Ski Season 2009 is Coming!
Posted by Marty Dickinson on Sep 18, 2008
Next time you find yourself looking dowon on impossible odds, consider this video, the worlds highest huck!
If you haven’t gotten your Copper Mountain pass yet, you’d better soon. And, once you do, send me a note and we’ll set a ski day. I usually get there 1,2,3 times per week. On a weekend, you might have to keep up with the boys though as I’ll have my 10-year-old ski demon with me. He was #1 at Copper last year and he’ll give you a workout you won’t foget!
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Why Use Twitter JUST to Get Visits
Posted by Marty Dickinson on Sep 16, 2008
Why should you use Twitter or any other social networking website for the sole purpose of “getting clicks” from people you don’t know?
My first response to this question is that if you are a business owner and you truly have something of such high quality and importance to society, it is your OBLIGATION to get your word out using every single outlet you can find.
I can’t speak for everyone, but I have a very good reason for attracting people I don’t know to my blog or profile.
And that reason is for “reach” and to cast a large net.
This economy sucks and businesses are closing shop. People everywhere are getting laid off just like I was nearly 20 years ago. If I have something to contribute to one person out there, I’m going to give it. And, who knows? Maybe something I write will strike a cord and the reader will come back for future visits or maybe even buy something.
Social networking is no different than traditional marketing in that it is all about attracting people you don’t know and introducing them to something you can provide. Will you make everyone happy? Of course not and that’s not the point. If you have a business, you need to generate traffic through multiple streams. Some will question your methods. Some will leave nasty voicemails for you too! But, that means nothing when you get that occasional email saying you offered the perfect words at the perfect time.
I think it’s come hight time that we as business owners take more of a pride in what we offer and be willing to showcase it wherever and in whatever scenario we find ourselves in. Twitter is just another example of a place where we can begin that relationship building process.
For even just a few, my hope is that I will be able to offer something that helps them in their course of business.
Writing a “catchy message” and “getting clicks” is only a mask for getting to the one or two people who really need a few words of encouragement.
Who knows? Maybe that one or two readers will even buy something from me down the road.
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How to Promote Affiliate Programs with Squeeze Pages
Posted by Marty Dickinson on Aug 23, 2008
Promoting affiliate programs with squeeze pages is not only simple, it’s also fast! This is part 2 of my discussion from SitePoint.com forum where the first post was about creating squeeze pages to promote affiliate programs. And, here’s my answer to the question “how to promote affiliate programs” using squeeze pages:
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Promoting an affiliate product is an evolution. In summary, it goes like this:
1. Promote affiliate link only using totally free means like including in emails or on your websites
2. Promote affiliate links by paying for visibility like Adwords
3. Build squeeze page to promote formal recommendation for affiliate product
4. Build website or content page to promote the affiliate product
5. Private label affiliate product so that it looks like your own
6. Create your own product to sell through affiliates
7. Establish more formal joint ventures with large affiliates to help sell your product on large scale
That’s really what we’re getting at here. Eventually you will play with enough affiliate products and “their”
programs that you will start having interest in creating your own product and recruiting affiliates to promote your products. It’s not fair to suggest that making your own product will be more lucrative than affiliate products, but it is an additional revenue stream if you choose to go that route.
It’s all about the process, y’know?
So, for squeeze pages specifically, you would promote an affiliate program by recommending the affiliate product or service on whatever you supply people once they opt-in through your squeeze page. In the case of LaughAtLayoffs.com, the reader gets access to a 14-page document about what I would do to begin using the web to make an additional income if I was to still be working for a company threatening layoffs.
Within the document there are suggestions that they should visit certain website domain names. When they visit them and buy, I get a cut from the sale price sent directly to my bank account. Why? Because the domain name is forwarded right to my affiliate link. You’re welcome to sign-up for it just to see how it works…even if you choose to not buy anything. That’s fine. It’s not like it costs me any more for the sign-up.
I went one step further though (as I usually do), because people new to the web (my target audience with that squeeze page) are not going to be able to grasp everything from the 14-page document alone. They need more guidance. Within the system I used to make the squeeze page, there is a feature that allows me to build sequential auto-responders. So, I offer a 10-day free e-course that breaks down each step I suggest in the document into more detailed steps.
And, of course, I suggest the affiliate links in the right place at the right time so that it’s not overbearing and is still a genuine recommendation instead of a slimy sales pitch.
So, it takes a little practice to be able to write in a way that doesn’t overpower people with a hard sales pitch. But, that’s another reason to have your sites not set on only finding a single affiliate product to promote but launching a new squeeze page featuring a new product at least once a month. I don’t guarantee much, but I do guarantee you’ll improve very fast at writing to sell if you commit to launching one new site a month!
Hope that helps and let me know if you have questions about promoting affiliate programs with squeeze pages. Glad to help.
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Great Atkins Diet Post
Posted by Marty Dickinson on Jul 19, 2008
I was truly amazed at this Atkins post. It was great!
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All Day Internet Workshop at CIPA in Denver
Posted by Marty Dickinson on Jul 8, 2008
Just a quick note that I’ve been invited once again to present at Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA). This time, it’s for a full-day workshop on Saturday, July 19, 2008.
The focus will be on blogs (of course), traffic, improving sales conversion rates, and just a whole heck of a lot of new things happening in the web world. But, there will be an emphasis on promoting books.
So, if you’re not writing a book or have a book that you’ve published, just be aware there will lots of “book talk.” But, the networking at any CIPA event is simply incredible. You will truly be amazed at the contacts you make at a CIPA event.
This is not a seminar where I tell you a little and then sell you the goods. There are plenty of people in that business. My workshops are training classes so come prepared to learn and do a bit of sharing what you know at the same time.
I heard yesterday there are already more than 30 registered so if you’d like to attend, might want to get in sooner than later. I’m not sure what the cutoff is but I’m sure it won’t be much more than 50…just the way I like it. Hope to see you there!
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Boss Bailey Proves Marketing Skill Can be from Birth
Posted by Marty Dickinson on Mar 14, 2008
Boss Bailey… now, just think of that name for a moment. BOSS Bailey. The name all its own was designed to stand out and command a position. What position? Maybe the “boss” of a strict manufacturing plant. Or, maybe an upper management leader.
OR….
Maybe Boss Bailey is a formidable force on the football field!
For the Denver Broncos, we’re about to find out as Boss Bailey (Brother of Champ Bailey) will join the Denver Broncos in training camp this summer.
Boss Bailey and Champ Bailey. Did their parents have a marketing degree? I mean, these names were pre-meditated for marketing glory!
Some things related to sales and marketing you really are born with. For other things related to how to sell and market, they CAN be learned!
All you need is a place to learn them and that place is The Capital Factor. Check out The Capital Factor Blog and learn what it really takes to bring your business to the next level.
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