Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Scott Bywater
I was reading this book the other day about the death of advertising.
It was a book written by a web 2.0 search engine fan and he was saying there was going to be a death of advertising and everything would be done via search engines, social media, etc. going forward.
Now that's partly true.
Things have shifted.
Twenty years ago the media was dominated by television and newspapers.
And that was the only way to get your name out there on a mass level.
And that's certainly all changed.
But I was thinking the other day about some of my larger clients.
There's an 80 / 20 rule in business that... 80% of your business comes from 20% of your clients.
Now I haven't crunched my numbers enough to know if this is absolutely true in my case, but here's what I've noticed about four of my top clients which generate a large percentage of my business.
One was generated by a referral.
And three were generated by picking up the phone or sending these guys letters / emails directly to get them on board.
And NOT because they suddenly fell across me online via search engines, blogs, social media, etc.
The message: Don't fall for all the hype.
If you know who your target market is then go after them.
Don't just rely on search.
Because with search you cannot control who you attract.
Sure, you can control via keyword.
But you cannot say I want a business who is turning over a minimum of a million dollars a year in the manufacturing industry for instance.
You can with direct mail.
Of course, you need to use the strategies you'll find in http://www.copywritingthatsells.com.au/cashflow to make sure you do it right and hit the nail on the head.
But once again, as with my last email you need to zig when they zag and not just follow along blindly according to what everyone else is saying and doing.
About the Author:
Scott Bywater is an advertising copywriting expert and the author of Cash-Flow Advertising. To gain access to all of his copywriting tips on how to get more customers via his eye opening "Copywriting Selling Secrets" newsletter, simply head on over to his web site at http://www.copywritingthatsells.com.au/
Follow @scottbywater on Twitter.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
How Online Marketing Consultants Can Supercharge Your Sales
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Paul Marshall
Starting out it can all be so overwhelming. But it doesn't need to be.
We have to get our products or services exactly right.
Then we have to figure out how to explain them to others through our website.
We understand the reasons people should buy what we are selling. But can we successfully explain that to our website visitors in convincing language they relate to, instead of jargon and lingo related to our industry?
Finally, we have to develop an action plan to market online and within our budget, which is often limited when first starting our business.
And how do we develop that marketing plan? Where do we get the information necessary to formulate marketing techniques that will actually work for us? The number of sources out there is simply overwhelming!
This is when getting feedback from a professional outside our own industry can be valuable. You can turn to an affordable Online Marketing Consultants who understands and specializes in small businesses and new business start-ups.
What about Getting Internet Traffic to Your Site?
Some start by using pay-per-click marketing, like Google AdWords. The trouble is that AdWords can get expensive quickly. And it takes a LOT of time to set up and manage over time.
Starting out it may make sense to use AdWords. Plus, it can be a great way to test your keyword search phrases to find out which ones convert best. You can use AdWords for this purpose before beginning search engine optimization (SEO).
But ultimately...sooner or later...most businesses need to optimize for the search engines (SEO).
SEO can provide you qualified Internet traffic without per-visitor costs. Think of it almost as free advertising...well, free after the SEO costs in either time, money or some of both.
You should also utilize article marketing, getting your message in front of article directory visitors and ezine newsletter subscribers. This can generate faster sales, while you're waiting on your SEO efforts to pay off.
Lastly, for most Internet businesses, they should use blog postings or opt-in email marketing to stay in touch with their prospective buyers, using a soft-sell method, over time. If ALL you focus on are people who make a buying decision the very first time they come to your site, you're missing out on the great majority of sales you can make!
How Much Traffic Do You Need?
Here are some questions you'll need to consider when making decisions about AdWords and SEO:
1. What is your monthly sales revenue goal from your website?
2. How much traffic to your website on a monthly basis will you need to meet your sales goals?
3. What is (or will be) your click-through rate, whether from AdWords impressions or organic SEO listings?
You need this number to determine the total number of monthly impressions or search queries you'll need (for your AdWords ads and your organic SEO listings to be seen by searchers), to arrive at the monthly traffic number you need to your website.
4. What is (or will be) your conversion sales rate from your traffic? Again, you need this number also to determine the amount of monthly impressions or search queries you'll need.
Especially when first starting up, finding this type of data, evaluating the accuracy of it and then implementing a plan can be very time-consuming and can almost drive a person crazy!
There are a lot of so-called experts you can follow. But how do you know if they know what they're talking about?
And without having these numbers (at least good estimates), starting AdWords or SEO is like throwing darts with a blindfold on!
Again, this is where talking with 1 or 2 Online Marketing Consultants can help light your path. Your result can be more sales, MUCH faster.
Which Keyword Search Phrases are Right for Your Business?
Think of keywords as the windows or doors to your website. Without using the right ones for YOUR business, your website is like a house without windows or doors -- no one is coming in. Kinda the opposite of what you're going for. :-)
What makes good keywords for your business?
My advice to clients I coach is your keywords should:
1. accurately match what the search engine users INTEND when they type in their keywords to the services or products you offer (get inside their heads);
2. bring you enough traffic to be worth the AdWords or SEO effort;
3. offer affordable enough AdWords bid prices, if you're using AdWords;
4. have obtainable first or second page SEO results;
5. contain words in the phrases that suggest a searcher who is ready to spend money (unless you're offering something that is truly free);
6. CONVERT directly to a sale, a sales lead, a sign-up...whatever your goal is.
Wrapping it Up
Be open to the value affordable Online Marketing Consultants offer you. Someone who has already gone down the road you're on can help you avoid the potholes along the way. And those potholes can be very expensive...
There are talented advisors out there who understand small businesses and new business start-ups. And they price their services for these businesses.
Using someone talented, you'll almost certainly make more sales, more quickly.
And following that advice and the other suggestions in this article, your Internet marketing plan should be off to a great start!
About the Author:
Marketing online since 2004, Paul Marshall can help you market on a budget. He's an Online Marketing Consultants expert offering marketing services (and d-i-y Coaching). You can learn more about Paul on his Search Engine Marketing LinkedIn profile and at Strategic Web Marketing.net.
Read more Articles written by Paul Marshall.
Copyright © 2009 Paul Marshall
Starting out it can all be so overwhelming. But it doesn't need to be.
We have to get our products or services exactly right.
Then we have to figure out how to explain them to others through our website.
We understand the reasons people should buy what we are selling. But can we successfully explain that to our website visitors in convincing language they relate to, instead of jargon and lingo related to our industry?
Finally, we have to develop an action plan to market online and within our budget, which is often limited when first starting our business.
And how do we develop that marketing plan? Where do we get the information necessary to formulate marketing techniques that will actually work for us? The number of sources out there is simply overwhelming!
This is when getting feedback from a professional outside our own industry can be valuable. You can turn to an affordable Online Marketing Consultants who understands and specializes in small businesses and new business start-ups.
What about Getting Internet Traffic to Your Site?
Some start by using pay-per-click marketing, like Google AdWords. The trouble is that AdWords can get expensive quickly. And it takes a LOT of time to set up and manage over time.
Starting out it may make sense to use AdWords. Plus, it can be a great way to test your keyword search phrases to find out which ones convert best. You can use AdWords for this purpose before beginning search engine optimization (SEO).
But ultimately...sooner or later...most businesses need to optimize for the search engines (SEO).
SEO can provide you qualified Internet traffic without per-visitor costs. Think of it almost as free advertising...well, free after the SEO costs in either time, money or some of both.
You should also utilize article marketing, getting your message in front of article directory visitors and ezine newsletter subscribers. This can generate faster sales, while you're waiting on your SEO efforts to pay off.
Lastly, for most Internet businesses, they should use blog postings or opt-in email marketing to stay in touch with their prospective buyers, using a soft-sell method, over time. If ALL you focus on are people who make a buying decision the very first time they come to your site, you're missing out on the great majority of sales you can make!
How Much Traffic Do You Need?
Here are some questions you'll need to consider when making decisions about AdWords and SEO:
1. What is your monthly sales revenue goal from your website?
2. How much traffic to your website on a monthly basis will you need to meet your sales goals?
3. What is (or will be) your click-through rate, whether from AdWords impressions or organic SEO listings?
You need this number to determine the total number of monthly impressions or search queries you'll need (for your AdWords ads and your organic SEO listings to be seen by searchers), to arrive at the monthly traffic number you need to your website.
4. What is (or will be) your conversion sales rate from your traffic? Again, you need this number also to determine the amount of monthly impressions or search queries you'll need.
Especially when first starting up, finding this type of data, evaluating the accuracy of it and then implementing a plan can be very time-consuming and can almost drive a person crazy!
There are a lot of so-called experts you can follow. But how do you know if they know what they're talking about?
And without having these numbers (at least good estimates), starting AdWords or SEO is like throwing darts with a blindfold on!
Again, this is where talking with 1 or 2 Online Marketing Consultants can help light your path. Your result can be more sales, MUCH faster.
Which Keyword Search Phrases are Right for Your Business?
Think of keywords as the windows or doors to your website. Without using the right ones for YOUR business, your website is like a house without windows or doors -- no one is coming in. Kinda the opposite of what you're going for. :-)
What makes good keywords for your business?
My advice to clients I coach is your keywords should:
1. accurately match what the search engine users INTEND when they type in their keywords to the services or products you offer (get inside their heads);
2. bring you enough traffic to be worth the AdWords or SEO effort;
3. offer affordable enough AdWords bid prices, if you're using AdWords;
4. have obtainable first or second page SEO results;
5. contain words in the phrases that suggest a searcher who is ready to spend money (unless you're offering something that is truly free);
6. CONVERT directly to a sale, a sales lead, a sign-up...whatever your goal is.
Wrapping it Up
Be open to the value affordable Online Marketing Consultants offer you. Someone who has already gone down the road you're on can help you avoid the potholes along the way. And those potholes can be very expensive...
There are talented advisors out there who understand small businesses and new business start-ups. And they price their services for these businesses.
Using someone talented, you'll almost certainly make more sales, more quickly.
And following that advice and the other suggestions in this article, your Internet marketing plan should be off to a great start!
About the Author:
Marketing online since 2004, Paul Marshall can help you market on a budget. He's an Online Marketing Consultants expert offering marketing services (and d-i-y Coaching). You can learn more about Paul on his Search Engine Marketing LinkedIn profile and at Strategic Web Marketing.net.
Read more Articles written by Paul Marshall.
New Venue For Advertisement - Taxi Receipts
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 James LaGrange
When businesses begin evaluating marketing strategies, many start with basic print or television advertisements. The importance of choosing the proper medium can be the difference between a successful, effective campaign and a campaign which flops. With all the types of advertising out in the world today, every company is looking for that new and innovative idea for great exposure.
Taxi advertising is just one of the many varieties of outdoor advertising. The three main forms of this subset are wrap advertisements, trunk advertisements and top of hood advertisements. Some people will often neglect these ads since there are so many of them out there, but the truth is people are almost forced to look at these advertisements when they are stuck in heavy traffic or stopped waiting at a crosswalk.
An innovative form of taxi advertising will soon be introduced to the Boston market; putting ads on the back of receipts handed out to cab customers. This works by handing out receipt rolls with company ads on them, onto which the Taxi Drivers print their receipts and hand them to customers after every ride. These ads could consist of anything imaginable that would fit on the normal size receipt. In heavily congested cities or cities that are temporary homes to business travelers, this form of marketing has the opportunity to be effective in the taxi advertising market.
A similar type of advertising has been previously applied to Mexican cities. I personally was down in Cancun last year and upon paying the bus toll or taxi tab, a small slip receipt was handed to me. Generally these receipts had discounts to Mexican outlets, restaurants or entertainment shows. The slip ended up being useful as we were able to save money on our dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.
In Boston alone, approximately 45,000 people take a taxi every day of which 80% request a receipt. Therefore, about 35,000 people are currently being missed as potential targets per day. This is a relatively small portion of the market, as Boston is not even considered in the top 20 for largest US cities. Much of the general target market would consist of business travelers. These businessmen do not have cars in the cities they travel to, and furthermore, they need to obtain a receipt for the cab trip in order to be reimbursed for their expenses. Thus they must pay attention to what is being handed to them. Make this relevant, and you have an interested potential customer.
Advertising in the United States last year totaled over 400 billion dollars. Traditional forms of advertising are now expensive and over-populated. As the market for traditional advertising declines with the fragmentation of consumers into tight groups, this ads one more way to target a particular group. Taxi marketing thus provides the ability for a business to reach a wide audience, at a more reasonable cost than other forms of advertising.
For businesses seeking more information about Taxi Advertising please visit Taxi Ad Works' website at www.taxiadworks.com
About the Author:
Taxi Ad Works is proud to offer taxi advertising and taxi marketing services in the Boston area. Boston cab advertising is growing as people seek to diversify and target their marketing efforts in order to justify their budgets and ad spend. We feel that this form of promotional advertising can contribute to a healthy marketing mix for the right firms and offerings. Please let us know your thoughts at info@taxiadworks.com. Written by James LaGrange, Project Manager at http://www.taxiadworks.com/
Read more of James LaGrange's articles.
Copyright © 2009 James LaGrange
When businesses begin evaluating marketing strategies, many start with basic print or television advertisements. The importance of choosing the proper medium can be the difference between a successful, effective campaign and a campaign which flops. With all the types of advertising out in the world today, every company is looking for that new and innovative idea for great exposure.
Taxi advertising is just one of the many varieties of outdoor advertising. The three main forms of this subset are wrap advertisements, trunk advertisements and top of hood advertisements. Some people will often neglect these ads since there are so many of them out there, but the truth is people are almost forced to look at these advertisements when they are stuck in heavy traffic or stopped waiting at a crosswalk.
An innovative form of taxi advertising will soon be introduced to the Boston market; putting ads on the back of receipts handed out to cab customers. This works by handing out receipt rolls with company ads on them, onto which the Taxi Drivers print their receipts and hand them to customers after every ride. These ads could consist of anything imaginable that would fit on the normal size receipt. In heavily congested cities or cities that are temporary homes to business travelers, this form of marketing has the opportunity to be effective in the taxi advertising market.
A similar type of advertising has been previously applied to Mexican cities. I personally was down in Cancun last year and upon paying the bus toll or taxi tab, a small slip receipt was handed to me. Generally these receipts had discounts to Mexican outlets, restaurants or entertainment shows. The slip ended up being useful as we were able to save money on our dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.
In Boston alone, approximately 45,000 people take a taxi every day of which 80% request a receipt. Therefore, about 35,000 people are currently being missed as potential targets per day. This is a relatively small portion of the market, as Boston is not even considered in the top 20 for largest US cities. Much of the general target market would consist of business travelers. These businessmen do not have cars in the cities they travel to, and furthermore, they need to obtain a receipt for the cab trip in order to be reimbursed for their expenses. Thus they must pay attention to what is being handed to them. Make this relevant, and you have an interested potential customer.
Advertising in the United States last year totaled over 400 billion dollars. Traditional forms of advertising are now expensive and over-populated. As the market for traditional advertising declines with the fragmentation of consumers into tight groups, this ads one more way to target a particular group. Taxi marketing thus provides the ability for a business to reach a wide audience, at a more reasonable cost than other forms of advertising.
For businesses seeking more information about Taxi Advertising please visit Taxi Ad Works' website at www.taxiadworks.com
About the Author:
Taxi Ad Works is proud to offer taxi advertising and taxi marketing services in the Boston area. Boston cab advertising is growing as people seek to diversify and target their marketing efforts in order to justify their budgets and ad spend. We feel that this form of promotional advertising can contribute to a healthy marketing mix for the right firms and offerings. Please let us know your thoughts at info@taxiadworks.com. Written by James LaGrange, Project Manager at http://www.taxiadworks.com/
Read more of James LaGrange's articles.
What Is The Difference Between Netbooks And Laptops?
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins
Lately, one question that keeps constantly popping up with laptop buyers - what is the difference between netbooks and laptops? If you're buying the latest mobile computer, should you go with a netbook or laptop? What are the major differences and which one should you buy?
First, you have to realize the category of "netbook" is a fairly new one. Asustek launched the netbook category when it released its first Eee PC in the fall of 2007. Nebooks have proven so popular with consumers it is now the fastest growing laptop segment.
Netbooks are small in size, usually with screens of 10 inches, but some displays can be slightly smaller or larger. Netbooks will usually run Windows XP or Linux and sell for well under $500. Most have the smaller Intel Atom processor and at least one GB of RAM.
Netbooks usually have multiple USB ports, wireless Internet, Ethernet, webcam, vga port for an external larger monitor, microphone and headphone jacks, card readers and most now come with 160 GB hard drive, but older models will have 30 to 60 GB ones. Expect longer battery life with a netbook and nine hours is not that uncommon.
Sounds like a regular laptop, doesn't it?
Well, not exactly, because the main difference besides the smaller size, is the lower processing power you will find in a netbook. Most have the smaller Intel Atom processor so expect less performance, especially when you consider most netbooks have much less RAM than a regular laptop. In addition, most netbooks don't have an optical drive (cd/dvd player), although some newer models do have this feature. The keyboard will usually be smaller so if you have large hands, look for a model with normal sized keys.
Why have Netbooks become so popular?
The main reason could be our constant quest for a handy portable device to go along with our hectic fast-paced well-connected lifestyles. Many people want something larger than a smart phone or PDA to connect with family and friends at all times. For students, a netbook is ideal because of its small size and portability. For travelers, vacationers, hikers, sailors... a netbook can be a very convenient device to bring along to stay connected with the outside world.
The other major reason is Price!
Netbooks are a lot cheaper than laptops, at least for the moment this statement is true. Since regular laptop prices are constantly decreasing, this price difference has grown a lot smaller in recent years. But for the most part, netbooks will be cheaper to buy then laptops.
Should you buy a netbook or laptop?
This question will largely depend upon what tasks you want your new device to perform. If you have computer tasks which require high performance or you want to store large amounts of data, then go with a laptop or PC. If you have tasks which require a large viewing area (display) then go with a laptop; those third quarter company spreadsheets will be very hard to read on a netbook.
However, if you want a small portable device to stay connected with friends and family while you're traveling or just out around town, then go with a netbook. If you're a student and want a small compact device for the classroom, then go with a netbook.
Now, to confuse things somewhat, any prudent buyer must be aware that you can have all of the features of a netbook in many ultra-portable laptops currently on the market. For example, you can buy a Sony VAIO 11.1 Inch Laptop with a 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive and a Blu-ray Drive. The main difference is price, expect to pay well over two grand for the Sony.
Again, which device you buy will largely depend upon your own computer needs and your budget. A cheap, yet sturdy netbook, may be all you need to get the job done, why waste money by buying features you don't need and will never use? However, if you require high performance in a small package, then a more powerful ultra-portable laptop may fit the bill in more ways than one. It's your call?
About the Author:
For more information on Buying Student Netbooks at Bargain Prices Click Here: best netbooks. To download our Comprehensive Laptop Computer Buying Guide go here: Laptop Computer Buying Guide.
Copyright (c) 2009 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.
Read more Articles written by Titus Hoskins.
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins
Lately, one question that keeps constantly popping up with laptop buyers - what is the difference between netbooks and laptops? If you're buying the latest mobile computer, should you go with a netbook or laptop? What are the major differences and which one should you buy?
First, you have to realize the category of "netbook" is a fairly new one. Asustek launched the netbook category when it released its first Eee PC in the fall of 2007. Nebooks have proven so popular with consumers it is now the fastest growing laptop segment.
Netbooks are small in size, usually with screens of 10 inches, but some displays can be slightly smaller or larger. Netbooks will usually run Windows XP or Linux and sell for well under $500. Most have the smaller Intel Atom processor and at least one GB of RAM.
Netbooks usually have multiple USB ports, wireless Internet, Ethernet, webcam, vga port for an external larger monitor, microphone and headphone jacks, card readers and most now come with 160 GB hard drive, but older models will have 30 to 60 GB ones. Expect longer battery life with a netbook and nine hours is not that uncommon.
Sounds like a regular laptop, doesn't it?
Well, not exactly, because the main difference besides the smaller size, is the lower processing power you will find in a netbook. Most have the smaller Intel Atom processor so expect less performance, especially when you consider most netbooks have much less RAM than a regular laptop. In addition, most netbooks don't have an optical drive (cd/dvd player), although some newer models do have this feature. The keyboard will usually be smaller so if you have large hands, look for a model with normal sized keys.
Why have Netbooks become so popular?
The main reason could be our constant quest for a handy portable device to go along with our hectic fast-paced well-connected lifestyles. Many people want something larger than a smart phone or PDA to connect with family and friends at all times. For students, a netbook is ideal because of its small size and portability. For travelers, vacationers, hikers, sailors... a netbook can be a very convenient device to bring along to stay connected with the outside world.
The other major reason is Price!
Netbooks are a lot cheaper than laptops, at least for the moment this statement is true. Since regular laptop prices are constantly decreasing, this price difference has grown a lot smaller in recent years. But for the most part, netbooks will be cheaper to buy then laptops.
Should you buy a netbook or laptop?
This question will largely depend upon what tasks you want your new device to perform. If you have computer tasks which require high performance or you want to store large amounts of data, then go with a laptop or PC. If you have tasks which require a large viewing area (display) then go with a laptop; those third quarter company spreadsheets will be very hard to read on a netbook.
However, if you want a small portable device to stay connected with friends and family while you're traveling or just out around town, then go with a netbook. If you're a student and want a small compact device for the classroom, then go with a netbook.
Now, to confuse things somewhat, any prudent buyer must be aware that you can have all of the features of a netbook in many ultra-portable laptops currently on the market. For example, you can buy a Sony VAIO 11.1 Inch Laptop with a 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600 Processor, 4 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive and a Blu-ray Drive. The main difference is price, expect to pay well over two grand for the Sony.
Again, which device you buy will largely depend upon your own computer needs and your budget. A cheap, yet sturdy netbook, may be all you need to get the job done, why waste money by buying features you don't need and will never use? However, if you require high performance in a small package, then a more powerful ultra-portable laptop may fit the bill in more ways than one. It's your call?
About the Author:
For more information on Buying Student Netbooks at Bargain Prices Click Here: best netbooks. To download our Comprehensive Laptop Computer Buying Guide go here: Laptop Computer Buying Guide.
Copyright (c) 2009 Titus Hoskins. http://www.bizwaremagic.com This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.
Read more Articles written by Titus Hoskins.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Web Analytics and Your Website - What You Need to Know
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Enzo F. Cesario
When it comes to the web, information is king. Indeed, the web itself is information, a massive collection of articles, videos, blogs, news stories and photographs trying to convey a message to various audiences scattered around the world. The big sensation over the last year has been Twitter, a system built around condensing information to a mere 140 characters and broadcasting it out to interested users with a minimum of frills and features.
YouTube, a site where literally anybody can upload their videos for the appreciation of others, became the fourth most popular site on the Internet in less than a year. Compare that to newspapers and television, which both have been experiencing decreasing viewership in recent years. People need, want, and will seek out every conceivable sort of information, and the Internet is the place to find it.
Who Wants To Know?
Information isn't just of use to the casual browser or dedicated auction enthusiast, however. Equally and increasingly interested are the very people posting content to the many pages on the web. Who is visiting which pages? How much traffic is your site getting, and how does it measure up against traffic going to similar sites? What has changed since you put up the big new advertising system last year? Necessity being the mother of invention, this increasing craving for varied and precise forms of information has led to the steady growth of a field called Web Analytics.
What Are You Looking At?
Put simply, Web Analytics is a system of study dedicated to collecting, measuring, and reporting on web and Internet data. This general idea breaks down further into two broad disciplines. The first is on-site analytics, which concerns itself with the journey of each user to a website, and is of primary concern to the owners of that site. It records information ranging from a record of which pages are being visited to a comparison of which pages garner more purchases from visitors. Off-site analytics focuses on information on the Internet as a whole, such as what websites more people are visiting, and what sites are being talked about most frequently. Both methods seek to answer the key question for any website operator - what are people looking at?
But What Does It All Mean?
Proper Web Analytics goes a step further than simple data collection, however. It also concerns itself with interpretation of the data in a context that allows the site owner to take appropriate steps. Let's use the advertising campaign mentioned earlier as an example. Simple web measurement would be the collection of how many hits and purchases the site gathered before and after the campaign. A serious analytic comparison would explain how quickly purchases picked up after the change, what products and portions of the site drew more traffic as a result, and which pages remained unaffected. In short, web measurement is the gathering of the data; Web Analytics is the comparison and interpretation of that data.
The importance of the analytics field to the modern site owner can be observed in the sheer volume of material available on the subject. Sites offer free programs allowing users to set their own metrics, and others can be purchased, offering extra features and a professional interface. Hardcover and electronic format books have been published dealing with the material, and people have formed associations for the purpose of standardizing Web Analytics methodology and terms.
There is even a Web Analytics conference, the E-metrics summit, held in Santa Barbara, California and London, England each year. Going even further, there are listed job offerings in the field that offer salaries approaching $100,000 a year. Clearly this is not a passing fad, but a serious, vital step for any website interested not just in drawing an audience, but keeping it.
It's All About Information
Of course this all begs the question - how does a user get started. Moreover, to what degree should they seek to implement Web Analytic tools and techniques? Perhaps a bit counter-intuitively, the quest for information begins with information. Site owners know what they want to accomplish with their sites, be it promoting a specific product or generating an audience for geopolitical discussions in a casual atmosphere. This information is the best place to start because it allows the user to begin understanding what information will help them pursue their goal.
For example, if a page is intended to promote an e-book series, then the user wants to know what information will help them do that promotion. They can then look for analytic tools that will tell them what pages are more successful at selling e-books, and what techniques are less successful.
Taking the time to sit down and think through the purpose that analytic information is ultimately intended to accomplish will make the search easier, and more fruitful from the beginning. With this basic framework established, the next step is the web itself. A simple web search on 'Web Analytics' or 'Web Analytics for beginners' will return a substantial amount of information. From there users can locate articles, videos, and e-books that will help them make the decisions they need to make their websites successful.
About the Author:
Enzo F. Cesario is a Copywriter and co-founder of Brandsplat. Brandcasting uses informative content and state-of-the-art internet distribution and optimization to build links and drive the right kind of traffic to your website. Go to http://www.Brandsplat.com/ or visit our blog at: http://www.brandsplatblog.com/
Read more of Enzo F. Cesario's articles.
Copyright © 2009 Enzo F. Cesario
When it comes to the web, information is king. Indeed, the web itself is information, a massive collection of articles, videos, blogs, news stories and photographs trying to convey a message to various audiences scattered around the world. The big sensation over the last year has been Twitter, a system built around condensing information to a mere 140 characters and broadcasting it out to interested users with a minimum of frills and features.
YouTube, a site where literally anybody can upload their videos for the appreciation of others, became the fourth most popular site on the Internet in less than a year. Compare that to newspapers and television, which both have been experiencing decreasing viewership in recent years. People need, want, and will seek out every conceivable sort of information, and the Internet is the place to find it.
Who Wants To Know?
Information isn't just of use to the casual browser or dedicated auction enthusiast, however. Equally and increasingly interested are the very people posting content to the many pages on the web. Who is visiting which pages? How much traffic is your site getting, and how does it measure up against traffic going to similar sites? What has changed since you put up the big new advertising system last year? Necessity being the mother of invention, this increasing craving for varied and precise forms of information has led to the steady growth of a field called Web Analytics.
What Are You Looking At?
Put simply, Web Analytics is a system of study dedicated to collecting, measuring, and reporting on web and Internet data. This general idea breaks down further into two broad disciplines. The first is on-site analytics, which concerns itself with the journey of each user to a website, and is of primary concern to the owners of that site. It records information ranging from a record of which pages are being visited to a comparison of which pages garner more purchases from visitors. Off-site analytics focuses on information on the Internet as a whole, such as what websites more people are visiting, and what sites are being talked about most frequently. Both methods seek to answer the key question for any website operator - what are people looking at?
But What Does It All Mean?
Proper Web Analytics goes a step further than simple data collection, however. It also concerns itself with interpretation of the data in a context that allows the site owner to take appropriate steps. Let's use the advertising campaign mentioned earlier as an example. Simple web measurement would be the collection of how many hits and purchases the site gathered before and after the campaign. A serious analytic comparison would explain how quickly purchases picked up after the change, what products and portions of the site drew more traffic as a result, and which pages remained unaffected. In short, web measurement is the gathering of the data; Web Analytics is the comparison and interpretation of that data.
The importance of the analytics field to the modern site owner can be observed in the sheer volume of material available on the subject. Sites offer free programs allowing users to set their own metrics, and others can be purchased, offering extra features and a professional interface. Hardcover and electronic format books have been published dealing with the material, and people have formed associations for the purpose of standardizing Web Analytics methodology and terms.
There is even a Web Analytics conference, the E-metrics summit, held in Santa Barbara, California and London, England each year. Going even further, there are listed job offerings in the field that offer salaries approaching $100,000 a year. Clearly this is not a passing fad, but a serious, vital step for any website interested not just in drawing an audience, but keeping it.
It's All About Information
Of course this all begs the question - how does a user get started. Moreover, to what degree should they seek to implement Web Analytic tools and techniques? Perhaps a bit counter-intuitively, the quest for information begins with information. Site owners know what they want to accomplish with their sites, be it promoting a specific product or generating an audience for geopolitical discussions in a casual atmosphere. This information is the best place to start because it allows the user to begin understanding what information will help them pursue their goal.
For example, if a page is intended to promote an e-book series, then the user wants to know what information will help them do that promotion. They can then look for analytic tools that will tell them what pages are more successful at selling e-books, and what techniques are less successful.
Taking the time to sit down and think through the purpose that analytic information is ultimately intended to accomplish will make the search easier, and more fruitful from the beginning. With this basic framework established, the next step is the web itself. A simple web search on 'Web Analytics' or 'Web Analytics for beginners' will return a substantial amount of information. From there users can locate articles, videos, and e-books that will help them make the decisions they need to make their websites successful.
About the Author:
Enzo F. Cesario is a Copywriter and co-founder of Brandsplat. Brandcasting uses informative content and state-of-the-art internet distribution and optimization to build links and drive the right kind of traffic to your website. Go to http://www.Brandsplat.com/ or visit our blog at: http://www.brandsplatblog.com/
Read more of Enzo F. Cesario's articles.
Build Trust With A Favour Bank
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Scott Bywater
I remember reading a book by Paulo Coelho a few years ago when I came across the concept of the favour bank.
Basically, what a favour bank is based around is the fact when you do someone a favour they will want to return the favour at some stage in the future.
For instance, if a mate comes over to your house and fixes your car, you might buy them a beer at some time down the road.
Now the same concept applies to business and marketing.
Of course, the best way to give is with no expectation of receiving anything.
That goes without saying.
At the same time, there is a law called the 'law of reciprocation' which Robert Cialdini refers to in his book "Influence."
In fact, he gives an example at some stage in that book of how the Hare Krishna's increased their donations.
Essentially what they did to increase donations was hand out a flower to people walking by. They followed this up with "And a donation to the Hare Krishna Society would be appreciated."
It worked.
So how can this concept work for you?
Well, you can start giving away information and educating your customers about your product or service on a regular basis.
You can become the trusted expert.
You can pick out particular "target clients" or large clients and send them a book they might be interested in... or offer them some complimentary advice... or whatever.
You see, there's the bank we can see.
The money in the bank. It's hard. It's real. You can see it...you can touch it... and you can feel it.
But there's also a bank which you cannot see.
It's based on relationships.
And the deep relationships you generate with your customers and prospects turns into money in the bank in the future.
Don't neglect your favour bank.
Of course, you need to first find the people you can help and build up your favour bank with.
The first lesson of http://www.morecustomersmadeeasy.com/ shows you how to find them and start building up that relationship.
Virtually any business can use it.
And it makes selling easy because the biggest thing you need to overcome in every selling process is trust.
And there's no better way to build trust than building up the size of your favour bank.
About the Author:
Scott Bywater is a direct mail copywriter and the author of Cash-Flow Advertising. To get access to his highly prized complimentary copy of '7 Ways To Get More Customers" (valued at $29.95) and to join his controversial and insighful "Copywriting Selling Secrets" newsletter where you'll uncover the truth about why most ads and sales letters don't work (and how to make yours stand out from the rest) head on over to his web site at http://www.copywritingthatsells.com.au/
Follow @scottbywater on Twitter.
Copyright © 2009 Scott Bywater
I remember reading a book by Paulo Coelho a few years ago when I came across the concept of the favour bank.
Basically, what a favour bank is based around is the fact when you do someone a favour they will want to return the favour at some stage in the future.
For instance, if a mate comes over to your house and fixes your car, you might buy them a beer at some time down the road.
Now the same concept applies to business and marketing.
Of course, the best way to give is with no expectation of receiving anything.
That goes without saying.
At the same time, there is a law called the 'law of reciprocation' which Robert Cialdini refers to in his book "Influence."
In fact, he gives an example at some stage in that book of how the Hare Krishna's increased their donations.
Essentially what they did to increase donations was hand out a flower to people walking by. They followed this up with "And a donation to the Hare Krishna Society would be appreciated."
It worked.
So how can this concept work for you?
Well, you can start giving away information and educating your customers about your product or service on a regular basis.
You can become the trusted expert.
You can pick out particular "target clients" or large clients and send them a book they might be interested in... or offer them some complimentary advice... or whatever.
You see, there's the bank we can see.
The money in the bank. It's hard. It's real. You can see it...you can touch it... and you can feel it.
But there's also a bank which you cannot see.
It's based on relationships.
And the deep relationships you generate with your customers and prospects turns into money in the bank in the future.
Don't neglect your favour bank.
Of course, you need to first find the people you can help and build up your favour bank with.
The first lesson of http://www.morecustomersmadeeasy.com/ shows you how to find them and start building up that relationship.
Virtually any business can use it.
And it makes selling easy because the biggest thing you need to overcome in every selling process is trust.
And there's no better way to build trust than building up the size of your favour bank.
About the Author:
Scott Bywater is a direct mail copywriter and the author of Cash-Flow Advertising. To get access to his highly prized complimentary copy of '7 Ways To Get More Customers" (valued at $29.95) and to join his controversial and insighful "Copywriting Selling Secrets" newsletter where you'll uncover the truth about why most ads and sales letters don't work (and how to make yours stand out from the rest) head on over to his web site at http://www.copywritingthatsells.com.au/
Follow @scottbywater on Twitter.
Friday, November 6, 2009
List Building - 9 Steps to Creating a High Converting Squeeze Page
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 Alan Cheng
With a high converting squeeze page, an online business will make more use of the traffic they drive to their website. With more email leads an online business can promote to, there are more chances of buyers for your products and services. Generating traffic is hard work so you want to capture as many of the visitors' emails as you can when they visit your website.
Here are 9 steps to creating a high converting squeeze page:
1. Determine Type Of Traffic
Decide what type of prospect you want to attract with your squeeze page. Then create your squeeze page to attract that particular type of prospect only. Don't create a squeeze page which caters for everyone. Your conversions of visitors to leads will suffer.
2. Professional Graphics
Create the best graphics you can for your squeeze page. Eye-grabbing graphics have proven in my tests to increase conversion rates. So hire a good graphics designer if you can't design good graphics yourself.
3. Keywords
Make sure your squeeze page shows the keywords which the visitor is looking for. If your ad promises that they will receive an insurance review report when they visit your squeeze page, make sure your squeeze page shows the words "insurance review".
This will confirm to the visitor that they are on the right page and they should find the information they are looking for.
4. Attention
Get your visitor's attention right away when they visit your website.
You can do this by showing a headline that raises curiosity and promises benefits.
Once you have their attention, they will read more of your squeeze page.
5. Benefits
With your squeeze page, explain the benefits for the visitor if they sign up to your list.
Explain the benefits using words or video. Make sure that when you read the message on the squeeze page, you actually emotionally feel how signing up will benefit your visitors.
6. Graphics - Video/Report
If you are offering a free report or video on your squeeze page, create a graphic (called an ecover) for it.
This will make your intangible product seem tangible. Visitors will want their hands on your free offer. It's all about packaging your offer.
7. Call To Action
In your squeeze page, make it very clear what you want the subscriber to do. Don't make them guess that they should enter their name and email address to sign up to your list. Tell them directly in simple terms. Command them on what they need to do.
People react to commands. Telling them to enter their name and email and then click on the submit button is needed. This may sound silly, but tests have shown this to increase response rates.
8. Split Testing
With every squeeze page you create, you need to create another one with a slight variation such as a different headline, different benefits or place your sign up box in another place.
All squeeze pages can be improved. Use the tool at http://www.google.com/websiteoptimizer to test which 2 versions of your squeeze page has the better response rate.
Remove the low performing squeeze page and try to create another one to achieve better response rates. This is how you create squeeze pages that have 50% sign up rates.
9. Drive Traffic
At the end of the day, you need to drive traffic to the squeeze page and see what type of prospects react to your squeeze page. If you notice that a certain source of traffic has good sign up rates then market your squeeze page more in that area.
The more traffic you drive to your squeeze page, the quicker you will be able to create a high converting squeeze page.
All these steps are not rocket science, yet not many people follow them. Improve your squeeze page one step at a time following the advice above and you'll be able to convert a high percentage of your visitors to subscribers. This list building component of your online business is essential if you want to increase sales. If you want your online business to succeed, a high converting squeeze page is mandatory.
About the Author:
For more tips on how to promote your online business and increase sales, visit information product creation. To hire professionals to create your own best selling information products, visit http://www.eliteghostwriters.com/infoproducts.html - Alan Cheng, Elite Ghostwriters.
Read more Articles written by Alan Cheng.
Copyright © 2009 Alan Cheng
With a high converting squeeze page, an online business will make more use of the traffic they drive to their website. With more email leads an online business can promote to, there are more chances of buyers for your products and services. Generating traffic is hard work so you want to capture as many of the visitors' emails as you can when they visit your website.
Here are 9 steps to creating a high converting squeeze page:
1. Determine Type Of Traffic
Decide what type of prospect you want to attract with your squeeze page. Then create your squeeze page to attract that particular type of prospect only. Don't create a squeeze page which caters for everyone. Your conversions of visitors to leads will suffer.
2. Professional Graphics
Create the best graphics you can for your squeeze page. Eye-grabbing graphics have proven in my tests to increase conversion rates. So hire a good graphics designer if you can't design good graphics yourself.
3. Keywords
Make sure your squeeze page shows the keywords which the visitor is looking for. If your ad promises that they will receive an insurance review report when they visit your squeeze page, make sure your squeeze page shows the words "insurance review".
This will confirm to the visitor that they are on the right page and they should find the information they are looking for.
4. Attention
Get your visitor's attention right away when they visit your website.
You can do this by showing a headline that raises curiosity and promises benefits.
Once you have their attention, they will read more of your squeeze page.
5. Benefits
With your squeeze page, explain the benefits for the visitor if they sign up to your list.
Explain the benefits using words or video. Make sure that when you read the message on the squeeze page, you actually emotionally feel how signing up will benefit your visitors.
6. Graphics - Video/Report
If you are offering a free report or video on your squeeze page, create a graphic (called an ecover) for it.
This will make your intangible product seem tangible. Visitors will want their hands on your free offer. It's all about packaging your offer.
7. Call To Action
In your squeeze page, make it very clear what you want the subscriber to do. Don't make them guess that they should enter their name and email address to sign up to your list. Tell them directly in simple terms. Command them on what they need to do.
People react to commands. Telling them to enter their name and email and then click on the submit button is needed. This may sound silly, but tests have shown this to increase response rates.
8. Split Testing
With every squeeze page you create, you need to create another one with a slight variation such as a different headline, different benefits or place your sign up box in another place.
All squeeze pages can be improved. Use the tool at http://www.google.com/websiteoptimizer to test which 2 versions of your squeeze page has the better response rate.
Remove the low performing squeeze page and try to create another one to achieve better response rates. This is how you create squeeze pages that have 50% sign up rates.
9. Drive Traffic
At the end of the day, you need to drive traffic to the squeeze page and see what type of prospects react to your squeeze page. If you notice that a certain source of traffic has good sign up rates then market your squeeze page more in that area.
The more traffic you drive to your squeeze page, the quicker you will be able to create a high converting squeeze page.
All these steps are not rocket science, yet not many people follow them. Improve your squeeze page one step at a time following the advice above and you'll be able to convert a high percentage of your visitors to subscribers. This list building component of your online business is essential if you want to increase sales. If you want your online business to succeed, a high converting squeeze page is mandatory.
About the Author:
For more tips on how to promote your online business and increase sales, visit information product creation. To hire professionals to create your own best selling information products, visit http://www.eliteghostwriters.com/infoproducts.html - Alan Cheng, Elite Ghostwriters.
Read more Articles written by Alan Cheng.
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