Niche ebooks

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Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Traffic & Rankings: 9 Steps To Marketing Success

Traffic is one of the most important aspect in any online business.
Without it, your business would be in great danger.
So, read this article thoroughly and understand the concept :)

Traffic & Rankings: 9 Steps To Marketing Success by Marige OBrien

It is universally understood among experienced marketers that traffic is the key to online success. Build enough traffic and the law of averages demands it. Traffic is GOLD online. It is the "Holy Grail" of online marketing. However, novice and mid-level marketers often fail to see the actual mechanics of this-- and continue to be frustrated by the lack of results, even as they hand the traffic they work so hard to generate over to someone else. You see, like gold, many will "divert" traffic from others, especially from novice marketers. They do this so smoothly that many go for years without ever realizing this is happening.



For instance, many affiliate programs "give" a marketer "their own" page. But this isn't really the marketer's-- because it resides on the company's site. So, when the affiliate markets, all their efforts are going to the program-- not the marketer! And this is only the most common example.



Ever wonder why so many blogs are free? Why so MANY services are free?... leads, forums, you-name-it, are given away for "free?" One word: TRAFFIC. in order to use the freebies, the user must visit THAT site. Even free online games are just a way to pull traffic to a site. Because the more traffic, the higher the ranking. And high enough rankings put a site on the first page of any search engine.



Understand one key element: A site can have one, completely unrelated, unconnected add-on page. If that ONE PAGE is hot, the whole site benefits from the traffic/ranking boost. This explains more than all the SEO information combined; why some sites are consistently at the top of seaches while others struggle to get onto page two.



So, how can the average marketer REALLY pull in massive traffic? How can someone, on a limited budget and with little technical expertise, benefit from this? There IS a way, if you follow these steps.



STEP 1 - CREATE A PRESENCE

To begin focusing efforts, a point of origin must be established. In other words, a marketer must create some kind of website of their own to establish a PRESENCE on the internet.



If this seems daunting, because of technical and budgetary issues, understand that a blog is just as much a recognized presence on the internet as any other type of site. In fact, a blog is the ideal solution for newbies (such as blogger-dot-com) because they are free and highly user-friendly.



STEP 2 - REAL CONTENT EQUALS REAL SITE

However, to avoid being designated as a "splog" (blogs that are ONLY used for advertising and generally panned by "respectable" bloggers) a certain amount of real content must be created. It is best to set up a real blog, add to it regularly, and include a side-bar where links can be added. With real content -- such as reviews of various products or other articles relevant to the products -- this saves it from that nasty designation.



STEP 3 - FOCUS MARKETING

Choose a blog that allows template editing. Many even include instructions for adding links within the template inside of "comment" tags. Look for them. Then simply add all the links to each affiliate or other referral.



STEP 4 - FUNNEL TRAFFIC

Change all marketing/advertising efforts to point to that website/blog. No matter which link the advertisement is for, set it up to link to this site first. By doing so, the increased traffic will build ranking and that will push THE SITE up on the search engines.



STEP 5 - FREEBIES WORK

Offering a free give away of some kind will draw traffic like nothing else. Whether it's a newsletter, a contest or a combination of things, free is everyone's favorite price. While a blog is somewhat limited in this respect, there are still plenty of options.



STEP 6 - BUILD CONTENT

The site itself can also become an attraction, if the content is continuously updated (i.e., once or more a day) and kept active. The more visits and re-visits, the faster ranking will build. It also offers another way to advertise everything-- because the content ITSELF becomes something to advertise.



NOTE: At this point, it is realistic to expect a ranking of 4/10 or higher. Also, until this point, all of this has been possible with a blog. Beyond this point, however, a completely independent site is needed.



If a blog has been used until this time, part of preparation for the next step should include transferring everything within the blog TO the website. BUT, in order to benefit from the traffic/ranking built to this point, rather than simply abandoning the blog, re-direct everything (via links) to the new site.



STEP 7 - GET READY

At this point, a certain amount of basic programming (html, if nothing else) should have been learned. If not, it's time. There are online resourses -- from courses to forums -- for each type of language-- html, java script, php and each is relatively easy to learn, even for a non-geek.



STEP 8 - THE BIG LEAGUES

Now it's time to offer something that is substantial because this will bring significant traffic-- remember? The Holy Grail. A unique forum, dating service, shareware, game site, homepage that has all of these, etc. Find and offer something that brings in major traffic. By the way, porn and gambling sites are NOT a good idea, as will be clear in the next step.



Ideally, find something related to the general site content, though unrelated content still pulls traffic in. But, by making it relevant, cross-links can be direct.



STEP 9 - FOCUS ON FREEBIE

Now focus all marketing on the major free offering. Take good care of it and monitor it to be sure it's running smoothly. It is your diva, your shining star-- and it will draw the traffic in. Never mind that your links and affiliates are different pages. The fact that they reside on the same site pushes all the pages up just as much as the rest of the site.





If all these steps are followed carefully, at this point, traffic should be translating into real dollars and cents-- and, probably, more dollars THAN cents! If not, revisit each step and look for oversights and errors. Add a second type of free site, something new and popular.



The best result is that the marketer is NOT dependent on the affiliate programs, and can change those as they see fit. They can also look forward to a time when actually marketing is unnecessary-- the site markets itself. All that's needed is to keep up the attractions.--mo



Marige O'Brien works as a writer, web designer and Internet Marketer. Visit her Website, Tracker Mo's Den for her latest recommendations in i-marketing tools and biz opps. Sign up for her free, 100% original, weekly newsletter, Tracker Mo's Report.





Article Source: 100% Free Article Directory at ArticleJoe.com


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Saturday, June 10, 2006

Boost Your Bottom Line with a Power-Packed Headline

This article explains one of the important aspect in getting your ebook out of the virtual book shelf :)
Enjoy reading and good luck with your ebook creation.

Boost Your Bottom Line with a Power-Packed Headline by Allyn

There’s an old saying… curiosity killed the cat. Let’s face the facts; cats aren’t the only creatures that get sucked into whirlpool of curiosity. Everyday we find ourselves bombarded with moments of curiosity. The best example… headlines!



Headlines either suck us into their vacuum or repel us instantly. How many times have you picked up the newspaper and found yourself scanning the pages because a headline caught your attention?



Marketing experts know that headlines are just as powerful in their direct mail campaigns as they are on the front page of the newspaper. The difference? …attention getting headlines on your postcard or flyer make money!



What does it take to create powerful headlines?



3 Foolproof Secrets for Creating Power-Packed Headlines



1. Telegraph the Offer

This might be a little tricky to pull off, but the secret is to present your offer in a way that screams, “Read Me!” without giving away the guts of the offer. You should focus on one feature of your product or service and come up with a snappy statement that raises the reader’s eyebrows.



A company that sells bread makers may use a headline like this…

“Never Buy Another Loaf of Bread!”



2. Emphasize the best Aspect of the Offer

What is the most attractive feature of your product or service… price, time-saving, quality, uniqueness? You can use this aspect to come up with a unique headline that wows the reader into investigating further.



A cleaning service may use a headline like this…

“What Could you Do With 520 Extra Hours This Year?”



3. Target the Reader

If feels great when your unique niche is recognized. Know who you’re talking to before you write the headline. When your reader feels like you know who they are, they’ll be more likely to read on.



Do you have a mailing list of working women? Use the words they will identify with… career or working woman…. in your headlines.



Use any one of these techniques to increase your profits, or incorporate all three to skyrocket your next direct mail campaign! … not to mention saving big bucks by not having to hire a copywriter.



Who is Allyn Cutts, and why should you care?
Allyn has spent over 24 years helping businesses like yours find new customers and increase sales to current customers. Allyn is a marketing and sales fanatic, providing measurable marketing solutions that drive huge results for small-to mid-size business clients. Allyn works personally with clients to design and deliver off-line and on-line direct marketing strategies that focus on metrics and measurable results. You can learn more about Allyn Cutts at http://www.AllynCutts.com and you can call 610.437.4106 between 10 AM and 4 PM Eastern Time Tuesdays and Thursdays.



Article Source: 100% Free Article Directory at ArticleJoe.com

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

How To Improve Your Lousy Writing Skills In The Workplace

How To Improve Your Lousy Writing Skills In The Workplace by Brian S. Konradt

If there¡¯s one important reason why you need to write effectively in the workplace, it is this: the quality of your writing imprints a lasting impression on the reader. This reader may be your boss, a client, or a person who is ready to make a billion dollar business deal with you.



Have you ever read a poorly-written document that made you lose interest right away? It was so poorly-written that you lost trust in the author and asked yourself why the author was wasting your time? How about those junk e-mails that sneak into your junk box like annoying cockroaches? You know the ones I¡¯m referring to: the ones pitching vitamins, software, and sex aids. These e-mails are the biggest showcase of writing blunders, stricken to death with grammar mistakes, misspellings, and sloppy sentences. I doubt these e-mails pull a sale because their poor writing style immediately alienates the reader.



What impression does your writing leave on your boss, clients, or co-workers? Does your writing alienate readers, cause you to lose sales or clients, or cost you job promotions? Or does your writing build streams of loyal readers, increase sales for the company, and help you earn six figures a year at your job?



Whatever type of writing you do in the workplace, always know this reality: readers believe the quality of your writing reflects your skills, work ethics, and integrity as a person. If you write eloquently, clearly, and lively, the reader trusts you and you are able to build rapport quickly. If your writing is sloppy, disorganized, and riddled with errors, the reader assumes the rest of your work is flawed, your work ethics are flawed, and perhaps as a person you are flawed. Why should this reader waste his time reading the rest of your junk or even do business with you?



This article provides fail-safe strategies to help refine your writing and help you to communicate with clarity, simplicity, and impact so you will never write junk again. You will learn five masterful steps to guide you in planning, writing, and refining an article; and you will learn how to avoid common writing mistakes.



AIM! FIRE! FIRE!



To become a superb writer, your first task is to establish your aim.



Yiddish novelist, dramatist and essayist, Sholem Asch, once said, ¡°Writing comes more easily if you have something to say.¡±



What message do you want to convey with your writing?



To establish your aim, ask yourself:



1) ¡°Why am I writing this document?¡±

2) ¡°What do I want to communicate?¡±

3) ¡°Do I want to inform, educate, report, persuade, challenge, or entertain?¡±



Developing your aim will help you to adopt the best writing style for your reader. For example, an educational document will likely be more formal than one written for entertaining.



CONNECT WITH YOUR READERS



To write effectively, you need to connect strongly with your readers. Ask yourself:



1) ¡°For whom am I writing this? Will I be writing for colleagues, my supervisor, my team of employees, or our clients?¡±



2) ¡°How much information do my readers need?¡±



3) ¡°How familiar are my readers with the topic?¡±



4) ¡°How much time do my readers have? Would my readers prefer a short, succinct presentation of facts and statistics, or more narration and exposition?¡±



Knowing your audience will allow you to write content in a way that appeals to your readers.



SHAPE YOUR DOCUMENT



You know your aim. You know the people who will likely read your document. Now plan your document. What information will it contain? What information will most likely grab the reader and hold their interests? What points do you need to get across? Start with a rough outline of ideas. Then go through the outline and add more information and more detail. An outline will create the structure for your document. Soon enough your writing will come more easily, quickly, and with greater clarity.



WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW BEST



At this stage, read over your outline and write the first draft. Establish the main idea of the document and support your argument throughout. If a blank white page glares back at you like headlights, just start writing on whatever topic you know best. According to American novelist Jack London, ¡°You can¡¯t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.¡± Don¡¯t worry about the sequence if the ideas come to you out of order. You can cut and paste later.



WORDY WEIGHT LOSS



If you have time, step away from the document. Come back to it later with a fresh mind. Now add material where needed. Trim away unnecessary sections. Refine the text to communicate what you want to say. Remember: less is more. Try not to repeat ideas. Repetition, unless necessary, is tiresome for the reader. Keep the piece moving along. Use a lively pace. Progress through your points efficiently.



The following sections address some of the most common writing problems. Use these tips to write more clearly, effectively, and lively.



I.) PUNCTUATION



a) Apostrophes



Do not use an apostrophe in the possessive form of ¡°it.¡±



Incorrect: Our department submitted it¡¯s reports for 2005 last week.

Correct: Our department submitted its reports for 2005 last week.



Do not use apostrophes in the possessive forms ¡°his,¡± ¡°hers,¡± and ¡°ours.¡±



Incorrect: The window office is her¡¯s.

Correct: The window office is hers.



Do not use apostrophes in plural nouns.



Incorrect: How many new computer¡¯s are we getting?

Correct: How many new computers are we getting?



b) Commas



Do not connect two complete sentences with a comma.



Incorrect: The meeting was cancelled, I finished my work early.

Correct: The meeting was cancelled, so I finished my work early.

Correct: Since the meeting was cancelled, I finished my work early.



II.) MECHANICS



a) Split Infinitives



Do not insert words between ¡°to¡± and the infinitive form of a verb.



Incorrect: I was told we needed to slightly tighten the deadline.



Correct: I was told we needed to tighten the deadline slightly.



III.) SPELLING



a) ¡°A lot¡± is always two words.



Incorrect: I have alot of work to do.

Correct: I have a lot of work to do.



b) ¡°To¡± is a function word often used before the infinitive form of a verb (to go).



c) ¡°Too¡± is an adverb that means ¡°excessively¡± (too difficult).



d) ¡°Two¡± denotes the number 2.



Incorrect: This file cabinet is to heavy for me to move.

Correct: This file cabinet is too heavy for me to move.



e) ¡°There¡± is an adverb indicating a place (over there).



f) ¡°Their¡± is a possessive word that shows ownership (their computers).



g) ¡°They¡¯re¡± is the contraction form of ¡°they are.¡±



Incorrect: There results for this quarter were excellent.

Correct: Their results for this quarter were excellent.



Incorrect: Their working very hard today.

Correct: They¡¯re working very hard today.



IV.) STYLE



a) Sentence Variety



To write more lively, vary sentence structure. Use alternate ways of beginning, and combine short sentences to create different sentence lengths.



Before:



I organized the files for all the new accounts this week. Then I created a more efficient labeling system. I color-coded everything. I made sure all paper files had been documented electronically. I put these files in the empty file cabinet.



After:



This week I organized the files for the new accounts and created a more efficient color-coded labeling system. After I documented all paper files electronically, I put these files in the empty file cabinet.



V.) ACTIVE VOICE vs. PASSIVE VOICE



The English language has two "voices": active voice (the subject performs an action); and passive voice (the subject is acted upon). In business communication, all good writers write in active voice. Lazy writers write in passive voice. Writing in active voice shortens your sentences and makes your writing sound more direct and formal.



Examples:



PASSIVE: The recipe book is read by her.

ACTIVE: She reads the recipe book.



PASSIVE: The radio announcement should be listened to by everyone.

ACTIVE: Everyone should listen to the radio announcement.



PASSIVE: The photo is being taken by the photographer.

ACTIVE: The photographer is taking the photo.



HELPFUL RESOURCES



To learn more about fixing common writing mistakes, check out The Electronic Writing Course ( http://www.ElectronicWritingCourse.com ). It¡¯s a program that teaches the basics of good writing and editing. If you want to check your document against 36,000 style and usage mistakes, check out StyleWriter ( http://www.StyleWriter-USA.com ). It¡¯s a style and usage Plain English checker. If you want to write more lively and creatively, check out WhiteSmoke Software ( http://www.WhiteSmokeSoftware.com ). It¡¯s a program that fixes and enriches your text.



If you follow these guidelines, you¡¯ll stop yourself from writing lousy in the workplace. Your writing will be lively, clear, and concise, and you will build rapport with readers. Perhaps it¡¯s now time to e-mail your boss a perfectly-written e-mail requesting a salary raise?




ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Konradt has been a professional freelance writer for over ten years. He is founder of LousyWriter.com ( http://www.LousyWriter.com ) and LiteracyNews.com ( http://www.LiteracyNews.com ).




Article Source: 100% Free Article Directory at ArticleJoe.com


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