If you are trying to build a targeted following across several unrelated niche markets it probably makes sense to run multiple tightly focused Twitter accounts to cater to and cultivate each market.
Trouble is, Twitter only lets you run one account per email address and most people don't want to multiply email accounts just so they can multiply Twitter accounts!
There are ways around this, but the quickest and neatest takes advantage of a nice little Google Gmail trick. You can insert a dot between the characters of your email account name. Gmail will deliver the mail to your main account, but Twitter will read it as a different account.
Voila! Problem solved!
I'd like to thank Amit Agarwal for sharing this on his blog at:
http://www.labnol.org/internet/one-email-for-multiple-twitter-accounts/9492/
The comments are worth checking out to for further insights...
Happy Tweeting!
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Why It Makes Sense To Start Taking Advantage Of Manual Traffic Exchange OTOs...
One of the fastest ways to get traffic to your site is to use Traffic Exchanges. Trouble is the traffic isn't tightly targeted. That's why people use "splash pages" in the hope of getting a quick and easy to understand message across in just a few seconds.
If it works, a squeeze page will induce the traffic exchange surfer to enter his or her email address and click a button to get some info you are offering as a freebie. Now you can follow up with emails to that person from your auto-responder and hope to build a relationship and more closely home in on his or her needs.
But even the best squeeze page appeal will not be ignored by the majority of traffic exchange surfers. What you need to do then is to get some leaverage, that is, find ways to increase the amount of traffic you can get to visit your squeeze page without drastically increasing the amount of time to spend "clicking for credits" and without busting your budget buying extra credits.
It's important to understand that not all traffic exchanges are equal and then to go out and hunt down the best deals.
One of my favourite traffic exchanges is Traffic Taxis, and the reason is that they give some fantastic traffic deals as "One Time Offers". Earlier this week I jumped at their incredible "lifetime Platinum" offer. Here's what I got as far as credits are concerned:
How much did it cost? It was just a ONE TIME PAYMENT of $49.97. That means that every single month I'll be getting about $30 worth of credits without ever having to pay a single cent again! That is truly amazing. It gives me room to experiment with my splash pages and get them seen over 100 times a day, every single day of the month!
And if I want more, I can quickly earn credits because I can click every six seconds and earn 1.25 credits per click. NOT BAD!
So, if you've never got anywhere with traffic exchanges, I suggest that you look out for the good ones, build splash pages - using a free tool such as TEToolbox - and grab any fantastic OTOs that come your way.
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
If it works, a squeeze page will induce the traffic exchange surfer to enter his or her email address and click a button to get some info you are offering as a freebie. Now you can follow up with emails to that person from your auto-responder and hope to build a relationship and more closely home in on his or her needs.
But even the best squeeze page appeal will not be ignored by the majority of traffic exchange surfers. What you need to do then is to get some leaverage, that is, find ways to increase the amount of traffic you can get to visit your squeeze page without drastically increasing the amount of time to spend "clicking for credits" and without busting your budget buying extra credits.
It's important to understand that not all traffic exchanges are equal and then to go out and hunt down the best deals.
One of my favourite traffic exchanges is Traffic Taxis, and the reason is that they give some fantastic traffic deals as "One Time Offers". Earlier this week I jumped at their incredible "lifetime Platinum" offer. Here's what I got as far as credits are concerned:
|  |
And if I want more, I can quickly earn credits because I can click every six seconds and earn 1.25 credits per click. NOT BAD!
So, if you've never got anywhere with traffic exchanges, I suggest that you look out for the good ones, build splash pages - using a free tool such as TEToolbox - and grab any fantastic OTOs that come your way.
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
Thursday, August 26, 2010
3 Essential Features Of Internet Business Websites: Part 3 - Shopping Cart
When designing a business website, you also need to make sure that you can make sales and process payments.
Business websites that only have "buy now buttons" are missing out on potential profits because customers are forced to purchase everything individually.
With a quality shopping cart, you can make it easy for your customers to purchase multiple items simultaneously. This increases the chances that you'll make more than one sale at a time. Additionally, it allows you to upsell complimentary products or provide special deals during the checkout process, which can also lead to more sales.
By far the most popular and perhaps the best shopping cart on the Internet today is Paypal, and because it is so common it is also trusted as a secure method for online payment, which means that people are more likely to buy something where they see a Paypal button.
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
Business websites that only have "buy now buttons" are missing out on potential profits because customers are forced to purchase everything individually.
With a quality shopping cart, you can make it easy for your customers to purchase multiple items simultaneously. This increases the chances that you'll make more than one sale at a time. Additionally, it allows you to upsell complimentary products or provide special deals during the checkout process, which can also lead to more sales.
By far the most popular and perhaps the best shopping cart on the Internet today is Paypal, and because it is so common it is also trusted as a secure method for online payment, which means that people are more likely to buy something where they see a Paypal button.
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
Monday, August 23, 2010
3 Essential Features Of Internet Business Websites: Part 2 - Newsletter Opt-In Form
Another essential tool for business websites, and similar to an RSS feed, is an opt-in form for an email newsletter.
Email newsletters are great ways to keep in touch with your customers. They can be used to share information, provide special offers or just stay in touch. Every business can benefit from having a newsletter to get in contact with customers and potential customers.
Your website can help you build your list and generate leads once you add an opt-in form on your website.
If you don’t want to maintain a constant newsletter, you can use an autoresponder service to setup pre-set messages that will send out emails on the days you choose.
This is the ultimate hands-off approach to stay in contact with customers. Of course, sending out one-time broadcasts is also very easy to do if you have something important to get out right away.
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
Email newsletters are great ways to keep in touch with your customers. They can be used to share information, provide special offers or just stay in touch. Every business can benefit from having a newsletter to get in contact with customers and potential customers.
Your website can help you build your list and generate leads once you add an opt-in form on your website.
If you don’t want to maintain a constant newsletter, you can use an autoresponder service to setup pre-set messages that will send out emails on the days you choose.
This is the ultimate hands-off approach to stay in contact with customers. Of course, sending out one-time broadcasts is also very easy to do if you have something important to get out right away.
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
Thursday, August 19, 2010
3 Essential Features Of Internet Business Websites: Part 1 - RSS Feeds
There are three specific tools that can help make business websites more effective and they are:
1. RSS Feeds
RSS Feeds have become increasingly common these days and is one feature your website definitely should have.
All blogs automatically come with one, which you can place on your website to promote your blog. When your website visitors subscribe to your RSS feed, they'll be able to get constant updates whenever you add new content to your blog.
This is very useful if you have a business blog. If you're releasing a new product, if you have important information to share or any information at all, the RSS feed will ensure that your subscribers will be notified immediately.
Whatever you do, make it as easy as possible for your website visitors to subscribe to your feed. If you don't make subscribing to your RSS feed a simple and painless process, most people won't complete the subscription process at all, even though it is very simple to do.
If you have never set up an RSS feed for your blog on your website before, the easiest way to do it is to go to http://feedburner.google.com and redirect your feed through Feedburner. If you use Blogger, TypePad, or self-hosted WordPress to publish your blog or site, you're in luck because each of those platforms offers an automated option to simplify the process. Visit the QuickStart Guides to find out how to set up a feed for your blog.
Once Feedburner has set up your feed, click the feed title on the "My Feeds" page and then click the "Publicize" tab. You will find several ways to publicize your blog feed:
Free Business Websites
- RSS feeds
- An email newsletter opt-in form
- A shopping cart
1. RSS Feeds
RSS Feeds have become increasingly common these days and is one feature your website definitely should have.
All blogs automatically come with one, which you can place on your website to promote your blog. When your website visitors subscribe to your RSS feed, they'll be able to get constant updates whenever you add new content to your blog.
This is very useful if you have a business blog. If you're releasing a new product, if you have important information to share or any information at all, the RSS feed will ensure that your subscribers will be notified immediately.
Whatever you do, make it as easy as possible for your website visitors to subscribe to your feed. If you don't make subscribing to your RSS feed a simple and painless process, most people won't complete the subscription process at all, even though it is very simple to do.
If you have never set up an RSS feed for your blog on your website before, the easiest way to do it is to go to http://feedburner.google.com and redirect your feed through Feedburner. If you use Blogger, TypePad, or self-hosted WordPress to publish your blog or site, you're in luck because each of those platforms offers an automated option to simplify the process. Visit the QuickStart Guides to find out how to set up a feed for your blog.
Once Feedburner has set up your feed, click the feed title on the "My Feeds" page and then click the "Publicize" tab. You will find several ways to publicize your blog feed:
 |
| Chicklet |
- Headline Animator - display rotating headlines
- BuzzBoost - republish your feed as HTML
- Email Subscriptions - offer feed updates via email
- Chicklet Chooser - a chicklet is a little clickable icon which people click when they want to subscribe to a blog feed.
Free Business Websites
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Hidden Benefits of Building a List, Part 1: Feedback and Product Creation
The key to building a responsive list is to provide your subscribers with the information they are looking for in a format that is stimulating and engaging and also that invites and encourages the subscribers to ask questions and offer comments.
This can best be done by combining your list mailings and your blogging activity into a single seamless operation. Alert your list to your latest blog posts and invite them to post their comments and questions there. That way, your list will help to turn your blog into a forum for discussion which will in turn attract more people to it. Make sure you have a list subscription form on your blog and encourage new visitors to subscribe.
Now you have a virtual circle: Your list helps to promote your blog and your blog helps to build your list.
A responsive list of subscribers will also help you to develop new products. If anyone on your list has a question, chances are that other people may be asking the same questions somewhere else. When people ask you questions they are clearly looking for a solution to some kind of problem. Answering these questions will help you create a product that many people will want to buy. So take the questions that you receive, give them some serious thought, answer them on your blog, and use them to develop new products or services for your subscribers and customers.
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
This can best be done by combining your list mailings and your blogging activity into a single seamless operation. Alert your list to your latest blog posts and invite them to post their comments and questions there. That way, your list will help to turn your blog into a forum for discussion which will in turn attract more people to it. Make sure you have a list subscription form on your blog and encourage new visitors to subscribe.
Now you have a virtual circle: Your list helps to promote your blog and your blog helps to build your list.
A responsive list of subscribers will also help you to develop new products. If anyone on your list has a question, chances are that other people may be asking the same questions somewhere else. When people ask you questions they are clearly looking for a solution to some kind of problem. Answering these questions will help you create a product that many people will want to buy. So take the questions that you receive, give them some serious thought, answer them on your blog, and use them to develop new products or services for your subscribers and customers.
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
Monday, August 16, 2010
Hidden Benefits of Building a List, Part 3: Product Pricing
One of the most common problems that most people run into when bringing a product to the market into is choosing an appropriate price. What many people do not realize is that you can use your list to help you find the best price point for your product.
By giving away a few copies of your product before you release it to the public, you can get feedback from your list regarding the price. While this feedback may be subjective, you may nevertheless learn something of value. You may be surprised at how high a price some people say they'd be willing to pay for the product.
You can also ask your product reviewers what else they'd like to see added to or bundled with the product. Would they be willing to pay more if the extra components were added?
Not only can you get a better idea of what price to charge, but you can also find out ways to add value to your offer in order to charge a higher price.
You will probably receive several different answers from your product reviewers regarding the price of the product. So your next step will be to set up a split test to test the results of two different price points for the same product.
You may find that selling more items at a lower price will be more profitable then selling fewer at a higher price. On the other hand, you may make the happy discovery that people are MORE willing to buy at the higher price (because it is suggestive of higher value).
If your list is large enough, you can divide it into two groups and a price-based split test directly on your mailing list and see what kind of results you get.
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
By giving away a few copies of your product before you release it to the public, you can get feedback from your list regarding the price. While this feedback may be subjective, you may nevertheless learn something of value. You may be surprised at how high a price some people say they'd be willing to pay for the product.
You can also ask your product reviewers what else they'd like to see added to or bundled with the product. Would they be willing to pay more if the extra components were added?
Not only can you get a better idea of what price to charge, but you can also find out ways to add value to your offer in order to charge a higher price.
You will probably receive several different answers from your product reviewers regarding the price of the product. So your next step will be to set up a split test to test the results of two different price points for the same product.
You may find that selling more items at a lower price will be more profitable then selling fewer at a higher price. On the other hand, you may make the happy discovery that people are MORE willing to buy at the higher price (because it is suggestive of higher value).
If your list is large enough, you can divide it into two groups and a price-based split test directly on your mailing list and see what kind of results you get.
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Hidden Benefits of Building a List, Part 2: Product Testing
Have you thought about using your list for testing products? If not, you could be missing out on a valuable source of feedback that could greatly improve the final version of your product before you launch it...
Once you create a product, like an e-book or video series, it's a good idea if you send your list an invitation to test your product out.
You can also find out if there are any additional complimentary products that could be useful and that would add value to your product package.
The neat thing about this is that by offering a preliminary or partial version of your product for testing you are bringing it to the attention to your list before launching it, or even before the official "pre-launch" stage, helping to build interest, excitement and anticipation as well as familiarity, all of which is likely convert into increased sales when the product is finally launched.
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
Once you create a product, like an e-book or video series, it's a good idea if you send your list an invitation to test your product out.
You can also find out if there are any additional complimentary products that could be useful and that would add value to your product package.
The neat thing about this is that by offering a preliminary or partial version of your product for testing you are bringing it to the attention to your list before launching it, or even before the official "pre-launch" stage, helping to build interest, excitement and anticipation as well as familiarity, all of which is likely convert into increased sales when the product is finally launched.
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
Friday, August 13, 2010
Hidden Benefits of Building a List, Part 1: Market Research
A lot of people think of building a list merely to sell affiliate products or their own products. Of course, if all you do is promote products to your subscribers you will quickly kill your list as people either stop reading your mailings or unsubscribe from your list altogether.
Besides, there are a lot of other ways that you can benefit and profit from your list instead of just pushing products. One way is to use your list to conduct market research.
Every subscriber on your list should be interested in the type of products that you're promoting as well as the market that you’re servicing. What this means is that your list can be a great way to do some market research.
What you can do is send out a poll or survey every month to find out exactly what your target market is looking for in a product. This ensures that whatever projects you're planning for the future is something that your market wants.
I'm sure the last thing you want to do is spend your precious time and money on a large product, like a membership website or video series, only to discover that no one wants to purchase them. You can use your list to weigh your market's interest in certain areas which will help you avoid this completely.
Your survey could be as simple as mailing out a question and inviting feedback, or posting a question on your blog and inviting your list subscribers to post comments. Or you could use some open source (i.e. free) software to create a survey. I found several resources simply by entering the keywords "survey software free" into Google.
Good luck!
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
Besides, there are a lot of other ways that you can benefit and profit from your list instead of just pushing products. One way is to use your list to conduct market research.
Every subscriber on your list should be interested in the type of products that you're promoting as well as the market that you’re servicing. What this means is that your list can be a great way to do some market research.
What you can do is send out a poll or survey every month to find out exactly what your target market is looking for in a product. This ensures that whatever projects you're planning for the future is something that your market wants.
I'm sure the last thing you want to do is spend your precious time and money on a large product, like a membership website or video series, only to discover that no one wants to purchase them. You can use your list to weigh your market's interest in certain areas which will help you avoid this completely.
Your survey could be as simple as mailing out a question and inviting feedback, or posting a question on your blog and inviting your list subscribers to post comments. Or you could use some open source (i.e. free) software to create a survey. I found several resources simply by entering the keywords "survey software free" into Google.
Good luck!
David Hurley
Free Business Websites
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Should You Make A Business Website By Yourself Or Outsource?
A lot of people are unsure what to do when it comes to creating a business website. Should you make a website from scratch by yourself, or pay someone to make it for you, or search for someone who makes good quality free business websites?
What are some of the factors that you should consider when deciding whether or not you should make a business website, find a free business website designer or pay up and outsource the task?
David Hurley
What are some of the factors that you should consider when deciding whether or not you should make a business website, find a free business website designer or pay up and outsource the task?
Click here to read the rest of the article.
David Hurley
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