Archive for Living With The Web
June 21, 2008 at 6:55 pm · Filed under Living With The Web
What’s the most important thing about your website? The fact that it’s YOURS! Everyone has their own unique personality, their own style. Your website is the perfect place to showcase that! As I said before, it needs what I call “SOUL”. Be creative, be honest, be YOU! Think about what you have to say to your prospects, what you have to offer, and then base your website around that vision.
There are also other tactics you can do to distinguish yourself from the other marketers on the web. While they may seem pretty common, it’s amazing how often they are overlooked.
Be Professional
Your website is a direct reflection of you and your business. Make sure it looks professional and that your prospect has complete contact info.
Have the Right Attitude
This is one of the most important aspects of establishing credibility on the web. Be very conscious of how you respond to readers questions or complaints. You must remember to project the right attitude to your prospects!
Be Courteous
Let your visitors know how much you appreciate them. Treat them with respect. Remember, please, thank you and you’re welcome go a long way!
Be Honest
Never lie or mislead your visitors. It will always eventually catch up with you. You have to earn your visitors trust to create long term relationships.
Always Overdeliver
When dealing with your customers, always go above and beyond the expected. Listen to your customers concerns and let them know that you hear them! Make a list of FAQ and put them on your site. Survey your visitors and find out what they want. Send them a free report or offer. Do everything you can to let them know they are appreciated!
Remember, always strive to be original, and to give the best that you can give! If you do that, everything else will eventually fall into place!
By: Anne Ahira
Editor The BEST Affiliate Newsletter
http://www.thebestaffiliate.com
June 19, 2008 at 4:13 pm · Filed under Living With The Web
Command the entire Canadian military to stack into neat little piles all the warm, wonderful pages of propaganda that I have pumped out over the past fifteen years, and by the end of the day, there’d still be enough loose floating pulp to drown an entire airborne division.
The bulk of this pulp has, over the years, been humbly presented to editors across Canada in an effort to help them fill their pages. Results have been impressive. Hundreds of millions of gross readers…. and millions of decent ones…. have learnt, among other things, how to buy refrigerators, calculate the GST, stop smoking, lift properly, barbeque chicken with beer, sooth bladder pains, avert heart attacks and apply moisturizer as a result. I go to sleep each night secure in the knowledge that I am improving the lives of Canadians and making Canada a better place in which to live.
Some years ago I wrote a quaint little primer on how best to write irresistible filler for newspaper editors. Rifling through it recently, I noted that much of the same advice now holds true for those developing messages for the Internet. Given the current stampede to convert material for use on corporate Web pages, I re-print the piece below in hopes that a new generation of cybernautic propaganda pumpers may benefit:
“As with any news release, the first objective of a feature filler story is to attract the attention of editors. Short punchy headlines combined with intriguing photographs or diagrams will serve the writer well in this regard.
When writing for a mass audience, direct language is essential. Words, phrases and concepts must be familiar to the intended readership. Big words should only be used when absolutely necessary. By varying sentence length, using the active rather than the passive voice, and sprinkling in quotations, the writer will encourage reader interest.
Leads should arouse self or human interest impulses. They should pique a curiosity that leads the reader into the body of the story (or deeper into the Web site). There is no need to cram in “who, what where, when, why and how.” Articles that are not time-sensitive, or that promote specific pre-arranged events such as Environment Week or the opening of the Skydome are ideal for distribution to newspaper editors.
Readers of feature stories expect to be informed. They expect to learn something. This may explain why Question & Answer, “Did You Know” and “How To” columns have traditionally done well. Articles that deal with inherent interests ( sex, hunger, security and power), as well as trained interests (patriotism), also tend to appeal to readers.
Popular criteria for selecting feature story angles include: the unique or unusual; people; animals; adventure; success; and love ( or sensation!) of any kind. Writers should also study the needs and wants of their audiences to determine hot topics of interest. In short, an article that buys into a universal, inherent or current interest should do well.
Experience has uncovered a number of Do’s and Don’ts for the successful filler writer. Shorter articles tend to receive better pick-up than longer ones. Catchy headlines work. Funky diagrams enhance pick-up. Commercial logos and ad copy should be avoided. Blatant propaganda insults editors who are generally looking for unbiased well-written, useful information.
Editors are always looking for interesting photographs. Here are some photo pointers: if you have a choice, always select shots with people in them; choose a simple layout; use close rather than far viewpoints and if you find a photo that includes a repeating image, use it.
SUMMARY
* Write for your audience
* Try to keep articles between 250 and 500 words long
* Hit them with a catchy headline
* Use uncluttered photos that feature people, disasters, puppy dogs etc.
* Consider using a column name
* Use simple, straight-forward language
* Try some humour
* Select universal human interest themes
* Tie in topical issues
The only thing I would add here for the Web page propagandist is a word about love at first sight. If your site isn’t immediately perceived to be useful,, informative, attractive and/or entertaining (ie. a good potential partner), no-one will want to stay with or return to it.
Nigel Beale is Vice President, Business Development with Mediaforce.ca, a website development company based in Ottawa Canada. http://www.mediaforce.ca
He is also a well known writer, broadcaster and bibliophile. http://www.nigelbeale.com
June 10, 2008 at 5:07 pm · Filed under Living With The Web, Security Hall
What is ID Theft?
Identity theft is one of the major threats that plague consumers, particularly those who regularly conduct business using electronic means such as credit cards and online payment systems. However, identity theft can also happen to people who do not even use these transaction methods.
Identity theft is a form of fraud that involves getting money or other gains illegally by using someone else’s identity. The victim often suffers major financial consequences as a result of this fraudulent activity.
Identity theft can be committed using several methods. Identity thieves sometimes go through garbage bins to look for credit reports, old bills or any other document that could contain information that can allow an identity thief to do a lot of things, including applying for a credit card or a loan under the victim’s name. The identity thief can then use these benefits to their fullest, while the victim is only made aware of the extent of the damage when it’s already too late. Sometimes identity thieves use public information to pretend to be someone they are not and thereby lure private information out of unsuspecting victims. This crime is called pretexting. Pretexting is illegal.
Governments all around the world have recognized the risk of identity theft and the damage it can pose to their economies, and have thus implemented laws to address this. In the United States, the GrammLeach-Bliley Act of 1999 was installed to prevent companies from misusing customers’ information, while the United Kingdom implemented the Data Protection Act to achieve similar purposes.
April 20, 2008 at 4:33 pm · Filed under Living With The Web
It is easier to make additional money from your current clients
than it is to go out and find new ones! See 21 simple ways in
this three part article series.
Part Three:
15. Follow-up with your customers to see if they’re happy and
offer them another product.
Use your autoresponder script or subscription to send a follow
up message 2-3 days after they have purchased and make sure they
are happy with the product.
Some examples of this type of account or script are: Getresponse
or AWeber, for examples of an autoresponder company.
Or a self-installed script like a custom version of QuickPayPro,
which has the sequential autoresponders plus the shopping cart
etc., or a simpler script like Autoresponders Unlimited if all
you need is the autoresponder part and not the full shopping
cart.
Another thing to add in the message to make sure they are using
the product (Especially an ebook) is to ask how they liked a
specific chapter’s information. With software, it could be a
specific feature or action the software performs.
For example, with an ebook you could say, “So how are you
enjoying that tip in chapter 4? Did you save as much money as I
did when I used this method?”
They will have to go to the ebook and see - especially if you
can add something like the part where I said “did you SAVE as
much money as I did?”!
How will they know:
a.) What you did b.) How much you saved c.) What the method was
Unless they read the book?
16. Offer people a free sample of your product and tell them
they will get a discount if they order now.
For an ebook it could be the first couple of chapters or
chapters that don’t give away all your “secrets”. For software
it could be a 30 trial or a version of the software that doesn’t
have all of the features enabled.
17. Send your customers a “thank you” e-mail with a back end
offer attached.
Send this one immediately or 1 day after purchase. Remember the
follow up email asking how they like the
product/ebook/software/video, etc. will be going out on day 3 or
4.
The offer should optimally be related to an enhancement of the
product they just purchased. But not the “new and improved”
version of the same product!
More like selling tea pot covers to tea pot buyers, bookmarks to
book buyers and video viewing software to video buyers… get it?
18. Offer your customers add-on products like gift wrapping,
batteries, imprinting, etc.
Think about complimentary items that enhance your items such as:
* Presentation or looks * Ease of Use * Beauty *
Features * Speed * Bells and Whistles * Longevity *
Widen Appeal to larger group of people * Emotional Attachment
(Personalization)
And so on.
19. Allow your customers the option of signing up to your
“future product offers list”.
I know some online business persons who have a “Early Bird”
notice list. Subscribers get notified early of these special
members’ only deals!
They are basically asking you to tell them when they can buy the
next product (or affiliate product / recommendation) from you!
Who would want to turn that down?
20. Explain to people that for extra money, they can extend the
guarantee or warranty of the product.
This is self explanatory for anyone who has ever been to Sears,
Best Buy or Circuit City! Every single purchase you make from
those stores comes with an offer of an extended warranty. It is
the easiest way to increase your profits by 10% that I know of!
21. Give rewards instead of money for ezine referrals.
There are scripts that you can install that will do this for
people who send you referrals for your ezine or site. It tracks
the clicks and the subsequent hits by the same person to the
thank you page.
Obviously they signed up if they go from the sales page to the
thank you page - right?
Then it would record the referrer and every month (or quarter,
etc.) you can give rewards, bonuses, or commissions to the top 5
or 10 referrers. Don’t run it like an affiliate program where
everyone gets the reward, you should already have an affiliate
program in place. No, run this like a contest to build up the
competitiveness of it!
You want them WORKING to send you people so they are in the top
5 or whatever you set as your payout levels.
Well, that’s it, 21 Simple Ways you can Make More Money from
your Current Clients.
If you have any other ways, send them to me and I will post them
in the Ebooks for Ebusiness Blog with your name and your web
site link!
April 1, 2008 at 1:35 pm · Filed under Living With The Web
The internet has given people a new of doing business and making
money. From online gambling to auctions sites, people are able
to sell products and services with a click of the mouse. Anyone
can do this once the purpose of creating the website has been
established. When the concept has been thought of, one can begin
by putting it together if the person knows how to do it or with
the assistance of someone who has done this before.
Since more people have gone into electronic business, some
people have found it harder now to make money compared to before
which is why certain adjustments have to be made. The solution
is through multiple streams of income.
This idea has been done in the business world for a very long
time and is kind of fresh in the internet. This is the advice
given by stock brokers to clients, retail companies who want to
focus on a larger market and businesses that want to expand.
In simple terms this is called diversification which may also
work as a contingency plan if one strategy does not work out.
Earning money via the internet through various ways is the same
thing which is like the saying goes don’t pull all the eggs in
just one basket.
How can this be done? The first and most important thing needed
is creating a computer program that uses the power of marketing
and the web. This will allow the person to have an automated
business that uses a variety of mediums for trainings and
seminars, teleconferencing, emails and web casting that keeps
track of everything.
This will save the person time and effort which can work on
other things to make the business grow.
The next thing is adding more products to ones existing line.
Some people get tired when nothing new comes along. By providing
something that will make the customer come back for more, this
will assure a steady flow of income.
A product or service must always be given at an affordable
price. In order for one to be competitive, one must figure out
how ones website is better compared to the ones who are also
available. What features does it have that the competitor
doesnt? What makes it unique?
Not everybody can carry everything that customers need. This is
why one can also have a tie-up with other companies. By also
selling the products of other people that the person does not
have and charge a little commission from it, one is able to make
some money.
Should one choose to add products from another company that are
similar to what is being offered by the person, the individual
should be sure that this will help in getting more money instead
of losing profits.
Advertising is crucial especially when promoting something to
the public. To ensure the success of the venture, that person
needs all the help possible using the resources available in the
net. If there are more users who are able to log into the
website, it means more business and money. This can only happen
as long as it continues to be consistent in providing the
information, the product or service that is promised.
Making a website user friendly is essential in making it grow.
To make sure it is good for people to visit and recommend to
others, it should be tested by friends and family members for
feedback on anything that could have been missed out. The most
important thing to remember before launching it to the various
websites is making sure that ones website is fully operational
and will not have any glitches that users will face when logging
on to it. Most people who have a bad experience will not even
visit the site a second time.
Ones website must be updated with the times. It should have
things that have a lot of detail which will greatly increase
traffic for the site. The most important thing to do is to
determine what the person wants to do. If one is offering a
product or service, is there a need for it? Will it provide a
solution of some kind that will help improve the quality of life
for a lot of people?
