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Posts:
Introduction
Building a Super Basic Website
What The Heck Is CTC?
Getting That Big Bad Traffic To Your Site
Some Techinical & Design Issues
Running Ads On Your Site
Looking Backwards & Forwards
Contact
Posts:
Introduction
Building a Super Basic Website
What The Heck Is CTC?
Getting That Big Bad Traffic To Your Site
Some Techinical & Design Issues
Running Ads On Your Site
Looking Backwards & Forwards
Posts:
Introduction
Building a Super Basic Website
What The Heck Is CTC?
Getting That Big Bad Traffic To Your Site
Some Techinical & Design Issues
Running Ads On Your Site
Looking Backwards & Forwards
Posts:
Introduction
Building a Super Basic Website
What The Heck Is CTC?
Getting That Big Bad Traffic To Your Site
Some Techinical & Design Issues
Running Ads On Your Site
Looking Backwards & Forwards
Posts:
Introduction
Building a Super Basic Website
What The Heck Is CTC?
Getting That Big Bad Traffic To Your Site
Some Techinical & Design Issues
Running Ads On Your Site
Looking Backwards & Forwards
Posts:
Introduction
Building a Super Basic Website
What The Heck Is CTC?
Getting That Big Bad Traffic To Your Site
Some Techinical & Design Issues
Running Ads On Your Site
Looking Backwards & Forwards
Posts:
Introduction
Building a Super Basic Website
What The Heck Is CTC?
Getting That Big Bad Traffic To Your Site
Some Techinical & Design Issues
Running Ads On Your Site
Looking Backwards & Forwards
Posts:
Introduction
Building a Super Basic Website
What The Heck Is CTC?
Getting That Big Bad Traffic To Your Site
Some Techinical & Design Issues
Running Ads On Your Site
Looking Backwards & Forwards
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Welcome to the BLOG!
Marketing Tips 101
Introduction
It doesn't take a Rhodes Scholar to succeed in Web Marketing,
but it does take direction, networking, systematic work, consistency,
and a lot of patience! I started marketing designer apparel and gift items on the Web about three years ago
and soon discovered that one has to exapand the horizons- without going too far. Web Marketing, like all marketing, is NEVER
a get rich quick proposition! Like everything else, it is steady consistent work, pure and simple.
Needless to say, I've learned a lot, made mistakes, and am now seeing a steady increase in customer base and profits. Still don't claim to be an expert, but if you are just starting out in NetMarketing or would like to start a business, here are a few observations and tips that will help you get started.
1. Decide what you want to market.
What are you interested in? Find a niche, if you dig it, there are certainly
others who will dig it too; and you'll tend to work more consistently marketing products that you are
enthusiastic about. Do some surfing on the Web to see what folks are looking at, then focus on
a few areas in the beginning. The beauty of the Web is the fact that you can always easily add more.
2. Build yourself a basic site, one or two pages.
Having your own website helps you focus on your goals.
Plus, when you start advertising, you'll stand out from the crowd of stamped out splash page advertisers. Now don't panic.
You don't need to be a tech wizard or spend a lot of money to build a website. In general, try things out before you spend
and budget! Follow this link
to start out with free hosting, templates, and web tools. Again, budget, then decide when to upgrade.
3. Networking
Nothing exists in a vacuum, right? So start networking. Get to know other WebMarketers & learn.
Granted, you will meet a lot of people who are only interested in selling their latest program. It goes without saying
that you need not fall for everything. However, get to know people and learn from them; everyone has something to offer.
And there's always something to learn. Follow this link -let's get aquainted.
4. Advertising
Now, we've come to the big challenge, the make or break of NetMarketing-getting traffic, hits to your
website. This is where most of us get bogged down and lose focus. Will write more about advertising in another post-promise!
In the mean time, check out my resource page of the best marketing tools, all tried and true.
5. Finally, at least for now, keep track. Winners keep score. Note the number of hits each day (Free counters are easily
found); better still keep a journal. When we see things written down, it has a way of encouraging us to work
smarter and try harder.
These are the basic steps in a nutshell. Like all worthwhile projects, it's all easier said than done. In the next post, will
give a few tips on building and organizing a web site.
To your success,
Paula Gaon
Next Post: "Building a Basic Super Website"
Marketing Tips 101
Building a Super Basic Website
The most important things to remember when designing and building a marketing
website are functionality, a pleasing non-offensive appearance and simple navigation.
A marketing website should have a consistent
look about it--your header/logo at the top of every page, including your intro blurb.
Surfers don't necessarily start with the home page.
Ideally, one should be able to get
to every page from every page--at least back to the home page,
which of course has all links. Surfers absolutely hate having to hunt
and search for info often giving up in frustration if they
have to do too much of it. As a rule of thumb, each page should have a Navigation
Panel on either side of the page that appears in the same place on each page.
And
this is a biggie! A line of type should be no wider than about 56 characters, roughly twice the
length of the alphabet. Haven't you noticed that you never spend much time on those sites that
force you to read like you're watching a tennis match or scroll back and forth horizontally?
Now before you get all excited about building a web site, take
a deep breath! If you haven't learned HTML or don't have a web editor,
there are plenty of ways to get around it.
1.
Follow this link to a great tutorial.
2.
Follow this link to choose from a fantastic f r e e Template Gallery.
Don't rush! Invest the time and energy NOW designing, formatting and organizing your page format. You'll save a lot time in the long run.
Be sure to add that introduction/personal blurb at the head of each page. Let people know that you are a real person. We've all
seen enough of those stamped out splash pages with someone's photo on the side promising a fortune. Think about your content.
Surfers want information along with a little entertainment. So follow your interests, there are bound to be others. If you invest
the time and energy now, at the beginning, chances are that a lot of your work in the future will be copy, paste.
As you continue to work, ideas will start flowing, and you'll want to add more pages to your website. If you've invested the time in the beginning,
implementation of your new ideas for content will be a lot easier and take a lot less time. Enjoy!
To your success,
Paula Gaon
Next Post: "What the heck is CTC?"
Marketing Tips 101
What The Heck Is CTC?
The biggest challenge in NetMarketing is keeping your focus. There are always distractions, on the Web that will steal your attention from the matter at hand, lead you down a garden path, bog you down or lead you down yet another winding path and at the end of the day, you've surfed a lot of sites, probably read about a lot of programs and opportunities, but haven't accomplished anything and probably can't remember what it was you started out to do or why. Sound familiar? Take heart, many of us have surfed that long winding path to nowhere in particular.
After more than a few "Down the Garden Path Sessions", it occured to me that I badly needed a system of organizing/categorizing the tasks of NetMarketing-enter CTC: Content, Traffic, and Communication. These divisions just popped into my head one day, never heard them from any "SuperGurus" or experts, and they are working beautifully. Before I even sit down at the computer, I decide which of CTC to focus on and which tasks I intend to accomplish. The real beauty of this system is the fact that if you start to feel bogged down in a task or area, why not switch to another. There's no rule that says you have to only work one area a day. But it is a good idea to keep a list in a notebook or journal. The satisfaction alone of scratching out completed tasks on a list is worth the effort of writing things down.
Below are a few notes on each of the three CTC. Yes you guessed it, there will be other posts on this subject.
Content
Content, the subjects you decide to write about, WHAT you decide to market or advertise, is probably the most personal of CTC. No expert or Guru can dictate what's best. We've seen those claims that promise to reveal what surfers and NetMarketers really want, but frankly I don't believe them. Trying to define what surfers or any other group for that matter wants is far from being an exact science where everything can be measured and defined. The richest and most successful couple that I've ever known put it best: "There's no accounting for the human factor." Opinions, and whims are ever changing. So market what interests YOU. There are sure to be others who are interested or will become interested. And the most important thing to remember: Give the surfer content-information and some entertainment. Nobody wants a site of all advertising. Would you watch TV if it was only commercials?
Traffic
Now here's the biggie! It goes without saying that wonderful content is not worth much if nobody knows about. Traffic, hits to your site, will make or break your NetMarketing business. And it's always that old battle between time and money. Has anybody ever figured it out? By now ther may even be doctoral thesis on the subject. Needless to say, more about this on in the next post.
Communication
Communication is just a fancy way of saying keep in touch with people-downlines, people who have signed up under you in programs; members, those who have signed up from your website to get an occasional newsletter; and participation in business social networking groups and forums. And please, remember to keep in touch with family and friends aside from NetMarketing!
Whew! Enough already, time for a break from the keyboard.
To your success,
Paula Gaon
Next Post: "Getting That Big Bad Traffic To Your Sites"
Marketing Tips 101
Getting That Big Bad Traffic To Your Site
My Favorite Traffic Exchanges
The first thing we all learn in NetMarketing is the fact that traffic, hits to your websites, is critical to your success. Traffic is the single most important thing in the NetMarketing business; without it there is simply no business - period. A respected NetMarketing expert has said that one should spend about 70% of her/his time at the computer getting traffic. And from personal experience, I can tell you that he is 100% correct. Many new NetMarketers go overboard working on content. Content is important, but the general tendency in the beginning is to go overboard. So hold off. Don't try to upload everything in a few days. Start getting that traffic as soon as possible, brand yourself and you business - start making a name for yourself.
So how does one go about getting that Big Bad Traffic? First of all commit the following quote to memory: "The Secret to your success is found in your daily routine." Got that? Because that's what building a business really is - a daily habit of work. Getting traffic is not the most fun thing you'll ever do. There's no magic or secret formula (no matter what some "experts" tell you), rather persistence, consistency, patience and budgeting - time and money as well as time vs money.
The most tried and true method of getting traffic are Traffic Exchanges, where you earn credits for hits in exchange for viewing others' web sites. No two traffic exchanges are the same; there are always advantages and disadvantages at any exchange. You can always join as a free member, but like everything else in life, you get what you pay for...
However, here are a few tips for whichever type of membership you choose:
1) Before you start your day's work on traffic exchanges, set a goal for the number of hits you want to earn. Having a specific number in mind helps dull the monotony of clicking - imagine all the surfers viewing your site!
2) As soon as you can budget it, upgrade. You'll still have to surf, but you'll earn hits at a higher rate and save time surfing. Many exchanges give upgraded members' sites a higher priority and referrals, members that you can email.
3) If you're really pressed for time and can budget it, consider buying a given number of credits every month.
4) It's usually best to advertise Splash Pages, simple, fast-loading (light graphics) pages that make the surfer want to click the link and learn more.
5) Vey Important Put a text link on your splash page to open that same splash page in a new window. People often just want to surf continuously, clicking to open a page in a new window, bookmark, and view later.
Give Your Business A Kick Start
To your success,
Paula Gaon
Next Post: "Some Technical & Design Issues"
Marketing Tips 101
Some Technical & Design Issues
At the risk of being repetitive, NetMarketing is all about Traffic, hits to your site. In addition, you want to KEEP surfers on your site, visiting as many pages as possible each visit and encourage surfers to bookmark and return to your site. What does all this mean? Basically, good, reliable hosting that allows you freedom of design (more about this later) and frequent updating. Give surfers a reason to want to bookmark and revisit your site.
A Few Points On Hosting & Techincal Issues
* Hosting is no different from any other consumer product. You get what you pay for. Be careful of those fantastic bargains. Their services are often so limited it's hardly worthwhile.
* Free is a great way to get started. But remember, you'll have to put up with their ads at the top of your web page. Top is prime real estate on a web page! Why not have your important links up there? Lets face it, surfers are often too impatient to bother scrolling.
* Have you seen those free services that shorten and cloak URL's? Did you know that these services simply put your site into a frame and run their ads at the top, your prime real estate? Why not learn to build your own frames for affiliate pages and put your own links at the top? This way, a surfer doesn't leave your site and has convenient links at the top to return to other pages within your site. Click here to see an example.
Give Your Business A Kick Start
To your success,
Paula Gaon
Next Post: "Running Ads on Your Web Site"
Marketing Tips 101
Running Ads On Your Site
Even if today were the first time you'd ever surfed the Web, you would have undoubtedly seen more than a few ads - not a surprising fact. NetMarketing, is no different from any other business - one has to pay the piper. And if you're a serious NetMarketer, you'll eventually want good professional hosting, and need to advertise. Many NetMarketers opt for Google, BidVertiser or other similar programs. But if you do, be aware that these companies dictate how and where you can advertise; and as far as I know, none of them allow traffic exchanges, the most common and effective advertising for NetMarketers on a budget. From my personal experience, the terms of service are not always clear on what constitutes "use" of traffic exchanges. NetMarketers often run Splash Pages on traffic exchanges with links to a site. But the terms of service for the ad services are not clear if this is acceptable or not. And believe me, I know from personal experience, that if an ad company's "logarithm" decides that you are violationg their terms of service, they can capriciously close your account without paying you one red cent or the courtesy of answering your rebuttal. Funny how they decide to close your account just before payout time.
So what to do? Run your own ads, placing text ads in a "ribbon" at the top of the page, designing ads in a table near the navigation panel or just below the main title. Be creative. The most effective placement is often in context, using a key word or phrase as a link to a relevent ad. Just remember that the most effective placement is above the fold, before surfers need to scroll. However, the end of an article is also a great place to put an ad. In general, surfers don't like too much scrolling, but will sometimes scroll to the very end to get the gist of an article. So be creative and enjoy!
Give Your Business A Kick Start
To your success,
Paula Gaon
Next Post: "Looking Backwards & Forwards"
Marketing Tips 101
Looking Backwards and Forwards
Financial institutions that were "too big" to fail have indeed failed, not to mention the scandal of a big-time money manager being “outted” running a Ponzi Scheme. As if all of this isn’t bad enough, many people who rely on steady employment to feed, house and clothe families have lost their means of support-with many more in fear of losing theirs.
What does all of this tell us? I’m not going to pretend to have any financial expertise, but from some cursory reading and listening to a few financial analysts’ reports, it seems that the root of these woes is the flagrant disregard for the common sense use of money and resources.
Let’s face it. Big Brother, Sister, Auntie or Uncle doesn’t always keep us from falling through the cracks. All of us want to hit it big on the first try.
Set up a web site full of affiliate links, send out a few emails, buy some traffic and rake in the millions in a month or two. Unfortunately, this is just not the way of the world or cyberspace. Profit is the motivating force of business. And to make a profit, one has to work systematically and consistently.
So what does all of this mean for us NetMarketers? In a word, Inventory. It’s an old fashioned idea, something that we Baby Boomers may have done in local department stores after the holidays to earn some pocket money. None the less, it’s a tried and true principle. Looking back and taking count. What are you selling? How much time (Yes, time is a commodity.) have you invested marketing each group of products? What are you paying for marketing
(Getting That Big Bad Traffic)? What are you left with after paying out? And finally, are profits rising or falling?
Yes, inventory taking can be very discouraging. But try to see the glass as half full. If you basically enjoy the challenge of NetMarketing, why not keep at it building your business gradually and sensibly? Budget your time and money and continue to work smart. Network and learn. Continue to look forward-we’re certainly seeing more and more every day that the Big Guys are not always looking out for us.
Give Your Business A Kick Start
To your success,
Paula Gaon
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