Gene Minor's Blog

There are many emerging online classified sites on the internet today where you can advertise your business for free. All it takes is your own personal computer and an internet connection for you to be able to search for these sites. One of the most popular of these is the Backpage.com.

Backpage is an online classifieds distribution site which anyone can place their ads for free. Also known as Craigslist’s cousin, Backpage is perceived to be much easier to navigate your way through. They are also not so strict on the placement of business opportunity ads and they are not as strict in monitoring “sales” type ads on the site.

Backpage and any other online classified ad sites site are of no use if you will not apply the right online marketing strategies. If you have any plans of promoting your business, you should invest a some time examining the categories, and advertisements your competitors are running. Investing time in researching your competitors activities will give you a good indication how you can immediately capitalize in your niche, by copying their actions. Look at how often they post, where they post, and the text of each adverts. You should always know your competitors actions. Persistence is also a must in the process so you can achieve success in this line of business.

With Backpage, you have to make a plan of placing a minimum of a hundred ads per day which would just take at least two to three hours of your time. When you get to place a good number of relevant ads, this would help a lot in your online business gaining more recognition around the online community. Hence, it is important that you allot sufficient time and dedication in monitoring your ads daily since this is your free tool to make publicity for your business. Once you get inquiries from potential customers, you can answer them back fast through the forums and online communities that Backpage renders to its users.

Through all this process, you must be persistent and diligent on taking advantage of how to avail low cost advertisements. You would be amazed that there are lots of free online publications and classified sites like Backpage which you can utilize along with the application of proper internet strategies to make everything a huge success. Backpage can effectively help you develop massive amounts of leads.

To generate good and effective leads with Backpage, you have to place good relevant adcopy. That means the inclusion of high impact words of action that would move potential clients to a desire to purchase what you are offering. Also, it would help a lot if you would use a system that will track the performance of your placed ad so that you will know which ones are acting effective for the benefit of your business.

Using Backpage in your online marketing strategy, watch your business generate leads with just one hit of the button, all from the being in front of your computer.

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Duncan Wierman is an Ex Software company CEO turned Real Estate Investor and Marketer. Discover how to outsmart your competitor, ethically dominate the search engines,and legally siphon off tons of cash in hand buyers from your website! Get a customized FREE report on what is wrong with your website! http://internetmarketingconsultinggroup.com/outsourcing/

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As a new website owner, champing at the bit to get visitors, you may be wondering where they all are to begin with. A good web development company will optimise your website generically as a matter of good practice so that the search engines – when they find you – know what your website is about. However, it’s still up to you to tell the internet world that your website is there. When it comes to growing your business or company website and increasing its popularity with the search engines in terms of search engine results placement (SERPs) as well as PageRank (PR) there are several factors that are considered important. You may know what basic search engine optimisation is, and this is the process of improving the quality of traffic to your website.

However, once your website has been optimised onsite with keywords in all the right places, you’ll need to start off-site SEO. This is crucial and necessary to achieving a friendly status with search engines, thus giving you higher and higher search engine results placements (SERPs) so that your customers and visitors will be able to find you. Off-site search engine optimisation (SEO) is necessary; if you don’t use it then you can liken it to trying to grab the search engines’ attention while having one hand tied behind your back. This is how important it is, and there are several ways to go about off-site SEO techniques.

Linkbuilding and Backlinks

The ultimate way to improve your SEO efforts is to increase your linkbuilding campaign. The way this works is by obtaining as many quality backlinks as you can for your website. A backlink is when you have another website that has a link pointing back to your site. This link from the other website is often thought of as a “vote” for your website. This vote signals the search engines, which in turn put your website in a more favourable light, thus pushing you further up in the search engine.

How to Get Backlinks

There are several ways to go about getting backlinks, and in relation to off-site SEO these techniques do take some hard work and dedication.

Article Writing and Submissions – This off-site SEO technique involves writing an informational, attention-grabbing article on a certain topic and submitting it to large article directories. For example, if you’re in the customer service industry then you could write an article on “5 sure-fire ways to make customers like you” or a related title.

The important part about this process is that when you submit articles to article e-zines and article directories then you are allowed to include a link that goes directly to your site. This increases the number of backlinks that you have, especially if you’re writing lots of great articles and submitting them to multiple article e-zines and directories.

Getting backlinks from large article directories is a good strategy to use, but an even better one involves getting a backlink from a website owner that has relevant and similar information as is posted on your site. Relevancy is crucial when it factors into off-site SEO so having a related website, such as from a website owner who owns the same type of business as you, give you a backlink would be powerful search engine food. However, these often require you to post their link on your website in return – a link exchange. For various reasons to do with Page Rank this can work well but ask yourself, do you really want your website’s visitors to be directed elsewhere?

Forum Postings – In forums, you’re routinely allowed to have a forum signature, which can be used to post a link back to your website. The more posts you have, the more backlinks you have. Of course, you want to make sure that you post great and useful information which would boost your authority as well.

All in all, these are only a few of the major techniques that can help with your off-site SEO. As mentioned, all of this takes time and dedication to do, but once you have started and have seen the results for your website then chances are that you’ll only be motivated more to continue with your off-site SEO efforts.

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Andrew Plimmer is CEO of Suncoast Internet, SEO Sunshine Coast, web design and web development specialists. For more information on Internet Marketing go to =>
http://www.suncoastinternet.com.au/

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The problem with many direct mail programs is that they are very expensive and, therefore, eat up an individual’s profits before he or she can have the chance to make a legitimate income. These programs include both direct mail software and mailing house solutions, as both of these types of distribution are far too expensive, especially if someone is just starting out in real estate investing. The good news, however, is that these options are no longer needed in the business world because Click2Mail now offers an inexpensive solution. The method that Click2Mail uses in order to give their customers these savings is definitely unique, but it works like a charm because it is something that no one else has been able to offer.

Click2Mail prides itself in its ability to offer direct mail options over the internet for a fraction of the cost of other companies. The reason that it is able to do this is that the company operates under the license of the United States Postal Service, which definitely gives it a distinct advantage. Click2Mail is able to save its customers money on absolutely anything that they send out, making it perfect for the direct mail industry. In addition, this service allows changes to be made to mailing lists in an instant, since it can be updated online. Click2Mail provides solutions to every aspect of this industry, so it might be time to switch over and take advantage of this option from the United States Postal Service.

All you have to do in order to get involved with Click2Mail is upload a mailing list and then sign up for an online account. Click2Mail will then take care of every other aspect of your direct mail campaign for you, as they can provide competitive rates on both printing and mailing. Other companies know that you are desperate to get your message out and, therefore, will charge you far more for the printing and mailing than Click2Mail, but this is not a problem that you have to worry about any longer. The best part is that it does not matter how many or how few letters you are sending out, you will still be able to find a great deal when you go through this company. The benefits that are available through Click2Mail are endless, as you will never find an easier or more cost friendly way to get your message out there than through this service.

When you log onto the company’s website, you will be presented with a number of different design options that will ensure that your letter looks exactly how you want it to. The browser based design technology is state of the art, which makes it easy to use and extremely accurate. This technology also works hard to drive down prices, as everything can be handled through your web browser. When you do your direct mailing through Click2Mail, you will not experience any of the problems that you are used to when sending out your mail, as the company has spent a lot of time streamlining the entire process for organizations like yours.

The reason why other types of mailing are so difficult is that you would be responsible for sorting, labeling, paying for postage, and then driving all of your letters to the post office. You would also have to personally maintain your mailing list and make sure that everyone on your list has a letter, which takes a great deal of time. Click2Mail, however does all of this for about the same price of a stamp, so you can imagine how much time and money you will save if your mailing list has thousands of names on it.

This service can also be used for personal or other professional use, such as sending out a Thank You card. If you do not want to address multiple envelopes to people all over the country, you can simply write your letter on Click2Mail and insert the addresses into your mailing list. Each of these people will then receive a copy of your Christmas card, without you having to do much more than write the original letter. There is simply no easier way to get your mail out there than through this service and it has led a revitalization in the direct mail marketplace.

Basically, Click2Mail is like combining email and conventional mail into one package, as you will create a digital message that will arrive in people’s mailboxes, rather than their email inboxes. The United States Postal Service delivers letters to countless people every year and they will continue to do so well into the future. People trust the USPS because of their motivation to provide their customers with everything that they desire.

If you have used direct mail marketing in the past, you might have been disappointed with the results, especially if you used some real estate software that was meant to handle everything for you. The problem with this software is that it does not tap into the low prices of the USPS the way that Click2Mail does, so you will always end up paying more when you use it. There are very few certainties in life, but one thing that you can be certain of when you use Click2Mail is that you will find low prices and that your letters will arrive when they are supposed to. This is truly the future of direct mail, so make sure that you take advantage of this quick and easy way to market your business and you will not regret your decision.

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Duncan Wierman is an Ex Software company CEO turned Real Estate Investor and Marketer. Discover how you can use creative online marketing methods to do more deals online. For more details on how to set up an automated internet marketing system, please visit Duncan Wierman’s website and get is free 14 day e-course. http://www.DuncanWierman.com

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While television and radio advertising still plays a role for major business in how they allocate their advertising budgets, an increasing number of businesses have been turning to the internet to get in touch with their potential consumers. In the UK alone, online spending budgets increased more than 4% in the first half of 2009 while television budgets for businesses actually decreased 16%.

More businesses are starting to realize the value of having a strong internet presence and the branding value that goes along with it. Businesses and companies that are not plugged in to the internet right now are definitely losing customers to their competitors, something which no business can afford to allow. There are definitely many reasons why online marketing is better than TV and radio advertising, and overall it is a more efficient, simple, and smarter marketing strategy.

Organic SEO Traffic

An SEO strategy will improve your website’s ranking in the search engine results and make it visible to those internet users who are already searching for the products and services that your website offers. By contrast, Tv and radio advertising broadcasts the same message to the same audience indiscriminately, regardless of their needs. Chances are, a large proportion of the audience will ignore it.

Increasing your advertising budget to include search engine optimisation (SEO) services only makes sense for those businesses that truly want to ramp up their marketing strategies. For example, if you offer a home renovation service then you can optimise your business website to catch much of the organic traffic searching for home renovation services from the search engines.In essence, it’s absolutely essential to have an SEO strategy that can improve your search engine rankings and get you where you want to be– visible to your potential customers!

Pay-Per-Click Advertising

Another great benefit that online marketing has to offer is that you can get reach out to your potential consumers in an on-demand way by using pay-per-click (PPC) marketing strategies. PPC advertising will work for your company, assuming your budget for advertising is large enough, to have your ad seen by those who are searching directly for the services you offer whether you are organically on the first page of Google or not. By paying for advertisements in this way, your company is getting more direct exposure for their website.

Integration of Traditional Advertising

One of the major reasons that businesses and companies are starting to spend more of their advertising budgets on internet marketing services is not only because there has been a gradual decline in the effectiveness of traditional forms of advertising, but also because of the convergence of advertising media. Phone directories and newspapers are increasingly becoming available in a digital format, and more consumers are actually spending money online! For these reasons alone an internet marketing and SEO strategy is crucial for any business.

Whether you decide to use a professional internet marketing service or take the do-it-yourself route, an online presence enhanced by an online marketing strategy is going to be important in the years ahead. A business will lose customers and profit to its competitors if an online marketing strategy is not put in place.

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Andrew Plimmer is CEO of Suncoast Internet, SEO Sunshine Coast, web design and web development specialists. For more information on Internet Marketing go to => http://www.suncoastinternet.com.au/

Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com

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While television and radio advertising still plays a role for major business in how they allocate their advertising budgets, an increasing number of businesses have been turning to the internet to get in touch with their potential consumers. In the UK alone, online spending budgets increased more than 4% in the first half of 2009 while television budgets for businesses actually decreased 16%.

More businesses are starting to realize the value of having a strong internet presence and the branding value that goes along with it. Businesses and companies that are not plugged in to the internet right now are definitely losing customers to their competitors, something which no business can afford to allow. There are definitely many reasons why online marketing is better than TV and radio advertising, and overall it is a more efficient, simple, and smarter marketing strategy.

Organic SEO Traffic

An SEO strategy will improve your website’s ranking in the search engine results and make it visible to those internet users who are already searching for the products and services that your website offers. By contrast, Tv and radio advertising broadcasts the same message to the same audience indiscriminately, regardless of their needs. Chances are, a large proportion of the audience will ignore it.

Increasing your advertising budget to include search engine optimisation (SEO) services only makes sense for those businesses that truly want to ramp up their marketing strategies. For example, if you offer a home renovation service then you can optimise your business website to catch much of the organic traffic searching for home renovation services from the search engines.In essence, it’s absolutely essential to have an SEO strategy that can improve your search engine rankings and get you where you want to be– visible to your potential customers!

Pay-Per-Click Advertising

Another great benefit that online marketing has to offer is that you can get reach out to your potential consumers in an on-demand way by using pay-per-click (PPC) marketing strategies. PPC advertising will work for your company, assuming your budget for advertising is large enough, to have your ad seen by those who are searching directly for the services you offer whether you are organically on the first page of Google or not. By paying for advertisements in this way, your company is getting more direct exposure for their website.

Integration of Traditional Advertising

One of the major reasons that businesses and companies are starting to spend more of their advertising budgets on internet marketing services is not only because there has been a gradual decline in the effectiveness of traditional forms of advertising, but also because of the convergence of advertising media. Phone directories and newspapers are increasingly becoming available in a digital format, and more consumers are actually spending money online! For these reasons alone an internet marketing and SEO strategy is crucial for any business.

Whether you decide to use a professional internet marketing service or take the do-it-yourself route, an online presence enhanced by an online marketing strategy is going to be important in the years ahead. A business will lose customers and profit to its competitors if an online marketing strategy is not put in place.

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Andrew Plimmer is CEO of Suncoast Internet, SEO Sunshine Coast, web design and web development specialists. For more information on Internet Marketing go to => http://www.suncoastinternet.com.au/

Source: http://www.submityourarticle.com

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Have you ever Google your own name?

How many of the listings on page 1 are about you?

How many are about some other jack ass that just happens to be lucky enough with the exact same name as you?

If a potential client or customers is researching you, the first place they will go to (in most cases) is Google. Of course, your website should be there, but what are some other easy ways to own the 1st page with more content about you?

It’s actually not terribly hard, and it doesn’t require a whole lot of work.

Just create profiles on these social media sites, and be somewhat active, and you will rocket to the top within weeks or even days if your name isn’t too competitive.

Amazon.com – since we all know “poor people have big televisions and rich people have big TV’s” …all of us should have a large collection of books. If you read, why aren’t you ordering all your books Amazon.

Amazon lets you to make a profile that includes all your relevant info…and lets you review books (and anything else they sell…which is just about everything). Each review links back to your profile and once you get enough links you will start to see it pop up in the search results.

Naymz.com – this is probably the only site on the list you haven’t heard of, and I don’t really use it at all…but it’s on the first page of the search engines for my name. All I did on Naymz was set up an account when a friend sent me an invitation, and then sent invites to my contact list. That was it.

I’ve gone in maybe 5 times in the last 2 years to manage invite requests. Don’t expect to make a lot of valuable connections here, this is just super easy to get set up and see fast results.

Facebook.com – if you aren’t highly involved with Facebook already you’re a big marketing chance. The go ahead and establish your account, then, just like with LinkedIn, upload your contact/client/prospect list. However, don’t add more than 500 connections in one day. Once you have enough friends you can set up a vanity url. Then, choose a variation of your name (i.e. facebook.com/brian.horn). If you build a decent sized Friends list, you should see it at the top of the search engines.

Twitter.com – not to beat a dead horse, but Twitter is a must for entrepreneurs.

Side note: I just got back from speaking engagement at a Social Media Summit in Las Vegas very early this morning (this blog post is actually being typed 30,000 feet in the air somewhere over Utah), and had a chance to meet Tony Hseish, who is the CEO of Zappos.com. Very cool guy who is extremely active on Twitter.

You need to be interacting with your clients and potential clients in this new media or another person will, but if you need an another excuse, its quite easy to get your Twitter page to rank of the search engine also. Like the others I mentioned, just create a vanity url with your name, and start getting as many connections as possible.

LinkedIn.com – LinkedIn is more of a tool for people in the corporate world, and I reeally don’t us it at all. But you can still get it to rank on page 1 of Google. Use a vanity url with your name or company name (whatever you are trying to rank for). Fill it out completely and try to get a few recommendations. You can upload your email list and quickly find out which ones are active menbers.

You can also upload your client email addresses, or even your prospect list (I highly recommend connecting with everyone…especially now that Linked In can automatically receive your Twitter updates…you don’t even have to login to LinkedIn to keep fresh content.

Very slick upgrade that came out on Monday. All your contacts within LinkedIn will link back to your profile. The more links back to it, the better. Get enough and your profile will start to rank.

Summary

So there you have it…5 social media sites that allow you to create profile that can rank on page 1 of Google for your name.

I didn’t spend any time trying to make this happen for myself, it was just a pleasant side result of being active in other social media/social networking sites. Although I have been able to replicate it for some of my clients.

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Dan Kennedy is internationally recognized as the ‘Millionaire Maker,’ helping people in just about every category of business turn their ideas into fortunes. Dan’s “No B.S.” approach is refreshing amidst a world of small business marketing hype and enriches those who act on his advice.

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If George W. Bush had been the first President to need a teleprompter installed to be able to get through a press conference, would you have laughed and said this is more proof of how he inept he is on his own and is really controlled by smarter men behind the scenes?

If George W. Bush had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to take Laura Bush to a play in NYC, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had reduced your retirement plan’s holdings of GM stock by 90% and given the unions a majority stake in GM, would you have approved?

If George W.. Bush had made a joke at the expense of the Special Olympics, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given Gordon Brown a set of inexpensive and incorrectly formatted DVDs, when Gordon Brown had given him a thoughtful and historically significant gift, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had given the Queen of England an iPod containing videos of his speeches, would you have thought this embarrassingly narcissistic and tacky?

If George W. Bush had bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had visited Austria and made reference to the non-existent “Austrian language,” would you have brushed it off as a minor slip?

If George W.. Bu sh had filled his cabinet and circle of advisers with people who cannot seem to keep current in their income taxes, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had been so Spanish illiterate as to refer to “Cinco de Cuatro” in front of the Mexican ambassador when it was the 5th of May (Cinco de Mayo), and continued to flub it when he tried again, would you have winced in embarrassment?

If George W. Bush had mis-spelled the word “advice” would you have hammered him for it for years like Dan Quayle and potatoe as proof of what a dunce he is?

If George W. Bush had burned 9,000 gallons of jet fuel to go plant a single tree on Earth Day, would you have concluded he’s a hypocrite?

If George W. Bush’s administration had okayed Air Force One flying low over millions of people followed by a jet fighter in downtown Manhattan causing widespread panic, would you have wondered whether they actually get what happened on 9-11?

If George W. Bush had failed to send relief aid to flood victims throughout the political Midwest with more people killed or made homeless than in New Orleans, would you want it made into a major ongoing issue with claims of racism and incompetence?

If George W. Bush had created the position of 32 Czars who report directly to him, bypassing the House and Senate on much of what is happening in America, would you have approved.

If George W. Bush had ordered the firing of the CEO of a major corporation, even though he had no constitutional authority to do so, would you have approved?

If Geo rge W. Bush had proposed to double the national debt, which had taken more than two centuries to accumulate, in one year, would you have approved?

If George W. Bush had then proposed to double the debt again within 10 years, would you have approved?

So, tell me again, what is it about Obama that makes him so brilliant and impressive? Can’t think of anything? Don’t worry.

He’s done all this in just 10 months — so you’ll have three years and seven months to come up with an answer.