Email Marketing: A Simple, Free and Overlooked Way to Market Your Business

Email. We use it for everything from chatting with our friends and family to corresponding with clients and sending business inquiries to helping others in online discussion forums. It's arguably become *the* mode of modern-day communication – more so than the telephone, certainly more so than letter writing.

There's a limited amount of real estate in every email that you send. How you use it determines, in part, how effective your emails are and how well you are marketing yourself. Given how often emails are forwarded around, a well-crafted email signature can get you calls/emails from prospects you never knew even existed, new ezine subscribers and, in the best cases, a new client – this is a great return on free marketing.

1. Keep it *plain*.

There is such a variety of email programs and capabilities out there -- Outlook, Eudora, AOL, Yahoo, Hotmail, gmail, etc. – that you should use plain text in your email signature to insure that everyone can read it.

In addition to my text address, I use a border to separate the email address from the body of the email. You can use basic symbols which separate your signature without distracting from it. In my case, I use a line of dashes to separate the body of my email from my email signature.

2. Make it automatic.

Most email programs today will allow you to set up a default email signature which will automatically append the end of every email you send. In Outlook, you can even set up a variety of signatures depending on which email account you are using and you can alter the address based on whether you are initiating and email versus replying to one.

Setting up an automatic email signature will save you a lot of typing in addition to insuring that your signature remains consistent.

3. Make it complete.

I highly recommend that you include either your email address or your URL (assuming you have a website) in your email signature. You want to make it easy for people to find you.

Someone receiving your email for the first time may not wish to pick up the phone and call you – they may want to learn a bit about you first. When possible, include your email address in such a way that it's clickable no matter the email account that opens it. You do this by writing mailto:yourname@yourdomainname. Having the "mailto" at the beginning of your email address makes it a "clickable" link.

Some discussion groups don't allow you to include your email address in your email signature. But if you have a website, you can direct readers there by including your URL as a clickable link. You do this by typing http://www.yourURL. Adding the "http://" to the beginning of your URL makes it a clickable link for your readers – even in a plain text email.

4. Keep it short.

Keep your signature to no more than 5 lines – more than that and your signature becomes overwhelming and will turn off readers.

Many online discussion groups/forums will limit the number of lines that your signature can be so be sure to check out the guidelines before you post. As a result, I use three variations of my signature: one for online discussion groups, one for existing clients and one for everyone else.

5. Give ‘em a reason and a gift.

Do you want subscribers for your ezine? Do you want people to visit your website? What is the "call to action" of your email signature?

You want to give your email readers a reason to go to your website or sign up for your ezine or pick up the phone and call you by including an invitation in your email signature. You could offer them a F*REE special report, an e-course or a F*REE teleseminar – all for the "price" of heeding your signature's call to action.

Your email signature block is a small, yet very valuable piece of marketing real estate. You want to give as much thought to constructing it as you do the rest of your marketing materials.

Small Business Success Secret

The real secret to small business success has doesn’t have to do with technology tools, the internet, or anything like that. In fact, it’s not even a real secret. It’s been around since man started to verbalize communiqué. The secret is WORDS!

Words carry enormous power. They can make you laugh hysterically, or destroy the strongest relationship. Words can be more powerful than any other tool at your disposal.

T effective use of words, especially in business, translates into skyrocketing sales, satisfied clients, happy employees, and a profitable and secure future. Yet, less than 1% of small entrepreneur businesses use words to their full potential.

The power of words can be learned and used effectively by anyone, and when you harness and unleash this power, there’s nothing on this earth that can stop you. This art of using words is what is called copy writing. It makes or breaks your sales and advertising material. A true word smith can forge the most potent of copy for their site.

One of the ways an “amateur” copywriter, one who is writing for her own product or business, can beat the experienced pro is by infusing the sales letter or ad with her own, honest, genuine, and unmitigated enthusiasm. When selling in online, enthusiasm is just as important as in face-to-face selling.

This is why you can’t just sit down and write an ad “on command”, like you can sit down and do bookkeeping. You have to muster up some enthusiasm for the job and the proposition you’re putting across.

If I’m going to write an ad or some other sales material the first thing in the morning, as I often do, I try to set my subconscious mind to work on that job before I go to bed the night before. There are times when I wake up with the “big idea” that I need and other times I wake up with some ideas and a readiness to write them down and pick and choose which ones I want to use.

Don’t force yourself to “grind out” direct-response copy when you really don’t feel like it because the result will be flat and mechanical. It may be technically correct with a headline, subheads, bullet points, an offer, etc., but it will lack spirit and enthusiasm.

The person who is genuinely enthusiastic about what she is selling definitely has an advantage. That’s why the freelance professional copywriter should always download as much of the pitch from the product’s most enthusiastic salesperson as possible. Then transfer it to paper and shape and mold it to perfection.

Over the years, the work I’ve done for clients and ad agencies has proven that the most successful work was for clients that were passionate and enthusiastic about what they were selling. So before you tackle that next ad for your business, make sure you’re as enthusiastic about it as you want your clients to be.

How to Profit with A Content Website

Placing ads on websites has been one of the most popular ways to generate income online. Why? Because it's easy to place ads, it is free to sign up to most advertisers, and you can still have a simple content-based website - no need to accept credit cards, create sales pages, buy products, or anything other than your normal webmasterly activities.

Unfortunately, many people who create good content sites never succeed at monetizing them - either they don't get enough traffic, or just don't get enough clicks on their ads. Luckily, there are many techniques to solve any problem you may encounter. The easiest of this is ad placement. Now, proper ad placement will differ slightly depending on the type of site, layout, content, and other factors, but there are some general guidelines to follow:

- Make sure you read the AdSense terms of service - many people earn money and lose it because they violate the TOS and get their account terminated. Don't lose your money for no reason.

- I would recommend using the maximum number of allowed ads - including content ads, referral ads, and a search bar. This will increase clicks significantly, since a user who has no interest in your content ads might still search on your search bar or download products from your referral buttons.

- Make sure your ads don't look like ads; That is, don't put different colored borders (generally no border is best), don't use contrasting colors (try to match the colors of your site), and try to ensure that the fonts on your site are similar (the same, if possible) as the ad fonts. This way, the ads will look like they are part of YOUR site, and your visitors will be more likely to click them (they look like links).

- In general, VERTICAL ads placed on the RIGHT side of your site will do well. Why? Because people read left to right (in most languages), and their eyes will follow your content right to the ads on the right. Makes sense, doesn't it? Then why does everyone still use the 'leaderboard' and other horizontal banners? This is not to say that horizontal ads will never work, but statistically vertical ads will probably do better in terms of click-through rate.

Once you have figured out your ad placement, you might need to control your ad content. Luckily, Google allows you some control over what ads are placed on your site. You can exclude certain advertisers (usually to exclude competitors), use content targeting to tell Google where to look for the keywords you want in the ads, and you can specify the category of the ads you show.

In general, you should always use 'ad channels' to track your ads - this will show you the stats for one ad unit (or more if you've added more to a channel). You should generally use a separate channel for each ad unit, as this will allow you to tweak your ads for maximum profitability. When you make a change to an ad, note what that change did to your click-throughs, average amount earned per click, and anything else you might want to track. This will show you exactly what tweaks improve your earnings, and by how much. The AdSense reporting tool is very good for this, especially if you use "This month, by channel" to track your changes and results.

Those tips should increase your earnings slightly, but there are many more ways you can improve, including:

-getting more visitors
-putting up more sites
-targeting your ads even more
-tracking your visitors' stats
-and more!

If you would like to learn more about AdSense, and how you can earn a full time income with your websites, you'll want to get "AdSense Empire" - a complete guide to setting up or improving your earnings quickly and easily. Check it out here:

http://www.theinternetincomesystem.com/AdSenseEmpire/

To your continued success in building your Internet empire!

Is It Really Possible To Make Money For Free Online? Yes It Is!

Many people out there struggle to make money online through affiliate schemes and MLM etc. This is a fact, it is something that none of us can deny. It seems that the people who make the most money have plenty of money to advertise through Google Adwords etc. For those of us who cannot afford to promote our websites this way we are left trying to scrape up visitors and convert them into sales. In this article, I am going to teach you why you should swap from affiliate marketing to a new form of money making that is just starting online. The program I am going to tell you about today is called Edownline. By the end of this article you will realise that it is possible to make money online without spending much money and that affiliate advertising is not the only way to make money.

EDownline -

EDownline is a great new website where you earn money for completing offers, viewing websites and refering others. Membership to EDownline is free and it is a great way to earn money online. Currently, EDownline is in pre launch as it needs 20,000 members before it can function properly. However, you can still sign up for free and refer others (if those referals then purchase a platinum membership which costs money you get a commision on this) Refering people is also easy especially as EDownline is currently giving away free gold memberships and standard memberships are also free. Remember, they key to making money for free online is to refer people to websites they do not have to pay for (EDownline meets this profile perfectly) Another great thing about EDownline is the site's payment options. Rather than being sent a check in the post you can get paid through your choice of online payment processors (Paypal, AlertPay, StormPay etc) This means you get your money quicker and you can cash out more easily.

What are the benefits of getting a gold or platinum account?

The benefits of signing up for a gold account (currently free if you sign up before the 20,000 member mark is reached) or a platinum account are massive. Firstly, in both account types you earn far more than standard members for viewing websites etc. The biggest benefit for gold and platinum (especially platinum members) is that you earn extra money for every referral that you make. This means that referring people suddenly becomes a very profitable business because you earn more money. Also, gold and platinum members have access to a download database that includes website submission software, ebooks on increasing your profits and great scripts for your website. If you want to make the most possible on EDownline then you really do need a gold or platinum account, with a platinum account being the best way to make money.

So how much can you earn off EDownline?

This depends, for those of you who will just take offers and view websites then you can earn between $5-100 depending on how much time you spend on EDownline. However, the real money is in refering people to EDownline so you can earn even more money. By doing this you can earn good money and also it is easy to refer people as a standard account is free (gold accounts are free at the moment as well) EDownline are adding an additional service that they claim will make you large amounts of money but this service is yet to begin until 2007 so keep a look our for that.

If you would like to know more about EDownline then please visit my "EDownline Information Page" at http://emoney.110mb.com/edownline.htm

If you would like to sign up to EDownline for free then please visit http://emoney.110mb.com/edownlinesignup.html (remember, if you sign up before the 20,000 member mark you get a free gold account, a $50 value)

I hope after reading this article you have realised that it is possible to make money online for free. I hope that you have also realised that there are alternatives to the often difficult business of affiliate marketing.

IMPORTANT - You may redistribute this article as you see fit, you may even charge for it. However, you MUST retain the links featured in this article and the information box below.

What Is Your Online Business Model?

What does your perfect business look and sound like? Are you one of those that is looking to make money at home for doing nothing? Or, do you plan to work hard to earn this income in such a way as so that it can actually replace the income you are currently making? While some individuals look at the opportunities and worry if in fact it is possible to not get ripped off, others take the time to actually learn what makes them work. These are the individuals that will succeed in their online business endeavors.

You Can Make Money Online

You just need to know how. Step one in the process is learning about some of the options out there that are available. We are not talking about scams and games but legitimate businesses that you can make a great deal of money with. Once you learn what is available, you'll need to analyze which project fits with your specific being. What makes you tick, in other words? Finally, you'll need to get yourself motivated and get your products out there.

What's Out There?

There are many various types of businesses that you can secure. Many of them include selling products, software, ebooks, or the like. In some cases, you will want to produce and sell your own product while in others you'll want to use another's product to make a profit from. One this is for sure, you'll probably need to set up a website to sell it.

In most cases, individuals will set up a website for the product that they are trying to sell and then promote that site. To do this, there are a number of means that will work for them. They can use ads from the search engine Google for example. Some like to fill their website with great content so that the search engines stop there when someone does a search for their product. You can create good articles about the products you are selling and submit them to article directories which will allow others to use them. This allows people to come to your site for their product needs. Still, there are many ways in which you can promote your product through a website.

Now, before you worry that you are not Internet savvy enough to actually make a website, there is just nothing to worry about. There are simple to use software programs that will basically do the work for you. These are not overly expensive and can easily help you to create a website within a matter of minutes.

What Works For You

The best advice that you can get is to take the time to look for opportunities that appeal to you. Ask which ones actually sound good to you and determine if you could get behind selling that product or working that business. If you can put your heart into it (not necessarily a lot of money!) then you can make it work.

After you have taken the time to find out which opportunities are available, look at them side to side and stay focused. You do not want to overwhelm yourself by trying to do too many things all at once. Instead, you need to determine which one you want to start with. You can always go back for more later! Then, you'll want to build on your business through knowledge. This is very powerful to have. You can learn a lot about why a business works right online without paying a dime for it. You may want to purchase a product that will teach you, but even this is not necessarily going to make your business.

You have to make your business work. You have to invest your time in doing so. You may also need to invest a little money to earn money. But, the rewards from working your own business can be amazing. Thousands of people get started every day at a new online venture. Most of them fail not because the business will not work, but because they do not know what to do, don't put their best foot forward and they simply do not step into it with the best attitude. The best attitude is that of keenness and enthusiasm to "have a go" and put some realistic time and effort into making money. For those that are ready and willing to change their life, there is a business out there with their name on it.

How To Advertise Your Business On The Internet - Important Tips

Important tips:

For a successful website you need to include the following information:

1. Details about your business
2. The services/products you offer
3. Why the customer should select your business
4. Your qualifications/experience

1. Details about your business

Describe your business. A short summary of the services and products you offer, how long you have been in business, how long your business has been operating, etc.

For example:

PERFECT PERGOLAS PTY LTD is a team of fully qualified tradespeople who are experts in their field of developing quality outdoor living spaces for you and your family to enjoy. We specialise in pergolas, decking, verandas and carports. We believe in working together with our clients to create the perfect home. Our team with 15 years experience in the building industry have been servicing the Melbourne Metropolitan area for over a decade. We offer you quality workmanship at an affordable price.

2. Services / Products offered

In this section you need to include information on your webpage about what your business specialises in and what services / products you can offer.

An example for a Building / Construction Company would be:

We specialise in:
• New homes
• Extensions
• Renovations

For businesses that specialise in a number of different services, you can have your information listed in different subheadings or columns.

For example:

The Building / Construction Company may build new homes, do extensions, as well as, renovations of bathrooms and kitchens. It may also offer a building consultants service.
New Homes Extensions Renovations
Units Second storey extensions Bathroom
Single storey homes Family living areas Kitchens
Holiday homes Additional bedrooms Painting/Carpentry
Ensuites Plastering
Garage Tiling
Windows

3. Why the customer should select your business

When someone is looking for a tradesperson / team they usually have a need to fulfil. They are looking for the most suitable business that will be able to deliver the services / products they require. Therefore, it is important for you to list some reasons why a customer would want to select your business out of the many businesses that are advertised.

Firstly, you can include a subheading ‘Why Choose Your Business Name’? followed by 4 good reasons why the customer would want to select your business.

An example for a Home Extension Company might be:

4 Great Reasons to choose HAPPY HOME EXTENSIONS:

Professional Job – You can relax when choosing Happy Home Extensions. We are Registered Builders with 20 years experience so you are sure to get a professional job with 6 ½ years guarantee on all work done.

Personal Consultation – We will work closely with our clients to determine your needs and preferences in order to deliver to you a quality project that everyone can be proud of.

Job Completed to Schedule – We have significant project management skills and resources and will endeavour to complete your job on time.

Affordable Price – We offer all our customers the best quality job at the most competitive price. We are able to do this by using our established network of contacts to buy quality materials at wholesale prices.

4. Your Qualifications / Experience

Somewhere on your website (preferably on the ‘About Us’ page if you have one) you need to include your qualifications, your ABN number, Public Liability, your relevant licences and any other professional associations you belong to, your years experience and also any awards or certificates of achievement you may have gained over the years.

Safe Way to Start Your Own Business

We know you want to start your own business. First you need a list of what you want to do. Then you can get started with the rest.

Now, hopefully you now know what it that business will be.

Stepping out of your comfort zone can seem a little risky if you are used to a steady paycheck from a regular job, with a family or other financial obligations, makes. It doesn't seem to matter how miserable you are in that job, the alternative scares the pants off many of us. There is a safer way of jumping off that cliff and it entails your current boss.

If your employers business doesn't conflict with your dreams, then your employer could be your ticket to a successful freelance business. If you were thinking of starting a freelance copywriting business, you could negotiate a contract with your current employer for reduce your time to half for the first year after you leave. This would give you a springboard for finding other clients while still covering your monthly expenses.

You're maybe wondering why your employer would agree to sign a contract for half of your time. There are a number of reasons that can result in a "win-win" situation for both of you.

If you and your employer are on good terms, the chances are she doesn't want to lose you. It takes time to train someone to fill your job, train them to the company's way of being productive, and training costs money.

Even if she decides to replace you, it can take months for her to gather resumes, interview candidates, and hire the right person. During that time you can be performing varies job functions from your home office, perhaps even training your replacement and providing your boss with a smoother transition by minimizing the disruption to her business.

On the other hand, if you're not on good terms with your boss and the company is downsizing, merging, or being bought out, you can help them avoid the unpleasantness and cost of firing you. You are actually doing them a favor by restructuring this in the form of a contract for services that can be "stretched out" for a period of time if needed.

If an employer has to choose between firing you and paying severance and benefits versus signing a contract for a time period, which do you think she'd prefer? Signing and getting tangible work and services in return without the costs associated with terminating you is a much better deal for him. The contract may even be allocated from a different budget category, making it more affordable for the company.

There's another reason your boss may choose a contract. That is your knowledge. You are already familiar with the company, its clients, and services. You're able to provide the services they need and you understand what has to be done. Many creative people have used this logic in approaching their bosses to negotiate their first contract and go out on their own.

If you're interested in starting your own business your current job can provide the security you need in your first year. What better way to get started on your dream?