SEM [Search Engine Marketing] & PPC [Pay Per Click] Advertising
It is truth for the phone directory publishers might not tell you that the phone book is dead now and we can’t remember the last time we used a phone book for anything other than call for a fire or electricity to come and fix the electricity. So if consumer recall for traditional advertising, they no longer call or visit the business. Today consumer prefers to go online for anything like searching information, play game, play e-mail, or even chatting with other people and so on. And if traditional media such as phone books aren’t working so one of the most important and cost effective ways is through Search Engine Marketing (SEM).
SEM is a set of marketing methods to increase the visibility of a Web site in search engine results pages (SERPs). Or we can say that it’s all the stuff you do to get to the top of search engines where people will see you. SEM was not easy to conquer; it’s a complex process that has lots of complexities; however, conquering two main categories (or paying a professional to handle it) will get you started:
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a type of Search Engine Marketing related to tweaking web pages and the links into the site, in order to boost the rankings on organic (unpaid) search results. Much of this is done as the Web site is being built in copy, page titles and meta tags.
Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising is a method to quickly drive targeted visitors to a website. It involves purchasing keywords and phrases that people use when searching online for your product or service so that you come up at the top and to the right of unpaid search listings. The important things is which keyword or keyphrases
are going to get you the best results for the money you’re willing to spend.
So next time you’re preparing your yearly marketing budget, ask yourself whether you’re taking advantage of this crucial new medium that’s helping customers find exactly what they’re seeking. If not, perhaps you should consider dumping some of those print ads and phone book listings and writing SEM into your plan. Get on the bus now, before your competitors beat you to it.
Resource : http://www.thecyphersagency.com/pdfs/tca_on_search_engine_marketing.pdf
Tips To Succeed Using Google Adwords
http://www.seoseonews.com/articles/8404/1/Tips-To-Succeed-Using-Google-Adwords/Tips-To-Succeed- Using-Google-Adwords.html
Words To The Wise: Creative Methods for Adding Text Content to Your Website
http://www.seonews.net/articles/article41.php
Introduction to adCenter reporting
http://www.adcentercommunity.com/blogs/advertiser/archive/2008/07/16/Intro-to-adCenter- reporting.aspx
Monday, September 22, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Hostmonster Reviewed
Host monster, started all the way back in 1996, currently supports over 175,000 domains with their high quality hosting. That's why they're the next on our list in the top ten webhosting providers.
Another master of the single deal, Host monster offers a high class shared hosting deal for just $5.95 a month. They offer a generous 300GB of storage space and 3 Terrabytes of bandwidth per month, backed up with an unlimited number of POP3 and webmail email accounts. In addition to this they offer 100 MySQL and postgre SQL databases for every customer, with additional support for PHP, Perl, Python and Ruby on Rails. In terms of free software they offer the normal range of forum, chat and blog software, but also a lot of open source software that doesn't come as default with many other packages. Coppermine, Moodle and Joomla are very popular applications, and it's reassuring to see them being promoted to customers.
Two unusual features of the Host monster package are unlimited domain hosting and SSH access. With unlimited domain hosting, any number of domains can be set to point to the single hosting account, meaning that you can host as many sites as you want on a single $5.95 package. SSH, or secure shell, access means that you can remotely access the server from anywhere in the world using a telenet client like PuTTY. This gives you precise control over your account in the exact same manner of an account on a local Linux machine. It might not be useful for everyone, but for expert users it'll almost certainly come in quite handy.
Host monster are currently using cPanel 11 software for their website backend, a popular choice for most webhosts. It gives quick and easy access to most of the utilities you could want for your site, including backups, email and database administration. They offer a demonstration of the cPanel software directly from their site, so you can easily check it over before you have to give them any money.
When it comes to handling customer enquiries, Host monster uses a three-pronged strategy of live telephone support, online chat and an e-mail based ticket system. This should give any potential customers reassurance that any queries are going to be answered quickly and efficiently. This is backed up by the several awards that they've won over the years, including one for the best customer service in 2006.
Essentially, Host monster are offering a good support system and some very interesting technical specs, combining a large offering of webspace and bandwidth with some unusual technical features that are not often seen for a hosting package of this price. Worth consideration when you're looking for a new host.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Accept Credit Cards Online Without A Merchant Account
It is often assumed if you want to accept credit
cards on your website that you must have a merchant
account. This is not the case. You can accept credit
cards with a Third Party credit card processor.
1) What is a Third Party Credit Card Processor?
A Third Party credit card processor is a company that
will accept credit card payments on behalf of you
or your company. The payments your customers make are
processed through the Third Party's own merchant
account, and you the retailer is paid (minus a commission
fee) by the Third Party processor.
No need to pay for expensive processing software, monthly
fees or minimum transaction fees. As you only pay a
percentage fee on a sale, you cannot lose money.
2) Should I have a Merchant Account or Third Party
Processor?
For most businesses this decision will be made according
to the size of the company. Most small businesses do not
need their own merchant account.
Small businesses are better off with a Third Party
processor. The advantage is that when you sell your
products, the Third Party processor takes care of the
payment by checking the card, processing it, and sending
you a monthly check.
Larger businesses with a bigger turnover are likely to
need a full merchant account. You will pay a bigger
set-up fee for an online merchant account but pay less
per transaction than with a Third Party processor.
So recouping your initial outlay.
So there it is, unless you have a large business it is
possible to accept credit cards online with a Third
Party processor.
(c) John Lynch
For a Free report on how to get an online merchant account or a third party processor with tips for the best accounts visit: http://www.merchant-account-service.com/merchant_account.html
Online Business- What Makes It a Success!
Only a few manage to sell everything under the sun over the internet. There are billions of web sites running online business, trying to outdo each other by various means.
But only a few succeed in building, promoting and sustaining a profitable, professional, successful online business. Only a few web sites are able to deliver what they preach and make sale.
How do they do it? Some magic formula....??? Nope ;-)
What they do is -Plan, Develop and Strategize- their efforts in building a successful online business. They paln their moves or strategies wisely and invest intelligently on services and products that help them build, promote and grow their online business.
What kind of products or services do they use?
Good question....:-)
There are many services and products that helps in developing an online business, but none comes across Site Build It!
Site Build It! (SBI!) is the only all-in-one site-building, site-hosting, and site-marketing product that makes it easy for you to build a professional, popular, and profitable Online Business.
Whats so significant about Site Build It?
Its significance lies in its simplicity, effectiveness. It is user-friendly. It does all the work for you. All you have to do is to feed in the necessary ingredients like, planning the designs and outlets of a website, creatively writing high-info value-keyword-focused preselling contents that ranks well with the search engines and turns visitors into customers. Just follow the instructions, and you are up and running with a web site that sales and builds you an online business.
Site Build It! (SBI!) is the single most powerful driving force behind a website's success.
It doesn't only builds web sites but builds business. It's a complete R.O.I, Return On Investment service.
Getting Started in ECommerce - Part One
In 2004, Enquiro.com conducted a study of the search behaviors of men vs. women. They found that women spend more time in their searches and at specific sites. The study also revealed that women tend to be more deliberate in reading search results, linger longer at sites and have a greater satisfaction in the overall shopping experience. Another study conducted by iProspect.com revealed that women are more apt to click the paid search advertising because they find it more relevant to their searches than do men (WebProNews - July 14, 2004).
What does this mean? It means that if we understand the searching and shopping patterns of our target audience we are better able to create marketing strategies to effectively drive traffic to our sites. Don't yet have a website?
Electronic commerce or ecommerce is used to describe doing business over the Internet. Selling products and services to customers over the Internet can be accomplished a number of ways and various levels of sophistication.
The first thing you need is a professional Web site with its own domain name. You need to design and promote a Web site. You'll need access to expertise that can regularly design and maintain this Web site for you. A good website which gets visitors to return is constantly evolving and therefore, require ongoing attention. There are thousands of resources available for you to take advantage of, many of which are free. You can surf the Internet for what you need or you can simply visit www.WECAI.org to see the many resources we have listed. We have resources for guests and if you are a member we have even more resources to help you get started. In fact, you can search our domain registry and purchase your own unique domain name at www.wecaidomains.com.
Developing a business over the Internet requires many of the same major activities as starting any other business. You need a business plan, something to sell such as a product or service; you need customers and you may even need financial backing to get started. In addition, you need to market products to your customers, exceptional customer service practices and many other resources just as you do with traditional bricks and mortar enterprises. They may include inventory, fulfillment, shipping banking relationships and more.
Your store will need a "merchant" account, or the ability to process your customers' credit card transactions over the Internet. This includes needing a "secure server," (security certificate such as Versign or Geotrust) so that thieves cannot gain access to your customers credit information. Your merchant processing can be as simple as accepting payments through PayPal or as complex as a custom designed shopping cart system you pay for.
Getting a Merchant Account - If you have a good relationship with your bank and they don't require a security deposit this may be your best option for setting up a merchant account. Alternatives to getting a merchant account through your bank are to go through a broker, a fulfillment house, or using third-party billing.
For more information on establishing an ecommerce presence check out the e-book entitled: Show Her the Money - The Woman's ECommerce Handbook for Online Transactions (www.showherthemoney.com). If you are, or become a member of WECAI - www.wecai.org, this resource is yours with your membership.
Excerpted from The PMS Principles - Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business ฉ 2005 - Heidi Richards
Heidi Richards is the author of The PMS Principles, Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business and 7 other books. She is the owner of Eden Florist & Gift Baskets and the Founder & CEO of the Women's ECommerce Association, International http://www.WECAI.org (pronounced wee-kī) - an Internet organization that "Helps Women Do Business on the WEB." BASIC Membership is Free. She can be reached at http://www.HeidiRichards.com or heidi@wecai.org. You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.
Getting Started in ECommerce - Part Two
In Part One we talked a little bit about what Ecommerce is, getting a domain name and setting up a merchant account. Ecommerce is more than that, much more. To have a really good online presence that gets people to stop and shop you need a strategy for success. Your strategy must include your USP or Unique Selling Position in the marketplace. What makes you stand out from all the other online entrepreneurs looking for the same type of customers as you? Can you stand out from the competition based on quality, price or benefits? Once you know your USP, you can begin the monumental task of telling the world about your site. A really unique selling position will give you an advantage over all the competition - well that and a lot of planning and investing of your time and money.
FOCUS
Emphasize the benefits and the results the customer will get from purchasing from you and using your product or service. You can discover the benefits by listing all the features and then converting them to benefits. List everything your product or service offers. For each feature list a relative advantage from the customer's perspective. You can discover the customer's perspectives when they buy. Simply ask them, " Why did you place an order today or use our service?" BE very specific when creating your benefit statements. An example of this is, "You will save $100.00 sells better than "you will save money." "You will loose 20 pounds in 10 days" sounds better than "you will loose weight." Rank your benefits in order of importance to the customer. If you have enough of them, use bullet points for emphasis.
Emotion sells. People make most buying decisions with their heart and not their head. Paint a picture of the results the customer will get when they purchase from you. " You will look 20 years younger." "You will be $100 richer."
Make sure you include a call to action. Want them to make a buying decision today? Give them a reason to do so. Offer a bribe (discount, bonus, something for nothing).
Your website must load quickly and function easily. If your site loads slowly people will get impatient and go elsewhere. Do all your links work? Have you tested your order page by running sample orders? Have you tested load time using different connection speeds? You can get a fr*ee analysis by visiting Submitplus.com.
Make your website easy to look at and read. I find dark background tend to be more difficult to read than do pale backgrounds. The overall look of your site should be clean and professional. When we were first creating the Women's ECommerce Association, International we did everything in-house. Not being truly adept at HTML coding we thought we could just use a simple program to create a professional site. It was okay, but the one we now have is so much better. Why? Because we hired a professional. You can create a website with a good template program. We are using ECommerce Templates to create our new look for WUN Publications. It is simple to use and relatively inexpensive.
When it comes to graphics, be conservative. Sites that are laden with graphics and flash tend to take longer to load. If your site takes more than 3 seconds to do so, you will loose many visitors and potential buyers. If you must use graphics, make sure the files sizes used have been reduced as much as your image editing/compression software will allow.
View your site using as many different browsers as possible. In addition to Internet Explorer and Netscape, there is Opera, Mozilla, Lynx and those are just the ones that run on Microsoft Windows. WebMonkey has a chart of those supported by Macintosh, Unix/Linux and others. Also, many people will surf with their browser's graphics switched off. Make sure you know what your site looks like without the graphics and that it is still easy for visitors to surf.
One last thought Make sure all your important information is above the fold. If you know that visitors are looking for something specific and you make them scroll down to find it, chances are they won't.
Excerpted from The PMS Principles - Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business ฉ 2005 - Heidi Richards
Heidi Richards is the author of The PMS Principles, Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business and 7 other books. She is the owner of Eden Florist & Gift Baskets and the Founder & CEO of the Women's ECommerce Association, International http://www.WECAI.org (pronounced wee-kī) - an Internet organization that "Helps Women Do Business on the WEB." BASIC Membership is Free. She can be reached at http://www.HeidiRichards.com or heidi@wecai.org. You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.
Home Sweet Home Page
"Your home page is the world's introduction to you and your company. Make it COUNT!" - Heidi Richards
Think of your home page as the cover of your brochure. It features exciting information about your company, but like a brochure it must be opened to reveal the rest of the message. It is connected to other pages in a way that allows other visitors to your site to move from one page to another by clicking on the highlighted text or images.
Getting your home page up and running on the Internet requires design, operations, and the update of your information. Many Internet Service Providers offer home page construction for free, often with a standard format in their "host" package. This is an inexpensive way to get up and running more quickly on the Internet. In the beginning, it might be an option for your site.
The options of design, operations, and update depend entirely on how much maintenance your site would require and how much information you want the surfer/customer to have. It could be as simple as listing your location, hours of operation, and the types of products and services you provide. Or as elaborate as picture graphics, movement, and even sound.
Design It yourself. This no-frills approach is inexpensive. The many new and easy-to-use software applications available make it affordable to get started. Provided you feel comfortable with this do-it-yourself approach, and feel comfortable learning a new program you can create your own home page. There are, however, some disadvantages. There is no guarantee of quality for the finished product, and it requires a lot of time and energy.
Microsoft offers a free package that allows Word users to build a Web site from their word processing software package. Check out their web site for Internet Assistant for Word (http://www.mircrosoft.com). Adobe has a package called PageMill 2.0, using click-and-drag commands that create web pages. Less than $100, it has the basics needed to create a site. Just call 800-833-6687. Corel offers a Web Graphic Suite of products. More expensive, but you can get more features. Corel's number is 800-772-6735.
New packages become available frequently. Check out the computer software catalogs and local stores for what's out there.
Hiring a Designer. Companies specializing in Web site design are abundant. And new companies are springing up all the time. Of course, it can cost up to $500.00 to develop a modest site. And about $30.00 per hour for updating the site. You will still need the Internet Service Provider to host your site.
Updating your site. The more often your site is updated, the more successful it will tend to be. Active sites are updated weekly, maybe even more frequently. If you want your Web site to be more than a billboard, it could require several hours per week to keep the site current. It all depends on the types of products and services you provide.
Make sure your Web Site is "linked" to other similar industry sites, and professional associations.
Excerpted from The PMS Principles - Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business ฉ 2005 - Heidi Richards
Heidi Richards is the author of The PMS Principles, Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business and 7 other books. She is the owner of Eden Florist & Gift Baskets - http://www.edenflorist.com and the Founder & CEO of the Women's ECommerce Association, International http://www.WECAI.org (pronounced wee-kī) - an Internet organization that "Helps Women Do Business on the WEB." Basic Membership is FREE. Ms. Richards can be reached at http://www.HeidiRichards.com or heidi@wecai.org
Professional Web Hosting $5.95
Thursday, July 12, 2007
IT salary benchmarks in Asia
Are IT professionals in Asia paid their worth?
ZDNet Asia conducted a survey on the Internet between Aug. 25 and Nov. 6, 2006, to gain insights into Asia's IT workforce and salary trends. The survey drew 5,090 respondents from industry sectors such as government, healthcare, IT, services, telecommunications, legal and finance, across seven Asian countries: Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Among the findings: IT management skills are much-sought-after and command the highest renumeration, while the best-paying IT jobs are in Hong Kong, followed by Singapore.
| Country | Industry | ||||
| IT, Web & Telecom (ITWT) | Government, Education and Health (GEH) | Legal and Finance (LF) | Media, Marketing & Sales (non-IT) (MMS) | Mfg, Services and Others (non-IT) (MSO) | |
| Hong Kong | 42,422 | 58,368 | 66,352 | 51,841 | 42,871 |
| India | 15,259 | 9,003 | 11,647 | 14,681 | 10,245 |
| Indonesia | 10,959 | 9,479 | 11,581 | 11,440 | 12,008 |
| Malaysia | 16,099 | 21,299 | 16,002 | 19,156 | 16,324 |
| Philippines | 10,899 | 9,125 | 13,455 | 8,062 | 10,300 |
| Singapore | 39,782 | 43,206 | 49,782 | 38,999 | 41,264 |
| Thailand | 29,724 | 28,816 | 36,124 | 15,637 | 18,853 |
| Country | Years of Experience | ||
| Less than 5 Years | 5-10 Years | More than 10 Years | |
| Hong Kong | 26,499 | 40,830 | 80,005 |
| India | 7,910 | 16,822 | 32,310 |
| Indonesia | 5,619 | 11,109 | 20,030 |
| Malaysia | 9,983 | 17,261 | 25,615 |
| Philippines | 6,500 | 9,836 | 19,879 |
| Singapore | 25,282 | 40,465 | 64,289 |
| Thailand | 9,553 | 21,702 | 42,745 |
| Country | Job Function | |||
| IT Management | Project Development | Systems Development | Other IT Professionals | |
| Hong Kong | 96,754 | 47,357 | 40,971 | 38,680 |
| India | 28,557 | 18,808 | 11,953 | 9,629 |
| Indonesia | 16,060 | 13,768 | 6,897 | 8,482 |
| Malaysia | 25,162 | 18,286 | 13,967 | 13,676 |
| Philippines | 19,524 | 12,165 | 8,448 | 8,761 |
| Singapore | 61,167 | 48,056 | 32,902 | 33,330 |
| Thailand | 38,721 | 34,516 | 15,450 | 19,906 |
Source : http://tungblog.atikomtrirat.com/2007/07/it-salary-benchmarks-in-asia.html
Monday, July 09, 2007
Dont Get Ripped Off Getting A Merchant Account
Far too many people get ripped off when setting up a merchant account for their online business. The biggest reason is that they don't understand their options and are intimidated by the whole process. Now, armed with the proper knowledge, you don't need to become a victim of this process.
You may be like me when I first decided my online business had grown big enough to justify a merchant account. Maybe you have enough sales where getting your own account makes a lot more sense than using a third party processor who charges outlandish rates. Maybe you should use both third party processors and your own merchant account... giving your customers more choices.
When I set up my first merchant account, I filled out the long, complicated application and submitted it with a several hundred dollar application fee. I had to fax a bunch of supporting documents to prove I was worthy of being considered for an account. Then I held my breath and waited for several weeks.
Finally, I got the news that I was approved and could now sign a long-term contract to allow them to charge me more high monthly fees that I didn't fully understand. The one that was the most mystical to me was the virtual terminal rental fee. This company also REQUIRED me to pay a steep fee to have my order form hosted on their secure server.
When I got my last merchant account, I filled out a simple online form, paid less than $100, and had the account activated within 24 hours. The money I paid covered setting up the merchant account, gateway, and virtual terminal. I could now process transactions from anywhere in the world and it was great!
If you've never used a virtual terminal before, let me explain. You can be on an airplane 40,000 feet above the earth. The person sitting next to you can ask what you do. You explain, and he's interested in getting your product. You can take his credit card information, connect to your virtual terminal using your laptop and the in-flight phone, and process the transaction while eating your in-flight meal.
It's great, and I've always enjoyed having access to all of the features of my merchant accounts. I just didn't appreciate the fact that they seemed to try to deliberately confuse you during the application process. They all used different terms making it nearly impossible to compare features and rates. It seemed that they didn't want you to fully understand the process or product.
Guess what... they probably didn't want you to understand because that allowed them to rip you off for more.
Here are the facts:
If you pay more than $100 to get set up with a merchant account, gateway, and virtual terminal you're paying too much.
The industry is very competitive so you should compare rates. If you're don't get a clear explanation of the features you're getting, go somewhere else.
When you pay those large application fees, most of that money is commission for the agent or reseller. So don't fall for that ploy!
They need you as much as you need their services. Many of the parties involved in the system make their money from the transaction and monthly fees you pay. These fees differ from company to company so you should compare. I suggest not paying more that 2.35% per transaction.
After getting ripped off, and feeling victimized by the industry for years, I decided to not take it any more. I cornered an industry insider and picked his brain. He's set up merchant accounts for both online and offline businesses for years. I got him on a conference call and had people call in and ask any question they wanted. He spilled the beans.
Even better, we recorded the entire conference call AND I want to give you a copy of the recording from that call. It's simple, you can grab the MP3 recording with my compliments at: http://therealsecrets.com/free-merchant-account-teleseminar.html
Armed with this powerful information, you'll be able to compare. You'll be able to make an intelligent decision instead of an expensive mistake. It will be impossible for you to get ripped off when getting a merchant account.
Knowledge is a very powerful business building weapon. Arm yourself today!
Guide To Safe Online Shopping
Online shopping can be a little frightening to people who are new to the internet,but as long as you follow a few easy rules you should have no problem shopping online.
What are the rules ?
First before buying from an online store find out what that online stores return policy is. If you wait till after the purchase of a product you make find out returning it is almost impossible.
Second ,now days it's good to know what the privacy policy of any website you fill out forms on is.If you don't want your information spread all over the internet.
Third,Now for the purchase itself,When filling out a form to order something make sure all your information is correct,email adress must be right it's important,your postal address must be right and your credit card info must be correct.If any of the above is wrong your order may not go through.
Fourth,Most online stores will send you an order confirmation email to confirm your order was received,this is very important file it away if you ever have a problem with an order you will need the information contained in the email to get it corrected
Finally, Most stores will let you know when your order has been shipped
What if I have a problem with something I ordered at an online store ?
If you have a problem there are a few easy steps to having it corrected if you followed the rules above.
If you want to return something,if you checked what the online stores return policy is ,refer to that and follow thier instructions
If you have a question about your order look for a link to either the online stores customer service section where in most cases you can find a form to fill out or an email address
If you find a form fill it out completely,the more completely you fill it out the better your problem with your order can be solved
If you find an email address send an email explaining your problem with a copy of your order confirmation either attached or the information from it added to your email
Remember to be polite in your email,it doesn't help to be rude it only will make the person who recieved it mad and less likely to care about your problem.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Google Catalogs - Old Gashioned Mail Order Meets High Tech Search
In addition to Google's Froogle shopping service (still in beta), which features a searchable database of online merchants, Google is also beta-testing their Google Catalog service. Google Catalogs provides a searchable central repository of hundreds of mail-order catalogs.
The service includes the full scanned contents of the catalogs, not just a photo and subscription information. And these aren't database entries, but real high-quality images of the catalog images themselves. When you are browsing Google Catalog search results, you will see user interface controls at the top and bottom of each page. These are reminiscent of Acrobat and many other browser plug-in controls or common Windows print preview controls, and you can page through each catalog, zoom in/out, switch between one, two, and thumbnail views, jump to a specific page, and search within the current catalog. As with other Google searches, an advanced search feature is also available.
Available catalogs cover a full range of goods from business to consumer, from household names like Harriet Carter to obscure supply catalogs for specialty manufacturers. For easy online shopping, even the order forms, toll-free numbers, and vendor web sites are easily accessible. While beta testing, many of the catalogs are from one to three years old, but that's to be expected. When fully released, this service will almost surely feature not only current catalogs, but a lot more of them, as merchants become aware of the service.
Google recommends using a broadband internet connection to search their Google Catalog service. This is because all search results include images of the catalog pages themselves, and download speed over dialup will be too slow for most users. Google states that they aren't associated with the catalog merchants in any way, and receive no compensation when you buy something from an included catalog.
Shopping from Your Cell Phone with Froogle Wireless
Many surfers already know about Froogle, Google's shopping portal that is still in beta testing. Google has now expanded their Froogle service so that it is available on WML-enabled cellular phones. Most newer cell phones that can connect to the Internet have this capability.
Users just need to enter wml.froogle.com in their cell phone browser, enter their product search terms, and scroll through results to find what they're looking for. The biggest advantage of this Froogle Wireless feature for consumers is the ability to comparison shop, no matter where they are.
Most people who have shopped on the Internet know you can often find significantly lower prices online if you are willing to wait for shipment. The problem in the past was that it was difficult to comparison shop between virtual merchants and brick & mortar stores.
As an example, when most of us are shopping at our local computer store, and notice they have blank CDs on sale, our first instinct is to stock up because the price looks so good by comparison to their regular price. But with an Internet-ready cell phone and Froogle Wireless, you would be able to search Froogle right from the store, and compare blank CD prices from online merchants with the sale price at the store. Taking into account shipping costs, whether you need the CDs immediately, and local sales taxes, you can then make an informed decision as to the true value of the sale price.
Since Froogle and Froogle Wireless are both in beta testing, some nice-to-have features such as sorting by price aren't yet available. This can be a problem when using a slower connection over a cell phone, but keep an eye out for improvements - Froogle Wireless will likely help you save money in real-time very soon!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Your Affiliate Web Site Is Built - Now What?
When I first got my web site built, I thought I finally had
a presence on-line. Wrong! I soon found out that I needed someone to host my site, and I needed a domain name.
This, I found, was my moment of utter confusion. And my
first thought was - "What have I gotten myself into!?"
I realized I needed the following questions answered before I
could even begin my on-line journey. What do I need in a web host,what is a web host, what is a domain name and - you mean, I have to pay for a domain name as well?
What is a Domain?
A domain name is a unique name that identifies an Internet site.
Thus, if you want to do any on-line marketing you need a unique
name to identify your business - and definitely a name that
identifies or relates to that of your on-line presence.
Do I really need a domain name? Yes. Why? There are
several good reasons:
1. It projects a professional image
2. It's mobile - you can change web hosts and your domain name goes with you.
3. It takes time and hard work to build your affiliate business - if you don't have your own name and you want to move to a different web host - all is lost because the domain name is not mobile.
There are many sites that offer a domain name service at a reasonable price. You can go to my site at www.myaffiliateplace.biz/Affiliate_Info.htm and
look under Affiliate Information - here you can get an idea
how much a domain name costs.
What is A Web Host?
A web host is an ISP that offers space in which to store your
own personal Web pages. They utilize a web server, which
is a computer that is permanently connected to the Internet and
can send out your web pages on request.
If you want a professional presence, I would suggest that you
do not go with a free site. Why? With your free site, you
are required to include advertisements of their
choosing on your pages.
There are many web hosting sites and prices to choose from - and all can be very confusing and intimidating when you are first looking at putting up a site of your own. So, what should you consider when choosing a web host?
What to Consider When You Choose a Web Host?
When choosing a Web Host you should consider the following:
1. Does it have customer support available 24/7?
2. How often are backups done? (You should also do your own backups as well.)
3. How much bandwidth do they give you? Bandwidth is the amount of activity on your site (traffic). The more visitors you have, the more bandwidth is used. I recommend at least 2 gigs, with an option to upgrade.
4. How many email accounts do they have? At least 3, preferably more.
5. Does it have traffic stats - to monitor your hits, page views, and actual visitors?
6. Does it have FrontPage extensions? (If you are planning to use FrontPage).
7. Does it offer autoresponders?
8. Does it offer FTP?
9. Does it allow for upgrades? As your business grows, so will your need for more bandwidth.
10. Does it offer SiteBuilder? (If you have no HTML experience/don't have FrontPage, or no programming knowledge - SiteBuilder can get you up and running.
To conclude, remember your web site is your business, your
domain is your name, and your web host is your home - all
are important factors to your success. And to think, you
only getting started!
To your success.
How to Write a Landing Page
Is there a difference between writing a landing page and any other web site page? Yes and no. But mainly, yes.
You still have to work within the fundamentals of good writing and copywriting. And you still have to recognize the differences between writing for paper and writing for a monitor.
However, there are some important differences to consider when it comes to writing a landing page.
>> You KNOW what you want your visitors to do
On many web pages we are writing text to help people find what THEY want, either on that page or a different one. This may involve writing careful descriptions, using images and providing descriptive links to help our visitor move forward to the right page.
In other words, a lot of the time the pages we are writing are not the final destination pages for many of our visitors. So we deliberately help them leave the page, pointing them in the right direction.
With a landing page, everything changes. With a landing page, you know what you want them to do and you DON'T want them leaving that page until they have decided to make that purchase, sign up, download a white paper - or whatever else it is you want them to do.
>> Now you're in the realm of direct marketing
A landing page is a direct marketing piece, pure and simple. You have attracted someone there through an ad, a link, a keyword...whatever. And now you have them on the page, you want to convert them.
When direct marketing with a landing page, remember these points.
- It's about the copy, the words. It's the text that will bring you success or failure.
- Design? The purpose of the design is to support and showcase the text. If you want results, your visitors must read the text. This influences your choices of colors, your use of images, the layout on the page.
- Navigation links? No thank you. On a regular web page, there are plenty of links on a page to make it easy for people to move around and find what they want. On a landing page, there is only ONE link you want people to click on, and that's the one that says YES. You don't WANT them to navigate. You want to give them just the one way forward.
- Multiple choices? Not if you can help it. If you have three or four things to sell or promote, create separate campaigns and separate landing pages. Too many choices on a single page dilutes attention and reduces response rates. Keep it focused.
>> Concluding thoughts
Many large and medium sized companies struggle with creating landing pages that are unashamedly built to maximize conversion rates. Perhaps they don't have the skills in-house to write and design that kind of page. Perhaps they feel uncomfortable about 'direct marketing' through their site pages.
Whatever the reason, it's the companies that have the will and the resources to build high-converting landing pages that will come out the winners.
