WordPress Training Expert

Author: WP Training Expert

  • Tips and Choices You have in Internet Website Advertising

    The internet has been a part of our lives for a while now, and it has also changed the way millions of businesses operate. More than anything, the internet has leveled the playing field, giving the “little guy” just as much of a chance at success as some of the biggest companies in the world. It all comes down to what is commonly referred to as internet website advertising. However, that term covers a lot of ground. Here are some things you should know.

    It all begins with a website. Well, technically you need an idea first, but a lot of people make the mistake of thinking they need some incredibly, original, earth-shattering idea if they want to make money online. The reality is that you don’t need such an idea to be successful. All you need is a solid idea, and it can even be something other people are doing. For example, a lot of people make money selling clothes online, and that isn’t what anybody would call an original idea. Okay, back to having a website…

    The reason it all starts with having a website is that it means you have a solid idea. Internet website advertising covers all aspects of how you promote your site. You have probably heard people say, “you can have the best looking site in the world, but it’s useless if nobody sees it.” While that’s true, you shouldn’t use it as an excuse to put up an ugly website (though it is better to start with something ugly and improve it as you go, than it is to wait and be left behind).

    Which internet website advertising options are best for you and your business will depend on several factors. You need to have a good idea of who your target market is, what motivates them, what their problems are, and how your offer can help them. Not all online marketing methods are suited for every business. If you are a lawyer, then article marketing to establish yourself as an expert in your field makes a lot more sense than using a free traffic exchange where people will only see your site for a few seconds.

    You also need to think about how your site looks. After all, you can drive people to your site, but if they don’t like what they see, or they aren’t clear about your offer, then they will leave. So, put some thought into it. Read your marketing message and be sure that it makes sense. Don’t be afraid to sell, but be sure the type of selling you do fits in with your specific message.

    Whatever methods of internet website advertising you choose to take advantage of, it is vital that you start right away. Every moment you spend wondering about how to do it or making excuses for waiting, is wasted time. While that may not have mattered a few years ago, in today’s online world, every second counts more than ever.

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  • Channeling Your Negative Energies Through Blogging

    I would never claim that blogging could cure depression. Depression is a serious issue and should be dealt with by a doctor. That said, are there any therapeutic benefits to blogging? I think there are. If you have been feeling down or overwhelmed then starting a blog might be just the thing to let you channel your frustrations. A blog allows you to release your emotions, interact with other people and it can be a consistent and stable factor in a hectic world. I believe the following three benefits are proof that a blog can be therapeutic.

    1. Release of Emotions: Everyone says you shouldn’t bottle up your feelings. Some people have no problem releasing their emotions while other people have a tough time talking about their issues. A blog allows someone to release all of their emotions through their daily posts. You can get a lot off your chest in a blog post. Most importantly for some people, you can do this anonymously. This is a big plus for some people. If you are suffering from some negative thoughts, or anger then it might be easier for you to express that knowing you are anonymous. A blog offers people the perfect forum to share their thoughts and release any pent up emotions that might be harmful for them to keep inside.

    2. Social Interaction: Of course nothing beats getting out and meeting people, we all know this. The problem is that not everyone is a social butterfly. They might naturally be shy people who would rather stay in, or they might have an issue that makes face to face social interaction stressful. Blogging and micro-blogging allow people to interact with other people online. It doesn’t beat the real thing but it is a start. Interaction can come from people contacting you based on your story or from comments to your blog. One of the great things is when you share a personal story and you get a comment from someone going through similar things. A blog allows anyone to interact with other people, and is a great tool when trying to reach people with similar interests or problems.

    3. Consistency and Stability: This might be an overlooked value when it comes to blogs, but I think it is important. Some people live in a chaotic world that helps keep them feeling the way they do. A blog offers some consistency and stability. The blog is always there, stays pretty much the same and just waits for you to post. There are no demands or pressure. You have a blog that is always there and ready for you. It is also great to have that routine for people. A blog could be something that people look forward too each day. Outside of technical difficulties, it isn’t likely to let a person down.

    I am not a doctor and I would never claim that a blog is a cure for any level of depression. That said I am a blogger, and I do have some insight into that world. I think I can safely say that blogs do have some therapeutic properties. If you are looking for stability, social interaction or a way to release your pent up feelings, then try out blogging. It doesn’t cure problems, but it might help you cope.

  • The Importance of SEO

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  • Productivity Tips For Online Entrepreneurs

    If you are anything like me, you are always looking for better ways to manage your time. This year I have started many things in motion that have already improved my productivity immensely. I would like to share some of my tips with you.

    Get Dictation Software

    It might surprise you to know, that I didn’t type a single word of this article. Dictation software also known as speech recognition software has been available for a long time but recently it has become extremely accurate.

    I get more work done because I’m able to do everything from writing content to replying e-mails much faster than before. If you are using a PC I suggest using Dragon NaturallySpeaking, if you are on a Mac I suggest MacSpeech which is the application I use.

    Set Up A Schedule

    Using your favorite calendar software you should set up a weekly calendar that will help you structure your days. This was a new habit for me and it has made a huge difference in how much work I get done.

    As a for instance, I have scheduled one hour every other day to reply to e-mail. The rest of the time I do not touch my e-mail. Many times entrepreneurs get stuck in a loop of doing nothing, this includes frantically checking e-mail, statistics, social media destinations etc. None of these activities are productive unless they are structured into your day.

    I even scheduled time to be creative, meditate, exercise, eat and learn Spanish.

    Make Lists Of Your Goals

    I am not talking about simple goals here, I want to think about what you want to do, have, and become. As a for instance one of my goals is to become a published author. That won’t do me much good unless I also write “write a book” on my list as well.

    Many people tell you that goal lists don’t work, those are the people who don’t make lists. Having a list on your wall remind you every day to focus on your desired outcome. Without it we can lose direction and forget what we are working towards.

    Always Be Mindful Of Your Unpaid Time

    I have a friend who is a perfectionist, he is a professional whose time is very valuable. His clients are willing to pay a fortune because of his impeccable work. The problem is that my friend has to do everything himself.

    Consider this example: if your time is worth $100 per hour and you can hire a contractor for $50 per hour to do work at your house, common sense dictates that you should pay someone to do that work because your time is more valuable. Many people miss the simple equation because they are too busy saving money. What they don’t realize is that their bank account would be larger if they worked the same hour that their contractor did.

  • Finding Inspiration Offline For You Online Business

    There’s been a mad rush to the Internet these days for marketing purposes, and for good reason. With so many people riding the Information Superhighway these days to find information on everything from TV channels to bread machines, smart business owners know that they need to be on that highway as well. After all, if you don’t jump on the next big thing your competition will, and nobody wants to get left behind in the race for the Internet.

    However, even though it’s of the utmost importance for companies of all shapes and sizes to have an Internet presence – even those who still do most of their business out of a brick and mortar building – it’s also important to remember the offline world when it comes to online business. That’s right – even if your company is entirely an Internet creation, there are many things you can do offline in order to create interest and profit online.

    First off, try printing some brochures. These are a great way to get the attention of customers who aren’t on the Internet at that particular moment – like if you are a car parts wholesaler, see if you can put your brochures on the desk of the local oil change facility. You can also contact your local Chamber of Commerce to see if they have any ideas.

    Speaking of the Chamber of Commerce, be sure to switch off your computer long enough to join. Also, get involved with business clubs both online and offline to maximize your business’ impact and start networking with other businesses in the area. You might find a great partner in crime to team up with. If nothing else, you’ll make friends.

    Business cards are an effective tool, if they’re used wisely. With the ease of information transfer, the business card isn’t as important as it used to be, but it can become of interest if it doubles as a coupon for services or products. Be sure to hand them out whenever business comes up in conversation, and be explicit about the coupon’s value. This will encourage the recipient to hang on to the card longer than they might otherwise.

    Flyers are another cheap way to get the word out. You can either post them around your community in approved places, or hand them out on the street. The reality of the situation is that most people probably won’t take too much notice of a flyer and it might end up as littler, but there’s always the chance that you’ll really catch somebody’s attention. At the end of the day, flyers are still effective – if they weren’t, you wouldn’t see them around so much!

    And, of course, there’s always the option of radio and television ads. These can be expensive, but if you’ve got the budget and the inclination they’re a great way for a captive audience to hear your message.

  • SEM: The Key To A Long Term Success in Your Business

    Using the right search engine marketing solution for your online business is imperative to the long term success of your business. Search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the best ways to continually drive hordes of very targeted visitors to your website.

    Seo can be very complicated, but you can also utilize a few simple techniques and while you won’t get the full benefit, you will still see a benefit.

    If you want to get the full effect of an active seo marketing campaign you may want to consider hiring a company to do your seo for you. Having access to a professional who will take care of all the day to day issues associated with your seo will free you up to take care of other areas of your business.

    An effective seo game plan will require virtually a full time commitment since the search engines base all their results on complicated, and ever changing, algorithms. It would be virtually impossible to keep on top of it on a day to day basis and still run other aspects of your business.

    Since many online businesses simply aren’t that knowledgeable about seo you can really pull away from a lot of your competitors if you get a little help. With so many billions of websites all clamoring for attention, you will need all the help you can get to allow your website to shine through all the dust.

    When you set out to find the right company to work with there are some things you want to be on the lookout for:

    1. Any company you are considering hiring for your seo should provide you with the initial website seo analysis. Basically they will look at your site and determine what strengths and weaknesses you may have. This will help establish a starting point and clarify what you need to work on.

    2. The company will help you choose the best keywords for your site and product. This is crucial, everything hinges on choosing the best combination of frequently searched and low competition keywords. If a mistake is made here, the whole campaign will be in jeopardy.

    During this step the company will also analyze the sites of your competitors to see what keywords they are ranking well for. This can help them achieve a clearer picture of just what needs to be done.

    3. Now that the keywords have been chosen, the on site seo can begin. Optimizing certain areas of your site such as the Meta and heading tags will be the primary focus at this stage. This is the most complicated part of the process, there are many areas on your site and things that can be done to get the greatest impact.

    4. Once your site is all “shiny” and seo ready, they will manually submit it to the major search engines.

    5. Of course, now that your site has been optimized and submitted, you want to make sure that all these changes are really working. That’s why you need to take the time to track your site and results. Having quality, reliable tracking software is a must and should be provided by the seo company.

    Keep these tips in mind when you start looking for your own search engine marketing solution and a company to help you put it all together.

  • Get Social In Your Business

    The goal of business owners is to make money. This often results with the selling of a particular product or service. However, to sell that product or service business owners need to alert the general public. Customer cannot buy a product or a service if they do not know that it exists. That is why, as a business owner, you need to advertise your business.

    When it comes to advertising there are many business owners who literally cringe. Are you doing this now? There is a good chance that you are because many advertising methods cost money. As a business owner you want to make money not spend it, right? Unfortunately, if you believe that all forms of advertising take money, you are sadly mistaken. Although you may have to spend money to make your business what you want it to be, there are ways to promote your business and the products or services that you sell without having to spend any money at all.

    Is your curiosity peaked yet? There is a good chance that it is, rightfully so. One of the ways that you can promote your online business, without having to spend a dime, is by using something that is readily available online. That thing is an online social networking website. A large number of Internet users, in fact millions of them, belong to at least one social networking website.

    When it comes to social networking, there are many individuals who think of online friendships or online relationships. While these types of relationships are the most common, did you know that social networking is also used for businesses? In fact, that was originally how social networking got started. If you are a small business owner, especially one that operates an online business, there is a way that you can use social networking sites to your advantage.

    Although social networking websites are traditionally focused on those that would like to make online friends or develop online relationships, there are networking sites that are designed for business owners. These websites will not only allow you to share your business information with other business owners, but it will also allow you to develop close relationships with those that share an interest that is similar to yours. Essentially, this means that you could not only learn valuable business information, but you could also walk away with a new business partner or a new friend.

    As previously mentioned, social networking websites with a focus on businesses, are a great way to promote your business. However, this does not mean that you should completely forget about the other online social networking websites, the ones that are designed to make online friendships.

    If you are looking to join an online community, you will need to create your own profile or profile page. If you are planning on joining a traditional social networking website, to gain access to millions of potential new customers, you are urged to be careful when making your online webpage or profile. One thing that Internet users hate is being solicited for business. This does not mean that you cannot use social networking to your advantage; it just means that you need to be careful with how you do it. Instead of creating a MySpace page or a Yahoo! 360 page for your business, you are advised to make one for yourself, but, of course, you will want to include information on your business.

    By joining a social networking website, especially one that is popular and has a large number of members, you should be able to generate interest in your business, including the products or services that you sell. Who knows, but that interest generated could turn into sales; thus making your social networking experience more than worth it.

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    Video: Adding Google Adsense ads to your WordPress site using WordPress sidebars.

  • Where Does Online Income Really Come From?

    People e-mail me all the time with the question of how to make money online. Although the question itself sounds simple enough, the reality is that without some direction from you in terms of what your current skill set is you might as well be asking me how to get a job. When you want a job you usually pick a field that you have already worked in or have education in. Making money on the Internet is not a whole lot different.

    Chances are you know how to do something that other people need to be educated in. Maybe it’s as simple as you being a plumber. You could easily make videos about how to fix common household problems related to plumbing and sell them for a small fee online. Maybe even give some away as a way to build reciprocity with your audience. If you don’t have a formal education or training, perhaps there is something that you have learned recently that you could leverage into a product.

    Something as simple as setting up a proper profile on twitter, YouTube, Google maps etc. might be second nature to you. But a small business owner may not have the first idea about setting these things up. That’s the business that almost anyone could do in their hometown.

    It has never been cheaper to start a new business than today. You can have a free website running in less than 30 minutes. There is no excuse for not trying something new every day until you find what works for you. Your online business is no different than the off-line business world. You need to try new things constantly to see what works. Once you find something that works all you need to do is work on scaling it as large as you can.

    If you are still asking the basic question, “how do I make money online?” Consider that you might really be asking “what do I want to do when I grow up? If you still don’t know the answer you should probably consider looking at additional education for yourself.