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  • Sign Up to Facebook with Ease

    Video: Signing Up to Facebook

  • Essentials of Making Your Blog Successful

    Video: Brad discusses what a successful blog looks like. He shows the traffic numbers and how it is monetized.

  • Things to Bear In Mind In Using Email Promotion

    If you are trying to build a business online, then it’s a safe assumption that you would like that business to make you money. After all, anything else is just a hobby. The good news is that there are many ways to earn money online, and there are also many ways to advertise your business. One of the most popular methods is email promotion internet marketing. It’s inexpensive, and even more importantly, it’s effective. Here are some things to keep in mind.

    1. Building a list is the key to success. If you have spent any amount of time looking into email promotion internet marketing, then you have probably heard people say, “the money is in the list.” The reason so many people say it is because it’s true. In fact, it’s so important that everything that follows revolves around this tip.

    2. Opt in once, market forever. Sending traffic to your website takes a lot of resources. It’s necessary, but email marketing simplifies things. Here’s how: once people are at your site, you encourage them to share their email address with you. Then it doesn’t matter if they ever come back to your site or not. Instead, you can then market to them whenever the need arises.

    3. Always provide value. One of the most common questions about email promotion internet marketing is how often to send sales messages, and how often to send informational messages. There is a myth that you shouldn’t send too many sales messages, but that’s not true. As long as you are providing value with what you are selling, then you are good to go.

    4. Spend time crafting compelling subject lines. The subject is what the people will see in their email inbox. If they don’t like it, if it doesn’t make them want to see what’s inside, then they will simply delete it…without ever opening it. And that means no sales. However, if you can at least get them to open your email, then you’ll get a chance to present your message to them.

    5. Don’t be tricky. Yes, there are some subject lines that will give you a much higher open rate, but you should never use them to trick people into opening the message. If you do, they will open your email, but once they realize that you have tricked them (read: lied to them), they will unsubscribe. A simple way to put it is to always make sure that the body of the email message delivers on any promises you make in the subject line.

    These are only a few tips to help you with your email promotion internet marketing efforts. There are plenty of other things you can do, but these are a good start. The worst thing you can do is wait to build an email list. With all of the things it has going for it, every minute you wait is another minute you will be leaving money on the table.

  • Create Screen Videos As An Affiliate Marketer

    Since there are already lots of people getting into affiliate marketing, it is no wonder that the competition is getting stiff. The challenge is to try and outdo other affiliates and think of ways to be able to attain this.

    There are also many tips and techniques being taught to these affiliate in order to best plan their strategy for their program to work effectively so that more earnings will be achieved.

    What better way to wow your prospects and customers than to record and publish top notch, full motion and streaming screen-captured videos. Nothing like feeling your hard work getting paid by having your customers jumping up excitedly in great anticipation to buy your product right there and then.

    This is Camtasia in action. It is a proven fact; giving your customers something they can actually see can explode your online sales instantly.

    You do not need to have trainings and education to be able to know how this system can work for your affiliate program. Anyone can create stunning videos, from multimedia tutorials and step-by-step presentations available online. The process is like having your customers seated next to you and looking at your desktop, as you show them the things they need to see and hear. All this done step by step.

    For those who does not know it yet, how does Camtasia works?

    1. It can record your desktop activity in a single click. No need to have to save and compile all your files because it is recorded right there and then.

    2. Can easily convert your videos into web pages. Once converted you can have your customers visiting that certain page. Videos are easier to understand and take in unlike reading texts which oftentimes is a trying thing to do.

    3. Upload your pages. Publish them through blogs, RSS feed and podcasts. You may want your Camtasis videos to get around and reach out to other people that may be potential customers in the future. Nothing like being visible in many sites and pages to advertise yourself and get your message through.

    There are other things you can do with your affiliate program using Camtasia. You can…

    Create stunning multimedia presentations that are proven to increase sales because all the senses are engaged. This also has the tendency to reduce skepticism among hard-to-please customers.

    Reduce refunds and other customer issues by demonstrating visually how to use your product and how to do it properly. Complaints will also be minimized because all the facts and the presentation are there for the customers to just see and hear about.

    Promote affiliate products and services using visual presentations. This is an effective way of redirecting your viewers straight to your affiliate website after they are finished with the video. Make the most of the presentation by putting your site location in the end and make them go there directly if they want more information.

    Multiple your online auction bids exponentially when you give your readers a feel of what you have to offer. Based from reports, auctions that includes pictures increases bidding percentage by 400%. Imagine how much higher it will be if it were videos.

    Publish valuable infoproducts that you can sell for a much higher price. It will be all worth the price because of the full colored graphics menu and templates that you will be using.

    Minimize miscommunication with your customers. Instantly showing them what you want they wanted in the first place is making them understand clearly the essence of your affiliate program. The good thing about multimedia is, nothing much can go wrong. It is there already.

    These are just some of the things you can do with Camtasia that can be very helpful in your chosen affiliate program.

    Note that the main purpose of using Camtasia is to boost the income that is generated from your affiliate program. Although it can be used for entertainment and enjoyment purposes, which is not really a valid reason why you choose to get all through that trouble.

    Try to focus on the goal that you have set upon yourself to and achieve that with the use of the things that may be quite a lot of help in increasing your earnings.

  • Getting Fresh Content Out Regularly Is Key To Running A Successful Business

    Social media isn’t just a way to get together and talk with friends. While it would be entirely possible for you to set up a Twitter feed and tweet all day about the weather and food and television, this isn’t the most effective way to get people thinking about your offline business. The more effective way to get them to sit up and take notice is by your content. It’s one of the most oft-repeated mantras of our time – content is king. And so it is.

    One of the cornerstone tenants of SEO is the importance of having solid, informative content. While it’s possible to stuff your website or your social media page full of keywords, this won’t necessarily improve the status of your site and definitely wont’ charm the customer. The reason why people subscribe to Twitter feeds and friend businesses is because the content those social network pages are offering is informative and interesting. Very few people are going to follow a business’ blog or Twitter feed very long if the content isn’t there.

    So, how do offline businesses insure that their online content is interesting and informative? Well, the first thing that you can do is take advantage of the serious one-up you have on online business – that is, your ability to directly interface with the customer. In other words: ask. Ask your customers, “If this business started a Twitter feed or a Facebook page, what kind of content would you like to see? What would keep you interested?” Obviously, it’s more useful if you can ask repeat customers who have shown an open interest in the wares of your store. These are the people who will let you know what they want to see, and if your veteran customers are interested in something regarding your store or product, it’s likely that there’s a treasure trove of other people who would like access to that same content.

    Another important thing to keep in minds insofar as content is concerned is keeping your “updates” useful and short. Nobody wants to have their inbox spammed constantly with daily updates from your store. It’s unlikely that many people are that interested, and if you overdo social media networking, it will turn off potential customers. The best way to go about it is to think hard about every update you make. Ask yourself, “Is this informative, or useful? If I were going to receive information from a company using this format, would I want to read this or would I trash it?” If you’d trash it, don’t send it.

    A good rule of thumb is to keep your social media contacts updated once a week. This shows constant activity and that the account is a “live” one without being totally overbearing. Keep your content coming, but don’t bury your followers!

  • Turning Prospects Into Clients For Offline Consultants

    We have already talked about the importance of doing quality work and turning existing clients into evangelists who will give you a glowing recommendation.

    The fact remains, however, that you cannot rely exclusively on referrals if you want to make consistent income as a consultant. You will need to get out there and find new clients as you build your business.

    This is an area of the business that many new consultants struggle with because they sometimes this cold-calling is the only logical next step. Nothing could be further from the truth. Finding new clients can actually be a very fun and rewarding experience. Like anything else, you will have to get creative and find ways that work best for you. But in this section of the guide, we will share some of the most effective ways to reach out and find new prospective clients for your consulting business:

    Networking – In Section 8, we talked about the power of “schmoozing” potential clients and getting to know people who may require your services. Networking is one of the most important business practices you will ever partake in. Make sure that you make a point of regularly attending networking events where you get the opportunity to connect with other business owners. Don’t sell at these events, just make as many people aware of who you are as possible. You never know who you might get introduced to!

    Online Advertising – Show your prospective buyers that you believe in what you sell. Buying ads on networks like Google and Facebook allow you to create advertisements that are targeted to local companies and make local offers. You can get started with ad campaigns for $20 and be up and running in a few hours. You very well may a potential buyer!

    Offline Advertising – While some of your prospects already spend time on Facebook and Google, many of them are too busy “out in the field” running their business. So online advertising would never reach this crowd. These people do read newspapers and magazines. In smaller cities, a display ad in a newspaper can purchased for a reasonable price. This is a traditional method of marketing but it could very well still work for your consulting business.

    Mail – Traditional direct response mailing (ie postcards) or custom mailing can be a good way to find clients. Your local post office likely has an arrangement in place for sending flyers to local businesses. You might also want to target certain companies and send hand written letters to the primary decision makers in the company. When the letter looks personalized and hand written, there is a very good chance it will be opened and read by the person.

    Email – Cold calling is something that is not even being suggested in this list because there are more effective ways of getting ahold of clients. Sending cold email, however, is something to take note of. With email, you have the ability to research a company ahead of time and do some fact finding. Look for a company where you truly believe you can deliver serious value to. Then put together an email introducing yourself and quickly mentioning some of the potential benefit you see THEM achieving with a better online strategy. Follow up with a phone call a few days later if you do not get an email response.

    Press Release – You can sometimes get free media coverage if you have a story that is of interest to enough people. If you specialize in some kind of consulting service and you have an interesting story that relates to your speciality, try submitting the story to local newspapers. Having a story in print might get an offline company calling you directly as there is perceived credibility attached to your name since you have been published in the paper.

    Craigslist – This may seem like a dated solution but the truth of the matter is Craigslist is still one of the busiest sites online. Many businesses go on Craigslist looking for help with different needs in their business. Make sure you keep your finger on the pulse of what is happening on Craigslist weekly.

    Introductory Service – Consider visiting companies in person but not with the intention of selling. Offer a free flyer for their waiting room with “Social Media Safety Tips” (as an example) or offer to take a photo of their office and use it to create a Twitter account for their company (as another example). Literally make a point of selling nothing but deliver value first. Now they know who you are and will be more receptive to invites/requests in the future.

    Directory Service – Create an online directory or blog that profiles local businesses in the area. Offer a free listing to the companies that you would like to target for your consulting services. Once they see how nice their free listing looks, they will be much more receptive to hearing about what you can offer in terms of your consulting.

  • Getting Free Publicity Through Social Media Engagement

    As the owner of an offline business, there’s absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t be taking advantage of the incredible marketing power of social media outlets. It’s no secret that millions and millions of people are on social media sites daily – did you know that social media is the second most engaged-in activity on the Internet only behind email checking? And did you know that if Facebook were a country it would be the third most populous in the world?

    What this means to any business – online or off – is that there’s a congregation of potential customers just browsing these sites in their idle hours when they might be bored and have nothing else to do. This is a perfect opportunity to drop a bee in their bonnet about you and your business. Thousands of companies have done this, and thousands have found success.

    However, for an offline business attempting to tackle the social media market, you’ll have an easier time of it if you approach it with the proper attitude. While both online and offline businesses will use social media as a way to engage the customer, the online business deals with social media the way that an offline business would have television ads. It’s a straight way to the sale, since a customer visiting an online business’ site is doing the closest thing to physically visiting the business itself.

    If you have an offline business, this is not the case, as the customer is ostensibly at a computer and not at your physical place of business while browsing social networking sites. It’s important to consider this difference and use it to take a different approach to advertising your offline business using social media. While an online business is bringing customers to the storefront, you should be looking to create an impression of your business and try to entice them to come to the physical store.

    While it is definitely advantageous to consider making an online version of your site for ease of purchasing, you want to have the customer come to your physical store. This means creating awareness of your products, brand, content, and expertise – and creating that drive to experience the whole package by going to your store.

    While it’s likely that the most profitable way for offline business to generate customers in terms of long-term revenue is still offline, the virtual market is taking off fast, and it’s likely that the current state of affairs will change over the next five years. Now is a good time to get involved with marketing through social media and figuring out how it can best serve your offline business before it takes off to a whole new level.

  • Why Video Marketing Is Essential

    Video: Brad explains why he thinks it’s important to make video marketing a part of your online business.

  • Establishing Your Credibility As An Offline Consultant

    One of the most efficient ways to convince anybody that you know what you’re talking about, no matter what the situation, is to provide physical proof of expertise. Sure, you can tell everybody under the sun that you play hockey like Wayne Gretzky, but it’s unlikely you’ll get much credibility on that front until you take the National Hockey League by storm. Once you have physical proof of your excellence regarding anything, people are much more willing to accept that you’re a master at whatever it is. This applies to anything from hockey to knitting to offline consulting.

    If you want your clients to take you seriously, whether they’re online or offline, the best thing to do is to show them your own success. Consulting for many people is a career path chosen after finding success in a field. The reasoning behind this is obvious – being a consultant is essentially offering your advice on a particular subject to others who are interested in that advice. For the customer to want your advice, they have to believe that the advice dispensed is worth the time and money they’d need to invest to get that information.

    The best way to prove that you’re the Internet marketing expert for your offline clients is to actually have a track record of success. We’re assuming that you have your own online business if you’re interested in helping others with theirs. In the event that you don’t have your own successful online business – why don’t you? If you can’t point to your own success as a business owner to bolster your consulting endeavors, then why should people trust that you’re the right consultant for them?

    This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go out and start your own business. In fact, having a track record of helping others with online marketing can also cement your place as a consultant, as it shows that not only do you know how to make yourself successful, but also others.

    In short, if you really want to make it in offline consulting, you’ll need to be able to put your money where your mouth is. If you don’t have experience working with online businesses, then it might help you to assist with some local projects or even spend some time bolstering your own online business before really heading out to try and recruit the offline clients. When you can come in the door with guns blazing and a track record of success, you’re already halfway toward getting those hard to impress offline customers. Being able to show those who don’t have an Internet footprint a track record of success is one of the most important things you can do in this business. In fact, some might say it’s the first vital step toward getting any business as a consultant at all!

  • Simple Steps to Setting Up a WordPress Sidebar

    Video: What you need to know about WordPress sidebars and widgets.