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Internet Marketing Strategy For Home Business Promotion
Thur 14th Oct.'99
Vote for Biz Bits at EzineSeek and support your favorite Ezine!
Click here: http://www.NowSell.com/BBvote.html Thanks!
In this issue:
1. Introduction
==>Now Sell! version 2, more CSS, a goodbye and other bits.
2. Voting Booth
==>This week's quick poll and last week's results.
3. Feature Article
==>"Choosing your Affiliate Salary" by Azam Corry.
4. This Week's Posts
==>None
5. Tip
==>"Don't Try To Be My Sugar-Daddy!" by Dr. Bill Nieporte.
6. Pause For Thought
==>W. W. Ziege, Norman Douglas, Vauvenargues, Bovee.
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=================================================================
=====================
+ Introduction +
=====================
Hi,
Sorry I'm a bit late... it's been a week of 20hr days and 4hr
nights!
I spent yesterday putting Now Sell! version 2 online. I thought
everything was ready to go live, but as soon as I put the site up
I discovered several minor problems and oversights which took me
the entire day to rectify!
Because you can only check them on a server, sometimes things
don't turn out quite as planned when working with SSI (Server
Side Includes) and CGI (Common Gateway Interface) scripts!
The most important new addition to the site is an exclusive new
search service, OBBSE (Online Business Builders Search Engine).
OBBSE is the first and only search engine dedicated to the needs
of anyone starting or building their online business.
It's a kind of hybrid between a traditional search engine and an
index: functionality is that of a regular SE, however sites are
vetted before being crawled. This way you avoid all those high
ranking but low value or off topic sites that so often come up
when you do a search on most of the current SEs.
Only sites that offer valuable information, useful resources or
innovative products to help you with your business get listed in
OBBSE.
Obviously this is a work in progress, and it will take time to
build up the database. However, with most of the almost 1000
sites already listed coming from my own bookmarks (I have over
2000 "favorites" organised by topic!), you can be sure of quality
results.
Save yourself heaps of time and get over to Now Sell! right away!
http://www.NowSell.com
One caveat: OBBSE can be used to search the World Wide Web, the
Now Sell! site alone, or both at once. Because groups of pages on
Now Sell! are optimised for the same sets of keywords, choosing
the latter option (default selection of 'All Sites') will result
in many pages from Now Sell! appearing under certain search
terms. For this reason I suggest you avoid the 'All Sites' option
for the time being, until I have individually optimised all pages
for different keyword sets.
<>
In addition to OBBSE I have also upgraded the "Rank Check" tool
(for checking the ranking of your site in the SEs) to include
more search engines and improved the presentation of the Open
Directory search pages. I also have plans to add several more
search engines to the "Site Submit" tool, just as soon as I find
the time, as well as adding lots of new content.
I've completely re-designed the homepage (considered temporary
page #2 I think!) and changed the site colour theme from #000088
navy blue to the web safe #000099.
I also brushed up on my knowledge of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
to use different font faces and styles for various page elements
as discussed in my reply to Don Morris' post in the 15th of Sept.
issue. I'm repeating myself here, but if you don't know about
CSS... learn! It really is the way to go, and it's fairly easy to
grasp the basics (which is all current browsers support in any
case).
Here are a few of the most compelling reasons to use CSS:
* You can change the font face, style, color, size or weight on
every page of you site just by changing one variable in your
style sheet file. If you have a small site this may not seem
important to you now, but just wait until you've got 50-100 pages
and you decide you want to make a change!
For example, I have changed the body text font on Now Sell! to
Verdana at 11 pixels high (forget size #1, #2, #3, etc., with CSS
you can use exact values in units like em, ex, pica, point,
pixel, mm, cm or inch). If I decide I want to change back to
Arial, all I have to do is open my style sheet file in any text
editor like Notepad or Simple Text and replace the word "Verdana"
with "Arial". Next I upload the modified file to my server and...
Voila! Every single page on the site now displays in the Arial
font!
* All those ?
tags add an awful lot to the download time of your page. Use of
CSS creates slimmer, faster loading pages. Even if you sometimes
want to create a special effect on just one or two lines of text,
a different font face, style, color, size and weight for example,
the only code you need to add to your page is this:
? or ? (same)
Then in your style sheet you will write one line specifying how
the class of "fancy" (or whatever you want to call it) should
look:
.fancy {font-size: X; font-family: XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, XXXX;
color: XXXX; font-weight: X}
You've no need to add bold, italic or any other tags directly
around your "fancy" text, just specify what you want in that one
line of your style sheet, and it will effect any text enclosed in
your tag, on every page of the site.
* Since the majority of browsers support the basic implementation
of the CSS standard, almost everyone can view the text as you
intended.
* If you don't learn CSS now, you'll be left behind once the
majority of surfers are using browsers that fully support the CSS
specification. CSS also allows for complete control over design
elements like tables, margins, justify text, etc. Most browsers
don't currently support these, but just imagine when they do...
you will be able to change the entire page layout on multiple
pages, just by changing a few lines of code in a single file!
Without the need for those complicated tables and empty GIFs as
spacers, pages will also load faster!
<>
If you like what you find when you visit the new-look Now Sell!
site, I'd like to ask a small favour... please send me a
testimonial saying what you like about the site - it will help me
get listed in Yahoo! mailto:azam+nowsell.com Thanks!
<>
This week marks the final appearance of the "Pause For Thought"
section of Biz Bits. From next week I'll be replacing it with a
new section of "Sites to Check Out", which will be more useful
and interesting for you. Bye-bye...
<>
Posts to Biz Bits [mailto:BizBits+topica.com]:
These should be regarding useful information for the group,
questions, comments, or replies to previous posts. The only
advertising allowed is that contained within your signature file.
Posts to Biz Bits FFA [mailto:FFA+topica.com]:
This is where you can send all of your ads, sales letters,
promotion offers, etc. You may post once every day. If you've not
yet joined, you can do so with a blank email to
mailto:FFA-subscribe+topica.com
<>
Tell me what YOU think! Send your feedback, comments, what you
like, what you hate, etc., to me at: mailto:azam+nowsell.com
Phew... what a week!
TTFN
Azam
PS - Want a free personal consultation with sales Guru Ken Evoy
to improve your site? That's the monthly prize for his
"recommend this site to a friend" sweepstakes. Win that and
you will never look back! http://www.sitesell.com/info.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Your Privacy:
I greatly value your trust in me. I will never, ever, under any
circumstances give or sell your email address to anyone. Period!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
=================================================================
DRAMATICALLY INCREASE YOUR REVENUES Through Quick, Strategic
Positioning on the Internet. Internet marketing guru and
affiliate program builder for the big boys, Declan Dunn, reveals
his inside secrets that successful affiliates use to make the
most money from their programs. Tap into a tested, proven system
today by visiting: http://winning.cjb.net It's a Winner!
=================================================================
=====================
+ Voting Booth +
=====================
This is the place where we take a quick poll for a snapshot of
the Biz Bits family's position on a given topic.
This week:
Do you feel certain that you will succeed with your online
business?
YES! >>>> mailto:yes+nowsell.com
I know that I *will* succeed, no matter what, no matter how hard
I have to work!
NO! >>>> mailto:no+nowsell.com
I can't say for sure, it's hard to make money and there are a lot
of scams!
ERR? >>>> mailto:err+nowsell.com
I'm not sure... depends... ?
*** Add any additional comments in the body of your vote mail ***
=====================
Last week:
Are search engines and directories the main way through which you
discover new Web sites?
YES! >>>> 35%
I use them all the time and find almost all sites through them!
NO! >>>> 65%
I seldom use them unless I'm looking for something in particular.
I discover most sites through other sources!
ERR? >>>> 0%
I'm not sure... depends... ?
Looks like you don't find the main SE's very useful. Perhaps you
should visit the new OBBSE!
Keep those votes coming!
=====================
Voters Feedback:
NO!
I had to think about this one a bit. My first inclination was to
say "Yes," since I do use search engines quite a bit. My favorite
search engine for the last year or so has been Northern Light
http://www.northernlight.com, because it nearly always gives me
the site for which I'm looking in the first page of results.
Recently I've been using the Sherlock technology found in the Mac
OS to look for web sites; it queries multiple search engines
using natural language.
However, most of the sites that I end up bookmarking are those
that I come across as a result of a referral from a trusted
source, such as Biz Bits. Search engines don't give you an idea
if a site is junk, but proven content like that from Azam rarely
steers you wrong.
--
Don Morris mrtoner+pe.net LaserMedic Laser Printer Service
..support+lasermedic.com. http://www.lasermedic.com/?BB ..
[Azam: I use Sherlock far more often than I actually visit a
search engine - it's simply *days* faster than going to them all
yourself! Plus most good sites have a Sherlock plug-in, so you
can search all your favourite sites for a particular software
application, news item, etc., from the comfort of your Mac, and
then only go to the site that has what you want. Another great
time saver! Version 2 debuts in Mac OS9 (due this month) and is
supposed to be even better! I should do a plug-in for OBBSE when
I find the time.
Thanks Don for the positive comments about the content I write.
It's much appreciated and I'm pleased to know you find my efforts
of value. I also only find a few of my bookmarks through the
major search engines and your comment about junk is in essence
the raison d'etre of OBBSE.]
=====================
=================================================================
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=================================================================
=====================
+ Feature Article +
=====================
------------------------------
Choosing your Affiliate Salary
------------------------------
by Azam Corry
Before joining any affiliate program you should consider the
price of the product and the commissions you'll get on each
action or sale. To sell anything effectively you'll need to put
in some effort. It's OK getting paid peanuts for click throughs
on links if you have redundant space and your only effort is
actually putting them up. After all it's tough out there and
every little helps, right?...
Maybe... it depends... are you just adding clutter to your site?
Or needlessly directing visitors to the exit?
... it's your call!
To generate a realistic income though you need to sell in
quantity. Actively marketing something is an entirely different
proposition to adding a simple link or banner on your page. Think
about the time and energy you plan to devote and the realistic
returns you can expect to get. Then ask yourself this question
"Would I take a job that paid this much per hour?" If the answer
is no...
... why bother?
Choose another program that fully meets with your requirements
(at least as close as possible). There are so many programs out
there and the number grows every day. You can afford to pick and
choose...
... in the not too distant future vendors will be competing with
each other to gain your allegiance.
Joining affiliate programs, marketing their products and checking
your stats does take time, no matter what vendors imply.
Invest your time wisely from the start and you'll reduce the
potential for lost income later on.
Time is money.
Cheap and Easy Affiliate Programs?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remember... no product sells itself! Depending on factors already
mentioned, some products may be easier to sell than others but
ultimately...
YOU MUST SELL THE PRODUCT!
It is also almost always true that if you can sell one thing
well, you can sell something entirely different equally well.
Sales professionals that remain in one field throughout their
entire career do so not because they cant sell anything else, but
because of the knowledge acquired about their industry over the
years that helps them to close deals, or simply because they
enjoy what they do.
Don't fall into the trap of believing that just because
something's cheap it's easy to sell - that's simply not true.
Undoubtedly, the prospect's perceived risk is reduced with a
lower price tag, but that's only one of many components in a
buying decision.
That this component will gain greater importance as the asking
price increases is no doubt true. However, nobody likes to loose
any money, no matter how little! It all comes back to the trust
factor again. As any sales representative or marketing
professional will tell you, it takes almost as much work and
effort to sell something that costs just $50 as it does to sell
something that costs $250. The thing is...
... do you believe in it?
I've got to have that!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The important point about any sale is the product's perceived
value to the prospective buyer. It's an amazing fact that as
someone's desire for something increases, they miraculously find
it easier and easier to afford! Put simply:
If someone wants something badly enough, they'll find a way to
pay for it!
It's your job to create this desire by selling the benefits, not
the product's features. The better the affiliate program, the
more it will help you in this area. (I have to add here that in
this respect. I've seen nothing that comes even close to the high
quality free book and general affiliate support to be found in
the '5 Pillar Program' at http://www.sitesell.com/info.html )
Avoid wasting your time selling something for which you're
getting pocket money, when by simply changing the product and
your mind set, you could be earning a comfortable income!
Having said that, don't go to the other extreme of deciding which
affiliate programs to join based solely on the size of the
commissions offered. The program still needs to meet your other
criteria for you to benefit from being a member.
You'll find a lot more information about the many aspects of
affiliate programs at http://www.NowSell.com
Azam
=================================================================
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=================================================================
=====================
+ This Week's Posts +
=====================
Send your information, question or comment to appear here next
week and start advertising yourself. mailto:BizBits+topica.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
=================================================================
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=================================================================
=====================
+ Tip +
=====================
Don't Try To Be My Sugar-Daddy!
by Dr. Bill Nieporte
When you marry a "southern girl" (like I did) you learn a brand
new vocabulary! I just heard an interesting phrase from my
"southern born and bred" wife. Commenting on a man who left his
wife for a "younger woman," Jeana said: "That woman doesn't love
him! She's just looking for a 'sugar-daddy' to pay her credit
card bills!"
Isn't that the approach many marketers take when looking to
recruit others into their business venture? How many times a day
do you get junk email from people offering (in essence) to be
your "sugar-daddy?" Here's just a few examples of these offers
in my email box for today:
"Guaranteed $90,246.00 in 60 Days or Less!"
"Let Me Build Your Downline for YOU!"
"$$$$$$$ For You--And I'll Do All the Work!"
Aren't you sick of it? Aren't you tired of all that *sham and
scam spam* that promises unlimited riches, without work,
virtually overnight?
It certainly bugs me. Here's why?
1. These offers appeal the lower-self.
The people who want to be your "sugar-daddy" try to entice you to
believe that that only thing that matters is the acquisition of
more wealth. For those who desire to be your "sugar-daddy"
things like ethics, values, morals, and just plain good manners
don't matter. What matters "mo money, mo money, mo money!"
Don't you wish that somebody would appeal to your higher-self?
Don't you wish that somebody would appeal to your desire to help,
build, and create something of lasting value? Isn't wealth
earned helping others much more enjoyable that simply getting
rich? Aren't you one of those people who still think that
ethics, values, morals, and good manners really do matter?
2. These offers also assume that you are basically lazy.
Those who want a "sugar-daddy" probably are rather lazy. You're
not, are you? Check out the truly successful business builders
in the world (both online and off) and you will discover that
they are all hard-working and industrious individuals--and they
encourage and expect that same type of effort in their partners.
These men and women realize that building a successful business
requires an honest and consistent effort.
3. These opportunities don't work!
Here's the final problem with the "sugar-daddy" approach to
marketing. It just plain doesn't work. If you've ever been
caught up in one of these ventures, you'll know that the only
people who are getting any wealthier are the few scoundrels at
the top who thought up the darn thing.
I don't know about you, but I am tired of those "opportunities"
that don't work, aren't ethical, promote laziness, and appeal to
the darker side of human life. Give me something that works.
Give me something that can make a positive difference in
somebody's life. When you do you'll stand a much better chance
of getting me to be your partner.
Don't Try To Be My Sugar-Daddy! I don't need one! You don't
either, do you? You are a hard-working and industrious
individual who is willing to work to succeed, right? Then here's
what I invite you to do! The next time somebody offers to "build
your business for you" and "make you rich," tell them that you
don't need a "sugar daddy!"
=================================================================
You can subscribe to Bill's popular bi-weekly ezine:
"The Success In Life Newsletter" at http://allaboutsuccess.com
Learn the powerful marketing secrets that can get YOU millions
of FREE and highly targeted web site impressions each month at
http://allaboutsuccess.com/aezine.htm
=================================================================
=================================================================
Learn from the best. Corey Rudl does 2.6 MILLION DOLLARS in sales
online EACH YEAR... all from his one small office! He reveals all
his unconventional tips, trick and techniques with examples so
you can learn the most efficient and fastest way to make money on
the Internet. http://www.marketingtips.com/t.cgi/20370/
=================================================================
=====================
+ Pause For Thought +
=====================
"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from
achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the
wrong mental attitude."
- W. W. Ziege
"Has any man ever attained to inner harmony by pondering the
experience of others? Not since the world began! He must pass
through the fire."
- Norman Douglas
"The fruit derived from labor is the sweetest of all pleasures."
- Vauvenargues
"Next to faith in God is faith in labor."
- Bovee
=====================
OK, that's it for this week! Below you'll find the info section.
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=================================================================
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Biz Bits is Copyright © 1999 Azam Corry. All Rights Reserved.
No part of Biz Bits may be reproduced in whole or in part without
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owners and are reproduced with permission.
Biz Bits is an internationally registered weekly publication.
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