Educational Sales Tips With Blogs vs. Websites

The question often times arises of what is the difference between a blog and a website.And despite many common misconceptions, the answer to this question is quite simple: A blog and a website are the same thing because a blog is a website.Blogs, or Web logs as they are sometimes referred to, started out as a way for a select few computer savvy individuals to keep online diaries.

A small group of so-called computer whizzes used blogs to record their daily activities and publish the record on the World Wide Web.Over time, however, the group of people who used blogs expanded and more and more people began to use blogs both in a leisurely and professional manner.Before long, blogs became commonplace on the Web, and people began accepting them as another credible source of Web information.Although many critics believed that blogs were nothing short of a dying fad that would never survive the test of time, history has revealed that blogs have made a lasting impact on the way people do business on the Internet.

Now people everywhere are using blogs for a variety of purposes, most notably to make money online.Even to a greater degree than other areas of the Internet business, blogging has become a very simple way to make money.Internet business people are now confronted with the question of whether to start a blog or a website when establishing an Internet business.Marketers and business people frequently ask whether it is better to start a blog or a website, and to answer this question they need to know the differences and similarities between the two.

To begin with, it is very important to understand that in many ways, a blog is a website.In fact, a blog can appropriately be labeled the modern version of a website.If an Internet business person wishes to do so, he or she can format a blog so that it appears no different than a traditional website, but the added flexibility of a blog gives it more advantages than the traditional website.It can be said that a website takes more work to create and is much more difficult to make changes to than a blog.This is because blogs are created with the specific purpose in mind of allowing individuals to update them as frequently as needed after all, blogs evolved from the online diary concept.

The benefit of having a simple method of updating a blog provides bloggers with the advantage of being able to remain current.This is particularly important when it comes to search engine optimization because staying current leads to staying on the top of the search engine.Simply put, blogs provide Internet business people with a very important search engine optimization tool because bloggers can adjust keywords along with the changing times.

Although blogs have their many advantages, they do not render the traditional website obsolete.An Internet business person would be wise to have a solid traditional website in addition to creating a blog.This way, the blog can direct consumers back to the traditional website to make a purchase.In sum, to keep up with the times, Internet business people need to have both a blog and a traditional website

About the Author

Educational Sales and Marketing/ ESM enrolls people into high end one on one training and coaching programs in the field of internet marketing.

To learn more go to www.esm-inc.net

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Small Business Tips For Terrific Testimonials And How To Get Them

Testimonials are a critical part of effective copy to help build credibility and to reduce objections to purchase.But many of my clients have been asking lately how do we go about getting terrific testimonials?

Here are my top 5 pre-requisites before getting great testimonials.

1.Do great work.This should go without saying, but unless you do exceptional work you will not get people commenting about your exceptional quality or service.

2.Do what you say you will when you say you will do it.If you promise something, you need to deliver it either before or on time.It does no one any favours to promise much in order to get business and then under-deliver.

3.Be open and honest in your dealings with people.Give people your honest advice even if that means you do yourself out of an immediate client.They will remember the honesty and tell their friends.

4.Be consistent.Don't be brilliant one day and so-so the next.Keep your standards consistently high and you will get great results.That means if you promise you will deliver a newsletter weekly, quarterly or monthly, then stick to that schedule.Don't only send information out when you are trying to sell something.

5.Be friendly and warm.If you do great work but have the personality and warmth of a vanilla ice-cream you will not be memorable.Be friendly and warm with all of your clients.Discover the great things about each person you work with as this makes a huge difference in how you approach them.Focus on what you can do for them and not what they can do for you.

Before you go out and hunt down some testimonials here are a few rules to remember.

Ask!People mean well and may think great things about you, but unless you ask them they generally will not tell you what they are thinking.You need to ask for feedback.

Get consent.NEVER use someone's words without their recorded consent.

In their own words.This is a hard and fast rule.Never never never write a testimonial on behalf of someone else and get them to sign it.For starters it is not in their language style so it stands out a mile.If someone asks you to write it, these are great candidates to talk with them on the phone about what they like about your service.By talking with them and then jotting down their answers you can get around their writers block.

Don't make them up.It is illegal and will get you into very hot water with companies such as the ACCC.

Keep it current.The best testimonials come immediately after purchase, or within a short space of time after purchase.Don't leave your testimonial gathering too late after the event.

Specific is better than general.Mrs Mary Smith of Littletownship in North Stradbroke is much more powerful than MS, Brisbane.

Film is the most powerful.All testimonials are great but film is more powerful than recordings, which are more powerful than words.

Now, assuming you have the pre-requisites and the rules down pat, here are my top ways to actually get testimonials.

Systematize the process.Build in asking for testimonials as part of your process for purchasing.Send a follow-up email through your auto-responder program 7 days after purchase asking for feedback on the product or service.

Client satisfaction doubles as testimonial gathering.Finding out what your customers like and dislike about your product or service through a client satisfaction survey serves two purposes.You get early warning of things that need to be improved with your business as well as potentially some great testimonials you can use in your marketing.

Make it easy for them.Contact your best customers and ask them to "jot down a few words" about what they liked about your business.This could be in an e-mail or on a postcard.

You need to be clear that you only want them to "jot" rather than "write a testimonial".Jotting is much less confronting for people than writing a testimonial and you are more likely to get a favourable response.

Call them.Telephones are not dead in the age of email.You can call your top customers to ask them for feedback on your services both good and bad.As they are talking, jot down what they say.Action the things they mention that need to be improved (and tell them when you have actioned them).

If you get someone raving about you on the phone say "wow - thank you!I am so glad you loved our service.Would you mind if I used some of the things you just said in a testimonial for our business?" Email them the words they used and ensure you get written consent before using the words.

Use a tick sheet or scale.People often are more willing to fill in a tick-a-box survey, or circle their satisfaction with your service on a scale.This allows for some great statistical compilation data "98% of all our customers say we give great to exceptional service".

So now you have some great ways to get terrific testimonials.Use them everywhere in your copy, your website, your brochures, your flyers and all marketing.

Remember - words have power!

About the Author

Ingrid Cliff is a freelance writer and the Chief Word Wizard of Heart Harmony - a writing services studio that helps put your business into words.

For a free copy of the "7 Secrets of Compelling Copy Powerful Words" visit her website http://www.heartharmony.com.au "> www.heartharmony.com.au .

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Tags And Google Analytics - What Tags And Numbers Are Important?

On my website each page should have targeted keywords in its source area.What keywords should be in the source area for blogs?The subject matter in my blog is not as targeted as my squeeze page and website.

Answer: First of all, I don't have a lot of keywords on a lot of my pages.Why?It is more important for me to get links pointing to my pages from websites that have the keywords.98% of the time you should focus on the links coming into your site.

The other 2% of the time you should deal with tags.Your title tags are the most important thing on your site.Your title tag should have no more than 83 characters in it to get you high up in the search engines.Next, your H1 and H2 tags are important and should have keywords in them.Then worry about your keyword tags.

I'm not a big blogger in the sense that you are talking about.From a squeeze page and webpage perspective the first thing I do is I usually run Google AdWords to my squeeze page.I can look at what keywords are giving the best click through rate.This click through rate lets me know which ads in my Google AdWords campaign people are clicking on the most when they are sent to my squeeze page.I optimize my site based on the click through rate.

Then people start subscribing to my list.I look at what keywords people are using to opt in to my squeeze page.Then I use those keywords to optimize my squeeze page.

After they opt in I send them to a place where they can buy.Then I optimize the site for buyers.So I get the buyer keyword information last.

I even optimize my articles with those keywords.Look in your Google AdWords campaign and find out what keywords people are clicking on.Look at your control panel to find your stats to find out what keywords to focus on.

Question #2: What are the most important things to look for in Google Analytics?

Answer: It depends on what you are tracking.When you login to Google Analytics go to "View Reports" for a specific site.I look at how many average visitors I had, my bounce rate, how many page views I had, and the number of new visits I had, and where my biggest traffic source is.

On one of my sites I'm consistently getting 650-715 per day, but then it dropped down to 293 one day and then jumped back up to its average of 650-715.This drop happened on a Sunday.This number makes me want to investigate what is going on.

I want to analyze the top traffic sources.Looking at the numbers of where my traffic comes from I had the following: 84% came directly from Google, 7.8% came from this site, etc.

I also look at what keywords people use to find my website.There are many numbers you can analyze and get ideas from.It gives you an idea of what is going on with your sites.

I actually use HyperTracker more often than Google Analytics.Here are the numbers I look at.I'm looking more from an email marketing perspective.So I want to know the total number of clicks, impressions, open rate, clicking on links in the emails, going to the page and actually buying, and the conversion rate on the opt-in page.I also look at how many people actually buy after the opt-in page.I look at the value-per-visitor as well.

I send out emails through HyperTracker to get this information.I also find this information in Google AdWords.

About the Author

Email Marketing is the most profitable way to make money on the internet.

Discover how to use the internet and turn your computer into a cash gushing machine.Sign-up right now for Matt Bacak's FREE online newsletter to find out how to do exactly that - Go here:www.promotingtips.com

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Launch Preparation - The First 7 Steps You Should Take

To get you started on preparing for your launch you should complete the following steps:

Launch Preparation #1: Know that launches are great, but they also stink at the same time.

During a launch you won't be enjoying the four hour work week, but instead the four hour sleep week.You will be extremely busy and working long hours.

You will make a lot of money from the launch, but you also have to give money to your affiliates who made the money for you.So keep that in mind.The real reason for your launch is that you want to increase your influence so that you can become a big legend.If you are thinking about doing a launch just to make a lot of money then you are looking at a launch in the wrong manner.It's all about increasing your influence and becoming a big name.

Launch Preparation #2: You have to focus on getting joint venture partners because they are a huge part of your launch.One of your biggest goals should be to get the best affiliate partners.Try to get your affiliate partner dream team.

Launch Preparation #3: If you don't have any proof then you don't have a launch.This means that in your launch you need to have screenshots of your bank accounts, deposits, affiliate checks, endorsements, etc.to prove that the launch is worth participating in by the joint ventures.

Launch Preparation #4: Know that there are some risks involved in launches.For example, your reputation among your customers and affiliate partners is at risk.If you do the launch incorrectly then you may negatively affect your reputation.

Launch Preparation #5: You don't want to do the launch by yourself and I'm not referring to joint ventures.This means that you want to have somebody that creates the launch strategy for you.You also need someone to write your copy that includes the broadcast to your prospects, your broadcast to your affiliates, and your sales letter.

Get your sales letter done early so you can split test it before the launch.Make sure to dumb down your offer because newbies are also buyers.In fact, 90% of your buyers are brand new to the Internet.

Launch Preparation #6: I'm not big on creating pre-launch videos, but if you do them make sure that they are buzz filled.

Launch Preparation #7: Make sure that you have your fulfillment department ready to go.Verify that all your products are ready.

Make sure your merchant account is in your back pocket.Call them ahead of time to let them know about your launch.Call them a few weeks before, a few days before, the day before, and the day of your launch to remind them of your launch.Why?At any point in time your merchant account can shut down your account if too much volume has gone through.So if you warn them about the potential increase in volume they won't shut off your account.

Also, when speaking with your merchant account make sure to overestimate your launch earnings for 3 to 4%.This is critical.

These are the first seven steps you should take when preparing for your launch.Have you done them?If not, then you have work to do!

About the Author

Email Marketing is the most profitable way to make money on the internet.

Discover how to use the internet and turn your computer into a cash gushing machine.Sign-up right now for Matt Bacak's FREE online newsletter to find out how to do exactly that - Go here:www.promotingtips.com

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Making Money in the Heavy Equipment Industry

Heavy equipment is necessary for the construction industry.This equipment industry has generated a number of jobs and offers a good opportunity for those aspiring to set up an equipment business.There is a constant demand for heavy equipment with the increase in construction and manufacturing projects.This creates a good opportunity to make enough money in the heavy equipment industry.

You can either choose to rent, lease out or sell the equipments.All three have a wide scope to make profits.There are certain companies that prefer to hire few types of equipment as per the demand of the project while few choose to purchase it.There are also units who would take your equipment on a lease of few years and will keep paying you the desired amount monthly.In either of the ways, you get to make plenty of profits.

To set up a business in the heavy equipment industry, you need to invest a substantial amount.Even if you choose to lease out, rent or sell, you need to purchase a whole new range of equipment to begin your business.Location, resources, and money are what you need to set up the heavy equipment business.However, before you begin with any business, it is good to conduct a research to be acquainted with what is happening in the industry.This will give you an insight on the latest updates in equipment, if any.

For any business to start up, you require to market it.It is with the help of marketing that you would reach out to numerous clients.It is best to choose an industrial area to set up your business, as this will make it easy for you to reach your potential customers.The heavy equipment industry is a promising one.Once you make arrangements for the heavy investment, you have huge profits to earn later on.

Though the business of heavy equipment assures enough security and money, there will a period in a years time when there will be no or few constructions taking place.In this slack period, you should be able to survive financially and not lose hope.If you manage to earn well during the rest of the year, you need not worry about such slack periods.However, once the business resumes, you have enough to recover the losses.

When it comes to buying equipment, you may choose to buy some second hand machinery that has been kept in good condition.The resale equipment can be given on rent or lease and thus you save a good amount on purchasing new costly machinery.For outright sale, you need to look for brand new heavy equipments.You can always purchase them directly from the manufacturers to save on other additional expenses.

If you fall short of cash, you can either borrow money or choose a business partner with whom you can share the expenses and profits.When you apply for a loan, the bank will ask for your business plan for the purpose of verification.Therefore, keep your plan prepared well in advanced and handy.Also as you are dealing in heavy equipment, make sure they meet all the safety standards as per the state recommendation or this can put in trouble in case of accident or other mishap.

Heavy equipment industry is expected to grow in the coming years, generating many more opportunities for you to make money.

About the Author

Heavy Equipment Training by NTS.

We are listed under the Google Directory.More information at https://www.earthmoverschool.com/heinfolocal.htm

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Owner Builder Credit Scores and the Effect On Financing Fees

Owner builder construction loans have become harder to find as the mortgage industry has all but done away with these highly specialized products.The owner builder programs that remain strong are using the industry titan, Fannie Mae, for rates and pricing.How does this affect you?Your loan will have higher financing fees (discount points) wrapped into it if your credit score is not strong.

In the world of owner builder construction, the borrower already expects to pay more for the loan than he would expect to pay for a typical construction loan or certainly than a simple purchase or refinance mortgage.In fact, these higher costs are not of utmost importance, because they are offset against the hardy amount of savings that an owner builder will earn by cutting out the costs of a general contractor during construction of the new home.

However, every little bit helps.And, if an owner builder can avoid additional fees that come with lower credit scores, then it will help to maximize the amount of sweat equity that gets built into the home.Obviously, the borrowers with FICO credit scores above 740 will have nothing to worry about.It is the borrowers with credit scores that fall below 700 especially that will need to be prepared to wrap additional discount points into their loan.So, let's take a look at why this is happening, and then determine if the construction is still worth the extra fees.

The bulk of the remaining owner builder construction loan programs across the country are selling their end products to Fannie Mae, the mortgage industry titan who stimulates lending by purchasing bundles of mortgages from banks.This is not unusual.In fact, it's the typical outlet for most lenders in the U.S.The issue for owner builder loans, though, is that Fannie Mae has set some strict pricing guidelines that correspond directly to the borrower's FICO credit score and loan-to-value ratio.

With owner builder construction, the borrower typically builds his home for less than 80% of the house's appraised market value.Therefore, when looking at Fannie Mae's guidelines for pricing, it is very helpful that owner builders don't have to concern themselves with any loan-to-value ratios above 80%.This truly saves them from a lot of the higher pricing tiers.

However, it is the credit scores that must be closely observed.For example, using the 80% loan-to-value ratio, a borrower who has a credit score below 700 can expect to wrap one extra discount point into their loan.If your credit score is below 680, wrap an extra 1.75 to 2.25 points into the loan.One point is equal to one percent of the loan amount.Therefore, if your loan amount is $200,000, then wrapping an additional 1.75 points into your financing will mean a loss of $3,500 in equity in your home when it is completed.

So, is it worth it for an owner builder with a lower credit score?The answer to that question depends on the amount of equity that he plans to save during construction of his home.For example, on a $200,000, you may save $40,000 by eliminating the costs of an owner builder and managing the project yourself, perhaps even doing some of the minor parts of the labor.In this case, the extra $3,500 wrapped into your loan amount shouldn't make a big difference to you.

It is important to note that these owner builder construction loans make allowances for a borrower to wrap these fees and closings costs into the loan amount, so you won't have to pay them out of pocket.In the example above, the extra $3,500 in discount points that occurs due to a lower credit score will not mean that you must pay an extra $3,500 at closing.It simply means that an extra $3,500 is being financing for you.In the long run, you can equate this to $3,500 less equity that you get to build into your home by being an owner builder.

In addition, the extra fees may be well worth it to you if the owner builder construction loan has a one-time-close feature, meaning you won't have to go through a second round of closings once your home is built.If you can convert straight to your permanent financing without having to worry about a second round of closing costs, then the extra fees in the one-time-closing are not overly troublesome.For an owner builder about to save a lot of money during construction, the financing program that allows him to do so will still be well worth it.

Therefore, if you are considering applying for an owner builder construction loan that will allow you to build your own home without requiring a general contractor, be prepared to have higher costs associated with the loan than you would have if you were buying a house or using a fully approved builder for construction.However, remember to look at the big picture and calculate the overall reward of the substantially lower construction costs for owner builder projects.

About the Author

Chris Esposito provides owner builder construction loans through the Owner Builder 101 program, designed to help you build your home without paying the costs of a GC.

For more info about the process and financing for an owner builder, go to www.OwnerBuilder101.com, or call (877) 876-3688.

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