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Archive for April, 2010
Apr. 30th 2010
When people are trying to get a lot of traffic to their website, they tend to make mistakes. Some of these mistakes are just crazy, some of them can really mess things up for the person who is trying to make a living on the Internet. Here are some of the common mistakes that people make when they are trying to get website traffic.
1. Spam
One of the biggest mistakes that people make is that they go and spam their website address all over the place, completely ignoring the guidelines that are set up. The guidelines are there for a reason. If you choose to ignore them, you are going to find that your website is going to be blacklisted, which means it won’t show up on any of the well-known search engines.
2. Getting the wrong type of traffic
This is another type of mistake that people make. If you are selling gemstone jewelry, you don’t want people to come to you who are looking for costume jewelry. You want to be sure that the meta information is clear and knows exactly what the site does so that the right clientele comes to your site and sees your items.
3. Not using keyword phrases
These days, single keywords aren’t going to cut it unless you are selling something that is brand new and that you invented yourself. If a website is selling gemstone jewelry, the person should use things like emerald jewelry, ruby jewelry, topaz jewelry, instead of just the word jewelry. This makes it easier for people to find the website and the things that they are looking for.
4. A poorly designed website
This is a mistake that a lot people make when they are first starting out, because they don’t know how to build a website. If you have a friend who knows about website building, ask them for some tips or search on the Internet to find different tips on building websites.
These are some of the common mistakes that people make. They are mistakes that are going to cause people to low traffic to their website and possibly get their site banned from search engines. They aren’t hard mistakes to avoid – all you have to do is to follow guidelines, use common sense with keyword phrases, and asking for help with designing the website. They are all mistakes that people can fix and can avoid in the first place.
Apr. 29th 2010
There are people who wonder why Internet advertising services are worth it. After all, can’t you just advertise your own website and get the same type of results? There are a few reasons why Internet advertising services are a good thing to use when you are trying to get a lot of visitors to your website.
1. They have experience
When people start an Internet advertising service, it usually means that they have experience with getting websites more traffic. They know the ins and outs of the Internet and what strategies work for advertising a website. They know how to get the necessary traffic to the website so that the websites are seen.
2. They have knowledge
Because this is their job, they know what works and what doesn’t work. They know what is tried and true for all types of Internet businesses and they will have the knowledge of what will fit best with your type of business. They have done the research and they know should be done to get people to the website, whether it’s for the children, men, or women.
3. They come up with ideas that you may not think of
It’s a common saying that two heads are better than one, and that is important especially in the business field. They can sit back and look at the website with a critical eye without being too close to it. They are going to be honest with you and tell you what you need to change and what will help you.
4. They are impartial
Whereas friends may not tell you the truth about what your website looks like, someone from an Internet advertising agency is going to be completely honest with you and give you suggestions. That is what their job is and why people hire them. So that they can look at the site with a critical eye and fix what needs to be fixed in order to get the person the traffic that they want.
As you can see, there are plenty of good reasons why having an Internet advertising service help you with a website is a good idea. It allows a trained eye to look at the website and tell you what will help you to get the traffic and results that you want to have. They are something that is important for people to have who are advertising on the Internet.
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Apr. 28th 2010
When writing a press release, there are five general points to remember to ensure that the press release is read and hopefully utilized.
The first point to remember is to pick a newsworthy angle on the subject. The media wants a story- not an advertisement. They want a new spin on a topic or news event to grab their readers. Show how everyday people have used the product or service in a beneficial way. Relate how it has helped someone or made a difference. Utilize emotion to draw the reader in and keep reading.
The second point to remember is to get a good start with the headline and first few sentences. These are critical for capturing the editor or journalist’s attention. The most important aspect of the press release should come first and the supporting information later. Capture their attention from the start and don’t wait to note the most relevant or important information.
The third point is to remember to write to the media, not to the readers. Editors, journalists and program directors are looking for an interesting and compelling story or piece of news that they will want to share with their audience. They are always on the lookout for the latest new thing, product or service.
Fourthly, keep it short and to the point, five-hundred words or less. It should be distributed in a variety of ways including email, news wires, fax, audio and search engines, so short and simple is best. Don’t go over two pages (one is best) and follow a format frequently used for all press releases.
The final tip for writing a press release is to include all contact information. Not only a contact name, but also a contact that is knowledgeable, and available to answer questions from the media. Additional contact information includes the company name, address, phone, email and website. Make it easy to contact back to ask additional questions and follow-up.
When writing a press release, it is important to remember to choose a newsworthy person, event, service or product to demonstrate to the editor or reporter that this is something worth reading. Be sure that the headline and first few sentences grab the reader and give the most pertinent information first. Write for the media and make it compelling. Keep it short and to the point. And lastly, include all contact information in a typical press release format.
Apr. 27th 2010
Blogs started out as a way to share information, photos and stories on the web. As technology and time evolved, so did the blog. It can be informational (sharing news, information, photos and videos) or it can be professional (enhancing and promoting a business). Creating a blog to support a business product or service is deceptively simple. It can be accomplished in a few minutes, with no guarantee that anyone will ever read it. There is quite a bit more to successful blog creation than a few clicks on the computer.
To begin creation of a blog, certain criteria have to be determined and questions answered. Is the blog going to be private or public? What provider or hosting plan will be used? How will it be connected? What will the design or theme of the blog look like? Will it be folksy and fun or professional and to the point? How often will it be updated? How will it be linked to the website? How will the blog be marketed? Will it be promoted to the top RSS feed directories or pinged to all blog directories and search engines?
Once those questions are answered, additional decisions have to be made, the most important of which has to do with content. First, the theme and core message of the blog has to be determined. If the purpose of the blog is to enhance sales of a product or service, the theme and core message must support that product or service in a logical and positive way. Secondly, the content must be original, interesting, compelling, and as unique as possible. It has to relate to the core product or service and give the reader information and a compelling reason to read further, and hopefully lead to a sale. It can’t be simply copied from the web site. There has to be a reason to read it, some new nugget of information or an offer. The blog must be updated frequently, at least several times a week to keep the information relevant and fresh. Key words must be researched and utilized to optimize search engine traffic.
Blog creation is just the beginning of the experience, but critical. If the blog is set up correctly, with a compelling theme, message and content, updated frequently, hosted professionally, visibility optimized and marketed well, it will be a very successful tool in the total business-marketing plan.
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Apr. 26th 2010
Advertising banners are a great way to drive potential customers to a website. But what is involved? What are the elements needed to create an effective banner? Some of these elements include the background, buttons, text, animation, graphics, logo, size, and duration. Clean designs generate interest and gain the most attention. The background should be coordinated and compatible with the graphics and colors of the text as a part of the whole. Bright colors attract the eye far more than black and white. The most effective buttons contain call to action words like ‘click here’ or ‘sign up now’. Bold fonts and colorful graphics can create the look that attracts the targeted audience. The best duration has found to be a slow to moderate speed, which attracts attention without overwhelming the reader.
Some banners contain video and sound. Video banner ads start when loaded, or when clicked on. Rollover banner ads open video, sound and/or expand larger when the cursor comes near the ad without requiring a specific action. Often these are by accident and if the readers’ attention can be captured, they will investigate further.
The goal when creating banners is to convey a message, communicate the message in a simple and interesting way, and avoid being ignored. Several other things need to be kept in mind. It needs to be eye catching, but not obnoxious. Keep the message short and simple. A viewer will only give it a few seconds before moving on. It has to be something interesting to viewers. If it’s not relevant, they won’t continue. A viewer needs a reason to click on the banner, so make it a compelling proposition, the ‘best deal available’, ‘unbelievable’ or an offer to ‘win’ something, get something ‘free’ or other direct benefit that would pique curiosity and bring them in. The use of ‘power words’ can be valuable; words such as ‘unbelievable’ or ‘heartwarming’ for example. After the person is ‘in,’ there has to be a ‘follow through’ procedure; what happens next? Does the link bring them to a shopping area or a page with additional information?
Banner creation should be part of the overall advertising and marketing strategy. It must support the other elements of the plan and coordinate well with each one. It requires significant planning and development to achieve the goal of driving a target audience to the web page to increase views and revenues.
Apr. 23rd 2010
When someone has a website, they want to know the ways that they can encourage people to come back to their website. There are plenty of great ways that you can get people to come back again and again to your website. This forms the foundation of Internet marketing.
1. One of the first ways that you can encourage people to come back is to offer giveaways. Think about the stores that you go to. Why do you go to them? What is the thing that makes you go back again and again? Even if it’s just something like a utility, screen saver, or game, people are going to love getting something free. You can also give away free samples of your product.
2. Another thing that people love is the opportunity to win something, so contests and competitions are another way to get people to come back to the site. It’s also a great idea to find out more about the people that visit your site because they will submit an entry form. The contest can be just about anything, but ones that relate to your service or products are going to be the best.
3. A third way to encourage repeat visitors is to offer them discounts and coupons. A lot of people send people a coupon with every order. Not only can you give them a coupon for your products and services, you can make deals with companies that complement your services and products to do a coupon exchange. That is also going to increase your traffic to your website.
4. A fourth way to bring people back again and again is to offer an advice column or a tip of the day. People love to find out new things and get advice. For example, if you have a jewelry business you can offer advice on how to clean jewelry or what different stones represent.
Most of the ways to encourage people to come back again and again to your website that are listed above don‚t cost very much. The thing to remember is that even though it may seem as if you are spending money to bring them back, you will reap the benefits in the orders that come in. It will all balance out in the end and you will see that it was quite worth it.
In advertising, you may spend a little bit but the benefits you will find are endless.
Apr. 22nd 2010
When someone hears about Internet advertising services, they wonder what types of services the company might provide for their company. It depends on the company, of course, but there are a few things that the company might offer and suggest to the client when they come to them for help in getting the information out about their website.
1. Copywriting
Copy writing is a service that may be offered by Internet advertising services to help bring more people to a website. What copy writing is, to put it simply, is an article or a series of articles that is written in a way to bring people to a website. It tells about your products and is rich in keywords.
2. Banner advertising
Banner advertising is another item that an Internet advertising service might suggest in order to increase traffic to a website. The banner can be any size and it usually is at the top or the bottom of a web page. This is one of the best-known ways of advertising and helping a company to get more business.
3. Permission based email marketing
This is another term for an opt-in list. It means that someone consented to receive information periodically from a company about their products and their services. This can be a very effective form of marketing, and it‚s one that a lot of Internet advertising agencies may suggest.
4. Vlog
Another thing that they might suggest is the use of a video blog, or a vlog. This allows you to talk to your potential customers one on one and to tell them about your services. It allows you to put a face to your name and to your company, and let them see that there is someone that is on the other side of the computer screen ready to help them. In a world full of faceless names, it adds a nice personal touch to your company and makes you seem more real.
Depending on what services they offer and how large or small your advertising budget will determine what types of services you can receive from a company. When you are first starting out, it‚s a good idea to listen to and take heed of the things that the Internet advertising agency might offer. You may have to spend more of your profits up front, but it will help you in the long run.
Apr. 21st 2010
A company has something important to talk about or announce to the public. The press release has been written and is ready to go. It is important to send it to the right media people at the right time. But to whom should it be sent? When should it be sent? Where and how should it be distributed? These are all questions that have to be resolved to give the press release the best shot at success.
Distribution can be realized individually or by using various free and for fee companies to send it out to various press outlets. Explore the options and choose the source that is a best fit for current needs. Either way, there are specific issues to consider including determining the target audience, business category, geographical region to cover and complexity of the message, as well as timing and tracking.
The target audience is determined by the subject matter. A tailored media list for distribution is thus required to decide whether the release will go to national, regional or local outlets. Each outlet provides different publishing guidelines and formatting requirements, which must be followed. The options for distribution are best determined by tailoring to those who are most likely to be interested, and include email to key journalists, trade publications, placement on a wire service, posting on a web site, submission to local press and cable TV/radio. Press releases can be sent via email, snail mail, or fax (which is generally the preferred method). Timing of the press release is critical as well. It is best to submit them early in the day, on a ‘slow’ news day (no major disasters or major news stories) and mid week seems to be the slowest time of the week so the press release will get more attention. Different outlets have different requirements regarding lead-time and deadlines, so finding this specific information is very helpful.
Distributing the press release is a complex task. Hiring a professional firm to handle it can be very helpful. They have knowledge and experience along with databases of thousands of high profile news agencies to target the release to those media outlets most likely to print it. They can offer press coverage in trade publications and other media difficult for an individual to access. Distribution is a key aspect for the success of the press release and should be carefully researched and executed.
Apr. 20th 2010
A blog generally has two audiences, the ‘followers’ who like and appreciate the content, and the ‘just found you’ from a word search on a search engine. Both are critical to the success of the blog and ultimately in the sales of the product or service. Simply writing content and posting a blog is not enough. Promoting a blog is just as important as writing outstanding content and is crucial to eventual success. If no one sees the blog content, it will not support and promote sales of the product or service. Some promotion strategies take quite a bit of time and some are quick and easy, but all aid considerably in blog promotion.
The following are some useful tactics that can be very helpful in promoting a blog:
Update content frequently. Make it interesting and relevant. Keep it pertinent as well as short and to the point. Research and utilize key words that appeal to key word scanners in search engines to boost traffic to the blog. If a source is referred to and used, cite that source and include the link. Ask others to do the same when using content from the blog.
Another promotional aid is to build on-line networks to communicate the useful or helpful information in the blog. Post to social networks and bookmark to allow interested readers to link back to the site. There are literally hundreds of sites that connect people in a general fashion, as well as networks focused on specific topics. The content of the blog will dictate the best social sites for comment. It’s also advisable to visit other related blogs and write comments that link back as resources to promote the blog. Relevant comments can certainly bring new viewers to a blog, and making it easy to link back is the key.
Sending out press releases with new and updated information, a new, improved product or service, or special price, offer or add-on bonus also helps round out an excellent promotional strategy and one that can be employed regularly or monthly.
Technical ways to aid in blog promotion include boosting search engine rankings by using keywords that will bring a search back to site, promoting to top RSS feed directories, and blog pinging to top blog directories and search engines to generate traffic to site. All of these methods and strategies assist in blog promotion and supporting future success.
Apr. 19th 2010
Banner ads are a type of web advertising using an ad or ‘banner’ on a web page to bring potential customers to another site, generally to initiate a sale or provide information. It is usually a small rectangular or square ad, commonly at the top, bottom or side of the page advertising a product or service. It often contains animation to attract the most attention and largest audience. The animation encourages the viewer to ‘click on’ a button, which takes them via a hyperlink to another page where they are presented with the product or service to purchase. Some banner ads are targeted by key word or site category and some are ROS (run of site) which means the banner ad is displayed throughout the website or banner network.
Banner ads are effective and can be tracked, both of which can help a business tremendously when attempting to gain a large audience on the web. Simply putting a web site up and waiting for traffic to find it rarely works well. Banner ads link customers to a site from many other web pages. The times a viewer actually ‘clicks’ on the link is counted and the times a shopper actually purchases something is called a ‘conversion rate’. When the viewer visits the website or puts a product into the shopping cart a small file is written into the computer called a ‘cookie’. This helps the advertiser track which banner ad a viewer saw that brought them to the site and aids in determining future ads.
There are some potential challenges with banner ads that can be avoided. If visitors see the banner too often there is a potential to ignore them. The solution? Vary the banner design often to avoid boredom. If the design is not professional and looks amateurish, it is far less effective. Optimize the size so it loads quickly. If the banner ad is too busy, contains too much text, is hard to read or not relevant to the targeted audience, it becomes ineffective. Every banner ad must contain a ‘click here’ or ‘submit here’ button to compel viewers to interact. It needs to be targeted to specific regions, categories even age, time of day and where it is located on the page. In order to continue to build brand awareness, banner ads are an integral piece of the marketing plan and can be utilized consistently.
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