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This issue includes...
1) "Make 2006 Your Most Profitable Year EVER with These
'Top 5' Up-to-the-Minute Strategies!"
2) The WINNERS of this year's IMC Survey Contest!
3) "FREE Upgrade to our Premium Edition!"
4) "Visit Our Newsletter Archives"
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marketing tips newsletters ================ FEATURE EDITORIAL ===================
1) "Make 2006 Your Most Profitable Year EVER with These
'Top 5' Up-to-the-Minute Strategies!"
========================================================
Happy New Year! I can hardly believe it's already 2006...
2005 was a busy year for the World Wide Web. Last year more
than a billion people went online, more than 250 billion
searches were done, and total online sales accounted for
over $170 BILLION (Forrester).
More people are looking for something, finding it on the
Internet, and buying it than ever before, and it's still
growing...
In fact, 2006 should see 200 MILLION more potential customers
online (2 billion by 2010!) and total Internet sales will
increase another 20% or more (FTI Consulting).
There were so many changes in the online business world in
2005... It's important that you understand what they mean for
YOUR business, and adjust your strategies to achieve maximum
success in 2006.
But don't worry -- we're going to show you exactly how you
can do it!
This year, resolve to get your business off to a great start
and make more money in 2006! To do that, here are five sure-
fire strategies to boost your profits this year!
---------------------- STRATEGY #1: ---------------------
KNOW HOW TO BEAT THE SEARCH ENGINES IN 2006... AND DRIVE
TONS OF FREE TRAFFIC TO YOUR SITE!
---------------------------------------------------------
Google has built its empire on providing useful, relevant
search results -- and plans to keep doing so. In order to
provide the best results to its users, Google makes frequent
changes to the way it finds and displays results.
Any strategies that try to make a site appear relevant when
it's really not have been dealt with harshly in the past and
will continue to be targeted in the future.
Google doesn't want you to manipulate their criteria to get a
higher ranking -- so they're constantly looking for loopholes
and closing them as fast as they can.
Case in point: Google's latest update, which has come to be
known as "Jagger." The Jagger update targets web sites with
falsely inflated "link popularity."
Because Google assumes your site is more valuable if it has
plenty of other sites linking to it, web site owners around
the 'Net began seeking out as many links as they could
get -- and manipulating Google's search results.
Google fought back by putting more emphasis on the relevance
of the links to your site -- and Jagger is simply the next
step in that process.
The other part of this latest Google update is an increased
vigilance about "keyword stuffing." Google wants to ensure that
your keywords are being used appropriately -- not just stuffed
into as many spots as possible on your web site to get you a
higher ranking.
So how does this affect your online business? The key is to use
sound online marketing principles -- rather than trying to
manipulate the search engines. That means you should...
- Provide useful information, valuable content, and links
that are related to your business.
- Make your domain names and page titles relevant to your
business and keywords.
- Solicit links from (and link to) sites with good
reputations, traffic, and Google PageRanks.
- Keep your content current and image tags appropriate --
don't make them long, repetitive, or off-topic.
(Image tags are the small bits of text that describe your
image files -- you can't see them on your web page, but
the search engines read them in your source code.)
As long as your links are designed to enhance the value of your
site's content or to increase your credibility and authority,
then your site will continue to see good rankings at Google no
matter what changes 2006 will bring.
Lost in the Google shuffle was the news that in November, Yahoo
updated their search engine as well -- something they do more
often than most people realize. It wasn't as big of a change as
Google's, but it targeted many of the same things, and some
sites had their rankings altered.
Yahoo, like Google, is just trying to improve the quality of
the search experience for everyone.
The bottom line is that the search engines want to give people
relevant links to what they're searching for. Anything that
tries to pretend your site is more important or relevant than
it really is will, in the end, get weeded out.
---------------------- STRATEGY #2: ---------------------
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BRAND-NEW PROFIT-MAKING OPPORTUNITIES
WITH PAY-PER-CLICK ADVERTISING!
---------------------------------------------------------
There have been some big changes in pay-per-click (PPC)
search engines recently, and more and more people are starting
to realize exactly how profitable they can be.
Bidding on your best keywords and securing top results in the
search engines is probably the easiest and fastest way to drive
potential customers to your site. To get a number-one ranking
in pay-per-click advertising, all you have to do is bid more on
your keywords than the #2 bidder.
In 2005 there were a ton of changes across the industry, with
each of the "big players" offering new and exciting ways for
you to succeed. Let's look at each in detail...
1. GOOGLE ADWORDS
http://adwords.google.com
It was no surprise when Google joined the pay-per-click game
in early 2003 with its massively popular AdWords program, and
immediately started capturing market share from Overture.
Last year Google built on their success and listened to their
customers to see how they could improve their program. Two of
the most useful features they added to their PPC business
were...
- The ability to include or exclude specific sites from your
campaign. Google already tries to keep your ads from
appearing on competitors' pages, but there are plenty of
unsavory web sites out there that you don't want to be
unwittingly associated with!
- Different pricing for having ads on search sites and
content sites. Search ads get more eyeballs on them,
but content ads are on sites that are more relevant to
your customers and generally have a higher click-through
rate.
It looks like a good move for all: you now have more
choice over where your ads go, and Google gets to sell
two sets of advertising instead of one.
2. YAHOO SEARCH MARKETING SOLUTIONS (formerly Overture)
http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com
Overture, the previous industry leader, has been revamped and
streamlined. In an effort to unify their brand, Overture was
renamed Yahoo Search Marketing Solutions.
Their next move was to simplify their entire sign-up process,
as this has been one of their customers' biggest complaints.
Yahoo has also made some changes to their program that will
be welcomed by small businesses and online entrepreneurs: the
deposit has been lowered to $5 from $50 and the monthly minimum
of $20 has been scrapped, so even the tiniest Internet business
can get in on the action! This brings them into line with
Google's pricing.
Things are looking up for the new Yahoo Search Marketing
Solutions in 2006. Even though Google's AdWords seems to drive
more traffic, advertisers point to better conversion rates in
some markets for Yahoo, especially younger demographics.
Try testing your pay-per-click campaign on both services to
see which results in higher profits for your business!
3. THE CHALLENGERS
Although Google and Yahoo are the clear industry leaders, it
can still pay to look at the smaller service providers.
Although the traffic isn't as heavy on these sites, it's far
easier and cheaper to get #1 rankings on these up-and-comers.
Depending on how competitive your market is, you may want to
test pay-per-click advertising with...
- MIVA (formerly FindWhat) -- http://www.miva.com
- Lycos InSite -- http://insite.lycos.com
- IndustryBrains -- http://www.industrybrains.com
- Kanoodle -- http://www.kanoodle.com
- LookSmart -- http://search.looksmart.com
- BrainFox -- http://www.brainfox.com
- Enhance (formerly ah-ha) -- http://www.enhance.com
- SearchFeed -- http://www.searchfeed.com
- Search123 -- http://www.search123.com
- ePilot -- http://www.epilot.com
- Quigo AdSonar -- http://www.quigo.com
Remember that new advancements in pay-per-click advertising
are developed every day -- so pay attention to the industry
headlines!
For example, MIVA, one of the smaller providers listed above,
is now offering pay-per-click advertising in e-mail format.
"MIVA Mail" allows pay-per-click ads in newsletters and HTML
e-mail communications. Watch for the bigger players to follow
soon.
4. ONE TO WATCH...
Last but not least is the word that as of November 2005,
Microsoft is ready to jump into the PPC business with MSN
AdCenter.
Building on the release of MSN Search and the explosion of
MSN's MyPage network, AdCenter is poised to become a major
player in 2006.
Currently, MSN still displays search ads from Yahoo Search
Marketing because of a contract that runs until July 2006, and
AdCenter is still in the testing phase. That's the bad news.
The good news is that MSN has had the advantage of seeing
Google and Yahoo test out new models and has learned from their
mistakes.
With the clout of Microsoft behind it, AdCenter is a venue you
can't afford to ignore. Once it's up and running everywhere, it
should probably be your third choice for pay-per-click
advertising, behind Google AdWords and Yahoo Search Marketing
Solutions.
---------------------- STRATEGY #3: ---------------------
HARNESS THE POWER OF THE BIGGEST E-COMMERCE OPPORTUNITY
OF THIS CENTURY!
---------------------------------------------------------
eBay gets serious traffic -- in fact, a whopping TWO MILLION
eager buyers visit eBay every day, ready and willing to make
purchases online.
And eBay is more than oddities and collectibles -- it's big,
big business. In the first half of 2005, eBay members in the US
alone sold over $10.6 billion dollars worth of goods to over
150 million registered users!
This doesn't mean that you should neglect your web site and
only sell on eBay, but it does mean that with a market that
large, there are many ways to make it work for you...
If you have a brick-and-mortar business, eBay can be a great
source of extra business...
Since you're already buying wholesale for your local market,
it doesn't take a lot of extra effort to offer your goods
online as well. This is especially effective for locally made,
unique, or specialty items.
If you can ship your items for a reasonable price to customers
who can't find it anywhere else, it's easy to make big profits.
And whether you have an online OR offline business, eBay is a
great place to clear out old stock.
If you've sold out your inventory except for one pair of
size 12 shoes, or an extra-small sweater, eBay is the perfect
place to unload the leftovers -- for a profit.
The same goes for your returns or damaged stock. As long as
you're honest about the condition and pay attention to your
customer service, you'll start building a reputation in the
community that will lead to more sales down the road.
No matter what kind of business you have (even if you don't
have your own business yet!), with a market of 150 million
eager buyers just waiting for your offer, eBay is one of the
easiest ways to develop an extra revenue stream and boost your
sales and profits in 2006!
For more information about how you can use eBay to start a new
business or explode your sales from your existing business, go
to: http://www.AuctionTips.com
---------------------- STRATEGY #4: ---------------------
EXPLODE YOUR SALES WITH YOUR OWN PERSONAL SALES TEAM!
---------------------------------------------------------
Affiliate programs are not a new strategy, but they remain one
of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal to grow
your business in 2006.
Want proof?
IMC affiliate revenues for 2005 surpassed $1.9 million dollars
and sent us thousands of lifelong customers we would have
missed if we didn't have an army of affiliates sending us
these fresh new leads.
Running an affiliate program is probably the easiest way to get
tons of interested visitors and buyers to your site. Other
people will do all the work promoting your web site for you and
you don't even have to pay them until you see the profits they
bring in.
And the best part is, there's no risk to you because, if they
don't make any sales, you don't pay them! Doesn't that sound
like your kind of workforce?
Whether you're starting a new affiliate program or you already
have one in place, there are a few key strategies you can use
to skyrocket your affiliate revenues in 2006:
- OFFER GREAT COMMISSIONS: One important consideration when
setting up your program is the commission -- the more you
pay, the harder your army of affiliates will work. We pay
a whopping 30% commission on our products, plus bonuses for
our top sellers!
- GIVE YOUR AFFILIATES TOP-NOTCH TOOLS: You've already spent
time and energy selling your product to your customers and
have a good idea of what works and what doesn't work. Pass
this information on to your affiliates!
If you provide your affiliates with winning headlines,
quality photos of your product, banner ads, and good
salescopy, it will allow them to sell your product or
service faster and more effectively.
- RECRUIT POWERFUL "SUPER AFFILIATES": Super Affiliates are
that top 2% of your affiliate program who will bring in
more than 90% of your sales.
Get these people to work for you! They're out there, they
know what they're doing, and they're always looking for new
products to sell.
Look for online sellers who sell products or services that
are related to (but not competitive with) your product,
and invite them to join your affiliate program! These can
be very lucrative relationships for both you and your
affiliates.
For more information about starting your own affiliate program,
visit: http://www.AssocTrac.com
---------------------- STRATEGY #5: ---------------------
GET 30% TO 50% MORE SALES IN 2006 -- WITH ONE SIMPLE STRATEGY!
---------------------------------------------------------
If you don't have a strategy for keeping in touch with your
customers after they make a purchase from you, let 2006 be
your year to succeed.
It's a proven fact that anywhere from 30% to 50% of your buyers
will buy from you again -- IF you offer them a second product!
That's right: up to HALF of all people who have bought from you
once will buy from you again. All you have to do is make an
offer.
For example, try sending an e-mail 7 to 10 days after their
initial purchase to see how they like the product -- and let
them know you have a related product that they might be
interested in!
But what if you don't have a second product to sell? You can...
- CREATE AN INFORMATION PRODUCT. For example, if you sell
running shoes, offer an eBook of tips and motivation
techniques for non-competitive runners.
To find out more about how to create your own eBook,
go to: http://www.eBookPro.com
- JOIN AN AFFILIATE PROGRAM. Earn commissions by recommending
other people's products to your customers. You can check
out the wide variety of affiliate programs on an affiliate
directory web site like: http://www.refer-it.com
- USE A WHOLESALER. Choose a product that complements your
own product and adds value to your offer, then find a
wholesaler you can buy it from.
Make sure you stand to earn enough profits to make this a
worthwhile venture!
----------------- *BONUS* STRATEGY #6: ------------------
THE HOTTEST ONLINE MARKETING STRATEGY FOR 2006
---------------------------------------------------------
2005 was the year of the "blog explosion" on the Internet. The
number of blogs more than DOUBLED between June and December and
will double again this year.
Blogs (short for "weblogs") are a simple way for anyone to post
new content in an easy-to-read web site format with the newest
information always on top.
Blogs are absurdly easy to start up and even easier to
maintain. Some even let you post with your e-mail -- just sit
down, write a letter, mail it to your blog address, and you're
done. It's so easy that some people post a dozen times a day.
But how can a blog benefit your business? Your blog can boost
your ranking in the search engines, increase your traffic, and
improve your credibility -- ALL of which will ultimately lead
to more sales!
Search engines love the content-rich element of blogs. If you
blog about a specific subject, like your industry or hobby,
people interested in that topic will visit your blog and read
it often.
With a well-written blog, it's easy to establish your
credibility by demonstrating your expertise in your subject
area. Over time you will develop relationships with your
visitors -- which ultimately lead to more customers. Links to
your sales site and product pages are a natural fit here, too.
Watch for more updates on how you can boost your traffic and
sales by starting your own blog in future issues of this
newsletter!
---------------------------------------------------------
FINAL THOUGHTS
---------------------------------------------------------
Now that you have some ideas about how to grow your business
this year, it's time to get busy!
With the tips in this newsletter, you now have the tools you
need to increase your traffic by optimizing your site for the
new world of search...
You know how to try some new pay-per-click advertising
venues to reach more customers... start an affiliate program
to generate free advertising and explode your sales... and
follow-up with your customers to generate up to 50% more sales
overnight...
And you now know the benefits of using eBay to reach this ready
market of over 130 million buyers... or starting a blog to
establish your expertise in your field!
2006 is shaping up to be another record-setting year for online
business, with 200 million more customers, 20% more sales, and
more exciting developments that will undoubtedly change the way
we do business on the Internet.
And remember: all it takes is one successful technique to start
seeing REAL growth in your sales and profits in 2006. Don't
think you have to do everything at once! Choose one strategy,
implement it, and get it making money for you... THEN move on
to the next strategy!
Here's to your success in 2006!
======================================================
2) "The WINNERS of this year's IMC Survey Contest!"
======================================================
Thanks to everyone who completed the IMC Survey for 2005!
We got a ton of great feedback from all our customers and
subscribers and can't wait to put your valuable input to
good use!
To thank all participants for completing the survey, we entered
all of your names into a draw to win a whopping $1,000 worth of
IMC products and software...
.. And here are this year's winners!
Eri Rahman
Say Juan Lim
John Crawford
Sue-Ann Piesse
Janet Irwin
Charles George
Tommy Cavness
Tony Gomez
Greg Yost
Cheryl Leite
Many thanks again for your participation, and congratulations
to our winners!
======================================================
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