Most people are seeing the value that Christmas Season has on their business at this time of year. Wallets are out, people are spending, and people are more likely to make purchases, for all sorts of things, during this time of year.
Some marketers, however, are taking advantage of the above points and in my case, never before have I seen so many 'costly' items circulating in my email inbox, in the form of links, ads, etc.
Tons of the 'hit you little but hit you forever' items are in the mass of ads I am seeing right now. You know? The 'small membership fee' items that go on forever but which ADD UP and COST A LOT over the long run.
I've checked out some of the 'deals' I see in sites where I have membership, too, and I can tell you - there are VERY FEW VALID REASONS for me to spend money on the 'deals' I have seen this holiday season.
There is a trend - a HUGE ONE - going on in Internet Marketing circles where everyone is being told to "MAKE A MEMBERSHIP SITE" and set up 'residual earnings' for themselves that will go on forever. Yes, this is ultimately a good thing, but if ALL YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH are ideas centred on squeezing membership fees out of people, your internet marketing tactics are always going to involve "THE UPSELL."
Many of the gurus insists that this constant upselling is necessary, is fair and valid in the 'battle of internet marketing.' This much might be true, however, it doesn't seem to be a great strategy for beginning marketers - many of which are the type who join mailing lists for the first time. The 'UPSELL' to 'Paid Membership Advantages' is great for gurus - not so good for those struggling to keep their foot in the door, make their earning balances rise, and establish themselves online as legitimate entrepreneurs.
Most of the 'make a membership site' opps out there that are 'fast-track' deals are actually programs and entrances into sites that make a person BYPASS real learning of business. Done with forms, templates, ready-made promotional tools, one can bypass all reasonable ways to actually LEARN THE BASICS of earning, website maintenance, list-maintenance, etc.
Beware of the tons of 'ready-made' and 'ready to go' programs because if all you have to offer your list is a mass produced form letter or turnkey website/url, you are NOT TEACHING YOUR REFERRALS ANYTHING!
Do your referrals a favour this Christmas season and send them GOOD TOOLS to get started with, and make these tools FREE! At this time of year, most people are "TAPPED OUT" from Christmas gift purchases. Offer your referrals a way to CONTINUE learning and working on internet promotions at this time of year and allow them to keep their remaining money in their pockets!
Next Post: My FREE gifts for the holiday season
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Teach Something
A great way to continue building your list is to teach something to your referrals.
Is there something you know a lot about within the marketing or online money-making fields? Do you know some simple computer techniques that you can share and explain to others in a very detailed way?
Even if it's something you think most others already know, such as "How to organize your browser bookmarks efficiently," there will likely be some people who have not considered the way that YOU organize your browser bookmarks/folders. Perhaps you have a way to organize which keeps you very clutter-free and allows you to stay focused, instead of searching for sites, trying to sort out random pages in your browser 'favorites' 'folders' and 'bookmarks.'
For the example above, if you can sit down, plan, and execute 3-7 "Lessons" surrounding the topic of "Bookmarking Organization," these lessons may well turn into something valuable that you can load up in your autoresponder and send out to your mailing list.
If your mailing list is quite small or you're struggling with starting a responsive mailing list, then build a page or blog post around an advertisement for your "Bookmarking Organization" lessons (or call them 'tutorials'). Make a special blog post for this - or a 'splashpage' on one of your sites - and simply insert your autoresponder 'sign up' form.
VOILA!
This will be a way to grab new email list members, while your 'lessons' also go out from your autoresponder - to your present mailing list members!
Inside each lesson, include reasonable and useful links - particularly if you sell or promote a product that has something to do with 'browsers,' 'keeping organized,' or a related topic.
Don't go sending out your eBay link for selling some sort of heart-shaped pendant or an Amazon link for potpourri burners from the 'gifts' area of Amazon...but DO go ahead and include a link to, say, some sort of 'affiliate data organizer,' or a link to some article you've published online that relates to organization or browsers (Such as "How to set IE7 Security Settings For Safer Browsing Online" - you get the picture, right?), and remember that 'free is best' at this point.
Nobody is going to get upset with you inserting something additionally helpful and free inside your new 'lessons' or 'tutorials.'
Doing something like 'lessons' for your mailing list will quickly establish you as an expert, and someone who pays attention to detail - particularly if you have tackled a 'simple' topic like 'browser organization' and have created very detailed, easy to follow instructions and tips in your lessons.
The nice thing about 'teaching something' and creating a lesson/tutorial 'set,' is that you can take your time doing this. I suggest putting something of 3-7 lesson length together in as many days. Take a day to prepare each lesson, including time for proofreading and eliminating typos and spelling mistakes. A day per lesson created will also give you time to 'test out' a lesson on a friend before you go ahead and load up your autoresponder! Email it to a friend or print out the lesson page and have a friend, spouse, child (if your child is old enough to be interested in and understand the topic) or co-worker read it and give you feeback on it.
If you're seeking additional ways to make money with your 'tutorial,' set it up - or a 2nd version of it - on one of the paid-to-write sites, such as Helium, or some other article-membership site.
Is there something you know a lot about within the marketing or online money-making fields? Do you know some simple computer techniques that you can share and explain to others in a very detailed way?
Even if it's something you think most others already know, such as "How to organize your browser bookmarks efficiently," there will likely be some people who have not considered the way that YOU organize your browser bookmarks/folders. Perhaps you have a way to organize which keeps you very clutter-free and allows you to stay focused, instead of searching for sites, trying to sort out random pages in your browser 'favorites' 'folders' and 'bookmarks.'
For the example above, if you can sit down, plan, and execute 3-7 "Lessons" surrounding the topic of "Bookmarking Organization," these lessons may well turn into something valuable that you can load up in your autoresponder and send out to your mailing list.
If your mailing list is quite small or you're struggling with starting a responsive mailing list, then build a page or blog post around an advertisement for your "Bookmarking Organization" lessons (or call them 'tutorials'). Make a special blog post for this - or a 'splashpage' on one of your sites - and simply insert your autoresponder 'sign up' form.
VOILA!
This will be a way to grab new email list members, while your 'lessons' also go out from your autoresponder - to your present mailing list members!
Inside each lesson, include reasonable and useful links - particularly if you sell or promote a product that has something to do with 'browsers,' 'keeping organized,' or a related topic.
Don't go sending out your eBay link for selling some sort of heart-shaped pendant or an Amazon link for potpourri burners from the 'gifts' area of Amazon...but DO go ahead and include a link to, say, some sort of 'affiliate data organizer,' or a link to some article you've published online that relates to organization or browsers (Such as "How to set IE7 Security Settings For Safer Browsing Online" - you get the picture, right?), and remember that 'free is best' at this point.
Nobody is going to get upset with you inserting something additionally helpful and free inside your new 'lessons' or 'tutorials.'
Doing something like 'lessons' for your mailing list will quickly establish you as an expert, and someone who pays attention to detail - particularly if you have tackled a 'simple' topic like 'browser organization' and have created very detailed, easy to follow instructions and tips in your lessons.
The nice thing about 'teaching something' and creating a lesson/tutorial 'set,' is that you can take your time doing this. I suggest putting something of 3-7 lesson length together in as many days. Take a day to prepare each lesson, including time for proofreading and eliminating typos and spelling mistakes. A day per lesson created will also give you time to 'test out' a lesson on a friend before you go ahead and load up your autoresponder! Email it to a friend or print out the lesson page and have a friend, spouse, child (if your child is old enough to be interested in and understand the topic) or co-worker read it and give you feeback on it.
If you're seeking additional ways to make money with your 'tutorial,' set it up - or a 2nd version of it - on one of the paid-to-write sites, such as Helium, or some other article-membership site.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Try Program Refs - Sure Referrals
Program Refs - Build a Referral Base With Ease!
ProgramRefs is free to join and will allow you to list your referral links for your favourite money-making programs, webpages, and offers. The big bonus here is that you'll have space to write a testimonial about the program you're promoting, or you can list the benefits of the program, website or offer you're promoting and that you want referrals for. From this, only INTERESTED people will follow your link and join the programs or visit the webpages that you're promoting.
In this way, Program Refs will give you very 'targetted traffic' on which to build an excellent referral base! Far fewer people will join your programs or visit your sites and offers - then end up inactive or deadbeat. This is because the other members at ProgramRefs are like-minded and have joined the program in order to gain referrals and earn money online. Most members will understand the 'trade-off' situation that Program Refs offers to all members.
Trade off some of your Program Refs credits when you 'request referrals' to your programs, sites and offers. This keeps your promotion cost minimal - you're not buying referrals, you're trading credits and awarding other Program Ref members for being active once they join your suggested programs.
There is a fantastic safeguard on-site, as well. You can pointedly mention what kind of activity you expect from your referrals - BEFORE THEY JOIN your programs! You have the option to forbid the credit exchange if your new referral from ProgramRefs does NOT meet your specifications!
For instance, I might want referrals for my YUWIE downline. In the appropriate area where I list details about the Yuwie program, I also have the option to give added details about my expectations. In this area, I can write something like:
"Must show reasonable and consistent activity on-site at Yuwie for 1 week before I award Program Refs credits."
After 1 week, if your referral from Program Refs has joined Yuwie from your Yuwie link, but has never logged in to browse or interact beyond sign-up, then you do not have to award the person credits through Program Refs.
The credit system is awesome at this site. You will start out with quite a few credits - these will allow you to get at least 1 or 2 referrals right away, once you list a site, offer or website you are promoting and want referrals for. After someone signs up for your program via the reflink you display at Program Refs, and once you award credits to an active referral, you'll need a way to gain more credits and repeat!
Program Refs has banner-for-credit earning so that you can build your credits back up and repeat the process of gaining referrals and awarding Program Refs credits.
* Most importantly * The site allows maintained contact with any referrals who get involved in your programs, so you will also be building a list! Simply use the 'chat' system on-site (within reason, of course - don't spam!) to chat with your contacts.
Join ProgramRefs and Start Getting Referrals and Building Your List
I wish this program had been around about a year earlier!
ProgramRefs is free to join and will allow you to list your referral links for your favourite money-making programs, webpages, and offers. The big bonus here is that you'll have space to write a testimonial about the program you're promoting, or you can list the benefits of the program, website or offer you're promoting and that you want referrals for. From this, only INTERESTED people will follow your link and join the programs or visit the webpages that you're promoting.
In this way, Program Refs will give you very 'targetted traffic' on which to build an excellent referral base! Far fewer people will join your programs or visit your sites and offers - then end up inactive or deadbeat. This is because the other members at ProgramRefs are like-minded and have joined the program in order to gain referrals and earn money online. Most members will understand the 'trade-off' situation that Program Refs offers to all members.
Trade off some of your Program Refs credits when you 'request referrals' to your programs, sites and offers. This keeps your promotion cost minimal - you're not buying referrals, you're trading credits and awarding other Program Ref members for being active once they join your suggested programs.
There is a fantastic safeguard on-site, as well. You can pointedly mention what kind of activity you expect from your referrals - BEFORE THEY JOIN your programs! You have the option to forbid the credit exchange if your new referral from ProgramRefs does NOT meet your specifications!
For instance, I might want referrals for my YUWIE downline. In the appropriate area where I list details about the Yuwie program, I also have the option to give added details about my expectations. In this area, I can write something like:
"Must show reasonable and consistent activity on-site at Yuwie for 1 week before I award Program Refs credits."
After 1 week, if your referral from Program Refs has joined Yuwie from your Yuwie link, but has never logged in to browse or interact beyond sign-up, then you do not have to award the person credits through Program Refs.
The credit system is awesome at this site. You will start out with quite a few credits - these will allow you to get at least 1 or 2 referrals right away, once you list a site, offer or website you are promoting and want referrals for. After someone signs up for your program via the reflink you display at Program Refs, and once you award credits to an active referral, you'll need a way to gain more credits and repeat!
Program Refs has banner-for-credit earning so that you can build your credits back up and repeat the process of gaining referrals and awarding Program Refs credits.
* Most importantly * The site allows maintained contact with any referrals who get involved in your programs, so you will also be building a list! Simply use the 'chat' system on-site (within reason, of course - don't spam!) to chat with your contacts.
Join ProgramRefs and Start Getting Referrals and Building Your List
I wish this program had been around about a year earlier!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Build Your List By Offering Free Reports
A main purpose of your free viral report should be to build your mailing list.
If you are unable to pre-sell or sell affiliate items or other products contained in the report, you will have still collected leads. If your reader does not immediately convert into a 'buyer' or purchasing client, then perhaps you can still convert the person to be a long-time subscriber to whatever newsletter, pod-cast, or other subscription content that you are updating regularly. Sometime down the line, most subscribers purchase SOMETHING - otherwise they simply unsubscribe and are not the focus of your attention anymore.
Offering free reports allows a follow-up with your reader for all the future offers you'll be sending and creating. It is quite conceivable that if you offer great and worthwhile materials for FREE, you can hold on to many subscribers for a lifetime. In the least, if these people stay subscribed but don't purchase items from you or don't purchase often, they are still quite likely to pass "you" on to their friends and associates. By this, they stay subscribed because they appreciate the quality of your services and spread the word about your great free reports, leading you to more potential subscribers!
A particular tactic you can use to ensure the longevity of your readers is offer (and stay on top of this!) a "lifetime update" of one or two selected and appropriate free reports.
One of biggest success elements in the viral marketing of your free report is, of course, "QUALITY." Be absolutely sure to circulate a decent report of high quality, so that your information is worth sharing.
Quality first!
Subscribers will result.
If you are unable to pre-sell or sell affiliate items or other products contained in the report, you will have still collected leads. If your reader does not immediately convert into a 'buyer' or purchasing client, then perhaps you can still convert the person to be a long-time subscriber to whatever newsletter, pod-cast, or other subscription content that you are updating regularly. Sometime down the line, most subscribers purchase SOMETHING - otherwise they simply unsubscribe and are not the focus of your attention anymore.
Offering free reports allows a follow-up with your reader for all the future offers you'll be sending and creating. It is quite conceivable that if you offer great and worthwhile materials for FREE, you can hold on to many subscribers for a lifetime. In the least, if these people stay subscribed but don't purchase items from you or don't purchase often, they are still quite likely to pass "you" on to their friends and associates. By this, they stay subscribed because they appreciate the quality of your services and spread the word about your great free reports, leading you to more potential subscribers!
A particular tactic you can use to ensure the longevity of your readers is offer (and stay on top of this!) a "lifetime update" of one or two selected and appropriate free reports.
One of biggest success elements in the viral marketing of your free report is, of course, "QUALITY." Be absolutely sure to circulate a decent report of high quality, so that your information is worth sharing.
Quality first!
Subscribers will result.
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