Online Internet Marketing Strategies

Larry Brauner of Online Social Networking makes an interesting (and perhaps obvious) point. After attending a webinar, he brings home a point that maybe some of us ARE missing.

Do you follow blindly what your “guru” is telling you? Does it often seem that by the time you get to “do it” the doing has already been done to death? Do you always have that “missed the boat” feeling?

Maybe there is a reason…

Larry speaks out about the human tendency to “flock,” and questions whether that is a wise internet marketing (or social media marketing) strategy.

We were recently enrolled taking a very publicized course about social media. We did withdraw from that course when it appeared that the areas for marketing where oversaturated and perhaps not the best choice. Another case of too little too late (and at a very expensive price tag to learn the lesson!) ??

Larry’s point of zagging if everyone is zigging is a point we should all take to heart. Doing our own thing, planned mine you, not mindless, has always served us well.

Thanks Larry for the reminder!

Doing my Entrecard, Blogcatalog, visiting other people’s blogs thing this beautiful Sunday morning, and I came across:

How Much Is Your Blog Worth

courtesy of my visit to BloggerFocus.

Not expecting much (even BloggerFocus was laughing with their returned amount of $0.00) I went ahead and visited the link… just to see.

You’ll see our result in the left hand sidebar - wow what a surprise!

Now who in the world would pay us that much we have no idea, but the really neat thing is that in terms of “value” it does appear that all our very hard work to promote and interact within the blog community (and outside it, too) is really “paying off.”

We work daily on using the very features and resources we tell you about here on ourselves. I call it “work” only because yes it is in the promote your website (blog) category. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Getting out and about visiting other people’s websites is fun, informative, and common sense.

You want to be discovered, right? Well to do so you must be willing to get your hands dirty and interact.

“Good things come to those who wait” is so misleading.
“Good things come to those that go after good things” should take its place.

QUESTIONS:

What major form of interacting and promoting do you use?

What do you consider a complete waste of time and why?

What is your blog worth?

A while back on Andy Beard’s blog, I read his review of both TrafficJam and Blogrush. Andy’s post leans heavy on the TrafficJam side, but conveys lots of additional information you also might want to know.

Please Note: To have your posts show up in TrafficJam, you will need to sign up a FREE account first at Blogrush

Here’s a quote from Andy’s post (the links out are ours):

“Even if you have absolutely no interest in TrafficJam or Blogrush, I strongly suggest you read this post, especially if you are interested in viral marketing techniques that are guaranteed to build you an email list.”

Also in Andy’s post, he mentions of course the creator of TrafficJam, John Reese.

The long and the short of both posts (both well worth reading) is that bloggers gain the advantage of having their writing seen and read, and in return marketers also get the edge on uncovering what people are talking about… in other words, this is a really cool research resource tool.

You’ll note that the conversation on Beard’s blog harkens back to February. Okay, so TrafficJam is no longer “brand spankin’ new” in that sense. But as a resource for getting the word out about your blog, and from a marketer’s perspective of needing to keep one’s finger on the pulse of what’s going on in the blogosphere, we think you’ll agree that this is a winner.

Have you been using TrafficJam? What has been your experience?

If not, what is your first impression of this as a potential resource? Useful, not…??

Please let us know by adding your comments to this post!

I’m not going to get too worked up over this one, but since one arrived yesterday and just now in my inbox, I really need to get this off my chest.

The subject line for this guy’s email is one of those “you just made a commission” mailings. Since we actively promote several services and products for other people, along with many of our own, this message must be opened, right? Checking to see if it is legitimate is just good business practice.

However, you just know as you are taking those few seconds out of your own life to open the darn thing that it is totally bogus (but again you must check it just to be sure).

By wasting moments of my life, this does not endear me to this particular marketer. In fact, I find it downright insulting and annoying that he tries to pass off a “PayPal-type” subject line as one of his own.

Smarten up! I’ve got the guy’s name burned into my brain now and from this point forward all his stuff will go right into the trash (assuming I don’t just take yet more moments out of my life to open and unsubscribe myself first).

Yes we would all love to have every bit of mail we send opened, read, and acted upon by others. But nothing can possibly be gained by annoying people to the point that unsubscribing is their only recourse.

Choose your words wisely. The right combination, and the whole world is reading. Choose incorrectly and…

So I ask you, does this type of marketing bother you, or am I just being overly sensitive? Is the guy “clever” or “annoying”? And how would you handle it?

This may seem like the most obvious to some, but other Entrecard users might be “surprised” at this twist to visiting other people’s blogs and dropping cards.

Log into your own Entrecard account.

Using either the cards shown across the top or even starting with a current advertiser, right click on the card and open that site’s information in a new window (you could even just visit your own blog and start there, but logging into Entrecard is fastest).

Then (remember you are in a “new window” at this point), click on the link out to that particular blog. Find the Entrecard widget and drop your card.

NOTE: LEAVE THAT CURRENT BLOG OPEN IN YOUR BROWSER! Later you can revisit it to comment, but at a minimum you will allow the window to be open long enough to help NOT penalize the blog owner (read up on “bounce rates” to learn what I mean). Be kind

Leave the window OPEN and RIGHT click on the current advertiser who’s card is showing on that widget.

(Highly suggested: Use Firefox and make sure your newly visited sites will open in a new TABBED window or use the RIGHT CLICK method above.)

Drop your card on this next site and click on the advertiser doing his or her thing on this new widget.

Once you get a rhythm going, it’s easy to go from blog to blog to blog. If you “get stuck” (and you will every now and then), just start the process over with a new choice from your dashboard or under CAMPAIGN.

This way you don’t keep visiting the same ones over and over (unless you really want to), and get to add numerous visits quickly and easily.

Here’s another suggestion that really is well worth your time and (no) trouble:

As you close the Tabbed Windows one by one, take a look around and see if there isn’t something you’d like to put your two cents in about… in other words leave a comment!

It’s sort of amazing how few people are really using Entrecard to its greatest advantage. A quick, simple, super easy way to FIND WAYS TO COMMENT on other people’s blogs. You won’t always get a “follow” link, but you’ll be doing yourself and your blog/website a huge favor in terms of word of mouth advertising about YOU.

So let’s recap:

1. Drop Entrecards efficiently
2. Comment for personal name branding
3. Comment for backlinking

Do this each day for 5-10 minutes and you’ll have 100s if not 1000s of backlinks for yourself in a very, very short amount of time!

Enjoy!

Every now and then you just have to sit back, stop “working,” and have a bit of fun. While traveling the blog circuit this morning, I came across one that is just that… pure fun!

Virtual Me posted a “Are You Smarter Than a 10 Year Old?” and funny enough out of the 50 some comments also everyone was stumped lol!

Here’s the question and the drawing:

Which way is the school bus traveling ?

Right or left ?

You don’t see the difference?

Look carefully at the picture if you are having a hard time.

Then scroll down for the answer and the “why.”

ANSWER:

The bus is going LEFT because the school bus door is not visible

Did you get it right?

Have a fun weekend!

Now before you get your panties in a bunch over the title of this post, let me begin by saying it’s not what you think. Okay, maybe it is what you think, but that’s a good thing

Jack Humphrey’s has been around a long time and has made it his crusade to put together information useful and usable by bloggers and website owners alike. His information will greatly improve your success online. Yes, flat statement.

If you remember, back in 2007 the Authority Black Book was ranked #1 for free ebook for bloggers according to Mashable.

Well now you can get your hands on the 2008 Version of The Authority Black Book for FREE

“Social Marketing Is Bigger, Badder, And Far More Effective Than Any Marketing Tactic, Including Paid Advertising, For Driving Huge Amounts Of Targeted Traffic!”

Grab yourself a copy, sit back, relax and read up on ways to increase your bottom line this year. Because, unless you’re independently wealthy, or like living on the edge of no income, we believe deep down everyone would like to have a successful, money-pulling blog or website.

Even the diehards need money to live, right?

Enjoy!

It’s odd to deviate from a regular (or not-so-regular) “marketing” post to tell you about something Scott and I each bought and find highly interesting.

First let me ask, have you seen our new blog? Fat Loss & Fat Burning, if yes great! If not, we started it off with a product that has opened our eyes even wider than they were originally.

The information inside this book starts slowly. It is a long document for an ebook, and the first say 16 or 17 pages covers stuff you might find yourself saying, “Well I know that!” (and maybe admitting while you “know” it, you might not be “doing it”).

But then it really takes off, ramming home facts about health and getting healthy and why we really are one of the obese countries in the world. Yes, you get tons of information about the colon and even if you think you know everything about the colon we think you will still be amazed. Then, during all the inflow of information, you also have the opportunity to follow all these links out for out-on-the-web further clarification; you’re almost glued to your seat (and truly no pun intended).

Okay, we’d better stop here… We’d love to tell you in detail every single piece of information you’ll find in Top Secret Secret Fat Loss but that certainly would not be fair to the author who does an outstanding job.

Just know that “they” say, “Death begins in the colon.” While we are not doomsayers, sometimes some of us need a bit of reminding to really take care of ourselves.

For better health, and natural weight loss, the information in Top Secret Secret Fat Loss is well worth the $37 (we actually paid $57 for the “Elite” version).

There’s an iron clad guarantee with this informational ebook. But we’re willing to bet you will not feel like returning this one.

In fact, if you look to your right just about now, you’ll see the graphic that will take you over to information you can read and make up your mind about. “Enjoy!”

Love writing? Love blogging? Love sharing your opinions, thoughts, research and more with others?

Then why not get paid for doing what you love?

Bloggers around the world are finding its easy to make money working for online companies like PayPerPost!

Up until now, Scott and I have blogged for the sheer fun of helping others and expressing ourselves, but lets face it, making some cold hard cash isn’t anything to sneeze about either

Now we can have the best of all worlds working “on the side” quickly and easily. You really will not believe how easy “getting assignments” and “getting paid to write” is with PayPerPost. We’re amazed!

If you haven’t yet done so, check out PayPerPost today! Go on! We’re sure you can use the money, too! You can even donate your earnings to charity.

payperpost

Tomorrow the net is going to be buzzing with the release of “The Missing Chapter” of Mark Joyner’s Mind Control Marketing product. His book, Mind Control Marketing, if you remember, shot to #1 in Amazon within 36 hours of its release.

To Preview The Video To The Missing Chapter Click Here Now

Gotta be a darn good reason, right?

Well for openers, Mark Joyner’s one website has become the 37th most-visited website on the planet within 6 weeks of its release. Fellow marketers like Joe Vitale, Andrew Fox, Anthony Tomei, Paul Galloway, and Mike Filsaime (to name but a few) follow Joyner’s advice (as much if not more than the “little guy”). Joyner knows his stuff - it’s that simple.

Widely recognized as one of the early pioneers of e-commerce, Joyner was responsible for inventing, pioneering, and popularizing many of the technologies we take for granted today (including remotely-hosted ad tracking, electronic books, Integration Marketing, and more).

Following Joyner’s advice and internet marketing strategies has never, to the best of our knowledge, lead a single person astray. How can you go wrong taking the advice of the leader of a multi-million-dollar International corporation? Duh.

Here are a few other interesting facts about Mark Joyner lifted verbatim from his own About page:

Earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology through independent study while simultaneously serving in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence Corp (he speaks Korean fluently graduating at the top of his class at the Defense Language Institute).

Is a cold-war veteran of military intelligence and a former U.S. Army Officer. He held a Top Secret SCI clearance (the highest clearance level in the US) for several years.

Was awarded for his military service by the U.S. Army, the Republic of Korea Army, the Korean Consulate General, and the President of the United States.

Makes for a decent resume qualifying this guy to be a “Mind Control” expert if you ask us

View the Video and Signup for Notification NOW To The Missing Chapter Coming Tomorrow April 8th

Don’t miss tomorrow! And, as always, things don’t stop there. Not only is The Missing Chapter within reach of everyone’s budget (true!), but there are going to be bonuses the likes you’ve not seen before.

Head over now. Watch the video, sign up. You won’t want to miss this one if you value your business online.

We got screwed. And here’s the rest of our rant…

Choosing the right top-notch marketer “to follow” can be tricky at best.

We have our own personal guidelines for giving these marketers our time (and money) which starts, foremost, with that marketer’s sincere desire to help… us.

It’s very easy to throw stuff out there, but it takes time, patience, and a true desire to help others for an internet marketer to truly shine.

A willingness to help others is more than evident in many marketering “guru’s” business dealings online, and no more so then a marketer we will be telling you more about in tomorrow’s post.

In the meantime… Something happened that we feel duty bound to point out. What follows may sound like sour grapes to some, but created confusion, frustration, and anger for us.

Here’s what happened:

Last night checking back through outstanding business folders, we were reviewing a program we believed we would be participating in this week. The program will be one of those “giveaway” sites where, if your hard drive isn’t yet full enough, give you the opportunity to pick up more stuff… for free.

The odd thing about this is… we were declined.

Our offer was generous! A full 30 days of free assistance with one’s marketing and advertising. Initially, we got the setup a bit wrong, but then we made immediate modifications to our offer - thus fulfilling our end of the arrangement. The offer had to be your own original “something” and be free to boot. Ours was.

That, too, was denied.

We submitted an email stating our confusion as to why our offer was declined. The answer back was snotty to say the least. No need to say more, we logged right in and deleted our entire account.

We are amazed. We are confused. We are, now unfortunately, skeptical from all angles.

Ah well. Guess we could just say you win some, you lose some. But really, in the back of our minds, we cannot help but think… what the hell? Why wouldn’t someone accept other people’s offer of hands-on services to HELP [their participants] for FREE??

Just shaking our heads…

Reported Sunday, March 30 in the Washington Post, writer Juan Carlos Perez of the IDG News Service sites a second straight month of declining paid search for Google.

Perez’s referenced source is a comScore report that suggests, “Google’s revenue engine is slowing down, highlighting again the perils of the company’s overwhelming dependence on a single type of online advertising to fuel its business.”

Unless you are a comScore client, the possibilities of you getting your hands on this report are nil. However, Citigroup analysts Mark Mahaney and James Samford appear to back up this report, too.

Citigroup reports only a 3.1 percent year-on-year search using Google’s paid search ads. They also indicate that a 0.3 percent year-on-year decline in January presents an emerging trend that Google’s PPC ad business “may be losing steam, after powering the search giant mindblowing levels of revenue and profit growth for years.”

Investors in Google may be the ones most concerned over this development. But Google executives say they are aware of this situation and they are promising “concrete results this year and in 2009 in display advertising, such as banners, now that the DoubleClick acquisition has been finalized.”

What does this mean for the average marketer? It might well explain the phone calls and emails we’ve been getting about poor PPC results and excessive amounts of money being spent to sustain these types of marketing campaigns. The bottom line to these inquiries, what else can a marketer do to promote their website online?

While PPC may hold a spot in an online website owner’s business, diversifying your marketing methods has always been, and will continue to be, your best bet.

Resources to check out:

Molten Marketing
and
My Wizard Ads’ Numerous Advertising and Marketing Bundles

Remember… diversify!

Tonight doing my Entrecard thing (gotta keep up with our dropping), I came across the coolest blog with the best information to make your Firefox browser experience killer! Turns out that it not always your connection speed that’s the culprit. Could be your settings. I also learned parts of Firefox I did not even know existed lol!

8 Easy Firefox Tweaks For Super Fast Web Browsing

The best thing is madWAHM gives you step by step instructions PLUS screen shots so you cannot get this wrong. After making these 8 tiny tweaks, and closing and reopening your browser the speed increase for me was totally noticeable!

[Special Note: After making the tweaks, I ended up going back and turned the very first tweak from true back to false. Still works like a charm!]

If you load lots of pages, or heck even if you want to speed things up just for the sake of going faster, head to madWAHM now. This is worth the trip

Enjoy!