Marketing

Promoting affiliate products that you will believe in will not only make you feel better about yourself, but it may also help to increase your sales! When it comes to an affiliate program, one of the most common mistakes a program participant makes is choosing to sell a product that they do not believe in or fully stand behind, one hundred percent. Although you may be making money, you may also be creating a bad name for yourself. That is why it is important that you promote or sell products that you believe in. When it comes to promoting a product that you believe in, one of the most commonly asked questions is ?how?? The best way to promote a product that you believe in is to actually try out the product. For instance, if you are promoting an e-book, you may want to think about reading the e-book in question. In fact, if you ask, you may be given the e-book to review for free or for a discounted price. If you are interested in joining an affiliate program set up by a retailer, you will earn commission for all sales, not just a particular product. To test the waters, you may want to think about placing an order, even just a small one. This will give you a first hand look at the affiliate program that you will be promoting on your own site. Perhaps, the greatest reason why you should test out a product is because if you don?t like it, there is a good chance that your customers won?t like it as well. In a way, you can look at it as providing a service to the general public, at least internet users. By not agreeing to sell a poor quality product, you will be saving other consumers, just like you, money. In fact, you should be proud of yourself for refusing to do business with an affiliate program that doesn?t live up to par. Another reason why you should avoid doing business with an affiliate program that sells a poor quality product is because of your reputation. Although you are only directing customers to the site where they can buy the product in question, you may still be remembered for your part in the sale. Do you really want to be remembered as the guy or the woman who recommended a product that wasn?t even worth the money spent? As it was mentioned above, you may be making money with an affiliate program, even if the product being sold isn?t as good as it could have been. Although you may be making money will probably not last forever. In fact, you may soon find your sales decreasing, if the decrease hasn?t already started. You need to remember that customers talk. If a customer was not satisfied with the product that they purchased, they will likely talk to their friends, family members, and coworkers. They may even write negative reviews online. These negative reviews may cause other consumers to avoid purchasing the product that you are selling, as well as your whole website in general. The money that you can make, right away, may seem nice, at the time, but you need to remember to think long-term. Do you know what you want to do in the future, whether it is now or in a few years? If you are like many people, there is a good chance that you have no idea. What if you want to create your own products to sell online? As it was mentioned above, what you do online now can come back to haunt you. That is why it is important that you think about your future, in the business sense, and it what it may entail. If your dream is to one day start your own online business, you will want to refrain from bad publicity; bad publicity that may come in the form of a poorly run affiliate program. Although it was advised that you actually test out the products that you will be promoting, through an affiliate program, testing isn?t your only option. You can also research a product online. Reading customer reviews, both good and bad, may give you insight into the product you may have to sell. Better yet, it may help you decide whether or not it is a product that you want to be associated with.

Baby Boomer, Gen X, Millennials – each label stands for an age group which, in theory, has similar wants, needs and goals. But a new study commissioned by MTV shows that there’s a big difference between the upper and lower age brackets that fall into the Millennial category. Keeping with the theme: older (or first wave) Millennials are like Harry Potter but younger (age 13-17) Millennials are more like Katniss of The Hunger Games. At first glance, these seem like cutesy pop culture references designed to capture the search engine spiders. But when you dig in deep, you’ll see that the comparisons fit – sadly. The study, “The New Millennials Will Keep Calm and Carry On” leads us to these two points. The Harry Potter Crowd: Today’s twenty-somethings represent the  Millennials that came of age in the economic boom of the 90s/early 2000s, a time of “Yes We Can” and the belief that college, working hard and playing by the rules would guarantee future success. Raised by idealistic Boomer parents, older Millennials were told they were special and gifted, with a magic wand capable of changing the world. The Katniss Crowd: Today’s tweens and teens have known a very different youth. They’ve come of age during the Great Recession, seeing college graduates struggling with huge student loan debt and living through a cascade of social-media amplified tragedies – from Hurricane Sandy to the Sandy Hook School shooting. While this reality is having a profound impact on Young Millennials’ world view, they still exhibit the optimism of their older counterparts, and instead of giving up are prepping, planning and specializing to achieve the future they want for themselves. Cautiously Fearful Over 60% of young Millennials said they are worried about the negative impact of today’s economy on their future. They say they’re worse off than their parents’ generation and they worry about getting a good education. As the mother of a Millennial, here are the responses that bring tears to my eyes. Half are afraid of violence at school but to make it through they’ve adopted a “Keep Calm and Carry On” mentality while remaining in “fast exit” mode. One third of those surveyed said they “plot out escape plans when in public places, because of events like Sandy Hook.” Stress and Tech 80% of young Millennials feel the need to unplug at times. They grew up in a world that is constantly connected with mobile phones, texting, social media and cameras in their pockets. 57% said that when technology becomes to much, they like to work with their hands and 82% said they concentrate on doing only one thing at a time. (A good lesson for all the adults reading this post.) They’ve also become experts at self-filtering. More than 75% said they try to avoid cruel or violent videos. 70% said they turn to YouTube to learn how to do things and they like being the expert on a subject (the guy who posts all of those old comic book covers or the girl who does Victorian nail design videos.) Keeping Calm While They Carry On The best thing the marketer can do to reach this crowd, is to understand that they come from a different place than those just a few years their senior. They’re more cautious. They’re not buying into the “you can do anything” view of the world. And they’re happy to put the phone on mute while they create things with their own two hands. Most of all, you need to understand that these teens and tweens like to hide in plain sight. So you may not see them, but they see you. Do you have an approach that works with the young Millennials? Tell us about it in the comment section below.

One of the ways you can practice search engine optimization to get better rankings at Google, is to hotlink images from other web servers. Google’s image search doesn’t just return web pages from where a picture originates. For example, the first result for “Darth Vader” returns a BlogSpot web page although the original image is stored on a .hu domain. Search for any term on Google Images and you’ll always find web pages in the results that are just linking to an image from another website. Google’s new Universal Search system now returns images and movies at the top at the search results for some search terms. For example, if you search for “Darth Vader”, image results will be the first results in the list. A click on these images redirects web surfers to the web page on which the image is displayed. If your website has a good ranking in Google Image search then these top rankings might also be displayed in Google’s regular results for that search term: This method is not recommended. It is risky in several ways. If you don’t have the copyright for an image, you are not allowed to use it on your own web site. Hotlinking images is not long term strategy for high rankings on Google. If you want lasting results, you should Optimize your web pages so that they can be found for your keywords. To read more, go to free-seo-news

Email advertising is a quick efficient way of reaching a large audience with your online marketing or advertising campaign. We are of course talking about legal spam-free email marketing. The sad fact is that there are still too many people out there who think of spam the moment that you mention email advertising. They quickly link this legitimate, respectable and powerful marketing method that is email advertising to illegal, nuisance spam. Email advertising can be used in a wide range of different online marketing campaigns and projects. One of the less-known ways of using email ads is in the building up of valuable opt in email lists. Simply using email advertising to refer folks to a special landing page where you sell the idea of free sign ups to your email newsletter and the advantages of being a subscriber can quickly build you a huge opt in email list of your own. Even advertising in a high circulating email newsletter can leave you with useful long-term benefits. Because of the colossal numbers that email marketing is capable of reaching, only a small percentage response from the total in a large list mailed to can result in hundreds of new sign ups every time some promotional email is sent out. Meaning that your email list can gather thousands of names within a very short time. It will help a great deal if in your email marketing campaign, you are able to use an email list that is as targeted as possible. This will mean that chances of interesting a relatively large percentage of the people who end up receiving your email in the sort of content contained in your email newsletter becomes much higher. Email advertising enables you to personalize and greet every person you are targeting. This helps in creating a special bond with the prospects and allows you to build customer and reseller loyalty and acquire new customers later in the future. It is a huge advantage to be able to build up your opt in email list at blinding speed, because the truth is that your business is as big as your opt in list is. Being able to build a large opt in email list will mean that as an online entrepreneur, you will be able to generate high profits from your online business, much more quickly. This is not easy to say for any other form of internet advertising techniques. There are many SEO packages available that will help you achieve quality traffic more quickly and easily, but keep in mind that the amount of time you can save by utilizing one of these powerful tools can really pay off in no time at all. In order for this form of internet marketing to work for you it is important to find a trust worthy company that has years of email advertising experience that will give you results. Email advertising is one of the favored alternatives to SEO marketing that has seen many web sites and web based businesses prosper in a major way.

Companies such as Second Life and Crayon have created ways to eliminate the Brick and Mortar Building that we are familiar with and replace it with a virtual office. They are quoted saying “it’s not where you do your work, it that your work is getting done”. Many companies have started following this trend. In fact it is believed that by the year 2015 at least 40% of all office jobs will be conducted remotely. The internet has once again shown us that it is a very powerful tool that will only improve and enhance throughout the years. If you are one of the lucky ones who use an online virtual world with an ultra ego please comment to this and let us know your experiences.

The BBC is urging sports fans to take great caution when purchasing sports tickets online. The NFL is finally now underway with many tickets for sale out there. Right now we have the MLB in full swing as well as college football games. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning sports fans to be on the lookout for fraudulent sellers when shopping for hard-to-get tickets online. The secondary-ticket market for sporting and entertainment events, which includes tickets bought and sold by professional brokers, speculators and season-ticket holders, is a $10-billion-a-year industry, with online sales accounting for one-third of transactions and growing 15 to 20 percent a year. BBB offers the following advice when searching online for sporting events tickets: When buying from a merchant, always look for the BBBOnLine seal. The logo will tell you that you?re dealing with a company that has a good reputation for satisfying customers and a secure Web site for processing your payment. ·         When buying from an individual through an online exchange don?t be lured away from the Web site by the seller. Even if you met the seller on the exchange Web site, the company may not guarantee any lost money if a transaction occurs outside their domain. ·         If you buy tickets through an online auction, choose a seller with a long, continuous, history of satisfied customers. Scammers can hijack old accounts, so make sure they have recently bought or sold other items. ·         Never pay with a cashier?s check or wire money to the seller; you?ll have no way to get your money back if the tickets never arrive. Pay with a credit card or through PayPal, which offer some amount of protection and potential reimbursement. ·         Many sellers will include pictures of the tickets with their posts on auction sites or bulletin boards. Scrutinize the tickets closely for any inaccuracies or alterations, and cross-check the seat assignment with the map on the venue?s Web site before you buy. For more tips and advice you can trust for safe shopping online go to www.bbb.org, or visit BBBOnLine at: www.bbbonline.org/consumer.

The APAC boss of the world’s most awarded media network has said that the dominance of Australia of the region at awards shows will not last forever. “In four or five years, the likes of China and India will rise to compete alongside Australia. What’s important is momentum, and other Asian markets are starting to show what they can do,” Steve Blakeman, the Asia Pacific CEO of OMD told Mumbrella at the Cannes Lions today. He also said that media agencies should start entering more creative awards. Creative agencies outnumbered media agencies on the shortlist for the Media Lions this year, with the likes of McCann, BBDO, Ogilvy, Saatchi & Saatchi and Grey in contention. “The Media Lions are still very creative driven. And there are lot of creative agencies in the media category. I don’t have an issue with that. As long as we [media agencies] can pitch for creative categories,” he said. “Who takes ownership of a brilliant idea should not matter,” he added. A former Media Lions juror, Blakeman said Cannes judges look for “authenticity” above all, “not a flashy show reel.” “It doesn’t matter how much money you through at your entry. You don’t need Steven Spielberg to direct your entry video. The best ideas always come through.” Blakeman said that the block voting scandal from last year, which festival chairman Terry Savage played down earlier this week, was “overblown” and smacked of “sour grapes” from media networks that haven’t won many awards. “There’s a lot of pressure on networks to win awards now. And if you don’t win, it’s easy to find a scapegoat,” he said. The post OMD regional boss: Australia’s dominance of APAC in awards shows won’t last forever appeared first on mUmBRELLA.

Social media is a gathering place for people to share their thoughts and opinions, ask for feedback, keep track of out of state relatives, poll friends on the best Mexican food in town, and the list goes on. If you’re a brand using social media, these activities probably differ somewhat. Whether it’s important to your company to build a large, credible community, share thought-leadership content, promote events, or just to get everyone talking, it’s important to remember the “rules” to not alienating your community. There are a few things every would-be community manager should keep in mind before posting, tweeting, sharing, and liking as their brand. Read on for an overview of some of the most frequent offenses we see on Facebook and Twitter day to day. Let’s start with Facebook, which just might be the best platform to showcase brand blunders and Oops! moments due to its layout. Do NOT like your own Facebook content. Honestly, this just looks silly and self-serving. If your brand posted the update, it’s pretty obvious you “like” it or endorse it. Nothing makes us cringe more than when we see a brand like its own Facebook update – whether the update was about a groundbreaking new product, a fabulous award, or a photo, try to restrain yourself from hitting that “Like” button after it’s posted. However, it is completely acceptable to like a comment that someone makes on your update. Just somethin’ to keep in mind Do NOT refer customers to a generic help line, whenever possible. Did someone post on your brand’s Facebook wall asking a product question? Maybe they sent a private message asking where they can find a particular product overseas? It may be easy to refer them to a general customer service phone number, but it’s definitely better to find the answer for them. Don’t know the answer yourself? Reach out to someone who can answer it for you. Ask your client to refer you to a salesperson or expert to answer a technical question, or better yet, call the customer service department yourself and deliver the goods to your inquiring Facebook buddy. Going a step above the usual will make you stand apart, and your customers will thank you for it. Do NOT bombard everyone’s News Feed with your updates. We have all seen that person who updates their Facebook status 16 times a day, sharing every detail of their lives. If you’re a brand, it’s important to be mindful of how many times you’re posting per day. Granted, not all of your followers are seeing your posts, but the ones who are may just decide to Unlike your page if you’re updates are too intrusive into their personal Facebook experience. Remember, people are usually on Facebook for social reasons, so an inundation of corporate media into free time is a major turn-off. Though there is no exact formula, posting to Facebook two to three times per day is perfectly acceptable. Make sure you space your updates out as much as possible to avoid turning your fans into former fans. Next up, let’s talk about good ol’ Twitter. Twitter is a horse of a different color compared to Facebook, and it comes with its own set of really cringe-worthy faux pas. #Do #NOT #Hashtag #Every #Darn #Word. We get it. Twitter made the hashtag a thing, but it’s obnoxious to #hashtag #everything. This annoyance kind of speaks for itself. If people are annoyed by a brand’s incessant hashtag use, that’s not a good thing. Hashtag wisely and when it makes sense to. Use your best judgment. Do NOT forget to give credit where credit is due. That scrumptious brownie-chocolate chip cookie recipe you found online to share with a bakery’s Twitter following sounds delicious, doesn’t it? Share your thanks for the find and help build engagement by @mentioning Website XYZ for the recipe you found on their site when you share it with the bakery’s following! It will make you look like you did your research, and it will help build good will with a resource. Do NOT take your dear, sweet time responding. Twitter, more than any

Jazz musicians are agile and dynamic. They are gracious--but not shy. Here's what you can take from the stage to the board room.Some people would introduce me as a venture capitalist, since I run a venture firm in Detroit. Others might reference me as an entrepreneur, given that I've founded four technology companies. I guess these people wouldn't be wrong in their verbiage, but it's not an introduction I prefer.Instead, I'd rather be deemed a jazz musician. After decades of training, countless hours of practice, and a whole host of gigs nationwide, jazz is my passion--and its something that has benefitted all other aspects of my life tremendously. While on the surface it would seem that jazz musicianship is the polar opposite of running a business, the two practices are linked in numerous ways.Just as you'd learn a great deal from a trusted advisor, so too can non-traditional sources help you to expand your knowledge base. Jazz musicians are agile and dynamic, carrying their group's song and themes through the diversified landscape to the end. Quite frankly, I don't know anyone better to provide leadership advice than a professional jazz player for this very reason. Here are some powerful takeaways I've picked up along the way from incredible musician leaders--let these lessons shine at your business, and your cube will get a lot swankier.1. Playing it safe gets you tossed off the stage. Some executives would say that in today's turbulent economy, takings risks isn't wise. If you don't take risks you'll never excel. Playing it safe all the time becomes the most dangerous move of all.2. There are no do-overs in live performances. For every hour in a "performance" setting, you should spend five hours practicing. Athletes do this, musicians do this--muscle memory is no different in the board room, in front of a new client, or with your team. So why aren't you doing this?3. Listening to those around you is three times more important than what you play yourself. If you're the one talking all the time, you're not learning anything. Listen, absorb what you hear, and use the information to make a conscious choice about whatever you're facing.4. There's a time to stand out as a soloist and a time to support others and make them shine. You rocked a project--nicely done. Praise is well-deserved. However, as a leader, it's more likely the case that your team members rocked a project, together. Susie was on top of her game with the slide deck? Tell her--and tell the client. Johnny couldn't have articulated the challenge to the press any more astutely? Refer back to his commentary as a stellar example. When you can share the wealth, everyone wins.5. Expect surprises and adversity, since jazz (and life) is about how you respond and adapt. If running a business was always smooth sailing, everyone would do it. That being said, the old adage explains that "a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor." Anticipate hurdles and maximize your team's effort to jump over them.6. Know your audience. If you're playing for a group that's looking forward to something slow and calming and you get on stage and play a wild and crazy, upbeat riff, nobody will dig it--even if it's a well-crafted piece. Your customers are the same. If you're not working to provide them with something they want and need, you're doomed to fail.7. It's always better leaving people wanting more, rather than less. Of course as you live and breathe your business, you have a visceral urge to share every piece of minutia with anyone who asks. Don't. Instead of pouring it all on at once, give people a teaser, so they crave the next bit you explain. In similar fashion, don't try and launch 15 products at once for a new line; start with one or two to get people begging for more.8. The best leaders are those that make others sound good. Big band leaders bring out the best in their troupes--during a sax solo, his job is to make sure the drum line supports the sax player with a quality backdro