Welcome To Flo's Home Biz & Fun...
This weekend is a long weekend for Canadians, we're celebrating "Thanks Giving".
Being away all summer trying to catch up is not an easy tasks. On my return I must update Windows, the Virus Scanner and the Firewall. On dial-up it is so slow to download, it takes three to six hours. That's all lot of waited time and to mention the money I have to put out for the monthly bills for Hydro One, Bell Canada and for Dial-Up. I'm not impressed at all !!!
I believe their's always going to have people on dial-up! Last year, I sent an email to Microsoft and ask them to consider having two teams. One team to work with dial-up service and the other team high-speed. This way everyone would fully benefit with the WWW, not just the people with high-speed. I haven't heard anything or seen any changes! :(
Today's article is about 3 website trends, I see that you need to keep in mind as you build your business between now and the end of the year. Enjoy the article...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Three Hot Business Website Trends
- by Jim Edwards
© Jim Edwards - All Rights reserved
www.TheNetReporter.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
The things I did ten years ago on the Internet now belong in the Dark Ages.
Things I did five years ago seem quaint and so 2002, like my dad’s scanner (though he considers himself cutting edge with his old 20th century photos). Even things I did last year seem out of date now.
I always stay on the edge wondering what will come out next to shake up things that work so well right now. Even basic websites can’t remain immune from the ever-changing world of the Internet.
The first trend I see for websites involves "video-only" landing pages. I don’t mean web "infomercials" either. I mean a landing page where the whole emphasis of the page focuses on the video as the star of the show.
It uses the same classic direct response advertising methods as a conventional "mini-site" to grab people. A video landing page uses a headline to grab attention combined with bullets to build further interest. It then uses a call to action in the video and on the web page to entice people to take further action.
Now don’t fall into the trap of thinking that with video you don’t need to worry about length. A twenty minute video would probably kill your sales. You want a 3-5 minute video to fit in with what you offer on your website.
When properly scripted, the amount of content and sales information you can cram into even 3 minutes would amaze you.
The next trend started happening because of the Google "Slap!" Google divides their search page into two sections, a free side on the left and a paid advertising side on the right. A conflict develops when people go online to find content meet up with smart marketers want to develop leads from their paid ads on Google.
Google started getting complaints about forced opt-in pages and "sales pitch" websites and decided to "slap" those advertisers which don’t look like "real" (corporate) websites.
If you want to buy ads on Google and avoid the "slap", you must set up your site with what I call "stealth" content or, for lack of a better word, non-obvious content. You can use content from places like Wikipedia.com, the public domain, and even your existing content. The key to success is to make sure that your website navigation remains somewhat inaccessible and not distracting (usually at the bottom of the page).
Bottom Line: You want Google’s content robot to come look at your site and see that you do offer content, but when your prospects visit the page they only see your sales message and must hunt for anything extra.
The third hot trend uses mini-site sales letters and blogs together for a double whammy effect in your marketing. Let’s say you launch a new product.
First, you use a blog to build interest towards the launch day with videos, articles and relevant information. You use the blog to create a dialogue, which builds over a fairly short period of time.
Next, you launch a mini-site that works as your 24/7 sales person to whom your blog refers people who want to find out more specifics on your product. Together your blog and mini-site keep prospects engaged and then sell them when they get into the buying mood.
As with any trend, these will change and adapt over time. But from my direct, day-to-day business experience online, smart online marketers - regardless of your business - will take heed of these trends and apply them to your online business right now.
-=-
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the creator of an amazing course that will teach you step-by-step and click-by-click how to finally create your own money-making mini-sites…
"Finally! A Quick and Easy Way For YOU to Painlessly Set Up Your OWN Moneymaking ‘Mini’ Websites… Without Being a Computer Geek, Buying Expensive Software, or Paying Outrageous Fees To A Webmaster!" Visit => www.MiniSiteCreator.com
-=-
Enjoy the weekend...
Happy Thanks Giving Canadians
♥.·:*¨♥¨*:·.♥.·:*¨♥¨*:·.♥
Showing posts with label online business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label online business. Show all posts
Oct 6, 2007
Mar 19, 2007
E-Mail Signature File
Welcome to Flo's Home Biz & Fun...
I hope you had a great St. Patrick's day!
I love dancing so I went out and dance the night away. It's been a long time since I went out. I will do it more often as I felt sooooooo refreshed!
In today's article it offers information on a perfect opportunity to promote your business with your e-mail signature (or "sig") files !!! I've been online for a very long time and still up to this day .. I see many online businesses don't add a signature file to their newsletter or have their important information on their website. I believe it's so important to everyone doing business online !!!
Alexandria shares with You various ways how your sig file consistently delivers a clear impression of what You have to offer your prospects and how You will be rewarded in the future...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Make Your E-Mail Signature File
WORK for You!
by Alexandria K. Brown
“The E-zine Queen”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
You're probably familiar with e-mail signature (or "sig") files — they're the few lines of contact information that many of us put at the bottom of every e-mail we send. Most e-mail software programs allow you to create and use sig files — even the newer versions of AOL.
I've heard some people who don't use sig files defend their position by saying, "All my clients know my info — I don't need to remind them with every e-mail." Stop! You're missing a perfect opportunity to promote your business, as well as do your clients and prospects a favor.
When you think about how many e-mails you actually send a day, it's probably more than you realized! Some people send over 100 a day. That's a lot of mail — and a lot of chances to slip in your own subtle marketing messages.
Sig Files Put You at Their Fingertips
People love it when you make information easy to find. Sure, your clients have your phone number somewhere, but they'll really appreciate it when they can grab your number right from an e-mail they're looking at. In fact, e-mail is such a part of our lives now, that if someone needs your phone number quickly, she may be more likely to grab it off your latest e-mail than to dig up your business card. (Don't underestimate this occurrence — there are many disorganized people in the world!)
Also, if people want to put your info into their contact management software (Outlook, ACT, Palm, etc.), they can simply copy and paste it right from your sig file.
Good Sig Files Tell Strangers What You Do
As a former co-chair of New York's Women in Communications Inc. (WICI), I booked speakers for our monthly cocktail events, conducting most of this work via e-mail. The speakers I corresponded with only knew me as a representative of WICI; they had no idea what I did for a living. But one woman, after spotting my sig file, promptly wanted to learn more about my copywriting services. She then hired me for a $5,000 project. Thank you, sig file!
Sig Files Are Ready to Travel
E-mails are forwarded all the time. You never know where yours may end up, and one of the recipients may be very interested in your service or product. I learned this when I got a call from a prospect in Israel. A colleague of hers here in the U.S. had forwarded her an interesting issue of my newsletter. She learned about my services and got my phone number from the sig file at the bottom.
Sig Files Are a Great Promotional Tool
Now, let's move beyond the obvious stuff. Think of your sig file as a little messenger who speaks to everyone you send an e-mail to. What do you want him to say? Do you have great news? A new product or service? A free newsletter or report? Let us know via your sig file!
Your Sig File Checklist
Here are several items to consider putting into your sig file. CAUTION: Do not attempt to insert them all! Choose what's most important for you and your business.
* your name and title
* your company name
* your company tagline, or a short phrase that describes what your company does
* your address
* your phone, cell phone, and/or pager numbers
* your fax number
* your e-mail address (sometimes people can't get it directly or quickly from your actual e-mail)
* your Web URL (be sure to include the "'http://" prefix to ensure it will translate as a hyperlink on most e-mail programs)
Now, also consider putting promotional info in your sig file, such as:
* an offer for a free report or product you offer
* an offer for a free consultation or trial offer
* a company announcement (new client, new product, award won, etc.)
* a hyperlink to your latest press release, article, or Web site feature
* an invitation to subscribe to your free e-newsletter
In the interest of space and your reader's time, keep your offer or announcement to one or two sentences only. (Tip: Always throw in the word "free" when possible. It's everyone's favorite word!)
Bonus: Most e-mail software programs allow you to create and keep several signatures on file, so you can change them easily and often. This makes it a cinch to switch your messages weekly or even daily, and maintain ones for different businesses.
Choose What's Important to You
Of course, it's possible to get carried away and include too much information. We don't need random quotes that have no relation to your business, cute illustrations made up of keyboard characters, or your weekend phone number in the Hamptons.
Try to keep your sig file to a maximum of eight lines. More than that will overwhelm the reader, and it will look silly if your sig files are always longer than your e-mail messages!
Here's a good example:
Jane Smith, President
Smith I.T. Consulting
'Take a Byte Out of Network Headaches'
ph: 800-321-0000 fax: 212-321-0001
jane@smithitconsulting.com
*Visit http://www.smithitconsulting.com and get your FREE report on the top 10 most common computer network problems and how to solve them!*
Notice that "Jane" opted not to give her mailing address here, in order to use the space for her tagline and an invitation to receive her free report. It's all up to you. If your customers frequently need your mailing address, then you should include it. (I don't include it in mine, since 99% of my work is done via e-mail.) Decide what bits of info are most valuable to keep, and use the rest of the space for a unique message or promotion!
One Last Thing: Make Sure We "Get" What You Do
I've seen some seemingly complete sig files that still leave me wondering, "Thanks for all the info, but what do you DO?" We all know what IBM and Kodak do, but the whole world doesn't know what your business does (yet). For now, it's your job to help us all learn. Include a tagline that describes what your company does or a short phrase that helps us understand. If your sig file consistently delivers a clear impression of what you have to offer your prospects, it will reward you numerous times in the future!
(c) 2000-2003 Alexandria K. Brown. All rights reserved.
-=-=-
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen,” is author of the award-winning manual, “Boost Business With Your Own E-zine.” To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at www.EzineQueen.com.
-=-=-
Have a Super Monday!
I hope you had a great St. Patrick's day!
I love dancing so I went out and dance the night away. It's been a long time since I went out. I will do it more often as I felt sooooooo refreshed!
In today's article it offers information on a perfect opportunity to promote your business with your e-mail signature (or "sig") files !!! I've been online for a very long time and still up to this day .. I see many online businesses don't add a signature file to their newsletter or have their important information on their website. I believe it's so important to everyone doing business online !!!
Alexandria shares with You various ways how your sig file consistently delivers a clear impression of what You have to offer your prospects and how You will be rewarded in the future...
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Make Your E-Mail Signature File
WORK for You!
by Alexandria K. Brown
“The E-zine Queen”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
You're probably familiar with e-mail signature (or "sig") files — they're the few lines of contact information that many of us put at the bottom of every e-mail we send. Most e-mail software programs allow you to create and use sig files — even the newer versions of AOL.
I've heard some people who don't use sig files defend their position by saying, "All my clients know my info — I don't need to remind them with every e-mail." Stop! You're missing a perfect opportunity to promote your business, as well as do your clients and prospects a favor.
When you think about how many e-mails you actually send a day, it's probably more than you realized! Some people send over 100 a day. That's a lot of mail — and a lot of chances to slip in your own subtle marketing messages.
Sig Files Put You at Their Fingertips
People love it when you make information easy to find. Sure, your clients have your phone number somewhere, but they'll really appreciate it when they can grab your number right from an e-mail they're looking at. In fact, e-mail is such a part of our lives now, that if someone needs your phone number quickly, she may be more likely to grab it off your latest e-mail than to dig up your business card. (Don't underestimate this occurrence — there are many disorganized people in the world!)
Also, if people want to put your info into their contact management software (Outlook, ACT, Palm, etc.), they can simply copy and paste it right from your sig file.
Good Sig Files Tell Strangers What You Do
As a former co-chair of New York's Women in Communications Inc. (WICI), I booked speakers for our monthly cocktail events, conducting most of this work via e-mail. The speakers I corresponded with only knew me as a representative of WICI; they had no idea what I did for a living. But one woman, after spotting my sig file, promptly wanted to learn more about my copywriting services. She then hired me for a $5,000 project. Thank you, sig file!
Sig Files Are Ready to Travel
E-mails are forwarded all the time. You never know where yours may end up, and one of the recipients may be very interested in your service or product. I learned this when I got a call from a prospect in Israel. A colleague of hers here in the U.S. had forwarded her an interesting issue of my newsletter. She learned about my services and got my phone number from the sig file at the bottom.
Sig Files Are a Great Promotional Tool
Now, let's move beyond the obvious stuff. Think of your sig file as a little messenger who speaks to everyone you send an e-mail to. What do you want him to say? Do you have great news? A new product or service? A free newsletter or report? Let us know via your sig file!
Your Sig File Checklist
Here are several items to consider putting into your sig file. CAUTION: Do not attempt to insert them all! Choose what's most important for you and your business.
* your name and title
* your company name
* your company tagline, or a short phrase that describes what your company does
* your address
* your phone, cell phone, and/or pager numbers
* your fax number
* your e-mail address (sometimes people can't get it directly or quickly from your actual e-mail)
* your Web URL (be sure to include the "'http://" prefix to ensure it will translate as a hyperlink on most e-mail programs)
Now, also consider putting promotional info in your sig file, such as:
* an offer for a free report or product you offer
* an offer for a free consultation or trial offer
* a company announcement (new client, new product, award won, etc.)
* a hyperlink to your latest press release, article, or Web site feature
* an invitation to subscribe to your free e-newsletter
In the interest of space and your reader's time, keep your offer or announcement to one or two sentences only. (Tip: Always throw in the word "free" when possible. It's everyone's favorite word!)
Bonus: Most e-mail software programs allow you to create and keep several signatures on file, so you can change them easily and often. This makes it a cinch to switch your messages weekly or even daily, and maintain ones for different businesses.
Choose What's Important to You
Of course, it's possible to get carried away and include too much information. We don't need random quotes that have no relation to your business, cute illustrations made up of keyboard characters, or your weekend phone number in the Hamptons.
Try to keep your sig file to a maximum of eight lines. More than that will overwhelm the reader, and it will look silly if your sig files are always longer than your e-mail messages!
Here's a good example:
Jane Smith, President
Smith I.T. Consulting
'Take a Byte Out of Network Headaches'
ph: 800-321-0000 fax: 212-321-0001
jane@smithitconsulting.com
*Visit http://www.smithitconsulting.com and get your FREE report on the top 10 most common computer network problems and how to solve them!*
Notice that "Jane" opted not to give her mailing address here, in order to use the space for her tagline and an invitation to receive her free report. It's all up to you. If your customers frequently need your mailing address, then you should include it. (I don't include it in mine, since 99% of my work is done via e-mail.) Decide what bits of info are most valuable to keep, and use the rest of the space for a unique message or promotion!
One Last Thing: Make Sure We "Get" What You Do
I've seen some seemingly complete sig files that still leave me wondering, "Thanks for all the info, but what do you DO?" We all know what IBM and Kodak do, but the whole world doesn't know what your business does (yet). For now, it's your job to help us all learn. Include a tagline that describes what your company does or a short phrase that helps us understand. If your sig file consistently delivers a clear impression of what you have to offer your prospects, it will reward you numerous times in the future!
(c) 2000-2003 Alexandria K. Brown. All rights reserved.
-=-=-
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen,” is author of the award-winning manual, “Boost Business With Your Own E-zine.” To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at www.EzineQueen.com.
-=-=-
Have a Super Monday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)