Just finished up my latest project, Tips To Save Gas. This was the result of getting entirely pissed off at the oil companies and the price gouging those tycoons are doing to the world.
We have all seen these emails here and there with a tip or two. What I have done is combined all of these tips into an almost 80 page ebook, free to download, so we can have everything in 1 location.
Just head over to the site, sign up, and you can get a free copy of the book. I have been told I should be selling this, but I am not going to. I will give this away for free, because I want all of us to make a difference. Not only in the world, but also in our wallets!!
One of the main qualities you must have in order to succeed in a home business is consistency. Everyday will always have something that comes up to distract you from what you will need to be doing. You will always get a phone call, or some email, or another program that launches, which you might be trying to get a handle on. All of these things will definitely get you side tracked, and off of the main course. This is why you need to set up a schedule for you to follow to ensure this does not happen.
First, close the email program. Unless you are a needed customer service rep from your house, there is no need for you to be looking at your emails every 10 minutes to see if anything is new. You need to schedule certain times you read your email. This way you keep from getting distracted when working on other items. Maybe set up a time in the morning for 30 minutes, and in the afternoon for 30 minutes.
I also recommend not reading email for the first hour. If you have set your schedule already, then you will already have the first hour of the day scheduled. Why read the email and get side tracked? Exactly, there is no reason. I am reminded of when they did not have email not too long ago, and actually had to wait until the morning to contact someone. Just about nothing is that urgent it needs your attention right now!!
The rest of the day should be broken up into segments normally no longer than an hour a piece. This is to ensure you are making progress on everything, and nothing is getting pushed to the back because you are working on something else.
Don’t forget to schedule some unwind time as well. What I am calling this could be a work out at the gym, or a run around the block, maybe a coffee somewhere, but I would suggest it is time away from the computer. It will refresh your mind, and maybe remind you of some stuff to do or give you a few new ideas.
Lastly, there needs to be am end time. This can be whatever you want, but there should be a cut off time for work. Most people stay attached to their computers all day long, always answering emails, checking sales, etc… and never give themselves a break. This will end up resulting in burnout.
Also, statistically speaking, your productivity begins to decrease after the 7-8 hours of work in a single day. So, why waste your time? Exactly, I wouldn’t.
Set a schedule up like this and try it for a week or two. If it works for you, then keep it the same. If it does not, then you can make a few changes to it and get it to where you feel comfortable with it. But you will need a schedule to ensure you are consistent with your business.
You probably have seen this three-letter acronym in the course of your internet surfing. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary; syndicating means republishing an article that comes from another source such as a website.
An RSS is a means of publicizing updates about websites. It may or may not include a summary and photos of the latest posting. But those that provide summaries (thus Rich Site Summary) allow users to skim through the article so that they could decide later on if they want to access the website source. The RSS feed usually contains the title of the update originating from the website. It is also usually the link to the website source.
What are the benefits of RSS?
RSS gives benefits to both readers (users) and web publishers.
1. It gives you the latest updates.
Whether it is about the weather, new music, software upgrade, local news, or a new posting from a rarely-updates site learn about the latest as soon as it comes out.
2. It saves on surfing time.
Since an RSS feed provides a summary of the related article, it saves the user’s time by helping s/he decide on which items to prioritize when reading or browsing the net.
3. It gives the power of subscription to the user.
Users are given a free-hand on which websites to subscribe in their RSS aggregators which they can change at any time they decide differently.
4. It lessens the clutter in your inbox.
Although your email address will be required to enjoy the services of online RSS aggregators, RSS does not use your email address to send the updates.
5. It is spam free.
Unlike email subscriptions, RSS does not make use of your email address to send updates thus your privacy is kept safe from spam mails.
6. Unsubscribing is hassle-free.
Unlike email subscriptions where the user is asked questions on why s/he is unsubscribing and then the user would be asked to confirm unsubscribing, all you have to do is to delete the RSS feed from your aggregator.
7. It can be used as an advertising or marketing tool.
Users who subscribe or syndicate product websites receive the latest news on products and services without the website sending spam mail. This is advantageous to both the web user and the website owner since advertising becomes targeted; those who are actually interested in their products are kept posted.
What are the drawbacks of RSS?
The disadvantages of RSS use are brought about by its being a new technology and some user-preference concerns.
1. Some users prefer receiving email updates over an RSS feed.
2. Graphics and photos do not appear in all RSS feeds.
For conciseness and ease of publication, RSS feeds do not display the photos from the original site in announcing the update except for some web-based aggregators
3. The identity of the source website can be confusing.
Since RSS feeds do not display the actual URL or name of the website, it can sometimes get confusing on what feed a user is actually reading.
4. Publishers cannot determine how many users are subscribed to their feed and the frequency of their visits. Moreover, they would not know the reasons why users unsubscribe which could be important in improving their advertising.
5. RSS feeds create higher traffic and demands on the server.
Most readers still prefer the whole update over a brief summary of the entry, thus they still access the site.
6. Since it is a new technology, many sites still do not support RSS.
How do I start using RSS?
There are two things needed: an RSS feed and an RSS aggregator or reader. The RSS feed comes from an RSS-supported website. There are also websites that provide a list of RSS feeds of different websites. An RSS aggregator is used to read the RSS feed from the source website. It scans and collects data on latest RSS feeds from the worldwide web.
An aggregator comes in two forms: a downloadable program also known as desktop aggregator and an online or web-based aggregator. Downloadable aggregators may require payment before they can be acquired, while internet-based aggregators are usually free of charge. All you need to do is to register an account then you are ready to use their services. Both versions allow you to customize or choose which RSS feeds to enter. Paid aggregators are usually chosen by more experienced users and they usually allow more freedom in customizing feeds.
1. Choose an RSS aggregator to use. For beginners, web-based aggregators are recommended since they are usually user-friendly
2. Scan the homepage of your target website for the RSS or XML button. It contains the RSS code you need to enter in the aggregator. Copy this code. Syndic8 provides a directory of websites that support RSS.
3. Paste the code (which contains the URL of the website) in your aggregator. There is a space provided for pasting the code.
After you have done these three easy steps, you can start reading the RSS feeds coming from the website. New postings appear as they are published real time at the source website.
RSS and Internet Marketing
The original idea of RSS came from Netscape, where their intention is to provide a means for users to customize their personal homepage to contain links to websites that interest them, similar to bookmarking websites.
The application of RSS to internet marketing was an unforeseen development to RSS technology developers. Since users are given the freedom to add RSS feeds to their aggregators, those who are interested in particular products and services available in the internet can now be notified real time. Marketing becomes more specific to interested people and not a hit-and-miss operation.
Those who intend to use RSS for marketing their products and services should consider linking up with email account providers, (e.g. Yahoo, MSN, Google mail); networking websites (e.g. Friendster, Multiply, My Space, Hi5); websites of newspapers and television network websites (e.g. New York Times, CNN) for medium to big-scale companies. Small-time industries can also look into networking websites as well as personal blog websites (e.g. Blogspot) and websites of clubs and organizations that would probably make use of their products or services e.g. a fishing supplies store can look for the website of their local fishing club for possible RSS marketing.
Clearly, RSS is an innovation in information management in the worldwide web as well as online marketing. We can expect better RSS technology in the not-so-distant future as its popularity increases among users and website owners alike.
I have added another page to the blog here called Free Traffic Sources. I wanted to list some other pretty good places where you can get free traffic to your website. And here is how to look at them.
You will not get rich or make a bunch of money from any of this stuff. But, every little bit helps. If you can set up a system to where you get a few clicks here and there to your sites and programs, it will add up over time.
But there is method to most of this. I have some figured out (sort of) and am now trying to incorporate them into the Social SEO Guide. Once I figure all of this out and get a pretty good system together, I will put together a free report on exactly what I did. Of course, this is only if it all works out. And in the end, I am not losing out on anything because all of these have free versions.
Although, I am pro/paid with a few of them, we’ll see if this makes any difference.
OK, so you are wanting to get your links out there. I have set up the perfect system for you. Although, it will require just a little effort on your end.
If you have been frequenting the blog, you should have seen the “Top Commentators” in the side bar. Basically, if you comment on my blog, I run a total of your comments. I then display the top 10 in the list. These will stay there as long as no one comes along and comments more than you. If they do, you may get bumped off the list. So, it will be in you best interest to keep checking back.
The other part I have done is removed the “no follow” tags. So, these links are live links that the search engines can read and get to your site. This is another reason to get your link up there.
Now, the listing works like this. The person with the most comments will be listed in the top position. In the case of a tie for the number of comments, it will then list them in alphabetical order. Just keep that in mind when putting in your name for the link.
I was posed a question just this morning from Mark, who was asking why I was not offering a 100% Satisfaction Agreement. If this system does as I say it will, then I should back it up with a guarantee, right?
And you know, he is 100% correct. So, now I am putting my money where my mouth is.
If you do not get the results you want for 60 days, then just simply ask for a refund, and I will return your money with no hard feelings. You can check below to see the guarantee and get started:
And yes, it is 60 days. This would be 2 months of the Social SEO Guide Membership. I want you to see the caliber of information you get initially, and the PLR articles you get the next month. I am so sure you will find the value in this I am willing to give you 60 days to try it.
Basically, you have nothing to lose now. All of the risk is on me. I am the one that needs to deliver the amount of information to make you 100% satisfied you are getting your moneys worth.
And I am up for the challenge.
See, I personally know this system works. Now I want to help all of you to be successful as well.
Don’t forget, also included is the free phone consultation. This way you get the 1 on 1 teaching you want.
I am sure this will make you see how confident I am in my system. This will work if you work it. And to make sure this happens, I will help you every step of the way. And still, if you are not satisfied, I will issue you a refund of your monies.
If you have any other questions, feel free to email me like Mark did and I will get back to you ASAP (just don’t forget about the difference in time zones - it may be 1/2 day later).
One of the many features of being a member here is the steady amount of PLR articles you will be receiving each month. You will get at least 200 PLR articles, and even a few other PLR products for you to use or sell. But it is the articles I want to focus on right now.
I have talked about how to use PLR articles with Squidoo. I even have 2 videos demonstrating exactly how to do this. But what if you are not really a Squidoo person? Then what? Here is another way to use the PLR articles.
You can make an ebook. That’s right. You see ebooks all over the place. People give them away for free to their lists, or to entice people to sign up for their list. They sell them. And even offer them as bonuses for their main product.
So, here is how to make a simple ebook from PLR articles.
Make a new folder in C drive (or wherever you want)
Place all PLR articles in this folder you want merged into one document
Go to Start -> Run and open the command prompt
Type in cd C:\new folder with articls in it
Press Enter
Type in “type *.txt > merged.doc” without the quotes
Press Enter
This will take all of your text files and place them into 1 word document. As you can imagine, you can take all word documents and do the same, and vice versa.
Now you have 1 word document with all of the PLR articles on a subject. Fancy this up, add a cover page, maybe a copy rights page, place a few affiliate links in it, and save it as a word document again.
Then convert it to a PDF file, and there you go. You now have an ebook ready to distribute.
There are different types of forums, beyond the obvious topical types, of “marketing” or “special interest”, etc. “Marketing” and “special interest” are two types of what are commonly referred to as “open forums”.
There are, however, business and professional forums, which do not operate under the same rules and, more often than not, disallow any and all types of advertising or self-promotion. Forums that have been created to support the membership of a particular program are especially adamant on this topic and often demand that all members refrain from all types if advertising on their sites.
Still, even with all these hurdles, it is possible to successfully advertise in forums. In all cases a pre-requisite for success is developing a good reputation and a good relationship and maintaining both. So, while it is true that this a form of free advertising, it does require a certain amount of investment as far as time and energy are concerned, not to mention subtly and finesse.
To successfully market on any forum, the first requirement is to take a personal interest in the main topic of the forum. That means visiting it on a regular basis and developing a good relationship with the members and the moderators. It, also, means taking an active roll in the conversations and being willing to help others. Of course, it goes without saying that it means abiding by any and all rules that exist. In this way, one can develop a reputation, and business will just naturally develop because humans tend to work with people they trust.
Since the main purpose of a forum is the exchange of information and/or ideas, marketers must respect that objective and abide by it. Marketing forums, where everyone there has something to advertise and sell, usually have even more stringent rules.
An E-book that includes your marketing message and a link to your website is a proven technique in viral marketing. This method uses the multiplication effect to “explode” the distribution of your message by willing participants.
This is the basic principle that was used by Hotmail to get established. When the two founders set up their free email system, all the messages that were sent by subscribers had a text message at the bottom which identified Hotmail as the origin. People who sent emails to their friends advertised the free email site.
Using viral E-books as a marketing method is cheap. It doesn’t take long to set up and it’s even quicker if you use rebrandable E-books that have been written by others. Just use your favorite search engine and do a web search. You will find many rebrandable E-books that are available on whatever subject you are interested in and that apply to your e-business. One method of distributing the E-book is to offer it to visitors in exchange for subscribing to your newsletter. If they pass it on to their friends and family it will promote your business for you.
E-books are capable of reaching a large audience and are limited only by the enthusiasm of the participants.
E-books are fairly easy to create. It’s possible to produce your own E-books by combining articles that you have written or have gotten from public domain sources, such as directories.
A common approach is to use material that has Private Label Rights, including articles and reports that have been written specifically for that purpose, for that niche. Using a portion of a larger work that you have prepared such as the first three chapters of a large E-book could also be used as a viral E-book.
Stop with the enforced e-mail forwards already! Trying to force or bribe people to forward your info to a friends or family in order to be rewarded or win looks skanky in today’s ultra-permission-based world. Especially when you tell visitors nothing about their friend’s or family’s privacy in the space directly next to the e-mail form.
A true viral campaign gets forwarded because consumers are compelled to do so by the glory of the content, not because you bribed them with points or something else.
What absolutely will not work:
Suggesting that e-mail recipients forward your message to their friends and family will not work. Adding a line at the bottom of your e-mail that reads “Please feel free to forward this message to a friend” is more likely to get it deleted than forwarded.
What absolutely will work:
Offering something worthy of sharing like a valuable discount, vital information or offering an incentive for sharing like additional entries into a sweepstakes or an added discount or premium service will work.
Relevant or timely information, research, or studies that are included in your e-mail might encourage the recipients to share with their family and friends. Interactive content like a quiz or test, especially if it’s fun, will inspire forwarding.
Jokes and cartoons are almost always forwarded to everybody the recipient knows. Why? Because they are entertaining and entertainment is meant to be shared.
A really cool multimedia experience is always going to achieve a lot of pass-along. Rich media is new and the novelty and tech factors alone are often enough to make the e-mail recipient eager to share it.
Oops! Almost forgot one really important thing….You can craft a brilliant e-mail following all the rules, but if a consumer visits your site and has an experience less that what was promised, you are going to achieve viral marketing, alright…the bad kind. So be certain that your product or service is ready and is as advertised.
