Internet Marketing Tactics For These Tough Times ( From Google And Me !)

As we enter into what many enlightened souls are calling the most dire economic times since the Great Depression, online marketers need all the help they can get — regardless of the source. You have probably heard of Google; but chances are almost 100% certain, you have never heard of me. Lucky you!

Actually, the only thing you need to know about me is that I am a full-time online affiliate marketer and I make a very comfortable living from the web. Last year (2008), was my best year online so far, which left me scratching my head and saying what recession?

But that may be something of a false positive, as I will never know how much I could have made if the economic times had been good instead of bad. Plus, judging from my own limited experience, selling and marketing online may not have been hit as hard as those businesses in the real world in 2008, since consumers are doing everything to save a penny and shopping online has become a much cheaper alternative for many.

As we enter into these uncertain times, online marketers and webmasters need all the help they can get. Recently, Google mailed a small booklet to its Adsense users; in it Google gives «6 Top Tactics For Tough Times.» It is obviously referring to its Adwords PPC (Pay Per Click) program and clients but Google’s advice can be applied to your own general online marketing.

These tactics include: (quoting directly from the Google mail-out)

1. Focus your ads on low prices and savings.

2. Use Value-related keywords.

3. Ensure your ad groups are targeted and relevant.

4. Don’t waste money on irrelevant clicks.

5. Make it easy for customers to buy.

6. Focus your money on your high-performers. (End Quote)

Sound advice and I especially like the idea of focusing your marketing on low prices and savings mainly because people want bargains in tight economic times. I also like the fact that you must make it easy for your customers to buy… something as simple as putting your «order/buy link» above the fold can increase your conversions.

Also, targeting value-related keywords, is a very effective marketing tactic. Relating your keywords to «discounts, bargains, cheap, inexpensive, lowest prices…» will help increase your sales. So too, is catering to phrases that suggest the searcher is in a buying mind-set: gifts, presents, gift ideas, wedding gifts… shoppers searching those words are ready to buy.

Plus, focusing your time and money on your high-performers is solid advice. Sometimes succeeding online is simply finding a market niche that works/performs — then running with it. Once you have found the keywords and products that perform well with your site or sites — focus the majority of your time and energy developing those niche markets.

Now here are some of my most effective marketing tactics that have worked for me and tactics I will be relying on in the coming years — even in these hard times.

• Make Keywords Your #1 Goal

This is the single most important factor for my own online success. You have to make keywords and ranking high for them in all the search engines your main objective if you’re marketing online. Might sound obvious, but many beginning marketers don’t truly understand how important getting top rankings for your chosen keywords will be in your online success.

Target less competitive long tail (multi-worded) keywords to get started and slowly work your way up to more popular keywords. Center your marketing around getting those first page listings (Top Five) for your keywords. Achieve this goal, (especially in Google) and it will be almost impossible for you not to succeed and make a profit with your online marketing even in bad times.

• Autoresponders, List Building & Online Relationships

Keeping in contact with potential buyers is mission critical. You must use autoresponders to send follow-up messages to build trustful relationships with your potential customers. Establishing this personal contact or trust is very important because the Internet is still a cold distrustful environment for most people.

So building a large contact list is essential. That’s why the social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace can be very effective marketing tools for building this online contact and trust. Truth be told, all these social networks are, more or less, just glorified autoresponders and list builders!

• Your Unique Selling Position

You must give potential customers some very good reasons for them to buy from you or your links. Offering special bonuses and discounts works wonders for your sales. Some of my most successful pages simply consists of coupons and discounts offered by different companies. If buyers can save $100’s OFF by buying thru your links, they will.

Always remember, besides looking for the best deal or bargain, consumers are also looking for a quality product. If you’re into affiliate marketing, only pick top quality products to promote. Picking top brand names also makes it easier to make sales. So too is only promoting popular online merchants like Amazon, can be an effective marketing strategy. Most importantly, always remember consumers are also looking for INFORMATION on the products they are considering buying, give them helpful information and you will succeed.

• Find A Niche You Enjoy

There are millions of profitable niche markets you can choose from — pick one that truly interests you and run with it. Your favorite hobby or something you enjoy doing in your spare-time. Picking a niche market that you like is a key factor, you won’t mind spending your time exploring and exploiting it. Just won’t seem like work because you will be having fun while you do your marketing.

• Go With The Flow

If you’re marketing online, you have to follow what’s working for you. Most times you will try countless ideas or tactics — once you have found a process or system that works, really work it or scale it up. Making your first dollar is the hardest, but once you do something that earns you that dollar, just repeat that «something» a thousand times.

Tracking what works is very important so keep a close eye on your site’s traffic logs to find where your customers are coming from. Something like Google Analytics is simply priceless for «fine-tuning» your site and your online marketing. It will tell you what’s working and what’s not.

• Target Recurring or Residual Income

One of my most effective marketing strategies is to promote and sell products and services that give you a recurring or residual income. Make one sale and get paid for years or for the life of that referred client. Concentrate on services like web-hosting, telephone, marketing programs… once customers sign up to these services, they will likely keep them for years. I am still earning income from sales I made five years ago.

Building a large residual income could be the key to surviving in tough economic times. This will be income which will carry you or your business over the rough patches since it is based upon past performance and not on your current selling situation.

• Target the Right Customers And Markets

The biggest advantage of marketing online is you can precisely target your customers and your markets. One tactic I use is to target customers who are likely to buy more than one unit of what you’re selling. For example, if you target Corporate Business Gifts, a boss or employer will not be buying just one coffee mug but ten or even hundreds of mugs.

Even in tough times, seasonal markets will still perform… back to school, mother’s day, Halloween, Christmas market… things might slow down but these markets will still perform even in tough times.

• Automate Everything

The real beauty of marketing online and using computers… you can automate just about every process in your marketing system. Make it a point of automating everything you do… use autoresponders to follow-up with potential buyers, use automatic check-o
uts, automatic reporting… just set-up your whole online marketing system that runs itself with little or no supervision from you. This will free up your time to concentrate all your efforts on marketing/promoting your site or product. Besides, nothing beats coming back from a vacation and finding out you have earned the cost of your vacation and then some — all the while you were lying in the sun and miles away from any computer.

• Find The Top Online Marketers

If you’re just starting with online marketing, you need to find the top successful marketers and «model» what they’re doing. This is relatively a new industry and you have to seek out the experts and pioneers who have set the groundwork. When I first started marketing online, I was quite fortunate to come into contact with some web marketing heavy-weights such as Marlon Sanders, Ken Evoy, Neil Shearing… and SEO experts like Brad Callen and Aaron Wall.

Often it is just a matter of finding the right «mentor» to follow. You need to study their techniques to improve your own marketing. Perhaps my best advice would be this: find the top online marketers and stick to them like glue!

• Make Google Your Friend

Whether you love or hate Google doesn’t matter, you just have to make it your number one ally in your online marketing. Google has just about conquered the world-wide search market, Yahoo and MSN are still important, but Google is the deal-breaker when you’re selling stuff online. Consumers have enormous respect for Google, a number one listing for a lucrative keyword simply means money in the bank. Marketers must realize Google will play a significant role in their online success and may play an ever increasing role in these tough economic times.

I have found using Google Search, Google Adwords, and Google Adsense have played a more than significant role in the success of my own online sites and marketing. Google tools such as Google Analytics, Google Alerts, Webmaster Tools… all have been invaluable and an enormous help in achieving my «web-based» lifestyle and livelihood. Of course, Google has also driven me around the bend more times than I can count, but no one is perfect.

Besides, when it’s all said and done, anyone marketing on the web must truly embrace Google if they want to reach their highest level possible. In good times and especially in these bad times, you must make Google your friend. Your best friend. Even your BFF. When all else fails, trust in Google, forget that other guy. Then again, you better not; for you’re going to need all the help you can get in these coming tough times, regardless of the source.

Instant Decision Bad Credit Loans: Easily Solve Fiscal Constraints

Due to unexpected financial emergency you might feel helpless as you don’t have sufficient funds to cope with it. This kind of situation impels you to apply for a loan. But due to having poor credit rating, your loan application may get rejected by the lender. Don’t worry! There is still one option available in the financial market that helps you to come out from this financial suffering, by simply applying for instant decision bad credit loans.

Bad Credit Loans Instant Decisionis the best monetary solution designed for bad credit holders to access funds for al their financial demands, despite of having questionable credit score. So, all your bad credit factors are acceptable under these loans which include the following:-

• Insolvency
• Foreclosures
• CCJ
• IVA
• Bankruptcy etc.

Instant decision means the decision of approval in an instant. And also if you applied for these through online mode then the processing is much faster, easier and free from hassles. So, quickly provide all the papers that prove your repayment capability, residence address and employment to the satisfaction of the lender, then the approval decision is likely to be instant.

These loans can be availed in two forms; unsecured form and secured form. The unsecured form is best for those who don’t have any assets to pledge as collateral. This collateral free form allows you to grab small yet sufficient loan amount for the short repayment period. However the rate of interest on this unsecured form is a little higher, due to lack of collateral. To get a cost-effective loan deal, do research competitive online market carefully.

However, its secured form asks you to put any of your assets as collateral against the loan. This form allows you to get huge loan amount at low interest rates for longer time period.

Instant decision bad credit loans helps you to use the loan amount for satisfying your many needs like debt consolidation, home renovation, wedding expenses, education and many more.

How to Set up Fixings in Dried up Lining Dividers

The cause why it is tough to put in screws and bolts on dividers with a dried out lining is simply because the plasterboard creating up the lining is only affixed onto the brickwork or the block operate with adhesive dabbing. 1 wrong move and you will finish up ruining the plasterboard with cracks and compromising the wall’s integrity.

Understanding Your Dried out Wall Just before You Place In The Fixings

Dried up walling is a very well-liked mode of creating partitions these days. That is since there are a lot of benefits that we can get from possessing lose moisture wall linings in our interiors. Among these advantages are that drywalls are simpler to develop, simpler to preserve, can muffle sounds, and can hide unsightly electrical wirings.

Structurally speaking, on the other hand, drywalls are pretty delicate to operate with post-construction. You cannot just poke into it utilizing your energy drill to install fixings simply because the dried up wall lining basically has a hollow space separating it from the brickwork of your wall exactly where it is not glued on. Mounting stuff on the unsupported portion of the wall will lead to the wall to turn out to be deformed.

Adding Fixings in Dried up Lining Partitions

Offered the complications involved in adding through bolts in surfaces with drywall linings, how do you go about it? The practical answer to this question is lined up as follows:

1. Mark out with a pencil in which the holes for your screws will be drilled in. Make certain that these holes are situated exactly where the wall is not supported by any adhesive blobs.

two. several. 4. Match the batten into the empty, lower-out room. Afterwards, drill the hole exactly where your fixings will be place into location. The hole ought to go correct by means of the brickwork or prevent perform of the wall and the screws must be lengthy sufficient to match correct in. Keep in mind to steer clear of the mortar joints so as not to compromise the integrity of your wall.

five. Make certain that the by means of bolts are risk-free and secure.

For more information visit:
Dry Lining

dry lining insulation

A Very good Plastering Contractor Can Transform Your House

Instruction To Use Mig Welder

MIG welders can be useful tools to connect two metal surfaces together. MIG welder required careful operation due to involve gas, fire and electricity. That may seem like a dangerous combination, but with proper care, a MIG welder can be safely utilized.

The steps needed for operating a MIG welder.

Before use MIG welder, wear personal protective equipment like welding gloves, welding helmet, hearing and eye protection wear to protect from sparks of MIG welder can easily burn or blind instantly. Protective eyewear because of the light alone that comes from the welding is dangerous to look at without protection. If possible, get a helmet that automatically darkens when the MIG welder is operating.

Adjust the tip voltage to the proper setting. The tip voltage determines how deep your welding will penetrate the surface you are working on. If your setting is too low, you will only create melting on the surface. If the setting is too high, you might put a hole in your material.

Set the feed rate of the MIG welder. The feed rate controls gas you let the welder expunge depending on the material you are working with, the feed rate may need to be adjusted higher or lower.

Zigzag patterns are the best way to create a good weld because they do not allow the arc to stay in one place too long. If it does, the arc can destroy your material rather than weld it.

Follow this instruction and read your manual before you attempt to do any welding

1. Locate a 220V outlet.

2. Plug in MIG Welder into the outlet.

3. Attach ground cord into the welder.

4. Attach wire feed welder cord into the welder.

5. Attach the welder’s feed wire.

6. Adjust the voltage and wire feed rate to preferred settings.

7. Switch on the welder.

8. Use the wire bush to clean the surface that will be welded.

9. Use the ground cord from the welder to cramp onto the piece of steel to be welded.

10. Place the welding handle near your starting position.

11. Pull your helmet over your face.

12. Begin welding by pulling the wire feed trigger.

13. Weave a wire feed from side to side.

14. Continue welding until you see expected outcome.

How to Find a Fundraising Auctioneer for your Charity Auction

Copyright (c) 2010 Red Apple Auctions LLC

If you’re new to charity auctions or new to working with auctioneers, you might be unsure of how to go about finding and selecting a charity auctioneer.

Here are six steps auction planners can use to not just survive the selection process, but actually enjoy the conversations.

#1: Locate some auctioneers

If you’re starting from a blank slate, visit the National Auctioneers Association website* and use their «Find an Auctioneer» search tool. Auctioneers with a «BAS» credential indicates that he or she has had specific training and testing in fundraising auctions. It’s a good way to start weeding through the masses.

Similarly, if you research your state auctioneers association, many state groups also have a similar search tool useful for finding area auctioneers.

Another great option is to call other organizations whom you respect which are conducting their own charity auctions. Ask them who they use, and why.

#2: Research and compare auctioneers by studying their websites

To be frank … in today’s society, if a business doesn’t have a website, they aren’t doing much business. You can glean a lot from how serious a company is simply by reading what they have posted online. — Is the content fresh? — Do they showcase videos? — Are they active in their communities? — Are they even … relevant?

Almost weekly, I have auctioneers who contact my company, inquiring as to whether I’m hiring contract auctioneers. Before calling them back, the first action I take is to Google them and see if I can find their website. If I can’t find a website …and/or a photo … and/or a video … I’m not interested.

When I emailed back one auctioneer to inquire if he had a video, he said, «Sure. Search on YouTube.» What?!? Are you kidding me? This guy wasn’t even going to make an effort to provide me — his prospective employer — with a direct link to a video he would prefer for me to watch? Gosh, that made for an easy «delete.» I immediately knew that his customer service wouldn’t be a match for my company. Trust me, you’ll be able to pick up on similar cues.

Here’s something else to watch: If an auction firm’s home page seems less focused on fund raising auctions than it is on real estate auctions (or auto auctions … or consignment auctions … or antique auctions … or … whatever), then the firm probably is more knowledgeable about real estate. This might a perk for you … but only if you plan on selling some land and chattel in your benefit auction.

#3: Create a form with standard questions, and call some auctioneers

I tend to think it’s best if you can talk with all of your candidates within the same time period so you can compare them in one swoop.

Key questions you might want to ask include: — Are you available on our gala date? — How many events do you conduct per year? — How many events have you overseen with our guest count? — Could you describe the way you work with clients? — Do you have a video? (If they don’t, ask when you can watch them next perform.) — Can I speak with some of your clients who hold events similar to ours? — Could you explain your service offerings and pricing structure — … and whatever else is relevant for your event (emceeing, for instance)

HINT: Don’t begin by asking, «How much do you cost.» In most cases, a charity auctioneer will need to know a bit about your event before quoting a price.

#2 HINT: If you’re familiar with the Kepner-Tregoe ranking and weighting method for making decisions, it might be fun to use that process to help you decide. (Did I just type Kepner-Tregoe? Oops! My years spent in the corporate world are oozing onto the article…)

#4: If the auctioneer has given you referrals, you can call them

When you call the referral, ask if he or she is — in any way, shape or form — related to the auctioneer.

If they aren’t, ask about the auctioneer’s communication and performance style. We already assume the group liked the auctioneer (hence, they are a «referral,»), but we want to find out if the auctioneer’s style would fit in with our guests and organization. Ask questions focusing on that.

#5: If you want a proposal or need a final interview, set it up.

Request a proposal only if you’re serious about the auctioneer.

If you need the auctioneer to meet key decision-makers face-to-face, set up the meeting. Keep in mind that meeting face-to-face isn’t always an option due to distance. But early on, I did conduct a lot of in-person sales calls, especially if the Board was responsible for approving the hire.

#6: Ladies, it’s OK to say no.

(Hm. Haven’t we heard that before in a different context?) If you’re not into an auctioneer or know that you definitely don’t need his or her services, don’t ask for a proposal. Know that it’s completely fine to say «no thank you.» You won’t burn bridges or hurt feelings unless you drop the ball. But if you’ve moved along in the process and you’ve received a proposal, it’s only polite to let the auctioneer know when you opt for someone else. Give them a call (gosh, use SlyDial if you find it that awkward) to thank them for their proposal, and let them know you’ve opted for another candidate but will keep them in mind for next year.

When I worked as an event planner at GE, I always called my vendors to deliver the bad news. It seemed to be the polite thing to do. And besides, I might want to work with them later and I knew my courtesy would be remembered.

Good luck!

* National Auctioneers Association website is http://www.auctioneers.org/