Plans for future posts will cover various aspects of online business
including topics such as these not offered in specific order:
1) recruiting at top levels
2) building a downline you can live with
3) sharing the knowlege
4) upgrading skillsets of those on your team
5) generating multiple income streams - everyone wins
6) generating your own targeted, qualified leads
3) general business law
4) what it takes to make a go of it online
5) what to avoid
6) what to incorporate
7) how to make a campaign seamless so that people can easily follow you
8) form your own newsletter
9) include many additional freebies!
Without overwhelming you, let's talk about things over time that top campaigns include (but may not necessarily share). The worse thing you can do is put yourself online while possessing a mess of a profile you see at many of the social sites...where images are unrelated to your messages or you have a variety of articles that don't relate to one another.
Now...I will admit, once you form a few blogs, they require continual change. Some of my blogs are being overhauled, but my main point is ... if you're going to put the numbers in your favor, you need a few things:
1) teleconferencing -- mastery of communication -- talking about what you're going to say to people to attract them further into your messages...specifically using direct marketing techniques that work.
2) mastery of the written word -- no kidding -- you've got to be able to convey information people want
3) use of the Internet -- consider harnessing this tool -- don't rule it out because "you don't have the time...or worse, you're too old to learn". HINT: Tap into the know-how of your kids, if you have them living at home with you. My 15-year old son showed me how to screenshot capture important stuff for my developing superaffiliate site. It meant hitting the function key on my computer ...then using "Insert" key.
Did you know that when you write an article and form a post (or publish an article in a directory), you're up in front of millions instantly? Yup. It's fingertip publishing...both good and not so good. But any action taken is far more superior than none taken at all!
And.., you do have to be careful what you write. As a hard-and-fast rule, I don't publish anything I haven't personally used, paid for, tested, researched and promoted to others.
4) You have to show people where to go specifically and you have to tell them how to get there.
Then.., you have to grab their attention, hold their interest, maintain the connection and work towards some type of acion (that's committed). You know the drill. That's what Danny Johnson does. The only difference between you and her is that she's been a marketing student longer.
One Action You Can Use TODAY, Not Tomorrow
As with all of my posts, readers are encouraged to offer comments, suggestions and feedback. You can do that here at blogger...and I will see your comments.
Now..., let's move into pay-per-click advertising because it stumps a lot of people. It's not anyone's imagination because there is some work involved in getting it right.
What Internet Marketing Entails, 2 Methods of Advertising
Network marketers will ask, how does some of this stuff help me build my MLM?
Good question. What's your number one problem? Isn't it getting targeted and qualified leads who have a need for your stuff? It's everyone's challenge. So..., if you're using belly-to-belly marketing, the numbers do appear slowly. That's true if you don't have an extensive network, or if don't have an Aunt Bell who knows a ton of people, or if you're in a church that's (still) open to your pitch.
In time the warm market shares its secrets, but if you're amongst "those who should be avoided", everyone but you in your church will know it. I can't tell you how many people I've talked to who have said, "Man. No one likes me anymore". It's unfortunate family doesn't tend to be as open as we'd like. But, amends can be made and you can still grow your business. You just have to get your hands wrapped around the right tools and the right information. That's all that's involved.
So preserve your name on the dinner list and leave your warm market alone.
Now..., if you'd like to harness the power of technology, you CAN put those numbers in your favor. And..., you can do it without bugging people you love. I've heard some say, "Well..the net is not for everyone". That's true too. You have to decide what you want for yourself and then go for it. But..., you don't have to lose a ton of money to get what you want. You will have to work for it by putting your messages out there yourself.
Think of the Net As A Big Puzzle
Now we delve into business online. A few years ago, all someone had to do was --
1) Put up a tacky banner
2) Drive people (traffic) to that ad
3) Give 'em a pitch
4) And..., wait for them to hit the pay button.
We should be so lucky. It's not true today. Here's why. Now the major search engines like Google, Yahoo, and MSN demand rich content fitting into whatever it is the customer wants most. We call this "offering relevant information". If they're searching for red baseballs, they should be able to see what types of baseballs are out there..., by make, model (tough vinyl or leather), and by price. Before they make up their minds, they'll want to hear what others have to say about red baseballs...or maybe they'll want to compare a few places offering the product they're after...just to get the best deal.
Relevancy Means
If Johnny enters red baseballs into his search and Google displays an ad that shows pink aprons, you don't have a relevant match.
It's the same thing for you as a marketer. So your messages must carry appeal by stating what the problem is, offering a solution, and then by giving people choices they can follow for some type of price they're willing to pay. Pricing should always be based on the value of those packages you bring to the table as true benefits of product/service use meet assessed needs. When I use the word "assessed", perhaps you offer your prospects a 30-minute free consultation. That's one way of figuring out what prospects want.
In pay-per-click advertising, there is learning involved.
Today, quick-time operators won't make the cut. The Internet is evolving so we must evolve with it...and as Google continues to demand more relevant content, that's a big thing for us as marketers. It is more than 'just publishing words online'. Anything you publish should help your audience know more about what you're promoting by benefits (not features), by value (what something is worth going way beyond price), and by service.
So when does pay-per-click advertising fit into a campaign online?
It should be used when you have content published under your name. If you have profiles appearing at all of the major social sites (Linked-In, Plaxo, Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace), then you're off to a good start. Try to keep your profiles as simple as you can. I know..., it's a challenge for many marketers. We tend to put "too much" in one space so peole can get confused.
Ok. Now..., when people enter a search and they find...say someone like you, they'll check you out to see what you're doing. If you make the cut, they'll stay. If not, they're gone. If they like you and want what you're offering, what they will most want is YOU.
The Net Requires A Recipe of Specific Marketing Ingredients
The net works like a baking recipe..., and Internet marketing is the sum total of those working parts. When you're new to this realm, it's a puzzle. The key thing is not to give up.
Let's talk about how pay-per-click fits in. It's one approach of many ads you put out there carrying your name. You dont' want to advertise your company because people really want to "fix whatever is bugging them".
Predominant Advertising, 2 Ways
I've talked about this information in some of my other blogs dedicated to different types of marketers, but there are 2 predominant ways of advertising yourself online:
1) Free -- you already know this by tapping into the social networks.
2) Paid -- this is where the Top Dogs reside.
Somehow, you've got to find a way to go from FREE to PAID. So which form of advertising is better? It depends on how your campaign is set up.
Are you working for longer-terms results or are you after quick revenue? The second answer depends hugely on the level of marketing expertise you hold.
Let's Assume You're Into Some Internet Marketing
So you've been playing in the social networks but you've gotten very limited results. You're not alone but you are still finding powerful ways of "standing apart from other people". This part is big.
Find a system that works. That's the big one.
Seasoned players have systems in place so that they can go for the quicker money.
Newbies ...(and I've been there) ...are scratching their heads..., feeling unsure about who they can trust with good reason.
I've seen more bunk moved online than even I'd care to admit (I bought).
So What Do You Do If You're New?
Here's what I learned after stumbling through 5 MLM's. Newbies are highly encouraged to invest their time in picking up some Internet marketing education. Sorry.., you may not want to hear that news, but knowing what works and doesn't work is what will save you "online cash donations".
HINT: Avoid the superaffiliates who would sell you the sky.
HINT: Avoid the Top Gun MLM'ers who would sell you the sky.
Get my drift?
You're gonna have to get marketing staples and knock yourself out for a while to see what works.
So..., yes...education is needed. It's like becoming a doctor or an attorney. You're not going to step into surgery or into court without obtaining the right kind of training needed to make it work. If you do, you'll get creamed..or worse...arrested.
It's the same for Internet marketers...even at the network marketing level. What Top Guns don't reveal is what they went through to learn what they know today.
So..should you use pay-per-click if you're new? I don't recommend it. Start with FREE means.
1) write articles
2) submit to major directories (what's that, you're asking?)
You have to stay tuned to find out more. If I give you the entire pizza in one sitting, you'll get sick. Trust me. I've been there.
Take Heed If You Go Online (Thru Paid Ads)
If you decide to do this, you have to know how to set up what's called an "ad group"..., and you have to pick the right domain name (it's that long name you often see in the upper left hand corner of your search bar) when someone is entering keyword phrases. Ok. If I lost you, let's go back to digesting pizza slices 1 and 2.
If you go into paid advertising, you want to access qualified (and certified help). There are universities out there that only teach this stuff at bachelor levels but they're gearing you up for corporate handcuffs and they teach marketing which won't necessarily prepare you set up a website properly or get that page ranked at Google just to get that business. Feeling sick yet? Sorry. That's not my intention.
You've heard it said -- "Anything worth while takes preparation". It's true.
Head Into Article Marketing
Article marketing is a publishing method new and seasoned players may use to put themselves online. This
type of advertising is free and it does give you the needed time you'll want to test your content. It's not the fastest way into profit. It takes massive writing but you get traffic for FREE!
In the event that a fair number of you network marketers are saying, "But wait. I know who my market is. It's everyone". Not online. You'll get nixed from the entire online world if you believe that.
You will have one or two main segments that you can appeal to, if you're marketing one flagship product (your MLM's core product).
Case For Not Targeting The Entire World
If you go after every market online, you'll hit a tiny, tiny slice of the entire marketing pizza. I call this "broad marketing with no results" (and no pay).
Proof --
Look at your favorite store online. There are many types. Different stores offer different things. If you're a Nordstrom gal or guy, you wouldn't shop at Wal-Mart..., nor would you buy things you don't view as being very exclusive.
Conversely, if you're an outdoor-lover, REI or Sports Authority may bring you a wide range of sports-related products while they offer you a variety of camping or hunting-related stuff. That's one example of broad outdoor marketing. They're appealing to a lot of audiences, but they've grown themselves into those markets. It didn't happen overnight.
It's the same in network marketing...and it's the same online.
Pick the right niche and you have something. Pick the wrong one and you'll have an empty wallet with no payers in hand. Worse, you'll have a downline that's not doing a darned thing. In that case, you need a powerful system that delivers "results in advance". No kidding. The right system is everything.
So ...when you're starting a new campaign...say online..or even offline, all marketers start with a broad approach because they have no way of really knowing (in hard-core details) who's going to want what. There is some trial-and-error involved. Start broad..and then over time...define your market segment.
Now..., for those who say..."Yeah. PPC ain't tough". Well...if you're working different markets all at once, your wallet will tell you something else. That happens.
Article Marketing Does the Testing For You
If you're new in network marketing, and you don't want to conduct business offline entirely, the online reality is a viable solution. And.., it stands to reason that article marketing (approach #1) would make the best sense for you. Again -- you will have to write a lot of articles just to get early flows in traffic. People tend to think..."Oh, I only have to write 5 articles". What they get is -- "I only have 2 people".
You have to write more than 50 articles. You have to write hundreds and hundreds...but don't let that hold you back. Here's why.
THE BEST, MOST TARGETED LEADS ARE ONES YOU CREATE YOURSELF.
The reality is -- you have to continually publish yourself whether your write those articles yourself or outsource the work. Don't worry.., I'm connected to more folks than you could imagine so I will continue to bring in new resources here, but I will caution -- you will trade time and effort for what will later become money earned.
So why go to all this effort if it seems futile? Well...it's not. You just have to be patient with the process.
- Writing articles is the best way to establish your expertise in a given area
- It gives you long term credibility
- It helps you generate natural (organic traffic).
- This is extremely helpful because you generate your own quality leads for free ! Kindly remember -- article marketing is a long-term approach.
Getting the idea?
Yup. Now you're adding hundreds of onlookers to your funnelling system.
Pay-Per-Click Advertising Gone Bad
Here's where things get dicey. If you have no education in this arena, you'll see some of your more avid network marketers lose their shorts. Remember -- at Google, there is a pause button.
Let's say --
And..., you have to create several ads to find the ones that will best perform. This is both art and science. Start with 2 ads ..., then add a 3rd..., but rotate out your lowest performing ad over a few week's time.., keep this process going.
What Top Guns Don't Tell
Eventually, you will have hundreds of ads working for you online.
This Part Is Big
Did you notice? I mentioned there was a "pause button" at Google. When you form your $50 account (as they require for a small deposit), you always have the ability to control what you spend on a daily basis.
When you don't want your ad(s) to run...say... on a Saturday because folks in your sub-niche head outdoors at that time, then it makes sense to "hit pause". Once you know how frequently people click on your ads (as per days of the week), you can work around this data.
Forget the content network for now. Top business people online recommend that you use "search" network.
How PPC Works On Any Given Day
How ppc works during any given day has more to do with what you're marketing. Days of the week matter for some industries and weekends matter more for others. Banking is one industry that relies on Monday - Saturday so you wouldn't normally have Sunday deposits other than some type of drop deposit taking place.
Here are other examples listed below.
EXAMPLE:
If you're moving a service that's travel related, you know people like to be home by Sunday..., but they don't mind traveling on a Tuesday.
If you're moving a product that's health/wellness, you know people easily enjoy purchases during a weekend when they have ample time to address their health, assuming they're not working on weekends. So.., you may find that by hitting that pause button on Mondays and Tuesdays works well.
Testing is required to find peaks and valleys in any ppc campaign.
Use Caution When First Tapping Into PPC
Be sure to monitor your daily ad spend. What new Internet marketers don't know is that you can spend your entire monthly budget in paid ads in just one day (as people click on your ads). Don't worry though. There are ways to set a daily limit by putting a cap on the total number of searches people view your ad during any given day.
If you're not sure how to use pay-per-click, here's something to think about. The question you read below is a common question new folks online will pose.
I'm thinking about starting a Web site for residual income and need some help screening numerous programs? So what's the best way to proceed?
Your biggest question should be, what is the purpose of my website? Is it for profit or not? If it's the first answer, then pay-per-click is something you'll want to advance towards when you're more ready. There are ppc certification courses designed to help you ahead of time ...moving you toward the goal that you will "monetize" something on the back end.
If you want to know more about this information, please feel free to post your comment. I can easily direct you to a proven source that is very affordable...and NO, it won't cost you hundreds and hundreds of dollars.
If your site or blog is for informational purposes mainly, ask yourself -- will this site help people determine what they'll later buy? If yes, it could be possible that you'll want to use article marketing as your first course. That way, you can earn your early seed money later paying pay-per-click advertising.
Closed Systems
When you build a campaign online, it should be a closed system. Specifically, it should be a system designed to keep all of your visitors on YOUR site..., going there for more information or for learning more about you, your product(s) and your service(s).
Top Guns Use Closed Systems!
If you're in this game for profit (as I would hope most of you are), then you'll want to earn something you can live by. Don't be shy about aiming for something great in your life because you deserve to be compensated well !
If you're interested in earning a very small slice of the pie, then do this. Send visitors to someone else's site. This is one of the worst actions you could take. That's why -- if you're using one of those automated, hands-off automated (self-replicated) websites tens of thousands of other distributors own (in your MLM), you're sending people to them! In fact, if you're actively working your MLM, that's precisely why you don't want to position an upline. As soon as you do this, you forfeit your credibility.
Aim For A Complete Solution In Due Time
This part took me a few years to figure out and it's big. I gave you a hint in the beginning. Find a system that works.
You're looking for a system which will concretely build your business and your downline. Systems are in place for solid reasons because they help you move larger numbers. You want something that will give you a provable traffic record (using something like Webanalyzer or Google Analytics).
Then, you'll want to get highly-targeted advertisers to pay for SHOWING your ads instead. This is pay-per-impression rather than pay-per-click.
Source(s):
http://google.com/analytics
http://www.mrunix.net/webalizer/
Google's analytic tool is easier to use because you can click on "view report" when you're looking at traffic (defined as the # of people who have viewed your website ...or say... your blog).
The 2nd resource seems a bit complicated so I would recommend you use Google analytics.
Again...feel free to post your questions and I'll do my very best to help.
If this content loses you, that's okay too. Sometimes the best exposure is "just getting early information".
Let me know what your top 3 problems are, and I'll be happy to streamline my posts.
This is about helping you get what you need -- not bring you what I think I need to publish.
I will provide additional links in the days and weeks ahead. For now, this is about getting you information you can use today.
Supporting Your Success Using Proven Network Marketing Means,
B. Brinkmeyer, MBA
"Fix-My-Broken Business" Home Repair Consultant
No comments:
Post a Comment