Monday, May 14, 2007

Small Businesses Can Go With The Flow

Adapting to changing market conditions can be a challenge for any small business. This article gives great insight into how a small business can take advantage of immediate market opportunities, without destroying the marketing budget. By submitting articles to online publishers, business owners can speak to the market...fast.

Friday, May 11, 2007

Memphis In May - Amazing

For anyone who thinks Jerry Lee Lewis is for the old folks, and Hinder is just for the kids, you obviously weren't in Memphis last weekend. The annual Beale Street Music Festival proves that music crosses those age boundaries in a drum beat.

Me and 60,000 of my closest friends crammed Tom Lee Park on the banks of the Mississippi, and slithered our way through the clubs and hot spots along Beale Street. Yep, there were lots of drunken youngsters (and oldsters), lots of smokin blues music, and an unbelievably joyous mix of every type of person you can imagine.

Mark your calendars for the first weekend in May next year. And look for me on at the Rum Boogie Cafe...I ruined my favorite shoes dancing, and wished it would never end.

Best,

Nancy

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Article Writing as an Advertising Source

(Note: Another good article on...articles! It's a easy, affordable way to find new customers for your own small business -- Nancy)

You've started an internet business, have completed your website and now you need to decide how you are going to advertise your new site.

Among the many ways to advertise is by writing articles. I feel that this is one of the best methods because you can include so much information and resources that you can adapt your articles to any situation. First of all let's take a look at some important reasons for writing articles to promote your site.

1. Generate traffic to your site by including links in your resource box.

2. Use them as an advertising tool, not only with the links but your content. Don't be blatant about it. Writing intelligently about your topic will lead visitors to visit your site to further explore what you have to offer. A visitor who realizes that you are competent in your subject is more likely to become a future customer, if not right away.

3. Correlate your keywords with your topic and your site. Internet browsers are looking for a specific subject. The closer your keywords or phrases match their search requirements, the more likely they are to go to your site. Not only that, the closer the match the higher your site will appear on the search engines results.

4. The importance of your resource box cannot be underestimated. First of all it should have your name, a brief description of your site, a short history of you the author, and any links to which you want them to go.

Many marketers, especially beginners, do not like to write articles as they feel that it takes too much time, they don't feel creative enough and it actually scares them. But consider this: I bet 95% of successful article writers started out feeling that way but with experience they became better and eventually came to like doing it.

Tips to making your article interesting and effective.

1. Use short paragraphs.

2. Employ numbers or bullets which makes it easier to read.

3. Create an attention-getting title by describing your content with short, concise words. Relate them to your keywords if possible. Pique their interest so they will want to read further.

4. Be informative, using facts and figures when they apply and even use real-life situations if it would help clarify your theme.

(a little hint here is to start out by composing an outline which will make it easier to organize what you are writing)

If you still don't want to write your own, especially at the beginning, there are sources online which can help you at a nominal cost such as freelancers. You can find them by entering the term in your browser.

Using public domain articles is another good source as these articles are given to the public and you can claim them as your own. The only difficulty here is that anyone can use them so your competitors may use the same one. Here is a good time to edit them in your own words to make them your own.

I have written mostly about linking your article to your website, but it's also easy to link to your affiliate site if you are promoting someone else's product.

Notice that I haven't mentioned advertising that much but that is really what you are doing with your article and your resource box. The more informative your article and how you present it is actually a means of promoting yourself and your subject.



Nancy Stetson. She uses the programs on her website to show the beginner on the internet how one can begin with no experience and little money. Visit her
at http://www.homebased-opportunities.com/optin.html

Expanding Your Reputation Through Article Marketing

(NOTE: Johnny writes a great piece on why marketing your business with content works so well. Some really good points here!)

A positive reputation is a priceless asset to any business. The loyalty of a small group of customers is nice, but generally not enough to bolster sales and keep food on the table. As entrepreneurs, we are always looking for new ways to reach a greater number of people.

There are a million ways to get your name out there, some more effective than others. Our modern society offers marketing opportunities through television, radio, telephone, the Internet, and a vast array of print sources such as brochures and magazines. Your budget will likely dictate which of these methods you choose to utilize.

There is one method, however, that any business owner should take advantage of. Regardless of the size or success of the company, article marketing is a fast and cost effective way to legitimately market your company.

How to Get Started
There are three main steps to the article marketing process:

1. Begin by writing a batch of articles surrounding topics that relate to your business.

2. Submit the articles to an article distribution service. (You can attempt to submit them to content sites individually if you have a boat load of time to spend on the project.)

3. Watch as your articles are distributed to hundreds of sites and subsequently published all over the Internet. The best part is that all of these articles will have links back to your website, significantly increasing site traffic and company exposure.

Lots of websites have an insatiable hunger for fresh content. This is why these article distribution services have become so popular. They have formed relationships with many of these content sites who have come to trust them to provide well-written and informative articles.

Branding Through Article Marketing
Article marketing is one of the best ways to get your brand name on the public eye's radar screen. When you provide interesting and engaging articles that pique readers' interests, you are assured that many of these people will check out your company website. The more often people see your brand name, the more it becomes ingrained into their memory.

For instance, if your company produces highly efficient halogen bulbs, you might write a number of articles addressing energy consumption and conservation. Every time a reader sees one of these articles, they also see your brand name. Then, the next time they find themselves face to face with a burnt out light bulb, they will immediately think of your company. It's all about putting a face to your name.

The Article Marketing Difference
Article marketing offers something different than other marketing efforts, which is why it has proven to be so effective in gaining positive exposure for the businesses that use it. Instead of bombarding the consumer with fancy sales jargon, these articles simply give the reader good information.

It's like making an investment in the customer before they invest in you. By offering them something right off the bat, they are more likely to trust that you are interested in something more than just sell! sell! sell! It shows that you want to share your expertise about the industry you represent.

As the saying goes, any publicity is good publicity. In my opinion, it's always best to stick with the good publicity. Article marketing will help you do just that. Instead of turning people off through annoying advertisements, choose a different approach. Dispense a little wisdom up front and you are sure to turn potential customers into loyal customers.




Johnny Albertson is a musician, blogger and writer. You can visit his blog, Beatin The Blues, for more insights and pearls of wisdom. Albertson is a big fan of Article Marketer, an online article distribution service.
http://www.articlemarketer.com

Monday, March 26, 2007

Finally ...Custom Articles for a Fair Price

If you're looking for custom written articles, check out this news from Article Marketer. They've partnered with a writing service that will create 100% original custom articles for you on any topic. These guys are great...easy to work with, affordable, and their quality is head and shoulders above that PLR stuff we all love so much.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

eComXpo Now Open!

Thanks to my friend Bruce at Article Marketer for turning me on to this virtual tradeshow for e-commerce marketers.

From their website:

An easy, quick way to keep up with this rapidly evolving marketplace including email, search, affiliate, regulatory, branding, advertising, and technology trends and challenges.

Merchants and Advertisers:

Whether you’re a search manager, affiliate manager, brand manager, media buyer, webmaster or ecommerce manager, there’s education and networking opportunities galore at eComXpo. Plus, you can check out hundreds of vendors quickly and efficiently in our online exhibit hall, helping you to stay on top of tomorrow’s innovations today.

Publishers, affiliates and search marketers:

Attend eComXpo and discover new partner opportunities, new programs to represent and new products to help you maximize your business. The educational sessions will leave you armed with the knowledge necessary to stay ahead of the competition.


I'm spending some time there this afternoon...all the benefits of a tradeshow, without the tired feet. It's going on through March 22, and it's free. Learn something new today!

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Positive energy can go a long way in ensuring that your home and
work environment is calm and relatively anxiety free. If you have
ever worked in an office with people who are constantly giving
off negative energy, you surely know what it feels like. You feel
suffocated by this energy, and oftentimes it wears off on others.


The Effect of Positive Energy

Copyright © 2007 Kent Jacobson a.k.a. Mr. Success

Positive energy can go a long way in ensuring that your home and work environment is calm and relatively anxiety free. If you have ever worked in an office with people who are constantly giving off negative energy, you surely know what it feels like. You feel suffocated by this energy, and oftentimes it wears off on others.

One of our major social problems nowadays is negative people who are constantly talking about others and turning people against one another. This form of negative energy is one of the quickest ways to divide an office or your home. If you work with negative people, do not let them bring you down. Easier said than done, so what to do about it.

The best way to combat negative energy is to throw positive energy right back at it. In other words, if a person is constantly degrading someone, you need to step to the plate and throw a good word in about him or her. This will make the person realize that this type of attitude will not be tolerated. By letting this negative energy circulate around the home or office, you are doing nothing to help the situation. In fact, if you are not helping, you are just contributing to the problem.

Try to make it a personal goal to show up at your office every day in a good mood. Oftentimes, positive energy will pass on to your co-workers and family members. If you can get this sort of attitude started, pretty soon everybody is feeding off of each other's positive energy. The end result: anybody who brings negative energy to the office or home will quickly be converted; they have no other choice! The best aspect of positive energy is that it is FREE. You need to look no further than within yourself. Be aware, negative energy is easier to find in some ways. Remind yourself, it is vital to wake up everyday looking at what can go right, not what can go wrong. Try taking a positive attitude the night before; you will see a difference in the morning.

In everyday life positive energy seems to be ignored when evaluating successful business or home environments. Businesses or families that do not address the people who project negative energy are never going to reap the rewards possible in their quest for success. Be part of the solution, not an enabler to the problem.

Remember what Brian Tracy said, "Excellence is not a destination; it is a continuous journey that never ends."

About The Author:

Kent Jacobson, a.k.a. "Mr. Success" is a trusted authority in the success field and provides valuable success information for free through his website at: http://www.Shortcut2Success.com . You can also read Kent's Success Blog to find more success secrets at: http://www.Shortcut2Success.com/blog

Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service