Make your Business Better
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Metrics Matter!
by: Philippa Gamse
Recently, I talked with a speaker about her "extremely successful" Website. She based this opinion on the fact that she was selling several e-books every day and generating "some calls". When I asked if she was reviewing her traffic analysis, she said "No, why should we - it's clearly working - we can tell that from the sales". I didn't ask if she knew how her sales and calls compared to the actual visitor numbers for the site - I suspected that she'd have been shocked to learn how many more opportunities she was losing.
Metrics Matter!!
If you don't know what's happening with your Website visitors, where they go, what they're looking for, what they respond to, and what turns them off about your site, you can't possibly make the most of your online potential. Your Web traffic reports offer unprecedented opportunities to analyze these relationships on a one-to-one basis.
Here are some examples of using your metrics to ask intelligent questions and make informed adjustments to your site:
Tracking your Promotional Efforts
There are many ways to promote your site, both online and offline. Some are free and some, while not costing money, do take up time and effort. It's important to know the marketing options that generate the best return on investment for all your resources.
Joyce Weiss works with her public relations consultants to analyze the immediate impact of her radio appearances on her Website traffic (at http://www.joyceweiss.com). She said "This way we can decide if the Website needs to be tweaked for radio shows, or if I need to say something different on the shows to get people to sign up."
Following the links to your site (called "refering URL's in the reports) can be very useful in creating good professional relationships. Often, site owners won't tell you that they've quoted you so it's important to check that the reference is appropriate.
And, it's important to say thank you. I once followed a link to my site and found that one of my articles was required reading for a course at the University of Southern Oregon. When I dropped a note to the Professor telling him how honored I was, he replied "Not at all, I really like your ideas - and by the way, we're looking for a speaker for our next conference . . ."
Dave Paradi does this too: "I do check out those sites that link to mine. One time I found that the link was to an old page, so I wrote to them and suggested that they update the link. I was also able to mention my other articles that would benefit their visitors."
If you're paying for traffic, make sure that the keywords you've selected, or the sites that you're advertising on are generating good quality leads. Abby Marks-Beale told me how she does this:
"I've set up separate portal pages for those who come to me from my pay-per-click program through Overture. This way I can see if the program is really working."
In other words, you can create special entry pages for visitors from Overture, Google AdWords, e-zines that you sponsor, or other campaigns. If a visitor enters through one of these pages, they can only have come from this one specific source. Then you can follow where on your site these visitors subsequently go, how they respond and ultimately decide whether they're good leads and whether your money is well spent.
Hot Content Areas
Your traffic reports list the most requested pages on your site, telling you what's hot and what's not about your content. If you're offering downloadable articles or special reports, you can see which of these are most popular.
Mitchell Gooze makes a point of doing this: "We track white paper downloads by person, and we know exactly who downloads which white papers. We store this information in their data records. We also know which topics are most interesting to visitors."
Knowing the hot content areas on your site can give you great ideas for future product and program development. Rita Risser (http://www.FairMeasures.com) developed a whole set of online checklists and policy guideline documents based around the subjects that her visitors were searching for.
Calls to Action
One of my favorite mantras is "Every Page of your Site Should Have a Strategy". You should absolutely know which segment of your target audience each page is aimed at, what's in it for them and what you want as a result. Provide clear (and clickable) calls to action at every point in your copy where the reader might be ready to make the next move - whether it's "Sign up for our newsletter", "Buy our product", or "Contact me to ask about our services".
Sometimes this means directing the visitor to the next page that you'd like them to see. Dave Paradi told me:
"I realized that people were entering my site on one of two specific pages, which are a couple of my articles that now have great placement on Google. I also noticed that almost all of these visitors entered and exited on that page, not visiting any other pages.
"So how could I get them to see the rest of the site - particularly the products that I hoped they would buy? I included a link to my products page at the bottom of each article. And last month, the products page jumped to the second most visited page, and it appears that many visitors, based on the value of the articles, are checking out the products."
And he's taking this a step further:
"It hasn't yet resulted in increased orders, but I think the next area I need to address is writing more successful copy for the products page."
At the Risk of Repeating Myself . . .
I like to think of Web traffic analysis as "market research that cannot lie". The reports show you what visitors do on your site of their own accord, without prompting or other influence. Not to discount focus groups, surveys and asking your favorite clients for feedback - those are important tools as well, but not as powerful.
So, if you haven't clearly defined the strategies, target markets and outcomes for your site, and if you aren't looking at your metrics to evaluate the success of these, then you're shooting in the dark with your Web investment. The examples in this article show you just a few of the many ways that you can use this information - I hope that you're now motivated to find out more about your own site.
(c) 2003, Philippa Gamse. All rights reserved.
Philippa Gamse, CyberSpeaker, is a Web strategy consultant and professional speaker. Check out her free tipsheet for 23 ideas to promote your Website: http://www.CyberSpeaker.com/tipsheet.html Philippa can be reached at (831) 465-0317. ¶ 5:58 PM 0 comments
Recently, I talked with a speaker about her "extremely successful" Website. She based this opinion on the fact that she was selling several e-books every day and generating "some calls". When I asked if she was reviewing her traffic analysis, she said "No, why should we - it's clearly working - we can tell that from the sales". I didn't ask if she knew how her sales and calls compared to the actual visitor numbers for the site - I suspected that she'd have been shocked to learn how many more opportunities she was losing.
Metrics Matter!!
If you don't know what's happening with your Website visitors, where they go, what they're looking for, what they respond to, and what turns them off about your site, you can't possibly make the most of your online potential. Your Web traffic reports offer unprecedented opportunities to analyze these relationships on a one-to-one basis.
Here are some examples of using your metrics to ask intelligent questions and make informed adjustments to your site:
Tracking your Promotional Efforts
There are many ways to promote your site, both online and offline. Some are free and some, while not costing money, do take up time and effort. It's important to know the marketing options that generate the best return on investment for all your resources.
Joyce Weiss works with her public relations consultants to analyze the immediate impact of her radio appearances on her Website traffic (at http://www.joyceweiss.com). She said "This way we can decide if the Website needs to be tweaked for radio shows, or if I need to say something different on the shows to get people to sign up."
Following the links to your site (called "refering URL's in the reports) can be very useful in creating good professional relationships. Often, site owners won't tell you that they've quoted you so it's important to check that the reference is appropriate.
And, it's important to say thank you. I once followed a link to my site and found that one of my articles was required reading for a course at the University of Southern Oregon. When I dropped a note to the Professor telling him how honored I was, he replied "Not at all, I really like your ideas - and by the way, we're looking for a speaker for our next conference . . ."
Dave Paradi does this too: "I do check out those sites that link to mine. One time I found that the link was to an old page, so I wrote to them and suggested that they update the link. I was also able to mention my other articles that would benefit their visitors."
If you're paying for traffic, make sure that the keywords you've selected, or the sites that you're advertising on are generating good quality leads. Abby Marks-Beale told me how she does this:
"I've set up separate portal pages for those who come to me from my pay-per-click program through Overture. This way I can see if the program is really working."
In other words, you can create special entry pages for visitors from Overture, Google AdWords, e-zines that you sponsor, or other campaigns. If a visitor enters through one of these pages, they can only have come from this one specific source. Then you can follow where on your site these visitors subsequently go, how they respond and ultimately decide whether they're good leads and whether your money is well spent.
Hot Content Areas
Your traffic reports list the most requested pages on your site, telling you what's hot and what's not about your content. If you're offering downloadable articles or special reports, you can see which of these are most popular.
Mitchell Gooze makes a point of doing this: "We track white paper downloads by person, and we know exactly who downloads which white papers. We store this information in their data records. We also know which topics are most interesting to visitors."
Knowing the hot content areas on your site can give you great ideas for future product and program development. Rita Risser (http://www.FairMeasures.com) developed a whole set of online checklists and policy guideline documents based around the subjects that her visitors were searching for.
Calls to Action
One of my favorite mantras is "Every Page of your Site Should Have a Strategy". You should absolutely know which segment of your target audience each page is aimed at, what's in it for them and what you want as a result. Provide clear (and clickable) calls to action at every point in your copy where the reader might be ready to make the next move - whether it's "Sign up for our newsletter", "Buy our product", or "Contact me to ask about our services".
Sometimes this means directing the visitor to the next page that you'd like them to see. Dave Paradi told me:
"I realized that people were entering my site on one of two specific pages, which are a couple of my articles that now have great placement on Google. I also noticed that almost all of these visitors entered and exited on that page, not visiting any other pages.
"So how could I get them to see the rest of the site - particularly the products that I hoped they would buy? I included a link to my products page at the bottom of each article. And last month, the products page jumped to the second most visited page, and it appears that many visitors, based on the value of the articles, are checking out the products."
And he's taking this a step further:
"It hasn't yet resulted in increased orders, but I think the next area I need to address is writing more successful copy for the products page."
At the Risk of Repeating Myself . . .
I like to think of Web traffic analysis as "market research that cannot lie". The reports show you what visitors do on your site of their own accord, without prompting or other influence. Not to discount focus groups, surveys and asking your favorite clients for feedback - those are important tools as well, but not as powerful.
So, if you haven't clearly defined the strategies, target markets and outcomes for your site, and if you aren't looking at your metrics to evaluate the success of these, then you're shooting in the dark with your Web investment. The examples in this article show you just a few of the many ways that you can use this information - I hope that you're now motivated to find out more about your own site.
(c) 2003, Philippa Gamse. All rights reserved.
Philippa Gamse, CyberSpeaker, is a Web strategy consultant and professional speaker. Check out her free tipsheet for 23 ideas to promote your Website: http://www.CyberSpeaker.com/tipsheet.html Philippa can be reached at (831) 465-0317. ¶ 5:58 PM 0 comments
Sunday, January 22, 2006
12 Free Tools For Starting a Home Business With No Money
by: Bruce Scher
Want to start your own home business but short on cash? These proven and expert 12 free tools can help you make the move from corporate life to calling the shots.
By Bruce Scher
Home business ownership is the best way to start any business especially with no money. With no money to put up, and no money to lose, it's a risk free proposition. Your expenses are already fixed. There are no additional costs for rent, telephone, utilities, or a second computer.
"Starting with a website for only $12 per month is actually how a majority of home businesses do it," says Matt Williams. He should know. Williams and his partner recently sold their home business start-up LiveBid.com for millions to Amazon.com.
Regardless of your background, age or present situation, anyone can start a home business. Even if you have no credit, no business background, no experience, or no education, these proven 12 free tools can be used for jump starting your home business idea into reality.
Jay Reiss, mail order consultant, said "I started my home business 20 years ago, because I had no money to spend on office rent. Now, my ads are responsible for millions of dollars in sales. It's certainly possible if you try, even Apple Computer started as a home business."
Building up Your Home Business Website Traffic
One of the fantastic free tools your home business will have at it's finger tips is email. Allowing you to communicate with new visitors as well as repeat customers, at no cost. Nothing for postage, envelopes, paper or printing, a perfect price for a home business.
To build up your home business, you will need to capture the email addresses of visitors when they come to your home business site. You will need to offer them something in exchange for giving you their email address. Go to your home business competitor's websites and see what they offer new visitors.
Another important feature of email is using the signature tag line at the bottom of your outgoing emails to communicate your slogan or something unique about your home business. Think of this as another free marketing opportunity to tell potential customers about your home business.
12 Free Tools for Your Home Business
1) Free Domain Name Registration
Your home business domain name registration is free.
http://webhosting.yahoo.com
2) Free Home Business Fax Number
Receive incoming fax as email.
http://www.efax.com
3) Free 100 Hottest Home Business Ideas
Home business owners survey of best opportunities.
http://www.homebusinessfree.com/home-business.htm
4) Free Search Engine Submission
Google is a must for your home business and it's free.
http://www.google.com/addurl.html
Making Your Home Business Visitors Customers
As you build up your email addresses, you will want to stay in touch via email with visitors and customers alike, to promote your home business in their mind, and to sell your goods and services. You will need separate lists of visitors and buyers, and tailor each message accordingly. New customers have a short life span so you have about 5 messages to sell them. Frequent buyers are the life blood of your home business and should be treated as such.
Get testimonials from frequent buyers explaining what they love about your home business. Display it on your website and in emails. Thank them for the testimonial and send them a small gift of appreciation. You will be surprised how a free gift excites, and gets them to tell their friends and co-workers about your home business.
5) Free Home Business Autoresponder
Automatically sends personalized follow-up email.
http://www.getresponse.com
6) Free Website Content.
Pick-up articles for your home business website.
http://www.ezinearticles.com
7) Free Home Business Credit Card Acceptance
No monthly fees for merchant or payment gateway.
http://www.paypal.com
8) Free Classified Advertising
Use ads selling the uniqueness of your home business.
http://www.websitings.com
Turning Your Home Business Customers Into Repeats
Another element of free marketing a home business that pays huge dividends is referral incentives. Here you email your friends, vendors, and customers with different messages, and ask them to recommend your home business to their friends, family, vendors and co-workers. Don't forget to promise them an incentive in product, service, or money for new customers referred.
9) Free Search Engine Marketing Newsletter
Most important topic, best newsletter on subject.
http://www.searchenginewatch.com
10) Free Home Business Press Release Distribution
Tell the press about your home business.
http://www.free-press-release.com
11) Free Home Business Word of Mouth Advertising
Very effective website tool for any home business.
http://www.recommend-it.com
12) Free Home Business Web Ring
Attracts new customers to any type of home business.
http://dir.webring.com/rw
Debbie Fields made a great chocolate chip cookie. Debbie says, "I had no money after buying ingredients, so starting my home business in the kitchen was the only solution. And I gave away free samples to get known. Anything is possible, you too can hit the big time, don't delay, start your home business today."
About The Author
Bruce Scher is a home business advisor, and author of eBook, "Full-Time Money Part-Time Hours" As seen in USA Today, September 18, 2002. For more information on the eBook visit, www.ownsmallbusiness.com or email: smallbusinessadvisor@earthlink.net
bruce@homebusinessfree.com ¶ 5:01 PM 0 comments
Want to start your own home business but short on cash? These proven and expert 12 free tools can help you make the move from corporate life to calling the shots.
By Bruce Scher
Home business ownership is the best way to start any business especially with no money. With no money to put up, and no money to lose, it's a risk free proposition. Your expenses are already fixed. There are no additional costs for rent, telephone, utilities, or a second computer.
"Starting with a website for only $12 per month is actually how a majority of home businesses do it," says Matt Williams. He should know. Williams and his partner recently sold their home business start-up LiveBid.com for millions to Amazon.com.
Regardless of your background, age or present situation, anyone can start a home business. Even if you have no credit, no business background, no experience, or no education, these proven 12 free tools can be used for jump starting your home business idea into reality.
Jay Reiss, mail order consultant, said "I started my home business 20 years ago, because I had no money to spend on office rent. Now, my ads are responsible for millions of dollars in sales. It's certainly possible if you try, even Apple Computer started as a home business."
Building up Your Home Business Website Traffic
One of the fantastic free tools your home business will have at it's finger tips is email. Allowing you to communicate with new visitors as well as repeat customers, at no cost. Nothing for postage, envelopes, paper or printing, a perfect price for a home business.
To build up your home business, you will need to capture the email addresses of visitors when they come to your home business site. You will need to offer them something in exchange for giving you their email address. Go to your home business competitor's websites and see what they offer new visitors.
Another important feature of email is using the signature tag line at the bottom of your outgoing emails to communicate your slogan or something unique about your home business. Think of this as another free marketing opportunity to tell potential customers about your home business.
12 Free Tools for Your Home Business
1) Free Domain Name Registration
Your home business domain name registration is free.
http://webhosting.yahoo.com
2) Free Home Business Fax Number
Receive incoming fax as email.
http://www.efax.com
3) Free 100 Hottest Home Business Ideas
Home business owners survey of best opportunities.
http://www.homebusinessfree.com/home-business.htm
4) Free Search Engine Submission
Google is a must for your home business and it's free.
http://www.google.com/addurl.html
Making Your Home Business Visitors Customers
As you build up your email addresses, you will want to stay in touch via email with visitors and customers alike, to promote your home business in their mind, and to sell your goods and services. You will need separate lists of visitors and buyers, and tailor each message accordingly. New customers have a short life span so you have about 5 messages to sell them. Frequent buyers are the life blood of your home business and should be treated as such.
Get testimonials from frequent buyers explaining what they love about your home business. Display it on your website and in emails. Thank them for the testimonial and send them a small gift of appreciation. You will be surprised how a free gift excites, and gets them to tell their friends and co-workers about your home business.
5) Free Home Business Autoresponder
Automatically sends personalized follow-up email.
http://www.getresponse.com
6) Free Website Content.
Pick-up articles for your home business website.
http://www.ezinearticles.com
7) Free Home Business Credit Card Acceptance
No monthly fees for merchant or payment gateway.
http://www.paypal.com
8) Free Classified Advertising
Use ads selling the uniqueness of your home business.
http://www.websitings.com
Turning Your Home Business Customers Into Repeats
Another element of free marketing a home business that pays huge dividends is referral incentives. Here you email your friends, vendors, and customers with different messages, and ask them to recommend your home business to their friends, family, vendors and co-workers. Don't forget to promise them an incentive in product, service, or money for new customers referred.
9) Free Search Engine Marketing Newsletter
Most important topic, best newsletter on subject.
http://www.searchenginewatch.com
10) Free Home Business Press Release Distribution
Tell the press about your home business.
http://www.free-press-release.com
11) Free Home Business Word of Mouth Advertising
Very effective website tool for any home business.
http://www.recommend-it.com
12) Free Home Business Web Ring
Attracts new customers to any type of home business.
http://dir.webring.com/rw
Debbie Fields made a great chocolate chip cookie. Debbie says, "I had no money after buying ingredients, so starting my home business in the kitchen was the only solution. And I gave away free samples to get known. Anything is possible, you too can hit the big time, don't delay, start your home business today."
About The Author
Bruce Scher is a home business advisor, and author of eBook, "Full-Time Money Part-Time Hours" As seen in USA Today, September 18, 2002. For more information on the eBook visit, www.ownsmallbusiness.com or email: smallbusinessadvisor@earthlink.net
bruce@homebusinessfree.com ¶ 5:01 PM 0 comments
Articles That Sell: Use The Best Kept Secret Of The Internet To Promote Your Business For FREE!
by: Bonnie Jo Davis
The power of the Internet as a marketing tool for small business owners cannot be overstated. However, developing a web site is only the first piece of this intricate puzzle. Driving traffic to your site is an ongoing, arduous process – one that is most effectively achieved when you employ multiple strategies.
One such strategy is contributing content to web sites, article archives, and “e-zines.” Because your URL will be included in your by-line, this is a very inexpensive form of on-line promotion from a number of perspectives:
A significant percentage of readers will “click-through” to visit your web site
The increased number of links “pointing” to your site improves its search engine rankings
Because you have demonstrated your expertise in the article, you will generally be held in higher regard than if you were simply advertising or listed in search engine results
The first step in the article submission process is to determine your target audience, the web sites they visit, and the types of articles they enjoy reading.
Let’s assume, for illustration purposes, that you want to get the attention of human resources professionals. Visit a search engine such as http://www.google.com, and enter the phrase “human resources.”
Browse some of the resulting web sites to get a sense of topics that are currently “hot.” If you find that employee retention is a top concern for HR – and you have valuable insights to offer – you’re ready to start writing!
Here are some tips to guide you:
Be sure that your content is informative and useful – not an advertisement for your services
Keep the article length to between 750 and 1,000 words
Include a four-line by-line that consists of a brief biography, your contact information (i.e., email address and telephone number), and web site URL
Format your article in a text file with carriage returns inserted at 65 characters or less and create a version in Word or WordPerfect.
Don’t overlook carefully proofreading your work. If possible, wait at least one day after writing the piece to proofread it and ask a friend, family member, colleague to review it as well. Also consider hiring a writing or editing specialist (such as Affinity Business Communications at http://www.affinitybizcomm.com/) to perform a bit of “wordsmithing.”
It’s now time to identify appropriate venues for your article. The HR-specific web sites that you found earlier are a perfect place to start. These might include http://www.shrm.org/, http://humanresources.about.com/, and http://www.suite101.com/articles.cfm/human_resources.
Next, identify professional and non-profit associations whose members may benefit from your content. A search engine or an association locator such as http://www.asaenet.org/find/ or http://www.associationcentral.com can help you do this, and there may be opportunities to publish your work in journals or newsletters at both the national and local (i.e., chapter) level.
Third, compile a list of article archives that accept contributions in your topic area, such as http://www.articles911.com/, http://www.expertarticles.com/, http://www.ezinearticles.com/, and http://makingprofit.com/mp/articles/submit.shtml.
Fourth, explore both on-line and offline e-zines and newsletters. There are several directories to help you target those to which your article is relevant, including http://www.ezine-dir.com/, http://www.ezinesearch.com/search-it/ezine/, and http://www.ezinelocater.com/.
And lastly, consider performing another web search, this time for your specific topic (e.g., “employee retention”). I would even recommend taking it a step further by utilizing the search phrase “employee retention articles,” for example, to generate a list of web pages that are compilations of links to articles similar to your own. This is a terrific way to be “found” by individuals actively researching your topic.
It is imperative that you review the editorial and formatting guidelines for each site and customize your article accordingly. Most web sites that accept contributions include a page with submission information and requirements, or provide the editor’s email address so that he or she may be contacted directly with questions.
If your article is accepted, it may take up to three months for it to “go live.” Some web sites do not acknowledge receipt of your submission and may even publish it without notifying you. It is important, therefore, that you create a log to record, follow-up, and track your submissions.
Consider adding a page to your web site that lists where your work has been “featured,” and update it each time an article is published or reprinted.
As mentioned in the opening of this article, on-line promotion is a continuous process. To keep the momentum going, it is recommended that you develop new articles as often as time allows and repeat the submission process at least once each quarter. Be sure to create a “Bookmark” (Netscape) or “Favorite” (Internet Explorer) file for the web sites you identify, giving yourself a “head start” when writing on similar topics in the future.
While submitting articles can be a tedious and time-consuming endeavor, the free publicity and client leads it generates make it well worth the effort. And if publishers value you as a consistent source of high-quality content, you may even be invited to serve as a columnist or regular contributor. Doing so will keep you in regular contact with the people with whom you wish to do business – enabling you to position yourself as a problem solver, a strategic partner and, most importantly, permit you to remain “top” in the minds of your potential and existing clients.”
About The Author
Bonnie Jo Davis is the author of the new special report “Articles That Sell: Use The Best Kept Secret Of The Internet To Promote Your Business For FREE!”. To learn more about Bonnie and her favorite free marketing tactic visit http://www.articlesthatsell.com/.
Bonnie@ArticlesThatSell.com ¶ 4:57 PM 0 comments
The power of the Internet as a marketing tool for small business owners cannot be overstated. However, developing a web site is only the first piece of this intricate puzzle. Driving traffic to your site is an ongoing, arduous process – one that is most effectively achieved when you employ multiple strategies.
One such strategy is contributing content to web sites, article archives, and “e-zines.” Because your URL will be included in your by-line, this is a very inexpensive form of on-line promotion from a number of perspectives:
A significant percentage of readers will “click-through” to visit your web site
The increased number of links “pointing” to your site improves its search engine rankings
Because you have demonstrated your expertise in the article, you will generally be held in higher regard than if you were simply advertising or listed in search engine results
The first step in the article submission process is to determine your target audience, the web sites they visit, and the types of articles they enjoy reading.
Let’s assume, for illustration purposes, that you want to get the attention of human resources professionals. Visit a search engine such as http://www.google.com, and enter the phrase “human resources.”
Browse some of the resulting web sites to get a sense of topics that are currently “hot.” If you find that employee retention is a top concern for HR – and you have valuable insights to offer – you’re ready to start writing!
Here are some tips to guide you:
Be sure that your content is informative and useful – not an advertisement for your services
Keep the article length to between 750 and 1,000 words
Include a four-line by-line that consists of a brief biography, your contact information (i.e., email address and telephone number), and web site URL
Format your article in a text file with carriage returns inserted at 65 characters or less and create a version in Word or WordPerfect.
Don’t overlook carefully proofreading your work. If possible, wait at least one day after writing the piece to proofread it and ask a friend, family member, colleague to review it as well. Also consider hiring a writing or editing specialist (such as Affinity Business Communications at http://www.affinitybizcomm.com/) to perform a bit of “wordsmithing.”
It’s now time to identify appropriate venues for your article. The HR-specific web sites that you found earlier are a perfect place to start. These might include http://www.shrm.org/, http://humanresources.about.com/, and http://www.suite101.com/articles.cfm/human_resources.
Next, identify professional and non-profit associations whose members may benefit from your content. A search engine or an association locator such as http://www.asaenet.org/find/ or http://www.associationcentral.com can help you do this, and there may be opportunities to publish your work in journals or newsletters at both the national and local (i.e., chapter) level.
Third, compile a list of article archives that accept contributions in your topic area, such as http://www.articles911.com/, http://www.expertarticles.com/, http://www.ezinearticles.com/, and http://makingprofit.com/mp/articles/submit.shtml.
Fourth, explore both on-line and offline e-zines and newsletters. There are several directories to help you target those to which your article is relevant, including http://www.ezine-dir.com/, http://www.ezinesearch.com/search-it/ezine/, and http://www.ezinelocater.com/.
And lastly, consider performing another web search, this time for your specific topic (e.g., “employee retention”). I would even recommend taking it a step further by utilizing the search phrase “employee retention articles,” for example, to generate a list of web pages that are compilations of links to articles similar to your own. This is a terrific way to be “found” by individuals actively researching your topic.
It is imperative that you review the editorial and formatting guidelines for each site and customize your article accordingly. Most web sites that accept contributions include a page with submission information and requirements, or provide the editor’s email address so that he or she may be contacted directly with questions.
If your article is accepted, it may take up to three months for it to “go live.” Some web sites do not acknowledge receipt of your submission and may even publish it without notifying you. It is important, therefore, that you create a log to record, follow-up, and track your submissions.
Consider adding a page to your web site that lists where your work has been “featured,” and update it each time an article is published or reprinted.
As mentioned in the opening of this article, on-line promotion is a continuous process. To keep the momentum going, it is recommended that you develop new articles as often as time allows and repeat the submission process at least once each quarter. Be sure to create a “Bookmark” (Netscape) or “Favorite” (Internet Explorer) file for the web sites you identify, giving yourself a “head start” when writing on similar topics in the future.
While submitting articles can be a tedious and time-consuming endeavor, the free publicity and client leads it generates make it well worth the effort. And if publishers value you as a consistent source of high-quality content, you may even be invited to serve as a columnist or regular contributor. Doing so will keep you in regular contact with the people with whom you wish to do business – enabling you to position yourself as a problem solver, a strategic partner and, most importantly, permit you to remain “top” in the minds of your potential and existing clients.”
About The Author
Bonnie Jo Davis is the author of the new special report “Articles That Sell: Use The Best Kept Secret Of The Internet To Promote Your Business For FREE!”. To learn more about Bonnie and her favorite free marketing tactic visit http://www.articlesthatsell.com/.
Bonnie@ArticlesThatSell.com ¶ 4:57 PM 0 comments
Are You A Google Junkie
by: Debbie Reyes
Google this, Google that, Google Google Google.......
My name is Debbie and I am a Google PR Junkie.
I have to laugh at myself as I say that. Because to me I was a Google PR junkie. I had to know what my PR was everyday! Sometimes more than once a day (ok, ok, i'll admit) everyday I checked at least four times a day to make sure my PR was still the same or maybe to see if it had moved up a notch. Yep I was definitely addicted to Google. I thought Google was the light at the end of the tunnel. If Google said I was a certain PR then by all means it was right. Why? Cause Google said.
To me it was reassuring to see that little green line move across the bar. I always felt like I was in a casino and had just pulled the handle on the slot machine as I sat and waited too see where the little green line would stop. Silly, isn't it? But yet, I know I'm not alone. There are many of us out there that live by the little green line. Well, I'm here to announce that I have just recently put myself in Google PR recovery. Yes, I am having a few withdrawal symptoms but nothing I can' t handle.
I know you're thinking why did I have to put myself in recovery? Well, one day that little green line was not very nice to me. In fact, there was no green line at all. Now of course this had to be a mistake because just two hours before I still had my PR4. So there was no way this was accurate. But after ---- geesh I can't even remember how many more times I pulled the Google handle it still came up with no green line. At that moment I began to feel betrayed, why was Google doing this to me when I had been such a faithful player.
I couldn't understand why that would happen. I had been adding content-- something Google loves. I had been doing my linking. So I was beginning to take it personally that Google just didn't like me. So after a few days of analyzing (and yes moping too). I decided that I didn't need Google! Who was Google to tell me that my site didn't have a PR? I knew I had been working hard on my site and as long as I knew that, that was ok with me.
Well, come to find out I did still have my PR I just had to go about looking for it in a different manner (without the www). Was Google trying to trick me? Well, from what I have understood Google gets confused at times which is acceptable, it happens to the best of us. But I still am keeping myself in recovery. I can see now that my life was being controlled by the green line. I will not allow that to happen again. Besides, I think if maybe I just stop focusing so much on it, It will move up faster.
So my advice to any other Google PR Junkie....don't worry about the green line. As long as you know you are doing your work and you are getting traffic to your site then you know things are ok. Focus more on the things you can control, and forget the uncontrollable green line.
This article was written by Debbie Reyes webmaster of http://www.extra-income-work-at-home-mom.com
About The Author
Thie article was written by Debbie Reyes webmaster of http://www.extra-income-work-at-home-mom.com ¶ 4:55 PM 0 comments
Google this, Google that, Google Google Google.......
My name is Debbie and I am a Google PR Junkie.
I have to laugh at myself as I say that. Because to me I was a Google PR junkie. I had to know what my PR was everyday! Sometimes more than once a day (ok, ok, i'll admit) everyday I checked at least four times a day to make sure my PR was still the same or maybe to see if it had moved up a notch. Yep I was definitely addicted to Google. I thought Google was the light at the end of the tunnel. If Google said I was a certain PR then by all means it was right. Why? Cause Google said.
To me it was reassuring to see that little green line move across the bar. I always felt like I was in a casino and had just pulled the handle on the slot machine as I sat and waited too see where the little green line would stop. Silly, isn't it? But yet, I know I'm not alone. There are many of us out there that live by the little green line. Well, I'm here to announce that I have just recently put myself in Google PR recovery. Yes, I am having a few withdrawal symptoms but nothing I can' t handle.
I know you're thinking why did I have to put myself in recovery? Well, one day that little green line was not very nice to me. In fact, there was no green line at all. Now of course this had to be a mistake because just two hours before I still had my PR4. So there was no way this was accurate. But after ---- geesh I can't even remember how many more times I pulled the Google handle it still came up with no green line. At that moment I began to feel betrayed, why was Google doing this to me when I had been such a faithful player.
I couldn't understand why that would happen. I had been adding content-- something Google loves. I had been doing my linking. So I was beginning to take it personally that Google just didn't like me. So after a few days of analyzing (and yes moping too). I decided that I didn't need Google! Who was Google to tell me that my site didn't have a PR? I knew I had been working hard on my site and as long as I knew that, that was ok with me.
Well, come to find out I did still have my PR I just had to go about looking for it in a different manner (without the www). Was Google trying to trick me? Well, from what I have understood Google gets confused at times which is acceptable, it happens to the best of us. But I still am keeping myself in recovery. I can see now that my life was being controlled by the green line. I will not allow that to happen again. Besides, I think if maybe I just stop focusing so much on it, It will move up faster.
So my advice to any other Google PR Junkie....don't worry about the green line. As long as you know you are doing your work and you are getting traffic to your site then you know things are ok. Focus more on the things you can control, and forget the uncontrollable green line.
This article was written by Debbie Reyes webmaster of http://www.extra-income-work-at-home-mom.com
About The Author
Thie article was written by Debbie Reyes webmaster of http://www.extra-income-work-at-home-mom.com ¶ 4:55 PM 0 comments
A Simple Formula for Success
by: Robert A. Kelly
Leaders in the business world need public relations big time, and they show it every day.
How? By staying in touch with their most important external audiences and by carefully monitoring their perceptions about the company, audience member feelings about hot topics at issue, and the behaviors that inevitably follow.
Could there be an angle here for your business?
What I mean is, once you interact with, then learn what that key target audience of yours believes about you and your organization, a corrective public relations goal – a specific behavior change -- can be established.
Which then requires that you identify a strategy. There are just three choices here, create opinion where none exists, change existing opinion, or reinforce it.
It’s a logical sequence. With your goal and strategy now set, you need persuasive messages with a good chance of moving perceptions (and thus behaviors) in your organization’s direction. But you must make sure the messages talk not only to the current topic at issue, but to any misconceptions or inaccuracies encountered during your information gathering, and to any problems that might be brewing.
What will you do with your new message? You will carry it to the attention of your priority audience. You’ll use communications tactics that are credible in the eyes of the receiver, and effective in reaching him or her. You’ll also want tactics that stand a good chance of moving opinion in that target audience, on the topic at issue, in your direction.
Fortunately, there are many communications tactics to choose from: newsworthy announcements, letters-to-the-editor, news releases, radio and newspaper interviews, brochures, speeches and on and on.
Now, you’re back to the monitoring mode as you interact once again with members of the key target audience. With your communications tactics hammering away, you keep one eye peeled for signs of target audience opinion shifts in your direction. The other eye, (and ears) stay alert for any references by print and broadcast media, or other local thoughtleaders to your carefully prepared message.
The bottom line is, are perceptions and behaviors within the target audience being modified? If not, adjustments to your communications tactics – often a big increase in, and wider selection -- must be made. Your message may also need to be sharpened and its factual basis strengthened.
Gradually, you’ll begin to notice changes in opinion starting to appear along with a growing receptiveness to those messages of yours. This is real progress.
Should you still need encouragement to hang in there with your brand new public relations program, consider this. A single issue – for example, a potentially dangerous, unattended perception among a key audience -- can spread like wildfire nudging any business closer to failure than success.
That statistic alone should make you feel pretty good about public relations.
end
About The Author
Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks about the fundamental premise of public relations. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net. Visit: http://www.prcommentary.com
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net. Net word count is 565 including guidelines and resource box. Robert A. Kelly © 2003. ¶ 4:32 PM 0 comments
Leaders in the business world need public relations big time, and they show it every day.
How? By staying in touch with their most important external audiences and by carefully monitoring their perceptions about the company, audience member feelings about hot topics at issue, and the behaviors that inevitably follow.
Could there be an angle here for your business?
What I mean is, once you interact with, then learn what that key target audience of yours believes about you and your organization, a corrective public relations goal – a specific behavior change -- can be established.
Which then requires that you identify a strategy. There are just three choices here, create opinion where none exists, change existing opinion, or reinforce it.
It’s a logical sequence. With your goal and strategy now set, you need persuasive messages with a good chance of moving perceptions (and thus behaviors) in your organization’s direction. But you must make sure the messages talk not only to the current topic at issue, but to any misconceptions or inaccuracies encountered during your information gathering, and to any problems that might be brewing.
What will you do with your new message? You will carry it to the attention of your priority audience. You’ll use communications tactics that are credible in the eyes of the receiver, and effective in reaching him or her. You’ll also want tactics that stand a good chance of moving opinion in that target audience, on the topic at issue, in your direction.
Fortunately, there are many communications tactics to choose from: newsworthy announcements, letters-to-the-editor, news releases, radio and newspaper interviews, brochures, speeches and on and on.
Now, you’re back to the monitoring mode as you interact once again with members of the key target audience. With your communications tactics hammering away, you keep one eye peeled for signs of target audience opinion shifts in your direction. The other eye, (and ears) stay alert for any references by print and broadcast media, or other local thoughtleaders to your carefully prepared message.
The bottom line is, are perceptions and behaviors within the target audience being modified? If not, adjustments to your communications tactics – often a big increase in, and wider selection -- must be made. Your message may also need to be sharpened and its factual basis strengthened.
Gradually, you’ll begin to notice changes in opinion starting to appear along with a growing receptiveness to those messages of yours. This is real progress.
Should you still need encouragement to hang in there with your brand new public relations program, consider this. A single issue – for example, a potentially dangerous, unattended perception among a key audience -- can spread like wildfire nudging any business closer to failure than success.
That statistic alone should make you feel pretty good about public relations.
end
About The Author
Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks about the fundamental premise of public relations. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net. Visit: http://www.prcommentary.com
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net. Net word count is 565 including guidelines and resource box. Robert A. Kelly © 2003. ¶ 4:32 PM 0 comments
