with many factors such as types of advertising, placement of advertising, quality of your content, regular posting, number of articles, SEO, backlinks to your site, number of visitors to your blog to name just a few. The more articles you write, the more posts indexed in search engines like Google and Yahoo which may lead to increased traffic but not necessarily. The bottom line is that for your ads to be effective your blog needs to receive traffic so concentrate your efforts in this area and make sure that your blog is worth visiting once your visitors get there.
Do Your Sums
As Google Adsense itself says it is difficult to predict earnings however there are some general pointers to guide you. For instance if your blog receives 100 visits per day your likely revenue from Google is probably about 10 cents per day assuming that 1 in 100 people click on some form of Google advertising on your site and the page CTR is about 0.20%. Over a year that equates to about $36.50. Not a fortune in anyone's book. Likewise if your blog is fortunate enough to receive 1000 visitors per day you are looking at an annual income from Google Adsense of $365.00.
100 Visitors per day = Earnings $36.50 per year
1000 Visitors per day = Earnings $365.00 per year
5000 Visitors per day = Earnings $1825.00 per year
10000 Visitors per day = Earnings $3650.00 per year
The above figures are an optimistic view. I have not allowed for the fact that many of your visitors will be repeats so the likelihood of a repeat visitor clicking on an ad unit is less than for that of a new visitor. On this basis your earnings could be much less.
Google Adsense and Affiliate Marketing
About 95% of Bloggers would have less than 100 visitors to their blog a day. If your blog is in this category then Google Adsense alone will not allow you to quit your job and become a full-time blogger. You will need to display other forms of advertising on your blog as well before your blog will start to pay. Check out my article on other forms of advertising that may be suitable for your Blogger blog including displaying Affiliate Marketing banners.
Affiliate marketing banners can work as a form of advertising. Consider that if 1 site visitor in 100 actually buys something worth $50.00 you will immediately earn $5.00 assuming you receive 10% of the sale as a commission. Even if only one in 500 clicks through to the merchant and buys something you will still be ahead of the revenue earned from Google ads for the same number of visitors. $5.00 from Affiliate Marketing versus 50 cents from Google Adsense. In many ways Affiliate Marketing is a more profitable marketing strategy than having heaps of Google ads on your blog. However, in my experience a good mix of both is the way to go
Myth 2. Displaying More Ads on My Blog Will Earn More Money
False. Some bloggers mistakenly believe that placing more Google Adsense units on their blog will yield higher earnings. Sadly this isn't the case at all. By putting more Ad units on your blog you may actually reduce your earnings. There is a risk that the highest performing Ad units will shift to positions that are less frequently clicked on. For instance while the top right hand corner is a prime place for an advertising banner because it gets viewed by the most eyeballs it is also a spot that tends to get disregarded by savvy visitors who recognise it as an advertising zone and avoid it. At the same time a 336x280 Ad unit with a higher CTR is likely to display Google Ad units which pay less because the highest CTR has been transferred to the 468x60 Ad unit.
Myth 3. More Traffic Equates to Higher Google Adsense Earnings
Not necessarily. Depending on your blog's content it might not always be possible to drive a lot of new visitors to your blog and you rely more heavily on your repeat traffic. However, due to the familiarity of the ad placement on your blog repeat visitors are less likely to click on your Ad units than new visitors. While you can expect more clicks on your ad units as traffic increases there is no guarantee that Google Adsense on your blog will deliver the kind of earnings you might expect.
Myth 4. The Ad Format of Google Adsense Ads is Not Important
False. The ad format you display on your blog is very important. You can earn more from some ad formats than others. For instance it is generally considered that the wide Google Adsense ads (336x280, 300x250 or 250x250) perform best. I like to position one of these directly above my first post.
Link units can be profitable too if strategically placed. One of the best locations for link units is in or just below your blog header as many people are used to looking there for a navigation menu. A 728x15 linked ad unit just below your horizontal navigation menu will very likely yield good results.
Myth 5. Placement of Google Adsense Ad Units Doesn't Matter
On the contrary where you place Google Adsense can be critical to earning revenue from your blog. One of the best places to position Adsense is above what's known as the fold. The fold is the top area of your blog visible to your visitors without them having to scroll down. A 336x280 ad unit in this space works well because on arrival at your blog the visitor sees what they are looking for and clicks on it. For instance if your blog is about mountain biking then Google Adsense will very likely serve up ads about cycling equipment, cycling tours etc. For the visitor seeing exactly what they are interested in on arrival is a definite bonus which may lead them to click on your Ad unit.
Myth 6. To Make Money from My Blog I Need to Add Google Adsense
False. While Google Adsense is by far the most popular Advertising Network it is not the only advertising option. There are some good alternatives like AdBrite and Chitika. Let the type of blog you have govern your decisions around which advertising mix you employ rather than just going for Google Adsense because its the easiest.
In this article I have explored 6 common myths about Google Adsense that every Blogger Blogspot blogger needs to be aware of when placing Google Adsense on their blog. This article will hopefully help you do a reality check and help you recognise that while you may be one of the 5% of bloggers sitting on a goldmine Google Adsense won't transform you into a millionaire overnight.
Until next time! See you around :) ...
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If you want to make a few bucks from all the hard work you are putting into your blog then consider adding a
Paypal donate button to your Blogger Blogspot blog. Adding a donation button will encourage all those happy readers to say a big thank you for helping them out. Not everyone will donate but you will get the odd generous soul who will willingly donate some chump change to shout you a coffee.
In this tutorial we will be adding a gadget to the Blogger sidebar but we won't be changing the template. Skill level is rated easy.
1. Get yourself a
Paypal account if you don't already have one
2. Login to your
Paypal account
3. Click on the
Merchant Services tab
4. Choose Donations from the list of key features displayed in the right sidebar of the PayPal Website Payments Standard Option (first of 3 payment solutions)
5. From the Paypal Create a Payment Button screen choose Donation from the dropdown menu at Step 1. if it is not already selected.
6. Stick with the default button unless you wish to customize it
7. Choose your currency depending on your needs and location
8. Choose Donors enter their own contribution amount radio button unless you want to have a set amount
9. Ensure the Secure Merchant ID radio button is selected. This will prevent spammers getting hold of your email address
10. At Step 2 it is worth saving your button
11. At Step 3 Customize your checkout page by allowing donors to write a short comment by selecting the Yes radio button to special instructions to seller
12. Select the No radio button for Customer's Shipping Address
13. Select the Create Button button
14. Once Paypal creates the donate button code copy it by right clicking your mouse and choosing copy
15. Logout of Paypal
16. Login to Blogger if you are not already logged in
17. Go to Layout > Page Elements
18. Click on the Add a Gadget link in the sidebar
19. Choose HTML/Javascript widget from the list provided
20. Paste the button code into the Content box of the dialog box that appears by placing the mouse inside the box and right clicking the mouse and then paste
21. Select a title like "Buy Me a Beer!" or whatever you would like
22. Click on the Save button
23. Drag and drop your new donation gadget into the spot you want it to appear in
24. Click the Save button to ensure your changes are saved
25. Click View Blog to see your new donate button in the sidebar of your Blogger blog
26. Click on your new donate button and you will be taken to the Paypal Checkout screen
This tutorial has walked you through all the steps needed to add a Paypal donate button to your Blogger Blogspot blog.
Check my sidebar for a live example :) and take the opportunity to make a little donation ...
Until next time! See you around :) ...
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Blogging is simply putting your content on a different platform. It is not just a diary, a gimmick or cheap party trick.
Thought they certainly didn’t start out that way, blogs are incredibly useful content management systems when set up properly.
If you are marketing on the web and you don’t have a blog, you will always be beaten down by your competition. You cannot get ahead by using the tools of
Web 2.0 without a blog, period.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, blog content management systems are the darling of the search engines today, especially Google, the #1 search engine on the web.
A blog platform allows you to do things no one else in your market can do with shopping cart and static sites.
Using the platform I use (on many websites I have) to publish online means you don’t just have a web site, you have a search engine magnet and an interactive community builder that will drive targeted, willing-to-buy visitors to your site.
Read on to get up to speed on absolutely the most effective (free) blogging platform you should be on, along with the tools you must use to make that platform perform and drive traffic.
Wordpress
To be an authority you need to run content on a platform that allows for everything Web 2.0 marketing strategies offer us.
We don’t recommend you send all this traffic to anything less than a site that allows you to live up to Web 2.0 customer expectations.
If people find your content on a hip, relevant, interactive, widget-ized Web 2.0 site and they come to your flat, lifeless, hosted blog at some weak blog platform or some other piece of junk, your credibility and their stay on your site are both going to be short lived!
“But Matt Cutts uses Blogger.com!”
Uh yeah, he’s freakin’ Matt Cutts!
Matt could publish on a roll of toilet paper and get more traffic than us mere mortals!
To be able to run the widgets, plugins and do the SEO work you need to do while improving your traffic flow and user experience, such as using the MyBlogLog.com widget, for example, you need a robust and powerful content management system.
But it goes way beyond that. Way beyond.
You need to be able to plug into the open source communities’ ability to create a widget or plugin on demand that will enhance your marketing, conversion, and readership.
Wordpress has more plugins available from third party programmers and more people who program plugins than for any other system out there (there aren’t but a handful of blog systems you can even program plugins or custom “widgets” for anyway.)
This is why I use Wordpress as the base of our authority site publishing system at 99% of my websites.
Though we’ve done more than anyone else on the planet to tweak Wordpress capabilities and turn it into what we call “Wordpress Master” with Post and Rank™ technology, the Wordpress base allows us to do what no other blogging CMS would.
Therefore, if you are going to do all the work involved with plugging into Web 2.0 and harnessing the traffic-driving, ranking-raising power of social marketing, we believe it is a shame to waste time on anything other than the best, even if you have to port your content into Wordpress from another blog platform you currently use.
It would be very much worth the trouble.
Now, to take it a step further, it would be a shame to use Wordpress “out of the box” and some free plugins and only get so far with your promotion efforts. There is a “glass ceiling” over what you can accomplish with Wordpress out of the box and free plugins.
(The ceiling is higher than any other, but it is still there and you are going to knock your head against it eventually after using the tactics in this blog to promote your site!)
Finally, do not get pulled into another blogging system because of its fans. They are just loyal fans of the system they publish on. They have no idea, nor the technical ability to know, how much better Wordpress is if they haven’t used it.
We have tested Wordpress against all other blogging platforms and WP just annihilates them all in the engines.
(Of course we know how to use WP to the Nth degree, so we often beat other Wordpress sites with the same topic focus just because we know how to tune it to rock the engines.)
Until next time! See you aroun :) ...
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Technique #11: Forums and Social Bookmark
Posts
