Regular readers will know that I am not generally one to push particular products on this blog but every so often I come across something that is actually, surprisingly good, and when that happens I feel it is my duty to let you know about it.

Marketing Tutorials by Armand Morin is a monthly product which was launched last week in a flurry of affiliate marketing emails that you know doubt, somehow, received.  I have known about this gentleman for some years now and have never particularly liked the pushy sales techniques used to sell his products, but some of them are actually, exceptionally, good.  For example, I have used his focus generator on the main business website for a long time.  When I bought it it was the only way to get past internet browser pop-up blockers.  Now of course there are lots of ways but I still use the focus generator because it’s really easy to use.

I tried the sales letter writing program Armand put together but never got on with it.  I asked for a refund and it was given immediately, without any questions, and they even told me to keep the software!  A good example of outstanding sutomer service.  I haven’t used it since but it made me look at other products they offer knowing what a responsible outfit they are.

I also bought the e-book cover generator software.  This is a cracking program and even a challenged designer like me can produce outstanding e-book, cd, and software box images with just a few mouse clicks.

Anyway, having established that I like some, but not all of this gentleman’s offerings, I decided to bite the bullet and see what this new Marketing Tutorials  thing was all about.  Ever sceptical, I gave up my card details and was immediately given access to the website that no only has the monthly tutorials but also a load of bonus ones such as:-

These are not just 5 or 10 minutes long with a load of standard fluff information.  They are substantial videos and each one has solid information that anyone can use to boost their marketing results.

The first video I watched which actually compelled me to join was one on google adwords.  This was an hour long and gave me, an adwords virgin at the moment, a deep insight into how to use this massive tool, without fear of being bankrupted in the process.  It has inspired me to start a campaign for the recession busting tips report (once it is written!) and I will test out the knowledge for real.

As ever, I will keep you informed here of my progress.

So, if you are interested in having a look at this stunning marketing material, use this link here.  I know it is an affilliate link but I wouldn’t have written this blog if I hadn’t thought each and every one of you would gain massive benefits from even just watching the free video at the end of this link.  Don’t feel obligated in any way.  If you want to subscribe and don’t want to use my link, just remove from the end of the browser address bar.  But as Tesco says, “Every little Helps!”  And any contributions to the costs of maintaining this blog are gratefully received!

~Ray

We are all connected!

This is a guest article…

There are a lot of reasons that Clickbank has been a successful gateway to internet profitability for so many people. But two big reasons so many findsuccess with the Clickbank system is that it is simple to understand and get started on quickly and everything in the Clickbank system works. It is such a well run Internet Marketing resource that a lot of people have turned to it as a payment gateway rather than PayPal or one of the other more well known funds processing agencies on the web.

Clickbank does an outstanding job of handling third party credit card transactions.  It really is a critical part of why their business works because Clickbank lists well over ten thousand products and is used by over one hundred thousand partner affiliates.  That kind of marketplace has to handle money reliably and safely to survive.  Everything about Clickbank is digital including all products and the means of delivery, the accountability for handling payments has to be absolutely rock solid, dependable and trustworthy.

The ability for any internet marketer to quickly and easily become a Clickbank affiliate is another reason it is such a stunning success.  It’s very easy to select a product from the Clickbank marketplace once you have a free account on the service which you can then easily set up on your own web site.  Once you have openend that account, Clickbank generates tracking codes so that it can tell when you have selected a digital product and started to promote it online.   This means, that with the simple step of creating an account, the doors are opened for you to sell ten thousand products on your websites and other marketing efforts.   Suddenly you go from a newcomer to cyberspace to the owner of a Wal-Mart equivalent on the web.

Every marketplace, on the internet or not, relies completely upon the coming together  of sellers and buyers. So to be a complete success, Clickbank also has to make it easy for creators of digital products to sell their goods through the marketplace too.   For a seller, there is a fee to get started on Clickbank, but considering that by putting the product into this market, it has a chance of getting picked up by an army of 100,000 sellers, a $50 start up fee and a small percentage commission to Clickbank is reasonable.   Also, since Clickbank is replacing your routine credit card processor and handling all of those transaction fees, their commission is much the same as you would have paid anyway.

You might have to wait a while once your item is listed because the system will only fully recognize your item once you have made your first sale.  Once listed however, the odds are that somebody is going to pick up your product and begin to sell it.  Clickbank tracks and records those sales scrupulously so other affiliates will start to pay attention as your sales pick up and before long you are making lots of sales and being promoted by this sales army you have never met and have no idea who or where they are.   But you don’t need to know.  They are making you rich and earniing a commission for themselves in the process.  It’s one of those few areas on the internet in the 21st Century where everybody wins.

Clickbank is a full service marketplace for the seller because you don’t have to find affiliates or even promote your product.  Just get it out there and once the momentum of sales picks up,  it can snowball into a huge seller for you.  The profits roll into your Clickbank account and on the regular distribution cycles you established when you set up the account, Clickbank sends the money to your bank account.

Job done!

If you are a blogger, or the one responsible for your business website, you know just how important content is to your website. You have to have content and lots of it for regular articles, to keep your newsletter fresh, and for your blog. Many people just panic and shut down entirely when thinking about all of the content and constant updating that their internet marketing effort needs.

So, where can you go for help?  Where can you get articles for your website?  Well, you have several options, each with its pros and cons.

Nicole Dean, a successful Internet Marketer, recommends these methods to get started.

1. Write it all yourself.  The best option but this is difficult to keep up constantly without letting quality slip.

Benefits: You’ll save money and the material will be written in your own style.

Drawbacks: Time and energy. Not everyone is a skilled writer.

2. Hire someone to write your web content. You can hire skilled ghostwriters to write your content on your behalf that will be 100% yours.

Benefits: Save time.

Drawbacks: Costs are around £25 per article depending on your technical needs.  It is hard to find someone who you enjoy working with who provides the quality that you need at a price you can afford but it is worth the hunt.

Another huge benefit of choosing one of the above options is that you can use the articles several times and submit them to lots of Article Directories to help with back links and your marketing efforts at the same time.

If you are interested in using article marketing then have a look at this..  Submit your Articles Faster and Easier

3. JV or Interview Others.  A good way to get content for your website is to have others to write it for you, preferably for free.  How?  Try conducting some interviews with business colleagues, customers or suppliers and post them to your site.  You can also try asking friends to contribute unique articles of relevance and interest.

Benefits: Free and provides a variety if you use voice recordings occasionally!

Drawbacks: You’re relying upon others to provide your content. They may or may not be willing to help.

4. Article Directories.  Have a good look around the article directories to find some interesting articles and you can republish them on your website for no cost.

Benefits: Free and very quick.

Drawbacks: Each one must link back to the author.

5. Private label rights content.  PLR articles are also useful.  For very little cost, you can get content that you can edit and use on your website quickly and easily.  Remember, you must ensure that you’re getting only top quality articles and that you’re not sharing them with thousands of other website owners - tricky but the more you edit, the more they become your own work.  If you are lucky enough to find a quality PLR site, stick with it.

If option 5 has sparked your interest, have a look at this free PLR course to explain more how you can use it to help with your content issues.  It is definitely worth a try anyway!

~Ray

Some web analysts have decreed that email marketing is on its way out as an effective way to reach customers. It is certainly true that many people are suffering from information overload, but email can actually cut down on this avalanche. Indeed, marketers now have the unprecedented opportunity to be a trusted news source. By following these email marketing solutions, businesses can use the inbox as a major asset for brand reputation as well as sales.

The most effective email marketing tips actually is not a trick, but a serious value: respect. After all, the risk is that months of trust can be dashed against the rocks with just one ill-thought-out email. Keep supplying your subscribers with great information, tips and resources, and never suggest an affiliate program for something you have never tried personally.  Have a look at this short U-Tube video for some really interesting email marketing info…

More email marketing solutions include not using any link-bait-sounding headlines for emails. An example is creating scarcity where there is none – remember these people are already your loyal customers! The bottom line is to provide value, slowly but surely. Email is a sensitive and intimate space for marketing, so don’t lose everything you’ve worked for with a brash new plan. Instead, stick to the email marketing solutions that built your list in the first place: value, respect, and quality information from experts.

When to End Your Email Marketing Campaign

Deciding when to end an email marketing campaign is one subject which many business owners may struggle with on a regular basis. This decision can be difficult both in situations where the email marketing campaign is enjoying a great deal of success and in situations in which the email marketing campaign is failing. marketing management.

In general, business owners will have to evaluate a number of different criteria to make this decision and there is no one specific formula which will work for all business owners. In this article we will examine three different scenarios including a successful email marketing campaign which is approaching a logical conclusion, an email marketing campaign which is failing and a successful email marketing campaign which may be able to run indefinitely.

First we will examine the case of a successful email marketing company which is approaching a logical conclusion. In some cases it may be appropriate for a business owner to conclude his email marketing efforts. The most obvious example is an email marketing campaign which is focused on achieving a specific goal and not selling products or services. For example, an email marketing campaign which is political in nature may start off slowly, peak during a time when voters are most interested in obtaining information about the issues and then begin to wane as the voting process begins and the majority of voters have made their decision. Similarly, an email marketing campaign which is focused on collecting donations for a specific charity will logically end as the goal is reached. These email marketing campaigns may be highly successful but there is simply no reason to continue them beyond when the goals are reached. email marketing.

Next we will consider the case of an email marketing campaign which is not achieving its goals. Deciding when to end a campaign of this nature can be difficult because it will involve a number of different factors. For example, if the business owner is investing a great deal of time and money into a copywriting service and not getting results despite a hard and honest effort, it may be time to end this marketing campaign. However, if the business owner has not invested a great deal of time and money into the email marketing campaign and still has a few remaining ideas for turning the campaign into a success, it might be worthwhile continuing a little longer to see if the desired goals can be met.

Finally, it is important to note that email marketing campaigns do not always have to come to an end, such as a niche topic like search engine optimization (SEO). A business owner who has been producing and distributing monthly e-newsletters on this subject and receiving a positive response to the emails, has no reason to discontinue the campaign as long as he is still capable of producing the e-newsletters in an interesting and inspiring way. Some magazines have been in publication for years and years on this basis and it is possible for an e-newsletter to remain active for as long as there is a need for and an interest in the information being provided. In our example of a business owner publishing an SEO newsletter, the need for this product remains because SEO is continually evolving and recipients of the e-newsletter may anticipate receiving the contact each month to get more information on current trends in the industry. email marketing campaign.

The Reaction to Your Email Marketing

Email marketing can actually be much more effective than most people think. Many business owners do not invest a great deal of time, energy or money into orchestrating an email marketing campaign because they mistakenly believe all email marketing is viewed as spam. However, this is simply not true. Business owners who have discovered how to market via email successfully, enjoy a great deal of success with this type of marketing. This article will discuss how email marketing can be successful and will provide insight into how to determine how your email marketing is being received. integrated marketing.

Before we can discuss how to determine the reaction to your email marketing campaign, it is important for business owners to understand how to plan and execute an email marketing tools which is successful. Perhaps one of the most important elements of type of campaign is to ensure your marketing efforts are not viewed by the recipients as being spam. One way to do this is to carefully develop your email distribution list. Although you can reach a tremendous audience by sending out your email marketing materials to a large email list, this is not effective when you do not know much about whether or not the members of this email list will even be interested in your products or services. It is important to note that reaching a huge audience is not more important than reaching a highly targeted audience.

Focusing your email marketing efforts on millions of recipients who do not have a specific interest in your products or services is not nearly as effective focusing your email marketing efforts on only hundreds of email recipients who are likely to be very interested in your products or services. This is because you are much more likely to generate sales from a small, target group than you are from a large group without a specific focus. email marketing tools.

Now that you know a little bit about email marketing and how it can be effective, you might wonder how you can determine just how effective your email marketing campaign efforts are in the long run. This is important because it is not worthwhile to invest a great deal of time, energy and money into an email marketing campaign if your efforts are not generating results. Likewise, if your email marketing campaign is widely successful, you might want to consider organizing additional marketing efforts to further your success.

Customer surveys are one of the easiest ways to evaluate the reaction to your internet marketing strategy. Asking customer to fill out simple surveys when they make a purchase can provide a great deal of insight depending on the questions you ask. Questions such as where the customer learned about your products and services may seem rather innocuous but this information can actually be rather useful to the business owner. Learning where a customer learned about the products and services you offer, provides excellent feedback for which of your marketing efforts are generating the most interest. If you receive a great deal of responses stating customers learned about your products or services through emails, this is a good indication that your email marketing campaign is effective.

Another very popular way to evaluate the reaction to your email marketing efforts is to closely monitor your rate of sales as well as your website traffic immediately after you issue a new email to members of your distribution list. This can be helpful because an increase in sales or website traffic after an email was issued is a strong indication that the email was well received and encouraged recipients to visit the website and make purchases. However, there is one caveat to this method of evaluation. It can be quite difficult to determine whether or not the emails caused the increase in website traffic and sales if more than one marketing effort was made at the same time. For example if you issue an email at the same time as you launch a banner ad, you cannot determine which one is more effective and is driving the increase in sales and traffic. email marketing software.

I have decided that for the remainder of September, I will give some extra incentives for new clients that join us.  These are completely free and have a combined value of at least £500.  They are available to any size of business that join us before 30th September 2008.

What are these extras?

• free website hosting for as long as you stay a client with us for your main business website or blog.  There are no limits to be placed on the size of sites.  This will include all databases and email accounts necessary and you will get your own administrator access so that you can tinker and change things to your heart’s content.
• three free initial consultations to discuss your marketing strategies to be applied over the next weeks, months and years.  Extended loan of any items in my extensive library of marketing materials and free support during the first six months of your time with us of your marketing efforts.

Don’t think that because the website hosting is free it is on cheap, rubbishy servers.  It is on the same system as our own sites and I will help you move your site, or set up one if you don’t have one, so that you get the benefit of your own name domain email and internet prescence.

I am offering these extras because I know how hard it is to choose a good webhost, to set up a website and all the email configeration.  We have the host facilities and it doesn’t cost me any extra so why shouldn’t I pass this on to new customers?

As for the marketing free offer, well, I really enjoy helping businesses planning their marketing ideas and strategies, getting things moving and watching the growth that businesses achieve.  I feel I am doing a grave dis-service if I do not help clients to the very best of my ability to achieve the growth and results that can be easily achieved.

In case you are worried, I will not hold your website to “ransom”.  If we don’t get along I will gladly help you move your site elsewhere - no penalties, no hassles.  The marketing information and help you get from me will be yours to keep, completely free of charge.

What do I get out of it?  a fair question.

I get to work with a client that is hungry for growth, open to ideas and one that by then will know that I am genuine and keen to be involved for the long term.

Remember, I am only offering these valuable extras until the end of September so ring me NOW.

I look forward to working with you soon!

~Ray

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