Thursday, November 27, 2014
Monday, November 3, 2014
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Friday, July 4, 2014
4 Social Contests to Copy - 'Net Features - Website Magazine
The sincerest form of flattery..... Great Ideas!
4 Social Contests to Copy - 'Net Features - Website Magazine
4 Social Contests to Copy - 'Net Features - Website Magazine
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Monday, May 12, 2014
15 Sites for Web Design Inspiration - 'Net Features - Website Magazine
Great Info Here from Website Magazine...
15 Sites for Web Design Inspiration - 'Net Features - Website Magazine
15 Sites for Web Design Inspiration - 'Net Features - Website Magazine
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Inbound Linking Practices: Don’t Get a Google “Time-Out”
Dana Zarcone with some new info that shakes things up..
Inbound Linking Practices: Don’t Get a Google “Time-Out” - Wealthy Web Writer
Inbound Linking Practices: Don’t Get a Google “Time-Out” - Wealthy Web Writer
Sunday, April 27, 2014
"Keep It Simple..." for Profits and Cash Flow
A “KISS” for Profits and Cash Flow
Simple Marketing Tactics that Drive Sales
The “K.I.S.S.” method has been a tried and true rule forever in many areas in life and business. For this article, The KISS method stands for: Keep It Simple for Sales!
Marketing tactics can be extremely complex or quite simple. Ironically, the simple tactics are the ones that are most effective and successful. Value-added headlines, informative content, and visual appeal are simple tactics that can drive conversions and sales.
For example, one simple tactic is to make it quick and easy for web visitors and customers to view information on your website. Allowing adequate white space, creating short sentences, and keeping enough space between words, sentences, and paragraphs will make your site more appealing.
In addition, the strategic use of keywords and keyword phrases will attract search engines and keep site visitors scanning your content. Words that demonstrate how your product adds value will capture attention and focus the reader on “what’s in it for them”.
And these are also valuable search engine optimization techniques that will drive visitors to your website.
Simple marketing tactics
A very important tactic is to make everything simple. Some recommended options include:
1. Bulleted or numbered lists (like this one)
2. Use of bold to highlight keywords or important benefits (use sparingly to ensure emphasis without over-use)
3. Subheadings to create a logical flow and to break large blocks of content
4. Titles and subheadings in ‘sentence case’ since capitalizing most words tends to break attention span and create confusion
5. Graphics or pictures that are clearly relevant to the product and that showcase benefits and value
6. Highlighting unique information, benefits and value by using ‘call out boxes’, ‘pull quotes’ and other design elements
7. Since people tend to scan web pages rather than read them, snippets or short phrases with important information become vital for website content. People need to get the message quickly without having to think hard about what is being presented. Making sentences overly long or complex tends to be a distraction and you’ll lose the site visitor’s attention quickly.
These are just some of the recommended options when creating website content.
Not only is it important to integrate many of the basic and advanced marketing tactics into your marketing plan, it is also vital to include methods of testing their effectiveness. Watching and monitoring statistics that indicate how long visitors remain on your pages, among other measures of success, will help you refine marketing tactics and improve your marketing strategy.
Once you deploy some of the more advanced marketing tactics that are proven effective you will begin to see conversions increase quickly. And increased conversion rates lead to higher sales and repeat business.
Advanced marketing tactics include options such as the use of powerful copy that attracts readers, inclusion of questions that help you lead customers toward sales, and using authority positioning to increase site integrity and credibility.
If you’re searching for ways to grow your business, you don’t want to miss an opportunity to evaluate marketing tactics that will put you on the super-highway to success. Evaluate what others have already tested and proven successful. Create the winning formula for your website and enjoy the success that comes from hard work and vision.
The “K.I.S.S.” method has been a tried and true rule forever in many areas in life and business. For this article, The KISS method stands for: Keep It Simple for Sales!
Marketing tactics can be extremely complex or quite simple. Ironically, the simple tactics are the ones that are most effective and successful. Value-added headlines, informative content, and visual appeal are simple tactics that can drive conversions and sales.
For example, one simple tactic is to make it quick and easy for web visitors and customers to view information on your website. Allowing adequate white space, creating short sentences, and keeping enough space between words, sentences, and paragraphs will make your site more appealing.
In addition, the strategic use of keywords and keyword phrases will attract search engines and keep site visitors scanning your content. Words that demonstrate how your product adds value will capture attention and focus the reader on “what’s in it for them”.
And these are also valuable search engine optimization techniques that will drive visitors to your website.
Simple marketing tactics
A very important tactic is to make everything simple. Some recommended options include:
1. Bulleted or numbered lists (like this one)
2. Use of bold to highlight keywords or important benefits (use sparingly to ensure emphasis without over-use)
3. Subheadings to create a logical flow and to break large blocks of content
4. Titles and subheadings in ‘sentence case’ since capitalizing most words tends to break attention span and create confusion
5. Graphics or pictures that are clearly relevant to the product and that showcase benefits and value
6. Highlighting unique information, benefits and value by using ‘call out boxes’, ‘pull quotes’ and other design elements
7. Since people tend to scan web pages rather than read them, snippets or short phrases with important information become vital for website content. People need to get the message quickly without having to think hard about what is being presented. Making sentences overly long or complex tends to be a distraction and you’ll lose the site visitor’s attention quickly.
These are just some of the recommended options when creating website content.
Not only is it important to integrate many of the basic and advanced marketing tactics into your marketing plan, it is also vital to include methods of testing their effectiveness. Watching and monitoring statistics that indicate how long visitors remain on your pages, among other measures of success, will help you refine marketing tactics and improve your marketing strategy.
Once you deploy some of the more advanced marketing tactics that are proven effective you will begin to see conversions increase quickly. And increased conversion rates lead to higher sales and repeat business.
Advanced marketing tactics include options such as the use of powerful copy that attracts readers, inclusion of questions that help you lead customers toward sales, and using authority positioning to increase site integrity and credibility.
If you’re searching for ways to grow your business, you don’t want to miss an opportunity to evaluate marketing tactics that will put you on the super-highway to success. Evaluate what others have already tested and proven successful. Create the winning formula for your website and enjoy the success that comes from hard work and vision.
3 Steps to Headlines That Sell
3 Tips to Sell with Your Headlines
Tips For Creating Powerful Headlines That Sell
You have mere seconds to capture a prospect's attention. One of the single most powerful tools you have to accomplish this task is your headline. There are several keys to a compelling, and selling, headline and a few tips to help you get the job done.
#1 Tap into Your Prospects' Emotions
According to psychologists our buying decisions are based first and foremost on our emotions. Use headlines which offer your readers a strong emotional benefit or reaction. Some possible emotions are:
For example, The 20-Minute Step that Will Make You a Business Genius taps into readers' desires to feel smart and powerful.
Other emotions you can tap into are a desire to feel:
1. Attractive
2. Sexy
3. Assertive
4. Confident
5. Energetic
6. Pampered
7. A sense of belonging
8. In control of their own destiny
9. Wealthy
10. Proud
11. Respected
12. Safe
#2 Make it Active
To compel it's important to use active language - language that shows movement and commands attention.
For example, "Stop Your Sugar Cravings Today With This Simple Step," is a fine headline however it doesn't command action nor does it really tap into any emotions. However, "Conquer Your Sugar Cravings With This Simple Step." Conquer is an active and emotionally powerful word. Readers receive the benefit of feeling powerful and in control and it commands action.
#3 Let Your Reader Know They're Important
The word YOU is a very powerful word. It let's your reader's feel as if you're talking to them specifically and interested in solving their problems, issues and helping them achieve their desires. Instead of using I, Me or We in your headlines, use You. Using the headline example above compare the two options
"Conquer Your Sugar Cravings With This Simple Step.
"Conquer Sugar Cravings with Our System"
People want to know what's in it for them and when they can assess that information in the headline, they're going to be compelled to continue reading your copy and making a purchase.
Here are three more ideas for powerful headlines:
* Make a promise - Earn $1000 a day
* Make it newsworthy - New program guarantees you'll earn $1000 a day.
* Ask a question – Do you want to ensure your financial future?
Three Simple Steps to Write Headlines That Sell
So now you have some ideas about what types of headlines sell, how do you begin to write those powerful headlines?
Step One – Get to know your audience intimately. What are their hopes, dreams, desires, and problems? Understanding your audience will help you create an emotional and powerful headline directed specifically at your audience.
Step Two – Determine how your products or services are going to make your prospects' lives better or solve their problems. For example if you sell fitness equipment and your audience struggles with feeling attractive then you can create a headline that highlights a specific benefit your fitness equipment offers to solve that problem.
Step Three – Write ten to twenty, yes twenty, possible headlines. Not only will this give you practice writing compelling headlines, it'll help you hone in on that perfect headline. And if you think you have a few winners you can always test them for conversion rates to find out which headline is more effective.
Marketing and copywriting experts consider your headline to be the most import element of any effective marketing piece. Take the time to craft a compelling, and selling, headline and you'll reap the benefits for years to come.
You have mere seconds to capture a prospect's attention. One of the single most powerful tools you have to accomplish this task is your headline. There are several keys to a compelling, and selling, headline and a few tips to help you get the job done.
#1 Tap into Your Prospects' Emotions
According to psychologists our buying decisions are based first and foremost on our emotions. Use headlines which offer your readers a strong emotional benefit or reaction. Some possible emotions are:
For example, The 20-Minute Step that Will Make You a Business Genius taps into readers' desires to feel smart and powerful.
Other emotions you can tap into are a desire to feel:
1. Attractive
2. Sexy
3. Assertive
4. Confident
5. Energetic
6. Pampered
7. A sense of belonging
8. In control of their own destiny
9. Wealthy
10. Proud
11. Respected
12. Safe
#2 Make it Active
To compel it's important to use active language - language that shows movement and commands attention.
For example, "Stop Your Sugar Cravings Today With This Simple Step," is a fine headline however it doesn't command action nor does it really tap into any emotions. However, "Conquer Your Sugar Cravings With This Simple Step." Conquer is an active and emotionally powerful word. Readers receive the benefit of feeling powerful and in control and it commands action.
#3 Let Your Reader Know They're Important
The word YOU is a very powerful word. It let's your reader's feel as if you're talking to them specifically and interested in solving their problems, issues and helping them achieve their desires. Instead of using I, Me or We in your headlines, use You. Using the headline example above compare the two options
"Conquer Your Sugar Cravings With This Simple Step.
"Conquer Sugar Cravings with Our System"
People want to know what's in it for them and when they can assess that information in the headline, they're going to be compelled to continue reading your copy and making a purchase.
Here are three more ideas for powerful headlines:
* Make a promise - Earn $1000 a day
* Make it newsworthy - New program guarantees you'll earn $1000 a day.
* Ask a question – Do you want to ensure your financial future?
Three Simple Steps to Write Headlines That Sell
So now you have some ideas about what types of headlines sell, how do you begin to write those powerful headlines?
Step One – Get to know your audience intimately. What are their hopes, dreams, desires, and problems? Understanding your audience will help you create an emotional and powerful headline directed specifically at your audience.
Step Two – Determine how your products or services are going to make your prospects' lives better or solve their problems. For example if you sell fitness equipment and your audience struggles with feeling attractive then you can create a headline that highlights a specific benefit your fitness equipment offers to solve that problem.
Step Three – Write ten to twenty, yes twenty, possible headlines. Not only will this give you practice writing compelling headlines, it'll help you hone in on that perfect headline. And if you think you have a few winners you can always test them for conversion rates to find out which headline is more effective.
Marketing and copywriting experts consider your headline to be the most import element of any effective marketing piece. Take the time to craft a compelling, and selling, headline and you'll reap the benefits for years to come.
Headlines:They Key to Response
What You Need to Know About Headlines
Have you ever wondered why some marketing tactics just don’t seem to work for your business? You sit and watch a competitor’s website grow and business soar and you’re just not quite sure how they do it. After all, aren’t all marketing tactics pretty much the same? The answer is a resounding “NO”! Marketing tactics that work are not about rocket science. They are often very simple concepts, but many online marketers fail to recognize them for the value they can bring to a business. Focusing on a business that brings high conversion rates and plenty of sales is a marketer’s dream. But it will only materialize when marketing tactics are successfully deployed.
First of all, people want to find a solution to a problem.That’s why they’re searching for a particular product or benefit to begin with. So what do you have to offer? Headlines say it all. Let’s be clear. Headlines are not just for print anymore. In the online world, when we use the term “headline” it can take many forms. Such as: A blog post title, an article title, an e-mail subject line, a Twitter or Facebook share or others. Anytime you need to get a reader’s attention to be able to persuade them to take the next step, the principals of a good headline come in to play. When we are online, we are, by definition, task oriented. We are there to do something and anything that gets in the way of that will be ignored. We also tend to have a short attention span. We are there to do something. We want to find the most relevant answer to my reason for searching. So, don’t wait to tell them what’s in it for them. Tell them right away with your headline.
Headlines can be one of the most effective marketing tactics you have to offer. The headline should always include a valuable benefit for the customer. Recent studies indicate that users decide whether or not to stay or leave a site within 5 seconds or less. Well-written headlines are critical. Using a headline to grab attention is one of the simplest, yet most effective marketing tactics available. People have a chance to quickly understand why they need to read further than the headline. Instead of clicking away from your site, (or discarding your e-mail, etc) they’ll be clicking through your information to find out more. Always follow-up a headline with some other compelling fact or value-added benefit of the product or service. Keep website visitors moving through your content by including one bit of important information after another in every sentence. Don’t use teasers that make them feel they have to keep searching for what’s important but be up-front and direct about the product’s value and benefits with each sentence. Market the benefits and value.
The headline is the best place to start marketing the benefits of the product. It’s also the best way to attract search engines that are seeking websites based on keywords used by online users. When the headline includes the words that potential customers are most likely to search for, the search engines will reward you by bringing more visitors to your website. Search engine optimized writing has many benefits Facts, statistics, and data that substantiate your claims of value are also important ways to increase the effectiveness of headlines. “48% reduction in costs with X product….” can be a real attention grabber. Don’t hesitate to use data to support your benefit claims.
Headlines are just the beginning with marketing tactics. There are many more advanced marketing tactics that can make a substantial difference in conversion rates and sales. Knowing and integrating advanced marketing tactics into the overall marketing plan for your website and business can make a huge difference in your profits. Evaluate your current marketing tactics and make necessary adjustments by utilizing advanced tactics to support and grow your business. Time spent preparing effective marketing goals and strategies, supported with effective tactics, is time that will result in higher profits and a thriving business. And always remember – success starts with your headline!
Have you ever wondered why some marketing tactics just don’t seem to work for your business? You sit and watch a competitor’s website grow and business soar and you’re just not quite sure how they do it. After all, aren’t all marketing tactics pretty much the same? The answer is a resounding “NO”! Marketing tactics that work are not about rocket science. They are often very simple concepts, but many online marketers fail to recognize them for the value they can bring to a business. Focusing on a business that brings high conversion rates and plenty of sales is a marketer’s dream. But it will only materialize when marketing tactics are successfully deployed.
First of all, people want to find a solution to a problem.That’s why they’re searching for a particular product or benefit to begin with. So what do you have to offer? Headlines say it all. Let’s be clear. Headlines are not just for print anymore. In the online world, when we use the term “headline” it can take many forms. Such as: A blog post title, an article title, an e-mail subject line, a Twitter or Facebook share or others. Anytime you need to get a reader’s attention to be able to persuade them to take the next step, the principals of a good headline come in to play. When we are online, we are, by definition, task oriented. We are there to do something and anything that gets in the way of that will be ignored. We also tend to have a short attention span. We are there to do something. We want to find the most relevant answer to my reason for searching. So, don’t wait to tell them what’s in it for them. Tell them right away with your headline.
Headlines can be one of the most effective marketing tactics you have to offer. The headline should always include a valuable benefit for the customer. Recent studies indicate that users decide whether or not to stay or leave a site within 5 seconds or less. Well-written headlines are critical. Using a headline to grab attention is one of the simplest, yet most effective marketing tactics available. People have a chance to quickly understand why they need to read further than the headline. Instead of clicking away from your site, (or discarding your e-mail, etc) they’ll be clicking through your information to find out more. Always follow-up a headline with some other compelling fact or value-added benefit of the product or service. Keep website visitors moving through your content by including one bit of important information after another in every sentence. Don’t use teasers that make them feel they have to keep searching for what’s important but be up-front and direct about the product’s value and benefits with each sentence. Market the benefits and value.
The headline is the best place to start marketing the benefits of the product. It’s also the best way to attract search engines that are seeking websites based on keywords used by online users. When the headline includes the words that potential customers are most likely to search for, the search engines will reward you by bringing more visitors to your website. Search engine optimized writing has many benefits Facts, statistics, and data that substantiate your claims of value are also important ways to increase the effectiveness of headlines. “48% reduction in costs with X product….” can be a real attention grabber. Don’t hesitate to use data to support your benefit claims.
Headlines are just the beginning with marketing tactics. There are many more advanced marketing tactics that can make a substantial difference in conversion rates and sales. Knowing and integrating advanced marketing tactics into the overall marketing plan for your website and business can make a huge difference in your profits. Evaluate your current marketing tactics and make necessary adjustments by utilizing advanced tactics to support and grow your business. Time spent preparing effective marketing goals and strategies, supported with effective tactics, is time that will result in higher profits and a thriving business. And always remember – success starts with your headline!
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
7 Free Tools for Small Business Success -
Here's great resources via Website Magazine...
7 Free Tools for Small Business Success - 'Net Features - Website Magazine
7 Free Tools for Small Business Success - 'Net Features - Website Magazine
SMBs Up Website Spending - eMarketer
Great Info from E-Marketer:
Read more at http://www.emarketer.com/Article/SMBs-Up-Website-Spending/1010741#LOp32yAZ3GyTGExw.99
SMBs Up Website Spending - eMarketer
Large majority of SMBs do not offer mobile-optimized websites
j2 Global reported that small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) planned on increasing their online presence, such as setting up their websites, in 2014, and recent research by Thrive Analytics found similar results. According to its study, 40% of US SMBs planned to increase spending on their company websites this year.Read more at http://www.emarketer.com/Article/SMBs-Up-Website-Spending/1010741#LOp32yAZ3GyTGExw.99
SMBs Up Website Spending - eMarketer
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