TP Javeton WebNet

Category: Online Selling

  • Avoid Making These Costly Affiliate Mistakes!




    Myths concerning affiliate marketing are appealing and attractive; and some bright-eyed beginners who do not know the entire system as thoroughly as they should are prone to believing that this business is capable of bringing them great fortunes overnight. Stories about affiliates who earn tremendous amounts of money swim in their heads, and while these stories are as true for affiliate marketers who have achieved success, there are as misleading to those who believe they will achieve similar success once they indulge in this business.

    It is true enough that affiliate marketing is financially rewarding, and those individuals who have gone through the training, long hours of trial and error, plus many years of experience in order to achieve success in this business are reaping the seeds that they untiringly sowed. Many of them enjoy the kind of existence that was not possible for them under ordinary circumstances; but having gone through the A-Z of affiliate marketing, they are the ones who know that, while such a business is lucrative, there is absolutely no promise of easy money.

    Ignorance of this fact is one of the main reasons why so people who fail miserably in the overall internet business, but specifically in affiliate marketing. Those who believe the “easy money” myths about affiliate marketing might be unaware of the many who aspired to affiliate marketing success, but instead wasted their time, effort and many resources in their attempt to pursue a life of ease that they believe this business will give them. Those individuals went into affiliate marketing armed with nothing but myths and fantastical notions of wealth swimming in their imagination, never realizing that they were bound to make mistakes that would prove to be their downfall.

    What may be the reason for such failure in a business like affiliate marketing may be the fact that many are called but few are chosen; and perhaps the true answer lies in the fact that many affiliates make mistakes that were the result of their ignorance to facts concerning how the entire business runs. Affiliate marketing is not as simple as an affiliate promoting a merchant’s wares through his website and getting paid for it. It is also about knowing the market and the customers as well as tendencies, historical data, tracking, demographics and other such information that is crucial to marketing, especially on the Internet.

    Discovering what some the most common mistakes affiliates have made, and can make, will perhaps dispel the gloom about myths about affiliate marketing; because knowing what the mistakes are will help in correcting some of the misleading notions about it. What might also be as important is to make beginner affiliate marketers understand that, like any other business, there are do’s and don’ts involved in this affiliate marketing; and if they want to make each of their steps count for something they should pay attention to the rules.

    The first common mistake beginner affiliate marketers make is their lack of knowledge pertaining to principles involved in their business, especially knowledge of the search engines and their importance to exposure on the Internet. Affiliate marketing involves advertising, and advertising on the internet could not have been as effective without the existence of search engines. What every affiliate must do is make these search engines his/her best friend through studying SEO (search engine optimization) closely. This way, s/he will know what to do in connection with building a better website on which to do business.

    Another frequent mistake beginner affiliate marketers make is stuffing their websites with banners that do not provide enough information about the product they are trying to promote. The best way to avoid this mistake is to provide good content that could compliment those banners, because it is important for customers to know and understand the features of any product being promoted before they will take a step to click the product link; and good content will give them a better understanding of the type, use and quality of such products.

    Many affiliates also make the mistake of promoting only one product, and as a consequence, customers are not given enough of a selection to choose from. With the lack of enough options, these affiliates also run the risk of generating fewer sales than they would by offering a larger variety of products for customers consider. People like choice and therefore it is always better to give them a more and better alternatives than to limit their options.

    Not meaning to dwell too much of affiliate mistakes, there is one other that is worth mentioning here, and that is the direct opposite of the last one pointed out above. Yep, you guessed it. Some affiliates make the mistake of promoting too many products; and as a result, customers are confused and end up not making any choice at all. While people like choice, it has to be understood that they prefer the best choices, instead of choice for the sake of choice. They want to know that the choices they are presented with have been especially selected with them in mind and they will be the ultimate decision makers on what best suits their purposes.

    In conclusion, affiliates who are doomed to fail in this business are those who do not put forth enough effort to understand the system in which they operate and the industry rules and regulations to which they must comply. Knowing their paths step by careful step will prove to be beneficial to them, as there is no other way to succeed than to go through the training, long hours of trial and error, as well as the many years of experience in order to achieve success in this business.

  • Three Solid Ways to Start a Sales Letter


    This post is an authorized reprint of a COPYWRITER’S ROUNDTABLE article published and sent to me on July 3, 2012. Copywriter’s Roundtable is owned and managed by John Forde. The article’s author is a colleague of John Forde and fellow copywriter, Jason Strachen who has done a masterful in job delivering such a powerful piece.

    On this eve of our nation’s independence, what could be a better celebration than a discourse on honing your own entrepreneurial skills, strategies and business acumen? It is my opinion that the Sales Letter is singly THE most important tool a Web Marketing Entrepreneur can have in his/her toolkit; And a superbly composed sales letter puts you heads and shoulders above your competition. So here we go!

    Introduction

    Copywriters and article writers are often pre-occupied with the best ways to start an article or sales letter, so it’s not uncommon for questions lke, ‘what’s the perfect opening line?’ to recur frequently. While the answer is not “Call me Ishmael”, and the opening thought is hardly, “Was your Dad a baker? ‘Cause you’ve got a nice set of buns”, the true answer to such a question is, there isn’t one. At least not one that’s perfect for every situation.

    There are some, however, that work a lot more reliably than others. And we’re fortunate to have copywriter Jason Strachan show us three of the best ways to start a sales letter. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this free lesson in sales letter writing, titled…

    THREE SUREFIRE WAYS TO START ANY SALES LETTER

    by Jason Strachan

    So…

    Why is the start of the direct mail letter so important? Here is the answer in a nutshell: Because when reading begins your target customer will be glaring point-blank into the loaded barrel of your promotion. You are NEVER going to get such a great chance to get her interest again.

    So what are you waiting for? When you start your letter or email, or video, go ahead and fire the most powerful, single most seductive message you possibly can! Because the cold truth is, as corny as it may sound, if you don’t get her (or him) at hello’ you wont get her at all.

    NAVAN Global, the REAL SEAL!

    Now In this article I’ve selected my 3 most tried and tested letter openings that I’ve used with a lot of success in my career. You could call them my ‘old faithfuls.’ Because if my life was on the line, and I was in a position where I had to write a letter that worked, or I’d be executed by firing squad, I would use one of these three openings, every time. So here’s the first one…

    First favorite

    If you’re like me – i.e. If you’re like me, you spend way too much time in front of your computer…

    Now there are two distinct reasons why I like this opening. First: because it is an approach that works for practically ANY market place. And second: because it establishes immediate rapport.

    The whole tone of “If you’re like me” immediately conjures up the feeling of a trusted friend wrapping her arm around your shoulder to give you a bit of counsel. And it causes your prospect to just drop her guard a little, while she starts to read what you have to say.

    Now even though a LOT of marketers have discovered how powerful this opening is and have started using it a lot. It’s STILL very effective in the marketplace today. Just as long as its expressed with sincerity. So in other words, don’t attempt to write an “If you’re like me” opening if you’re actually nothing like your customer.

    *TIP: Remember what David Ogilvy famously said: ‘The customer is NOT a moron – she’s your wife’

    Second favorite

    Ask a provocative question
    –     Okay, here’s where we step into some dangerous territory…

    You see, a lot of people who attempt to write sales copy understand how to write a question. It’s the qualifier ‘provocative’, that they do not seem to get a handle on. However if you get it right, it works like a charm!

    First let me show you how most marketing agencies mess it up.

    The way they get it wrong is by opening the letter with a question that has no relevance to your prospect, so they dismiss it straight away. For example: If I open a letter with, ‘Do you know the name of the ancient Greek God of sunshine?’

    Your response will likely be: A) Are you nuts?’ B) ‘Who cares?” or worse C) Something’s wrong with you, and If I did know the ancient Greek God of sunshine there’d be something wrong with ME.”

    A provocative question is a question that really triggers some type of dominant emotion inside your target customers. Here are some examples…

    (more…)

  • Do You Need A Business Plan to Sell eBooks Online?


    Is selling ebooks a business?

    In order to address the question of whether or not a business plan is needed in order to sell ebooks online, we must first determine if ebook sales can be considered a business, an entrepreneurship or just something you do on the side to make a few extra bucks for your nights out with the boys/girls.

    Another point we should touch on is the interchangeable uses of business and entrepreneurship. There is very little difference between the two terms based on the usage of each term. Since every entrepreneur is technically a small business person and entrepreneurship is simply the act of being an entrepreneur, then it follows that a small business can at any time be referred to as an entrepreneurship and vice versa.

    How to define success

    That having been said, it is an accepted principle that every small business is launched with the goal – or objective, if you like – of achieving certain levels of monetary success, notwithstanding the service it provides to the local community. Entrepreneurs want to succeed at their particular crafts and therefore should have a clear idea of what it takes to succeed. Most successful business owners will tell you however, that whatever that idea is, it must be in written form.

    Success online depends on having a plan, or more specifically a business plan. Very often, aspiring Web entrepreneurs contact a designer with a burning passion to have a new website designed, built and launched. FAST! But success takes more than waking up bug-eyed in the wee hours of the morning with the brainstorm of the century. You need to outline and complete a real business plan and make adjustments before the official launch.

    The think-it-through phase

    Mentioned earlier was and if it is to be a serious endeavor then it has to be considered an online eBook business, in which case the aspiring entrepreneur will have to provide enough information to satisfy the requirements of a business plan writer or to fill in the blanks of a pre-printed BP form. Thinking through the questions and answers is a vital step towards developing a good business plan. For example:

    • Do you have a company?
    • Do you have a logo for your company?
    • If no logo, what color scheme do you like?
    • How many products (eBooks) will you offer?
    • Are they all written and ready to go?
    • Do you have cover art for your books?
    • What system of e-commerce do you intend to use?
    • Will you offer just pdf or exe formats, or both?
    • Do you have the domain, plus registration and hosting?
    • Do you have a projected launch date scheduled?
    • How many affiliate products do you have to offer?
    • Etc.

    Defining what you do, your market, and how you intend to be different are vital considerations for starting your online ebook business. You only get one chance to make a good first impression.

    For an eBook online business, the competition is fierce and filled with some shady characters. When you begin the process of planning before jumping in, consider your image first and then answer “How will I establish credibility in the early going?”. Weave this into your business plan and you should do well. Don’t act before thinking or you may be perceived as just another online marketeer.

    In summary

    Your image comes first – It is recommended that you have a stunning set of graphics for your corporate image to make a favorable first impression. Hire a pro if it’s in your budget.

    Credibility is a close second – Although it does take time to build a solid reputation in your marketplace, you can help yourself in this area by soliciting opinions from trusted people to give honest feedback about first impression and how credible they think you are.

    And of course your Plan must guide your operating activities – If you can’t hire a financial/accounting pro to write your business plan, I’m sure there are Outlines or templates for creating a business plan available free online. Get one. Use it. Be flexible, and change as you go.

    A final word

    I know that many startup online entrepreneurs neglect creating a business plan. Selling eBooks online without physical inventory except bits and bytes seems so easy that you will be tempted to just dive in to a ebook sales opportunity with both feet and not give the plan a second thought. But keep this thought in mind: Your chances for success will improve tremendously with a real business plan.

    Digital & Electronic Products – Unbeatable in Quality and Price!

  • First Steps Towards Your Own Web Entrepreneurship


    First steps: Choosing the business

    When starting an Web-based business there are a few things you should consider must-have requirements.

    1. Business Name – Domain
    2. Web Hosting
    3. Advertising (Marketing) Budget
    4. Web Marketing Tools

    Among the most important requirements when starting your Web-based business is the business name. Since you will also need a domain name to make it possible for Web users to find your business, it will serve you well if you can get a domain name that is the same as, or very similar to your business name. Reason being, in the case of a Web-based business, your website IS your business; so having a domain name and business name that is the same will improve your marketing and optimization efforts.

    Web Hosting is to your Web-based business as commercial space is to your offline (brick and mortar) business. You need a space in which to operate, where your customers can come and visit your store, look around, browse and perhaps make a purchase. Web Hosting provides that space for your web-based business. The Web Hosting company may be viewed as similar to your offline – retail space – landlord. They both provide the space from which you operate your business, making it a must-have requirement.

    Exposure for your business

    Now that you have your business/domain name and your Web hosting, you’re going to need exposure for your business. This aspect of your Web-based business can also be compared to an offline – brick and mortar – business in that advertising is essential to the success or failure of the brick and mortar and is even a more crucial element to your Web-based business because you would not have the benefit of “walk-in” traffic with a Web-based entity. So you must have an advertising and marketing budget.

    In order to be as proficient in marketing your Web-based business – as you must assume your competitor is – you will need a Web marketing toolkit consisting of the kind of Web marketing tools you’re most comfortable with to facilitate your marketing campaigns. This is an area in which you will find several options. Web marketing tools you will be able to choose from include (it’s assumed that you’ll have a computer and internet connection):

    • Website/Blog
    • Lead Capture Software
    • Autoresponder
    • Video Producer
    • Web Conferencing
    • WYSIWYG or Other HTML Editor

    You will also have at your disposal a number of Web marketing methods, techniques and resources that are proven to get results based on prior use by many successful and well established Web business owners who came before you. Types of marketing I refer to are:

    • Content Creation (Article Marketing)
    • Social Media Marketing (Social Networking)
    • Copywriting (Salesletter Composition)
    • PPC (Pay-Per-Click) Campaigns
    • Traffic Exchange Surfing
    • SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

    Profitability: The ultimate goal

    Some of these methods you may not be familiar with in the early days of your Web-based business. However, you will always have the option of hiring someone who is an expert in one of these areas to do a professional job for you, which is why an “advertising and marketing” budget is among your must-have requirements.

    After you’ve put together the best combination of your must-haves, Web marketing tools and types of marketing you intend to utilize, you can then decide whether or not you want to do most of the work, hire professionals to do the work or automate – as much as possible – your Web-based business so as to reduce your workload.

    Let’s not forget what may be the most important element of your Web-based business. It must be Profitable! You may requireme that the business have the potential to generate at least $1,000 per month in profit, so as to replace the income from your job, thus making your Web-based business your full time job.

    Only you will know the amount of revenue you want your Web-based business to generate. Once you’ve set a monetary goal and your other must-have requirements are in place, you can be off to the best start expected of any Web-based entity. Good Luck!

  • Home Based Web Business – A Network Marketing Affair


    If you have been in the eCommerce market for at least 6 months, you are already receiving offers from many companies promoting their products/services to you, and this will continue as businesses offer you the opportunity to become a distributor of those products and/or services. While many of these businesses offer the opportunity free of charge, others may require you to pay a fee similar to that of a franchise, based on their willingness to set up a website with your name on it and provide instructions on how to make it a success.

    Regardless of the motives behind their willingness to share knowledge, techniques and strategies, you’re still able to share in the wealth of their business operations. Where many people make the mistake, is in getting involved with a home-based Web business and then believing – mistakenly – that just by filling out the online forms and paying the required fees, they will immediately start on a money-making journey to riches, wealth and the realization of their dreams.

    This could not be farther from the reality of what actually happens after getting involved with a home-based web business. Failure to think long enough about how you came to be involved in this type of business, and the fact that someone was marketing this plan to you, can often lead to failure to grow your new business by marketing it to others; as many “others” as you possibly can during the early years of the new venture.

    So the time to relax is not in the beginning of your new business but after you put in the required time (10 to 18 hour days and 7 day weeks, for as long as it takes) to make your business a success. The major portion of your time, work and and money will be spent – or should be spent – promoting and advertising your new business.

    There are numerous ways to promote your home-based Web business, such as old-fashion advertising, handing out business cards or even putting you web address on the side of your vehicle to be seen while you drive to the grocery store or around town. All that may be good to draw a half dozen people or so to your new business venture, but to help it really grow and ultimately succeed, it may be necessary to rely more on the network marketing strategy.

    NAVAN Global, the REAL SEAL!

    Oil millionaire J. Paul Getty is often quoted as saying, he would rather have one percent of the efforts of 100 people, than 100 percent of his own efforts; and that is the basis of network marketing. The Kirby vacuum cleaner company devised its own form of network marketing as far back as 1935 before the phrase was coined and the concept totally understood.

    The KVC company knew that in order to sell their sweepers, a sit-down presentation was needed. They had a few dealers with whom they shared the profits of their sales and using their proven methods they taught others to sell the sweepers and each person who was brought in as a sales representative could also share in the profits off the efforts of others once s/he followed the proven success plan.

    While a few people may make a lot of money in a short period of time with network marketing, most must grow their business slowly, because of the learning curve, as well as the marketing tests (or test marketing as the case may be) that must take place if your home-based Web business is to be a success. Test marketing is a time-consuming activity which cannot be rushed.

    You owe it to your business and yourself (and family, if applicable) to devote the number of hours every day, week and month to learn all you need to know from and about the sponsoring company (if your business is network marketing or milti-level marketing in nature), and anything else you need to know about how to market the product or service you are selling.

    Once you educate yourself, you can train others to be successful by teaching them to market the product or service and make money from their sales as well. The more people they have working under them, the more money they can make; And since you devoted valuable time, money and resources to train them, you will also make more money which you would deserve.

  • What Makes Entrepreneurs – Who They Are?




    Over the years countless institutions and individuals have asked the million dollar question. What makes an entrepreneur an entrepreneur? What traits or characteristics are inherent to a successful entrepreneur and is one born with those traits? There’s great news! Successful entrepreneurs are born every day!

    Some people believe an entrepreneur is born while others believe an entrepreneur can be taught. Some believe an entrepreneur is like an artist – either you have it or do you don’t. Some see entrepreneurs as leaders that are focused, disciplined, competitive, and charismatic, while others see them as huge risk takers. And all of these analogies are right to some degree.

    It’s true all successful entrepreneurs share a few qualities and skills that allow them to be successful. These inherent qualities can be taught; but they often seem to be an inherent driving force that sends individuals down the path of being in business or formally training for a career in business.

    Entrepreneurs see the world differently. They have the ability to see the world as a system. They have the ability to see something in its entirety and as an integrated unit, and they seem to possess the ability to see opportunity within the global picture. They are what is called a system thinker.

    There are other characteristics they possess. Entrepreneurs possess an overpowering need to achieve and tend to be very competitive against themselves. They are continuously trying to outthink themselves and others and they are constantly looking for the edge. This is a process that occurs as naturally as breathing and is a driving force behind most entrepreneurs.

    They have the determination and dedication to follow through with commitments and they always appear confident and in control. You’ll notice they also possess a positive aura. They are of the mindset “I can,” and “I will.” They are not afraid of failure because failure is not in their vocabulary nor is it an option.

    They are objective but have the ability to weigh risks realistically within the big picture. They have an uncanny ability to anticipate developments which gives them the edge on many competitive situations. Entrepreneurs seem to feel right from their gut, call it instinct. They are a resourceful group that possess excellent problem-solving skills and are able to diligently work through obstacles as they occur.

    Entrepreneurs are excellent communicators and recognize how important clear and concise communication is to their success. They also possess a sound working knowledge of the business they are involved in.

    When it comes to successful entrepreneurs it’s a question of what came first, the chicken or the egg. Is it inherent qualities that entrepreneurs are born with, or is it that we choose to become entrepreneurs we therefore develop the skills and qualities of success? That’s a question we shall leave to the great debaters to resolve.

    What is for certain is that successful entrepreneurs are born every day and that you too can be a successful entrepreneur by developing the skills needed for success.