What makes a truly successful blog? The answer is, there isn’t one single thing that makes a blog successful – it’s a combination of many factors.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FOR EVERY BLOG
One thing that separates a good blog from a bad or mediocre blog is how effectively individual blog owners use the various elements that make blogs different from static web sites.
Let’s look closely at each individual element of a successful blog to understand how these elements work together to make things click:
1. Blog Header: Your blog header is where you give your blog a name and introduce it to your readers. A blog’s header doesn’t differ much from a static web site header in that it usually includes the name of the business, or a short blurb on the purpose of the blog or the nature of your business.
2. Blog posts: A typical blog post consists of the date of the post, its title, and informative content that often includes hyperlinks and images. The title itself is very important, as it should attract reader’s attention and compel them to want to read more. You should include keywords in every title when possible. Make it descriptive so readers can browse a list of your titles and easily identify posts that may interest them.
3. “About Us” page: Most blogs include a link to an “About Us” section that visitors can access from the home page. The “About Us” page on a blog should be a bit more informal than a similar page found on a static web site and provide some brief background on you, your business, and the purpose of your blog.
4. Archived Posts: One of the biggest features of a blog is that older blog entries can be stored, or “archived” according to the month or topic of the post. Links to such archives are usually displayed in the blog’s sidebar to make it easy for visitors to access them. Such archiving organizes your content and turns your blog in to an excellent resource for your visitors.
5. Comments: Another unique feature of blogs is that they allow your site visitors to “comment” on every post you make, after which other readers can comment on those comments. This comment feature works very similar to an Internet forum or message board. Your readers can effectively start a conversation that anyone can join. This opens dialogue between you and your visitors.
These are the basic elements of a blog, however, what’s fundamental to the success of your business blog is how you use these elements to manage your blog, attract regular traffic, and grow your blog into a successful marketing tool for your business – and a profitable enterprise in itself.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
How to Get Free Targeted Traffic for Your Site
Targeted traffic is important for your website, but you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get it. This is especially important if you are not getting any revenue off of your site. There are six important ways how you can get free targeted traffic to your site. These methods include using article directories, exchanging links with other sites and using forums on topics related to yours. When you use these methods you can receive free targeted traffic that you can use.
The first part of gaining free targeted traffic is to work with article directories. When you write an article about something you are interested in and what you site is about you can submit your article to these directories and give out information about what you do and where people can go to see what you are doing. You can also offer free things to visitors in order to get them to your site, such as a free e-book. This can all be placed in the resource box that is found at the end of you articles on the article directories. The next part of getting free targeted traffic involves creating a report on a subject you are interested in and sending it out to websites that are about that topic. When you send out the report to other people you can offer links to your site and be able to collect email addresses of people you send the report to. When you give your report to other people for free you can encourage them to visit your site, and you can also allow the report to be distributed to anyone for free in order to help get you free targeted traffic.
Next, you should work to post on forums that are related to what you write about. You should work to create interested posts that people will be more likely to read and post a link to your site in the signature of your post. Also, you can feel free to start topics and ask questions on the forums. Either way, with the free exposure to your link you can get free targeted traffic through forum usage.
Using link exchange programs is another good way to find free targeted
traffic that you can use. When you find link partners you can exchange links and therefore help improve your search engine relevancy because your site will be linked by other sites with interests similar to yours.
The fifth part of getting free targeted traffic is to send your blog URL to
various RSS sites if you have a blog on your site. When you update your
blog often your RSS data will be updated and therefore will be more relevant on search engines that specialize in blogs. This helps to get free targeted traffic because more people will be able to recognize you as someone who updated a blog frequently.
The last thing to do to get free targeted traffic is to submit your website info to various social book marking sites. These include sites like del.icio.us and Squidoo. You can get free targeted traffic when you send you info to these sites because your site will be listed in these directories, thus adding to exposure.
The first part of gaining free targeted traffic is to work with article directories. When you write an article about something you are interested in and what you site is about you can submit your article to these directories and give out information about what you do and where people can go to see what you are doing. You can also offer free things to visitors in order to get them to your site, such as a free e-book. This can all be placed in the resource box that is found at the end of you articles on the article directories. The next part of getting free targeted traffic involves creating a report on a subject you are interested in and sending it out to websites that are about that topic. When you send out the report to other people you can offer links to your site and be able to collect email addresses of people you send the report to. When you give your report to other people for free you can encourage them to visit your site, and you can also allow the report to be distributed to anyone for free in order to help get you free targeted traffic.
Next, you should work to post on forums that are related to what you write about. You should work to create interested posts that people will be more likely to read and post a link to your site in the signature of your post. Also, you can feel free to start topics and ask questions on the forums. Either way, with the free exposure to your link you can get free targeted traffic through forum usage.
Using link exchange programs is another good way to find free targeted
traffic that you can use. When you find link partners you can exchange links and therefore help improve your search engine relevancy because your site will be linked by other sites with interests similar to yours.
The fifth part of getting free targeted traffic is to send your blog URL to
various RSS sites if you have a blog on your site. When you update your
blog often your RSS data will be updated and therefore will be more relevant on search engines that specialize in blogs. This helps to get free targeted traffic because more people will be able to recognize you as someone who updated a blog frequently.
The last thing to do to get free targeted traffic is to submit your website info to various social book marking sites. These include sites like del.icio.us and Squidoo. You can get free targeted traffic when you send you info to these sites because your site will be listed in these directories, thus adding to exposure.
Monday, September 15, 2008
“The Hidden Power Of The Clickbank Marketplace”
I personally know of at least two top marketers whose sole reason for launching their product using ClickBank is to get listed in the ClickBank marketplace. So what is it and why is it so important?
The ClickBank marketplace, as the name suggests, is where all the products on ClickBank are listed and there are THOUSANDS!
But rather than just lots of stalls and aisles like your usual marketplace in the real world, the ClickBank marketplace does several cool things..
First off it allows you to do a search so you can enter words or phrases
related to the sort of products you want to find and it will return the relevant products.
But also – it actually RANKS the products in the marketplace by popularity and by the selling power of that product.
Now because so many people use ClickBank there are thousands of people every day who refer to the ClickBank marketplace to see what is selling well and what are the best products to promote. So you can see now why the top marketers want to launch their products using ClickBank – so they can get on the ClickBank marketplace.
It’s almost like a perpetual motion machine as if your product sells really well on ClickBank then it will ‘chart’ highly in the marketplace and get a good ranking. That in turn means that all the many potential affiliates who look at the marketplace each day will notice the higher ranked products and become affiliates for it.
This means more sales will be made as these new affiliates come on board because they see the product is highly ranked. That in turn means the product gets well-ranked on the ClickBank marketplace and so the cycle continues!
The ClickBank marketplace, as the name suggests, is where all the products on ClickBank are listed and there are THOUSANDS!
But rather than just lots of stalls and aisles like your usual marketplace in the real world, the ClickBank marketplace does several cool things..
First off it allows you to do a search so you can enter words or phrases
related to the sort of products you want to find and it will return the relevant products.
But also – it actually RANKS the products in the marketplace by popularity and by the selling power of that product.
Now because so many people use ClickBank there are thousands of people every day who refer to the ClickBank marketplace to see what is selling well and what are the best products to promote. So you can see now why the top marketers want to launch their products using ClickBank – so they can get on the ClickBank marketplace.
It’s almost like a perpetual motion machine as if your product sells really well on ClickBank then it will ‘chart’ highly in the marketplace and get a good ranking. That in turn means that all the many potential affiliates who look at the marketplace each day will notice the higher ranked products and become affiliates for it.
This means more sales will be made as these new affiliates come on board because they see the product is highly ranked. That in turn means the product gets well-ranked on the ClickBank marketplace and so the cycle continues!
“You Want To Know Why ClickBank Rules?”
Let me tell you. They have made it so easy for you to accept payments online that if you ever have to use another provider it will feel like you’ve been transported to the dark ages.
And believe me – I know this from first hand experience!
ClickBank give you the small piece of code you place on your site. People click on it and then once every two weeks you get paid.
ClickBank take care of all the credit card processing, fraud issues, refunds and most importantly – the affiliate payments.
As I’ll show you in a moment – the affiliate marketing power of ClickBank is one of the main reasons so many marketers use it. You’ve probably heard countless times before that the best way to sell lots of your info product online is to get other people (i.e. affiliates) to sell it for you.
Well ClickBank makes the entire process virtually seamless. You give your affiliates the special code they use to promote you (they need to have registered for a free ClickBank account also) and you’re ready to go.
You decide what commission you want to give to your affiliates and then
when they make a sale ClickBank does all the calculations and automatically adds the affiliate commission to that person’s account.
You don’t have to worry about a thing.
You just keep recruiting and training affiliates and they keep sending you buying customers. In the background ClickBank sorts out all the payments, divides up who gets what and sends each of your affiliates the amount they have earned every two weeks.
It’s perfect!
And believe me – I know this from first hand experience!
ClickBank give you the small piece of code you place on your site. People click on it and then once every two weeks you get paid.
ClickBank take care of all the credit card processing, fraud issues, refunds and most importantly – the affiliate payments.
As I’ll show you in a moment – the affiliate marketing power of ClickBank is one of the main reasons so many marketers use it. You’ve probably heard countless times before that the best way to sell lots of your info product online is to get other people (i.e. affiliates) to sell it for you.
Well ClickBank makes the entire process virtually seamless. You give your affiliates the special code they use to promote you (they need to have registered for a free ClickBank account also) and you’re ready to go.
You decide what commission you want to give to your affiliates and then
when they make a sale ClickBank does all the calculations and automatically adds the affiliate commission to that person’s account.
You don’t have to worry about a thing.
You just keep recruiting and training affiliates and they keep sending you buying customers. In the background ClickBank sorts out all the payments, divides up who gets what and sends each of your affiliates the amount they have earned every two weeks.
It’s perfect!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Three Types Of Websites That Can Make You A Fortune
One of the best things about making money on AdSense is that anyone can do it - and with just about any type of website. You don't have to own a mini-Amazon or build a budding Ebay to make big stacks of cash on the Internet; you just have to have a site that attracts
users.
AdSense For Owners Of Commercial Sites
A lot of people who have built a website specifically to make money worry about putting ads on their sites. They're concerned that people might be put off buying if their browsing is interrupted by intrusive ads.
That's absolutely right. If your ads are intrusive, then you are going to annoy your users. But if you've used all the strategies I recommend in my book Google AdSense Secrets to blend your ads into the site, then not only will you keep your users sweet, you'll also increase the number of your click-throughs.
Not everyone who reaches your site will buy. In fact, most won't. You've paid for those users; shouldn't you profit from them? Put AdSense ads on the right pages and in the right way and you'll make even more money from your site. And that's the point, right?
AdSense For Owners Of Information Sites
Information sites are probably the most obvious places to put AdSense. If you've created a site that's designed to teach other people about your favorite topic - whether it's video games, mahjong or raising guppies - then AdSense is ideal for bringing your site money.
Again, you'll still need to be smart about the way you use those ads (just put them on the site any old how and you'll barely make enough money to pay for the server.) Do it properly and use all the proven AdSense revenue-generating techniques and you'll be able to turn your hobby into cash.
AdSense For Owners Of Blogs
Blogs are intended to simply let people know what their writers think - and do no more than that. But a lot of bloggers have recently discovered that with the help of AdSense, their blogs can quickly become cash cows! Because they're updated regularly, Google loves blogs and because they have regular visitors so do advertisers.
The techniques used to get blog readers to click on ads are a bit special but once you've read up and know what you're doing, you should be able to turn your writing into a very nice income indeed.
users.
AdSense For Owners Of Commercial Sites
A lot of people who have built a website specifically to make money worry about putting ads on their sites. They're concerned that people might be put off buying if their browsing is interrupted by intrusive ads.
That's absolutely right. If your ads are intrusive, then you are going to annoy your users. But if you've used all the strategies I recommend in my book Google AdSense Secrets to blend your ads into the site, then not only will you keep your users sweet, you'll also increase the number of your click-throughs.
Not everyone who reaches your site will buy. In fact, most won't. You've paid for those users; shouldn't you profit from them? Put AdSense ads on the right pages and in the right way and you'll make even more money from your site. And that's the point, right?
AdSense For Owners Of Information Sites
Information sites are probably the most obvious places to put AdSense. If you've created a site that's designed to teach other people about your favorite topic - whether it's video games, mahjong or raising guppies - then AdSense is ideal for bringing your site money.
Again, you'll still need to be smart about the way you use those ads (just put them on the site any old how and you'll barely make enough money to pay for the server.) Do it properly and use all the proven AdSense revenue-generating techniques and you'll be able to turn your hobby into cash.
AdSense For Owners Of Blogs
Blogs are intended to simply let people know what their writers think - and do no more than that. But a lot of bloggers have recently discovered that with the help of AdSense, their blogs can quickly become cash cows! Because they're updated regularly, Google loves blogs and because they have regular visitors so do advertisers.
The techniques used to get blog readers to click on ads are a bit special but once you've read up and know what you're doing, you should be able to turn your writing into a very nice income indeed.
The Secret Of High AdSense Revenues
There are two ways to think about AdSense: you can think of it as a way to use your website to make money; and you can think of it as a way to make money with a website.
What's the difference?
The difference is in the content. In the first case, you already have a website and you simply put AdSense on the page to turn it into cash. You might change the content a little to influence the ads and you could make sure that you include the best keywords to bring you the highest revenues. You should certainly play with the way the ads look on the page to make them attractive and unobtrusive - and there's a huge range of different strategies you can use to do that.
Ultimately though, the content is there already. You're just using AdSense to turn the content you're going to create anyway into money - and you're going to use AdSense secrets to make those revenues as high as possible.
But lots of people also want to build a website from scratch for the sole purpose of cashing in on all the money available through AdSense. There's nothing wrong with that - provided the content is high quality.
This is crucial. Google doesn't take kindly to sites packed with keywords and all sorts of other garbage just to provide a space to put up an AdSense unit. There's a good chance they won't approve the site, and little chance, even if they did, that you'd get any click-throughs.
But that doesn't mean you have to really bust a gut to create the sort of website that brings you a small fortune in AdSense revenues.
What's the difference?
The difference is in the content. In the first case, you already have a website and you simply put AdSense on the page to turn it into cash. You might change the content a little to influence the ads and you could make sure that you include the best keywords to bring you the highest revenues. You should certainly play with the way the ads look on the page to make them attractive and unobtrusive - and there's a huge range of different strategies you can use to do that.
Ultimately though, the content is there already. You're just using AdSense to turn the content you're going to create anyway into money - and you're going to use AdSense secrets to make those revenues as high as possible.
But lots of people also want to build a website from scratch for the sole purpose of cashing in on all the money available through AdSense. There's nothing wrong with that - provided the content is high quality.
This is crucial. Google doesn't take kindly to sites packed with keywords and all sorts of other garbage just to provide a space to put up an AdSense unit. There's a good chance they won't approve the site, and little chance, even if they did, that you'd get any click-throughs.
But that doesn't mean you have to really bust a gut to create the sort of website that brings you a small fortune in AdSense revenues.
How did he make $23,458.46 in a single month?
His name is Joel Comm and it wasn't so long ago he was making only $30 a day with Google's AdSense program. Then one day it hit him over the head like a '2 by 4' and Joel began testing other ways to increase his AdSense earnings.
Not only did it work but (and this is a BIG BUT) Joel documented everything he did to make his AdSense commissions shoot up to the sky. This is significant and here's why.
Now you can have access to it all where you'll view actual details of what Joel does to make some of the biggest commissions you'll ever hear about online.
http://www.adsense-secrets.com
In case you didn't know, AdSense is a program where Google allows you to make money when people click on advertising links that you can place at your own website(s).
In his new AdSense book sweeping the internet, Joel candidly allows you to look over his shoulder. Now your odds at winning with Google AdSense are more in your favor than ever before.
And no, we're not talking about Joel doubling his AdSense commissions from $30 to $60 a day... but more like a staggering $800+ per day! (I told you it was significant)
He climbed up to making $23,458.46 this past December 2005 and it's quite possible it may keep climbing - with no end in sight... Joel's case study shows how it didn't take long once he knew how to tweak his AdSense pages.
Not only did it work but (and this is a BIG BUT) Joel documented everything he did to make his AdSense commissions shoot up to the sky. This is significant and here's why.
Now you can have access to it all where you'll view actual details of what Joel does to make some of the biggest commissions you'll ever hear about online.
http://www.adsense-secrets.com
In case you didn't know, AdSense is a program where Google allows you to make money when people click on advertising links that you can place at your own website(s).
In his new AdSense book sweeping the internet, Joel candidly allows you to look over his shoulder. Now your odds at winning with Google AdSense are more in your favor than ever before.
And no, we're not talking about Joel doubling his AdSense commissions from $30 to $60 a day... but more like a staggering $800+ per day! (I told you it was significant)
He climbed up to making $23,458.46 this past December 2005 and it's quite possible it may keep climbing - with no end in sight... Joel's case study shows how it didn't take long once he knew how to tweak his AdSense pages.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Making Money with ClickBank
What Is ClickBank?
ClickBank is an online marketplace that lists thousands and thousands of electronic products that product creators will pay you to promote.
You have two ways to make money using ClickBank;
#1. You can promote other peoples’ products and get paid commission
for every sale.
#2. You can sell your own products,
As you might not have your own electronic information products to sell just now let me first help you by explaining how you can make money just promoting other peoples’ stuff.
“How To Make Money Using ClickBank Even If You Don’t Have Your Own Product”
You don’t need to have your own information product to tap into the power of ‘the ClickBank phenomenon’. All you need to do is go to the ClickBank marketplace and find other people’s products to promote..
You use the search tool there to find products that match your target market or your ezine content or your website content and BINGO! You have a ready-ranked, ready-approved list of information products that you can promote and make good commissions from every sale.
“Power Tips For Boosting Your ClickBank
Earnings”
You can be up and running at this in minutes and start earning. Now you
might get lucky and find the best products and the best way to send traffic to those products immediately.
More likely however is that you will need to spend some time fine-tuning
your approach but here are some tactics you can use to be successful more quickly;
#1. Only promote products that you have used and understand fully
You will make more sales when you convey to the visitor that you have
actually used and benefited from the product. If you start promoting any old thing even though you’ve never tried it and have no idea whether it works or not then your visitors will see right through it and you’ll make less sales.
#2. Promote products that you have an interest in and passion for – your
enthusiasm will come across to potential buyers.
Go after markets and products that you have a passion for and an
understanding of. Yes – there needs to be money in that market but don’t pursue something just because you think it will be lucrative if you have no interest in or knowledge of that area.
#3. Add extra value to the visitor’s experience – don’t just send people
directly to the product homepage; consider writing a review of the product.
The easy ‘lazy’ way to make money from ClickBank is just to send people
direct to the product’s sales page but you won’t make many sales doing this. Be creative and ADD SOMETHING to the visitors experience when they come to your website first or click on your link. Do something that stands out and helps them (even if they don’t buy!) and they will return to your links again in the future!
#4. Create a ‘before and after’ case study of how you actually used the
product as this will convert more sales for you than a straight link.
Have you noticed how all those infomercials on TV work in the same way? You think there’s a reason for that? ;-)
Of course there is! You’ll notice when you watch them that they always
show a BEFORE shot, then a DURING shot and then an AFTER shot. This
clearly demonstrates to the prospect how wonderful the product is and how their life will be improved in some way by having it.
Model the infomercials and start giving people those all-important BEFORE and AFTER pictures or descriptions.
#5. Consider giving people who buy via your ClickBank link a free
bonus of some kind (an ebook, a free report, some information, a piece of free software etc.) and make it relevant to the main product you are
promoting.
Don’t think that just because you have taken the time to find a great product on ClickBank and then drive traffic to that site that you DESERVE to make a sale!
You are fighting it out here with a LOT of other people so you need to add something to your offer that is going to make it compelling and
ESSENTIAL for people to consider.
You can do this by giving bonuses away. You can track this by asking
buyers to email you their ClickBank receipts after purchase or just by
tracking the sales you make in your ClickBank account.
Either way – this makes for a great profit-boosting strategy but remember to give away bonuses that match the product you are promoting for the maximum effectiveness. Giving away a microwave and scooter for someone buying a dog training product is unlikely to tip many more extra sales in your favour!
TO BE CONTINUED...
ClickBank is an online marketplace that lists thousands and thousands of electronic products that product creators will pay you to promote.
You have two ways to make money using ClickBank;
#1. You can promote other peoples’ products and get paid commission
for every sale.
#2. You can sell your own products,
As you might not have your own electronic information products to sell just now let me first help you by explaining how you can make money just promoting other peoples’ stuff.
“How To Make Money Using ClickBank Even If You Don’t Have Your Own Product”
You don’t need to have your own information product to tap into the power of ‘the ClickBank phenomenon’. All you need to do is go to the ClickBank marketplace and find other people’s products to promote..
You use the search tool there to find products that match your target market or your ezine content or your website content and BINGO! You have a ready-ranked, ready-approved list of information products that you can promote and make good commissions from every sale.
“Power Tips For Boosting Your ClickBank
Earnings”
You can be up and running at this in minutes and start earning. Now you
might get lucky and find the best products and the best way to send traffic to those products immediately.
More likely however is that you will need to spend some time fine-tuning
your approach but here are some tactics you can use to be successful more quickly;
#1. Only promote products that you have used and understand fully
You will make more sales when you convey to the visitor that you have
actually used and benefited from the product. If you start promoting any old thing even though you’ve never tried it and have no idea whether it works or not then your visitors will see right through it and you’ll make less sales.
#2. Promote products that you have an interest in and passion for – your
enthusiasm will come across to potential buyers.
Go after markets and products that you have a passion for and an
understanding of. Yes – there needs to be money in that market but don’t pursue something just because you think it will be lucrative if you have no interest in or knowledge of that area.
#3. Add extra value to the visitor’s experience – don’t just send people
directly to the product homepage; consider writing a review of the product.
The easy ‘lazy’ way to make money from ClickBank is just to send people
direct to the product’s sales page but you won’t make many sales doing this. Be creative and ADD SOMETHING to the visitors experience when they come to your website first or click on your link. Do something that stands out and helps them (even if they don’t buy!) and they will return to your links again in the future!
#4. Create a ‘before and after’ case study of how you actually used the
product as this will convert more sales for you than a straight link.
Have you noticed how all those infomercials on TV work in the same way? You think there’s a reason for that? ;-)
Of course there is! You’ll notice when you watch them that they always
show a BEFORE shot, then a DURING shot and then an AFTER shot. This
clearly demonstrates to the prospect how wonderful the product is and how their life will be improved in some way by having it.
Model the infomercials and start giving people those all-important BEFORE and AFTER pictures or descriptions.
#5. Consider giving people who buy via your ClickBank link a free
bonus of some kind (an ebook, a free report, some information, a piece of free software etc.) and make it relevant to the main product you are
promoting.
Don’t think that just because you have taken the time to find a great product on ClickBank and then drive traffic to that site that you DESERVE to make a sale!
You are fighting it out here with a LOT of other people so you need to add something to your offer that is going to make it compelling and
ESSENTIAL for people to consider.
You can do this by giving bonuses away. You can track this by asking
buyers to email you their ClickBank receipts after purchase or just by
tracking the sales you make in your ClickBank account.
Either way – this makes for a great profit-boosting strategy but remember to give away bonuses that match the product you are promoting for the maximum effectiveness. Giving away a microwave and scooter for someone buying a dog training product is unlikely to tip many more extra sales in your favour!
TO BE CONTINUED...
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