OK, this article caught my eye, since I am spending hours trying to accomplish this very thing!
Interested in boosting your affiliate commissions? There isn't one "magical" secret to increase your affiliate commissions, but here are some simple steps you can take to make more money through affiliate programs right now.
1. Capture e-mail addresses with an "opt-in" list before sending your visitor to the merchant vendor web site.
2. Write an un-biased review article about the product or program you are promoting. Be sure that you mention some weaker points of the program and keep your article honest. This will lower the audiences defenses, as well as increase your articles click through ratio.
3. Promote products that offer residual or recurring income commissions, such as web hosting packages, auto responders, and membership sites.
4. Give away free Viral E-book PDF's loaded with your affiliate links throughout.
5. Create your own Internet marketing ebook, and sell it for 25-35 while giving your customers full resale rights. Fill the e-book with 5-10 of your own affiliate links.
6. Create an affiliate marketing blog and update your content and keywords often. Occasionally, place some affiliate links to quality merchant products, this helps affiliates succeed.
7. Create simple yet affective internet marketing formula that can be condensed into a 10-20 page free PDF. Load the e-book with your affiliate links, products needed for your specific forumla to prosper.
8. Use your opt-in list and start your own affiliate marketing newsletter with valuable information on the best multi-tier affiliate marketing programs. If you had a list of 1000, and each person were your sub-affiliate to 4 or 5 of the top affiliate programs, not to mention many of them will also buy the products, your affiliate commissions would be through the roof.
9. Join some two-tier affiliate programs and create an affiliate programs review directory of the top ten affiliate programs on the web. Optimize your pages for the keywords "two-tier affiliate program", "multi-tier affiliate program", "free affiliate programs", etc.
10. When running a Yahoo Overture or Google Adwords ad, capture people's e-mail addresses with your opt-in list, instead of sending a prospect directly to a merchant from your site page. You can easily entice prospects to join your opt-in mailing list by offering a free PDF e-book. Of course, this will contain affiliate links of your own! Make it a viral PDF to increase your income from all of your affiliate marketing campaigns.
Start using these 10 steps today and boost your affiliate marketing campaign now!
James Bradley:
James Bradley has been involved in internet marketing and affiliate marketing for over 4 years. He has been featured in Entrepeneur Magazine. http://www.supermoneymakingsecrets.com
View all articles by James Bradley
Article Source: ArticleDepot.net
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Ten Steps to Boost Your Affiliate Commissions Today
Friday, April 20, 2007
Are Your Making Money With A Blog?
Making money with a blog is possible if you know how to attract the attention of prospects. It’s simply a matter of letting your customers know what you’re all about.
There are many ways that you can make money with a blog if you are interested. The following are some useful tips that you can keep in mind if you want to monetize a blog:
Sell advertising – This is the best way to make money with a blog. You can go about selling ads in two different ways. If you have a distinguished blog and it is set up in a popular niche you can sell ad space yourself. However, if you are not as fortunate, and are yet to have a successful blog, you can always rely on services such as AdSense or BlogAds. These services will help you monetize a blog through their pay-per-click program.
Affiliate programs – affiliate programs will help making money with a blog an easier process. By enabling your blog to link your readers to relevant online sites that provide services and products that may interest them, you can attract more attention.
Two of the best online companies you can affiliate with are Amazon.com and eBay. Remember, every time a reader clicks the affiliate link on your page and purchases a product from the merchant site, you receive a percentage of this profit, and a satisfied customer.
Market your products - Consider marketing your blog with the services or products you are selling. Of course, the point of your blog shouldn’t be to sell your stuff, but it never hurts to remind or offer prospects what you have for sale, and hear their opinions.
Grow your relationship with your customers – A blog is a great way to not only attract new customers, but also encourage repeat clients. Be an active part of your blog and use it to communicate with your existing and potential customers. Keep them up to date about your business. Tell them everything there is to know about your products and let them know that you care what they think.
You can make money with a blog where customers feel valued and can make there opinions count.
Making money with a blog is possible if you aren’t afraid to market your business. When it comes to your business website, you will want to do everything in your power to monetize as much as you can.
About the Author:
Itay Paz is now sharing his knowledge with other Internet Marketers through his new Internet Marketing Hype Ezine. Itay’s online magazine will provide you with exceptional insights of Internet Marketing in a simple and easy way. Sign up for Itay Paz’s Internet Marketing Hype Ezine by visiting his website at http://www.internetmarketinghype.com
Read more articles by: Itay Paz
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
Friday, April 13, 2007
Retail Customer Service: Tips For Improving Your Level Of Service
Today I witnessed a customer service miracle in action. I took my son to our local fast food restaurant, so he could have some lunch and play in the indoor playground. While I was waiting for our food to be ready, a woman approached the counter with a crushed Styrofoam cup. She said, "This cup fell off of our table and broke. I need another drink and I need someone to come clean up our table and the floor." The tone of her voice suggested that somehow the restaurant was responsible for her broken cup. And of course, there was no, "Hey I'm so sorry, one of my horrible children was fooling around and caused you a mess."
It was then that right before my eyes a customer service miracle occurred. Rather than replying with the same nasty treatment they had just gotten from the customer, the staff quickly gave her a new drink. Then a man appeared with a smile and said, "I would be glad to clean that up for you." The staff never heard the words "thank you" from that customer, yet they acted as if they had. All were professional and conveyed an attitude that said, "We love having the opportunity to serve each and every person in this restaurant."
Not surprisingly, the place is almost always busy. The restaurant is clean, the management supports our community with various school spirit fundraising nights, the food is better than most fast food, and most of all, the people that work there make you want to come back.
Watching customer service interaction is my hobby and my work, and today's experience was a living, breathing example of the 21 Rules for Excellent Retail Customer Service that we share with the participants in our courses. Most of them are not that hard to follow. However, they can be hard to follow consistently.
If you work with customers in retail, take a look at the list and ask yourself how closely you follow the rules.
1. Smile when greeting a customer in person and on the phone (and yes, they can tell if you are smiling over the telephone!).
2. Use age-appropriate greetings, and avoid referring to older customers and women as "guys."
3. Be proactive and ask how you may be of service.
4. Stay visible and available, but don't hover.
5. Don't turn away, walk away, start to make a phone call, or duck beneath the counter as a customer approaches. (We've all had it happen to us.)
6. The live customer standing in front of you takes precedence over someone who calls on the phone.
7. Never judge a book by its cover--all customers deserve attention regardless of their age or appearance.
8. Leave food and beverages in the break room.
9. A customer doesn't want to hear about your upcoming break.
10. Makes any personal calls when you're on a break and out of earshot.
11. The correct answer is never "I don't know" unless you add to it, "but I can find out for you."
12. If a customer wants something that isn't on display, go to the stock room and try to find it.
13. If the item isn't in the stock room, offer to call another store or order it.
14. Learn to read body language to see if a customer could use some help.
15. Don't let chatty customers monopolize your time if others are waiting.
16. Call for backup support if lines are forming.
17. Be discrete if a customer's credit card is declined by asking if there is another method of payment he or she would like to use.
18. Never discuss customers in front of other customers (they'll wonder what you're saying about them once they leave).
19. Inspect merchandise before bagging it to make sure it's not defective or the wrong size.
20. Make sure customers receive everything they've paid for before they leave your store.
21. Smile as you are saying goodbye and encourage the customer to come again.
And here's one more tip: if you can, give people more than what they expect.
About the Author:
Kate Zabriskie is the Founder of Business Training Works, Inc., specializing in business communication skills including Communication Skills Training and Business Etiquette Training. To learn more, visit http://www.businesstrainingworks.com
Read more articles by: Kate Zabriskie
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Springtime in the Rockies, Time to Advertise?
OK, you want to advertise. What's your budget? What are you trying to do? I have worked for many small businesses that think they will get $1.50 back in sales for every dollar they spend. They wish!
1. What do I want my advertising to accomplish?
2. Who should my advertising speak to?
3. What should my advertising say?
4. What advertising medium should I use?
In a specific business situation, each question has any number of potential answers. As you think about each question, do not accept any answer until you have considered and explored the full range of possibilities.
What Do I Want My Advertising To Accomplish?
Some possible goals for your advertising are:
• To increase awareness of your business.
It is possible that you may want your advertising to achieve all of these goals plus some others.
Who Should My Advertising Speak To?
Once you determine your advertising goals, you can then select the target audience for your message. Keep in mind that advertising that tries to reach “everyone” rarely succeeds. Successful advertising is written with a specific customer in mind. Try to picture the person you must reach in order to achieve your advertising goals. Try to describe your target consumers in each of the following:
• Demographics: such as gender, age, income, location of residence or business, etc.
• Behaviors: such as current awareness of your business; the products, services or vendors they currently use; loyalty to either you or your competitor’s business, etc.
• Needs or desires: such as what benefits consumers look for, the basis on which they will decide whether to use your product or service, how your business can fulfill those needs, etc.
What Should My Advertising Say?
Where Should I Place My Advertising?
About the Author:Kurt Mortensen’s trademark is Magnetic Persuasion; you should attract customers, like a magnet.
Claim your success and learn what the ultra-prosperous know by going to http://prewealth.com/mistakestoavoid/ and get my free report "10 Mistakes that Cost You Thousands."
Read more articles by: Kurt Mortensen
Friday, April 06, 2007
The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste!
OK, I feel this post is relevent for all business purposes. I have been helping folks with media and books on education lately. I was totally amazed at what local, instate universities here in Colorado charge these days! Almost $20,000+ per year for tuition and room and board. Uh huh. How could you ever recoup that cost? How could any middle income parents pay for that?
I have student loan debt from graudate school...........I won't live long enough to pay it back!
As the costs for the favor of a college education continue to rise every year, is it any wonder that achieving a decent education is seen as a great privilege as opposed to a legitimate right?The average cost at a private college last year for tuition, fees, room and board, was $30,207.00. The experts predict that the average cost will increase by 5% each year; enrollment at a more prestigious college will cost you even more.
In comparison, the average cost of a year’s tuition, fees, room and board at a public university was $11,351, and if the experts are correct these prices will also rise 5% per annum.The luxury of a good education is a valuable asset, though regardless of scholarships, grants, and federal loans, with these kinds of exorbitant costs you may need to consider alternative types of loans.
Taking out a loan to further your education might not be such a bad idea when it comes to filing your tax return; e.g. $2,500.00 of the interest on your student loan might be a deduction that will help reduce your taxable income, possibly resulting in a smaller tax bill.These are some of the filing requirement conditions should you choose to itemize this deduction:If you are married, you cannot file separately to get this tax break; you must file jointly.
You are not entitled to this deduction if you can be claimed as an exemption on anyone else’s tax return.The loan must have been taken out by you, your spouse, or a dependent (related; or who receives most of their support from you).The educational institution must meet student aid program guidelines administered by the U.S. Department of Education.
The qualifying student must be enrolled at least half-time in a program that leads to a degree, or other educational credential (certificate).The loan must have been taken out solely to pay for educational expenses.The loan cannot be from an employer, or from a related person.The expenses incurred/paid must be within a “reasonable amount of time” before or after you received the loan; i.e. must be traced to a particular academic period.
The loan must be used to pay qualified higher education expenses, such as tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, transportation, and other necessary expenses.The importance of education is solidified by the large number of provisions that Congress incorporated in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act of 2001 (e.g. tax breaks for saving toward future education; help for parents with current education costs). However, unless Congress acts before December 31st, 2010, to renew, extend, or amend these provisions, the changes will automatically expire.Keep in mind, that like many other tax breaks, the student loan interest deduction is limited by the IRS if you earn over a certain amount of money.
The differing limitations, interactions and definitions of these provisions, along with the education benefits already in the Internal Revenue Code, make it more important than ever to hire a CPA who can analyze and evaluate which of the education tax benefits apply to your particular situation.So as you stumble through the complications of tax planning, just remember that education is a valuable commodity, and “THE MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE!”
About the Author:"Your" Money Matters By Carl Hampton From the Author of "From Credit Despair To Credit Millionaire" http://www.CarlHampton.com http://www.fcdtcm.com
Read more articles by: Carl Hampton Article Source: www.iSnare.com
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Open for Easter: Blasphemy or Greed?
Why on earth, in a city of Evangelical Christians (Colorado Springs, CO), would a retail store.....the only store in the mall that will be open, be open on Easter Sunday? I don't care if it's a “legal” or paid holiday.......I don't want to work on Easter............. I can't cook a ncie dinner or spend time with family, go out to Brunch, etc.........cause the “store” will be open 12-7 PM.
Is it blasphemy? Are the owners non-Christians? Or is it just retail greed?
I know one thing......it's just not right!
Gone are the days when Sundays were literally a day of rest...time to spend with family, church, or “quiet” time away from work! In Michigan, I was astounded the car dealerships were closed on Saturday........and of course Sunday too. People do not need to “shop” 7 days per week. All business that is conducted on Sunday would just move to another day of the week Retail would not lose, employees would gain, it would be a win, win situation!
And yet many stores are still closed, every Sunday. Chick Fillet, Hobby Lobby, and most “Christian” bookstores are closed, as well as liquor stores, car dealers, “mom and pop” retail stores, government offices, doctors, lawyers, etc. One's who think doing business 5 days per week, is sufficient.
Here is some background.......from the “good old days”:
Sunday Closing Laws
Sunday Closing Laws.—The history of Sunday Closing Laws goes back into United States colonial history and far back into English history.191 Commonly, the laws require the observance of the Christian Sabbath as a day of rest, although in recent years they have tended to become honeycombed with exceptions. The Supreme Court rejected an Establishment Clause challenge to Sunday Closing Laws in McGowan v. Maryland.192 The Court acknowledged that historically the laws had a religious motivation and were designed to effectuate concepts of Christian theology. However, “[i]n light of the evolution of our Sunday Closing Laws through the centuries, and of their more or less recent emphasis upon secular considerations, it is not difficult to discern that as presently written and administered, most of them, at least, are of a secular rather than of a religious character, and that presently they bear no relationship to establishment of religion....”193 “[T]he fact that this [prescribed day of rest] is Sunday, a day of particular significance for the dominant Christian sects, does not bar the State from achieving its secular goals. To say that the States cannot prescribe Sunday as a day of rest for these purposes solely because centuries ago such laws had their genesis in religion would give a constitutional interpretation of hostility to the public welfare rather than one of mere separation of church and State.”194 The choice of Sunday as the day of rest, while originally religious, now reflected simple legislative inertia or recognition that Sunday was a traditional day for the choice.195 Valid secular reasons existed for not simply requiring one day of rest and leaving to each individual to choose the day, reasons of ease of enforcement and of assuring a common day in the community for rest and leisure.196 More recently, a state statute mandating that employers honor the Sabbath day of the employee’s choice was held invalid as having the primary effect of promoting religion by weighing the employee’s Sabbath choice over all other interests.197
http://supreme.justia.com/constitution/amendment-01/07-sunday-closing-laws.html
Blue law
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A blue law, in the United States and Canada, is a type of law designed to enforce moral standards, particularly the observance of Sunday as a day of worship or rest. Most have been repealed or are simply unenforced, although prohibitions on the sale of alcoholic beverages, and occasionally almost all commerce, on Sundays are still enforced in some areas. [1] Blue laws often prohibit an activity only during certain hours and there are usually exceptions to the prohibition of commerce, like grocery and drug stores. In some places blue laws may be enforced due to religious principles, but others are retained as a matter of tradition or out of convenience. [2]
In the Cook Islands, blue laws were the country's first written legislation, enacted by the London Missionary Society in 1827, with the consent of ariki (chiefs). In Tonga, the Vava'u Code (1839) was inspired by Methodist missionary teachings, and was a form of blue law. In Niue, certain activities remain forbidden on Sunday, reflecting the country's strong Christian heritage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_law
Retail Management – Identifying Each Salesperson’s Lowest KPI Can Boost Sales By 30%
Stick with me here for minute – its not hard math.There are five retail KPI’s worth tracking at the individual Salesperson level: Sales per hour; items per sale; average sale; conversion rate; wage to sales ratio.If you add them all up (individually) and divide by the number of staff you get the ‘store average’ of each KPI.You can now compare each Salesperson’s five KPI’s to the ‘store average KPI’ instantly revealing the MOST deficient statistic or undersupplied KPI for each individual Salesperson.
Why is it important?Well you are now able to say with perfect clarity that:HAD (employee’s) average sale of say $69 been at the store average of $114, (employee) would have sold $2803.HAD (employee’s) "Items per sale" of 1.68 been at the store average of 3.02 (employee) would have sold $3471.HAD (employee’s) "Sales per hour" of $129 been at the store average of $169, (employee) would have sold $1355.And so on…Thus, $3471 is the greatest sales increase (employee) could have achieved - the deficient statistic - or undersupplied KPI - being Items per sale.This deduction gives us great insight into what behavior to coach first.
In this case it’s ‘items per sale’ and the associated behavior correction is either a) (employee) is not adding on, or b) (employee) does not have enough product knowledge to sell companion products. The point is that managers who want to help their Salespeople perform better now know exactly which area of expertise to focus on to achieve the maximum possible performance improvement result.In the case of ‘sales per hour’ (employee) may be slow at attending customers or taking to long with others.
For ‘average sale’ (employee) probably doesn’t have enough product knowledge or does not know how to sell more expensive items.By first looking at the deficient KPI, and then sorting through memorable observations about (employee’s) behaviors during the week, managers can quickly home in on corrective behavior, in its most appropriate or truthful form.If you track these statistics each week at the individual staff level – which implies comparing each Salesperson to the store average – you would increase each Salesperson’s chances of succeeding within their own specific area of need and thereby create an opportunity to increase individual sales by as much as thirty percent.
About the Author:Steven Lipschitz has a 12 year track record in Internet enabled applications. Today he specializes in Retail. He is the developer of Retail Performer, software that tracks individual KPI's in an easy to use web enabled service and desktop application.
Read more articles by: Steven Lipschitz Article Source: www.iSnare.com
