Upcoming-Events

BLOG

Archive for the ‘Free Advertising Techniques’ Category

How To Check Your Online Influence

Friday, July 1st, 2011

Prior to the Internet, if consumers were dissatisfied with a company, its products or services, they would tell a few friends who might also tell a few others. Maybe the consumer would write a letter to the company or call the customer service department to complain. For the most part, however, that’s where it ended.

Now, that person can express his or her viewpoint via Facebook or Twitter and see the message spread quickly. Smart companies recognize that social media has given customers a greater capacity to influence buying decisions and are taking steps to ensure that positive relationships are built with key influencers.
Finding Influencers

The first step toward developing such relationships is finding who these influencers are and where they maintain a presence online. You can use comprehensive brand reputation monitoring tools — such as Alterian SM2, Trackur or Brandseye — for this purpose.

Even free tools such as Tweetbeep, which monitors conversations within Twitter based on keywords you input, or Twitter search can help identify potential influencers.

Once the list of influencers has been identified, merchants can determine their influence using the following tool.

How Klout Works

Input a Twitter username and Klout’s algorithm goes to work to return a relative assessment of online influence. According to Klout’s “About” page, the Klout score is the “measurement of a person’s overall online influence. Scores range from 1 to 100, with higher scores representing a wider and stronger sphere of influence.” Klout uses over 35 variables on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to measure three factors: “True Reach,” “Amplification Probability,” and “Network Score.”

True Reach is the size of a user’s audience on Twitter and Facebook.
Amplification Probability is the likelihood that messages will generate actions such as retweets, @messages, likes and comments.
Network Score indicates the influence of a user’s audience. Klout defines influence as the “ability to drive people to action,” whether that be a reply, retweet, comment or click.

Tags: affiliate, affiliate marketing, Klout, Online Influence
Posted in Free Advertising Techniques, Hot Offers, Industry News, Marketing Tips | No Comments »

Still Confused About Affiliate Marketing – Maybe Training Would Help?

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

There are a few affiliates who have been successful by learning as they go, but for the others who do not have any knowledge about advertising online or consumer research, affiliate marketing training is quite necessary for them.

The top reason to join an affiliate marketing training program is that it would keep one from getting so frustrated that he quits. Similarly, many new marketers waste a lot of time on promotional strategies which never actually work. So it is always better to start a business profitably by getting advice from professionals.

Secondly, the skills needed in affiliate marketing are extremely varied and one might not realize which ones are crucial for his business to reach success. Affiliate marketing training does not only teach one how to market his new products, but also teaches him about how to research consumers and use target keywords.

One might not even know which product to choose for promotion until he gets himself entitled in a special program to learn about the business. And by the time the program ends, one would have the knowledge he needs to determine why he should choose a particular product or why not. This information is so importance that without it, a business could struggle for months.

Other than that, one might not be sure of the fact that exactly which strategy would work to effectively promote a new product or he might also be unsure of which way to send information to his target market, thus to learn about all these, he should definitely enlist in a good affiliate marketing training program.

Joining a good affiliate marketing training program would not only help a person with information that can get his business off to a much better start, but also teach him a few valuable secrets that only a professional knows.

Tags: affiliate marketing, affiliate training
Posted in Free Advertising Techniques, Industry News, Marketing Tips | No Comments »

Affiliate Revenue From A Blog?

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

Every affiliate promotion that you post on your blog should be done so tastefully while still being mindful of the important stuff. Every blogger needs to know at least a few things if they are going to make it work. These are those things.

Understand the Needs of Your Blog Readers: If you want to correctly serve your readers and earn money from affiliate sales, you need to actually understand your readers and what kind of needs they have. To do this, you need to study how the trends change, analyze the responses your readers have to your affiliate offers as well as figure out exactly what they want and need. If you feel like your blog content and the affiliate products you want to promote within it don’t exactly jive with each other you need to figure out a way to fix this so that you can better serve the needs of your readers.

Transparency is Your Goal: Trying to trick a reader into buying something shady or of low quality is a big mistake. You need to be transparent (honest) with your readers to improve their trust in you. Readers are going to trust you for who you are and trust your recommendations so make sure you know exactly what you’re promoting. It can only help you use the relevant disclaimers when you include an affiliate link in your blog. Your blog is all about creating a trusting bond with your readers, and the affiliate products you promote should help you enhance this relationship, rather than break it.

Promote Bonuses: Even though there are all sorts of different techniques used by Internet Marketers for affiliate marketing not all of them are wildly successful. One good way of increasing the chance of boosting your affiliate sales through your blog is to add value to the product you’re promoting by giving away a bonus. The conversion rate will significantly be much higher when you use a strong bonus that enhances the value of the affiliate product. You do not have to do a ton of work on the bonus, it just needs to compliment your original offer while also offering your reader much more for his money. The bonus you offer shouldn’t be added for no reason; it’s purpose is to add value and help set your offer apart and be more appealing to your readers.

There is much more to learn, but you can take what you have just read and implement it straight away in your affiliate marketing business.

Tags: affiliate marketing, Affiliate Membership, blog
Posted in Free Advertising Techniques, Industry News, Marketing Tips | No Comments »

5 factors that will increase your online sales

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

At a time when traditional advertising is in a steady decline, entrepreneurs are looking for reliable ways to drive targeted traffic and generate leads through their website. You needn’t look far for information on internet marketing.

Are you really getting the full story? And if the mainstream media provides any clues, the answer is no.

Marketing online has transformed quite a bit with the advent of mobile marketing, local search, and social media marketing. Most local business owners have to spin a lot of plates in order to stay afloat today’s economy. It’s time we separate facts from fiction, and myths from truths.

Developing an online presence is no longer an option for small business owners wanting to boost sales.

- 73% of online activity is related to local content.

- 97% of internet users in the U.S. gather shopping information online, and of those consumers.

- 51% explicitly characterize their behavior as ‘Shop Online, Purchase in Person’.

For every one dollar U.S. consumers spend online, another five or six are going to offline purchases that are influenced by online research.
Business owners marketing online should consider these five areas before finalizing their internet marketing strategy. Every website needs to address these key areas to boost conversion.

They are:
1. Customer Focused – are your keywords geared toward the way ideal prospects are thinking when searching online?
2. Competitive – does the copy on your site include keywords that help your site get found in the search engines?
3. Clear – does each page present a path following a user friendly website-flow to quickly and clearly answer the prospect’s questions?
4. Conversion Optimized – are your messages written to prompt clicks leading to sign-ups and sales?
5. Consistent – are the pages of your site connected with a smooth flow and logical messaging?

If you optimize the content of your website around those five areas, you’re guaranteed to boost your number of subscribers, customers, and profits. For the business owners using social media marketing, or those wanting to be found via mobile marketing, the five factors mentioned above remain constant.

Tags: affiliate marketing, online marketing
Posted in Free Advertising Techniques, Marketing Tips | No Comments »

No Niche Sites Work Best For Affiliate Marketing

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

Recently I came across a site that I really liked and thought it would be a good case study to discuss. The site is HowLifeWorks, which is not my site, but I’ve built sites in a similar manner to this myself, which make me great commissions daily.

This style of site goes against what most affiliate marketing training would tell you to do, which is to find a specific niche and become an expert in that area and get your slice of the larger niche by targeting the micro niche.

This approach does work, and I also have quite a lot of sites that make me money with this approach, so I’m not saying either is better, but each style does have their advantages.

The style that the How Life Works site is employing, is a very general site, with no specific focus on any one niche or product, but rather has content on many niches. The domain allows them to pretty much discuss anything they want on the site, as the topic has something to do with life then it fits!!

You’ll notice that on that site they have many categories, such as business, finance, beauty, relationships, shopping, technology etc…and they run a lot of CPA offers on these pages.

With the CPA offers they can just swap them around at any time they like as long as the keyword phrase is not a product specific one.

The advantage of building a site that is not targeting any one specific niche is that you get a choice of topics you can write about and adding content to your site is endless. This is a great, because if some of the pages you build and do your SEO on don’t work out for you, then all is not lost, as you can just find more keywords and add more content and carry on.

If you build niche specific sites, you can run the risk of choosing a dud of a niche and struggling to be able to repair the site if it’s not working and be forced to start again with a new site. The problem with starting again with new sites all the time, is that they can take some time to gain trust with Google, whereas adding content to an older site with history in Google doesn’t have this problem as much.

Just to be clear though I do build niche specific sites also, as they do still work well, I’m sharing some ideas for other approaches in this post.

When I build sites I employ many different styles, depending on the potential I can see in a niche, and also with more affiliate marketing experience, I tend to be able to know if a niche will work or not, although not all sites work out as well as I had hoped, but that’s just business.

Posted in Free Advertising Techniques, Hot Offers, Marketing Tips | No Comments »

7 Reasons To Invest In Internet Marketing Training

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

There are thousands of people online who participate in affiliate and internet marketing. A small percentage of these are really successful. What do they do that is different? How do they get the successful results that all marketers are yearning for?

Among other things, they have a solid education in Internet Marketing. They have studied in the area and have a great wealth of experience. Internet marketing education will get you over the line in regards to leads, conversions and sales.

1. Internet marketing education gives you a firm basis in marketing. By studying internet marketing, you will learn the basics of marketing – the principles that individuals spend many years studying at university for. By learning the basics of marketing in your internet marketing education, you are ensuring you have an excellent base to start from.

2. Internet marketing education keeps you at the forefront of techniques. By the very definition, Internet marketing, you are using the Internet as your medium for your advertisement. As the Internet evolves, internet marketing education allows you to stay up to dates with the latest techniques being used on the web.

3. Internet marketing education gives you more than just marketing education. It teaches you about copywriting, selling, offline and online marketing. You get a well rounded picture of the whole retail process, and how you fit into it.

4. Internet marketing education allows you to make great network contacts with people who are like-minded, enthusiastic and willing to learn more. These people are idea business contacts and people that will remain in your business acquaintance circle long after the education course is finished.

5. Internet marketing education puts you in touch with the latest products on the market. By learning from the source, you are the first to see new products come through. The less people selling a product the better!

6. Internet marketing education opens your mind. You are learning about a new technique and business opportunity. by learning how to Internet market you are also opening yourself up to new and exciting possibilities. You have the opportunity and ability to create several streams of income!

7. Internet marketing education is affordable. It is not indentured with a university style structure. You can learn in your own time, at your own pace. Not only that, you can earn, while you learn!

Making the choice to educate yourself while starting your journey in Internet marketing is the smart choice. The more you know, and the more up to date you are, the better your ability to create an ongoing income from Internet marketing. Make the right choice and choose internet marketing education today.

Tags: affiliate marketing, Internet Marketing, super affiliate
Posted in Free Advertising Techniques, Industry News, Marketing Tips | No Comments »

Email Marketing Is Alive

Friday, April 1st, 2011

Make no mistake about it – email marketing is alive and well. It’s thriving, in fact, and email newsletters continue to be one of the most effective tools available to Web marketers and online businesses in every category.

A recent Pew Research study found that more than half (56 percent) of Internet users subscribe to an email newsletter of some kind, and marketers, merchants, brands and bloggers are increasingly using the platform to get their messages across to consumers.

The challenges, of course, include creating content that recipients will want to consume on a regular basis, and building a list of subscribers that fosters the growth of your business and revenues.

In no particular order, here are 10 services that can help a small business or affiliate website leap tall buildings in a single bound – and all that other good stuff.

MailChimp

One of the most popular solutions for small businesses making the transition from traditional blogging to full-scale email marketing, MailChimp offers an impressive array of up-to-date but easy-to-implement features, including the latest in social and mobile marketing. Pricing ranges from the free solution that includes up to 2,000 subscribers per month to a $240 package that covers up to 50,000 subscribers.

Campaigner

Also recognized for its ease of use, Campaigner is an excellent startup service that offers multiple features to help users create, send and track their email newsletters. Campaigner’s suite of tools includes its own image-editing tool that allows customers to manipulate images without having to use additional software. Pricing starts at $10 per month with a 30-day free trial and goes to $55 per month for up to 10,000 email addresses.

Campaign Monitor

A pair of Australian Web designers launched the software behind Campaign Monitor in 2004, and today the company provides email services for hundreds of thousands of Web marketers and businesses worldwide. Still based near Sydney, the service has stuck to its roots and caters especially well to the design community, but it is absolutely a full-service email marketing provider with a full feature list and attractive pricing for small businesses. Packages start at $15 per month for up to 500 subscribers and go up to $500 per month for up to 50,000 subscribers.

Constant Contact

Easy editing tools, numerous social features and the latest mobile functionalities help define Constant Contact’s email marketing services, as well as nearly 500 newsletter templates to choose from to which marketers can add their own colors and logos. Pricing starts at $15 per month, which includes a 60-day free trial and up to 500 subscriber addresses, and goes to $150 per month and higher for 25,000-plus subscribers.

Posterous

Not an email service provider per se, Posterous is a hugely popular microblogging site that has recently added features which allow users to transfer their blog content into email newsletters. We consider the service and the new feature definitely worth mentioning for affiliate blogging and small businesses starting email newsletters, and Posterous has intimated that email services will continue to be a focus going forward.

Emma

Offers helpful and thorough customer support Offers comprehensive reports analyzing subscriber actions. Offers unlimited picture hosting.Offers Google Analytics integration. Allows you to create an A/B test campaign.Over 100 Templates offered are incredibly flexible. Pricing starts at $30 per month, which includes a 30-day free trial and up to 1000 subscriber addresses, and goes to $70 per month and higher for 5,000-plus subscribers.

Aweber

Their Customer Service support quality was their ultimate strength, as they received a perfect score in that category with a knowledgeable and friendly support staff offering every kind of support. However, with no image hosting space, AWeber’s Email Creation could be improved. AWeber had high scores in every other category with easy Contact Management, high Email Deliverability and comprehensive reports.Pricing starts at $19 per month, which includes a 30-day free trial and up to 500 subscriber addresses, and goes to $49 per month and higher for 5,000-plus subscribers.

GetResponse

They scored well on Email Deliverability and on Email Creation for offering more than 300 templates. Through a paid account, users are able to import contacts to their address book through Excel spreadsheets saved as CSV files but not in the free trial. They also scored high on Analyzing Reports for Google Analytics integration and on Customer Support for offering live chat support. Pricing starts at $25 per month, which includes a 30-day free trial and up to 2500 subscriber addresses, and goes to $65 per month and higher for 10,000-plus subscribers.

Tags: affiliate marketing, email marketing
Posted in Free Advertising Techniques, Industry News, Marketing Tips | No Comments »

How Does E-Fairness Law Affect Your Affiliate Income?

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

The E-Fairness Law signed into law on March 10^th 2011 in Illinois by Gov. Pat Quinn. This law requires that online merchants pay local sales tax on all purchases made from the state of Illinois.

What this means to affiliate marketers is that they will have to pay sales tax on sales they generate from the state of Illinois. This would eat up the commission of most affiliates since you pay based on the retail price of the product.

The other option is that retailers would have to charge customers sale tax in Illinois.

Amazon & Overstock discontinued service to all affiliates in Illinois. They feel the new tax will lower the sales in that state anddrive sales up in other states without the tax. People may consider going to local stores to purchase. Overstock president went as far as saying the new law is unconstitutional.

In my opinion I do not feel it will have that dramatic of an effect on the sales in the state. Many people are use to paying sales tax on the products they purchase. Online retailers can choose to charge and pay the tax to Illinois or just stop selling to Illinois residence.

Tags: E-Fairness Law, Illinois
Posted in Free Advertising Techniques, Industry News, Marketing Tips | No Comments »

Mobile Advertising May Cost Google It’s Dominance

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Although Google has a strong position in mobile search, it is unclear if the search giant will be as dominant as it is on the desktop because of several important trends, notably voice and local search.

Growth of Voice & Local Search Challenge Google’s Dominance provides an overview of the mobile search market that puts it into the context of digital advertising, mobile communications and search in general. Market size and forecasts are also provided at a global and regional level, with some additional breakdowns such as messaging and local search.

The smartphone boom is creating increasing demand for mobile Internet services, and search is becoming an important method of finding information on this platform. Today it is a dynamic, growing opportunity. Total mobile search revenue will reach $8 billion in 2015, equivalent to around 11 percent of total search revenues.

Mobile search makes up around a quarter of total mobile advertising revenue, but this will increase rapidly and is forecast to exceed 40 percent in 2015.

Although Google already has a strong position in the mobile advertising market, a range of established and new players are challenging its dominance. The combination of mobile and location is a powerful one, and is particularly relevant for search. It is an effective way for users to find places of interest, products and services nearby, thus offering a rich opportunity for advertising. As a result, there is much interest in taking a share of local advertising spending, which is dominated by business listings, directories such as YellowPages and print. Competition is intensifying as companies from different industries are drawn into it.

Adoption of voice search is increasing rapidly, and because of its ease of use and ready accessibility on home screens and hard keys, it will be an important driver in increasing the number of searches conducted on a mobile. While voice is becoming an important trend driving mobile search, language differences are likely to benefit local or first movers in different regions. The development of voice recognition into a personal digital assistant offers new opportunities and is being integrated into platforms and devices.

Tags: affiliate marketing, Affiliate News, mobile advertising, mobile marketing
Posted in Free Advertising Techniques, Industry News | No Comments »

Adopting Social Media Boosts Sales By 18%.

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

Businesses small and large alike are slow to adopt or understand the power of social media. By engaging in the social media customs and websites, you will find a greater return in sales and value to your customer.

Social media’s such as Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Youtube and many others, have proven over and over again to engage customers with their marketing messages. By involving the customer in the decision-making process of whether to buy a product or service, you’ve gained a greater trust in the market place and therefore, greater value to your customer.

In many of these — let’s say some integrated, social media component, such a reviews. A good example of this is Amazon.com and other sites similar to that who often let real customers review the products or services sold on their website. Some of these reviews are negative and some are positive, but having a good mix of both negative and positive reviews on your website build overall trust in that product or service.

You will see a greater conversion in overall sales up to 18% just for having a social media component added to your website. People will trust other people when it comes to making buying decisions. They don’t always believe the salesperson or a business website.

So having a good review process added to your website will definitely increase your value. Another thing you can do is develop a Facebook presence. Facebook allows you to build a business page and allows you to add customers by simply allowing them to click on the “Like” button in their profiles.

Building this relationships allows you to send updates and build a community of Facebook users that you can market to in the near future. Facebook is also viral. If they share a message with their friends, their friends will also come and check out your business or service.

So learn the value of social media. You will see your sales increase and your value to your customer increase as well.

Tags: affiliate marketing, facebook marketing, social media marketing
Posted in Free Advertising Techniques, Industry News, Marketing Tips | No Comments »