5 Easy to Outsource Tasks for Online Businesses

0 | November 21st, 2008 | Posted in featured

If you are looking to save yourself time and to make sure that your online business is running to the best of its ability, then you need outsourcing.  You may consider outsourcing to be something that only huge companies do, but you’ll find that online business and outsourcing are a perfect fit. Because online business calls for a wide variety of skills and talents, no one person can or should tackle them all on their own. 5 easy to outsource tasks for your online business. Here are just a few of them.

Writing
For many people, writing is not a strong point in their business. Therefore, putting well written, action provoking content on their website is a difficult task. However, this is NOT an area to be skimped upon when it comes to online business. The content on a website has a direct effect on search engine rankings. Copy that is neglected will show when it comes to a business’ bottom line. If you find it difficult to get the results you are looking for with your writing, consider outsourcing it to a qualified writer.  You will find that there are a ton of freelancers who can help you get the content you want, to help generate sales from your visitors.

Try out: www.Shelancers.com/directory

Website Design
If you are running an online business, you need to put as much time and effort into your website as you would a brick and mortar store.  Getting an attractive, easy to use website is not easy and you will find that there are many professional website designers who are looking to wow you with their expertise.  This is something that is well-worth the money spent. You’ll be able to rest assured that your website design is attractive and easy to navigate, which is always a plus for turning visitors into buyers.

Search Engine Optimization
If you run an online business, you already know how important search engine traffic is to your success.  In order to rank high for your keywords and phrases, hiring a search engine optimization expert or link-building service will help to put you on the map. Search engine optimization, when done correctly, will increase the traffic to your website and is an easy way to get your business name out there for the entire world to see.

Recommended Service:
http://easyplr.com/vana.htm - Sit back and let this service write blog posts on their network of blogs and link to your websites.

http://easyplr.com/kings.htm - This new service will create a youtube video about your website, submit your blog to RSS directories, and handle your social media for you, while you focus on other parts of your business.

Customer Support
For those who sell a product, whether it’s candles or eBooks, more than likely you will need customer support. Outsourcing is a great deal easier than putting together a full support staff, training them, and then getting them set up with equipment. When outsourcing customer support, you will be making the most out of your time and ensuring that your customers get the most out of their products.

Blogging
If you’ve been online for any amount of time, you already know that Web 2.0 and all that goes with it are important parts of your business. One way to add value to your business is to create a blog. You can easily find a qualified contractor to help you update the blog and provide ghost-written blog posts for you. A great way to keep in touch with customers, clients and others interested in your business, outsourcing your blog tasks will keep you from overextending yourself.

Outsourcing is something that every business owner, whether large or small, can do to help make their business more successful. Put the work in the hands of the experts and you can focus on the things that you enjoy and come easier to you.

These are only a few of the many business activities that you can outsource.
Check out Outsource Weekly for a step-by-step guide to get started.

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Impulsive Surfing

0 | November 20th, 2008 | Posted in minipost

This Guys got Talent

Just had to post this picture, This guy has real talent and an eye for pinpointing conflicting powers.

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How To Get Testimonials!’

0 | November 20th, 2008 | Posted in Marketing

As buyers, we demand social proof. Only a small percentage of the population gets excited about being the first to try something new.  That’s why there is no more effective salesperson than an existing customer. Getting your customers to testify, in the market is money in the bank! How to get testimonials

Often, new business owners will struggle getting these all-important testimonials. Or at least good ones that are effective selling tools.

Here are three ways to get them, by asking for them.

1. After you’re finished delivering on your promises, you approach your customer & say something like this.

‘Are you happy with your purchase? If yes, you continue, ‘I was wondering if you’d do me a favour & just write me a brief note about your experience, in particular the part about _________, and ___________.’

These blanks are critically important. You need testimonials that are specific. And you need them to reflect your Unique Selling Proposition, so that when you use them in your marketing, they reinforce your sales message as powerfully as possible. So what’s your USP?

Now, if your customer is happy, you will almost always get a positive response when you ask for a testimonial. But if you stop there, you will always wait & wait for your all important ’social proof’, until even you have forgotten about it.

You MUST take this one additional step.

Immediately after your customer agrees to give you a testimonial, you say. ‘I know you’re busy, would you mind if I were to write the letter for you, & then give it to you for editing before your assistant puts it on your letterhead, & gives it back to me? 97% of the time you will have the testimonial of your dreams within a week.

2. You can offer gifts to customers who will take the time to provide you with a testimonial. Be careful with how you word this though.

You do not want to give the impression that you are giving gifts in exchange for the testimonials themselves.

You are simply compensating your customers for their time, you are coaxing out testimonials.
You are giving people an opportunity to express themselves without putting themselves out.

3. You can get third party testimonials from industry experts, sometimes called ‘endorsements’.

This is particularly effective, & surprisingly easy.

Here’s how it works.

You find your expert, and you buy something from them.
You can even do this by just participating in the front end of their marketing efforts. Either way, here’s what you do.

You send them an honest testimonial that is acutely targeted to supporting their USP.
And under your signature, you say. PS, You are interested in ___________. I was wondering if you would be so kind as to accept one of our ________, for your personal use, without charge. It will help you to __________. If you like it, it would mean a lot to me if you would give me your opinion of it.

You will be amazed by the responses you get with this simple yet highly effective approach. The real class acts will respond to you, and when you set it up this way, they will know exactly what you are after. If you have a good product, you’ll get what you need fast.

Remember this. People love to give advice. They love to offer their opinion. It makes them feel important. As a last thought why not leverage some of your better commentators from your blog, as long as you approach each individual with courtesy and use the points outlined above then you might be pleasantly pleased with the response.

Im’ sure there are many other ways, including paid for testimonials but for me I think the honest approach is the best.

What are your thoughts on this subject? Please feel free to comment.

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Are Membership Sites worthy of your attention?

1 | November 19th, 2008 | Posted in social media

I would like to switch focus onto membership sites today and do a mini- series on this very subject; so are Membership Sites a good alternative? I would say by the feedback that I get from the Big players are a resounding YES. A membership site transcends just about every area of interest that’s in demand from Fishing and Gardening to Training and mentoring courses. First off today I just want to draw attention to the different types of membership sites available and some of their appeal to the canny investor.

It’s like a money tree! Just one member paying $30.00 per month adds up to $360 a year; do the math, NICE.

Web 2.0 Websites

One type of membership website that you are very likely familiar with is the Web 2.0 sites like YouTube and MySpace. These are social networking sites that provide tools for an interactive network of friends and include user-submitted information as personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music and videos.

Some of these social networking membership websites have come under fire recently because they have been shown to be play grounds for predators. Since these problems have arisen there is more scrutiny of members than there has been in the past. These sites are not likely to ‘go away’ any time soon in the future because they are hugely popular not to mention profitable.

Exclusivity Sites

Then there are paid exclusive sites like the UnselfishMarketer.com (an undisputed industry leader when it comes to delivering information products with PLR and Master Resell Rights), Golf sites (which are owned by professional golfers and offer instruction that isn’t readily available free on the Internet), and to many more to mention.

These exclusive membership websites are designed for specific people and appeal to a group of like-minded individuals who are seeking instruction or information that can only be had on exclusive membership websites.

They call the Internet the ‘information super highway’ but these exclusive membership websites really do make the information super and the information that is provided is far superior to just the regular stuff that everybody gets for free.

Getting Free Members – Building Lists

Not all membership websites are paid-for; apart from the Web 2.0 sites there is another kind of membership website that is free. One such site is PLRSecretsExposed.com. There is no charge for the membership to this site.

The objective of a free membership website is to acquire the names and email addresses of people who are interested in a specific topic in order to build an opt-in list. Still this is a membership website, and unless a visitor joins the site, they will not have access to some really good information that is not otherwise available.

Community-Driven Membership

This is yet another kind of membership website that is known as a “community site” or a Forum. Membership in a community site is usually free but depending on its area of interest can be a paid membership. magneticsponsoring.com is an example of a community membership website.

The idea of a community website is that there are a group of people who are all interested in the same basic topic but who go about accomplishing success in various ways. They get together at a community website and exchange information and ideas. Sometimes community websites will offer one-on-one training above and beyond the cost of membership in the community website.

What All Membership Sites Have in Common

Membership websites of all kinds have one thing in common. They allow for social and beneficial interaction between members. The old Web 1.0 was a one-way street but in this fast moving world, communication flows in both directions.

You will notice that on all of the various types of membership websites there is a blog or a forum that affords a place for members to communicate not only with the owner of the membership website but also with other members.

The communication opportunities afforded by membership sites is one of the biggest reasons that membership sites are so popular today and probably will be popular for a long time to come. People want to hear but they also want to be heard. They want to learn but they have information to share with others as well. Membership websites provide a place for the sharing of ideas and information.

So to conclude this first entry, there are many different kinds of membership sites and different people will take to many kinds of membership sites. If you are considering starting your own membership website, the good news is that there will be people who will like it and want to be members.

Membership websites are popular and membership websites are profitable. Recurring income is a powerful motivation to start one!

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12 Point Check List For Compelling Copy!

0 | November 18th, 2008 | Posted in marketing focus

Today’s Post By Guest Authour

Daniel Levis

Welcome to ‘Selling to Human Nature’. Proven Sales, Marketing, and Advertising tips and resources that tap into the incredible power of human nature appeal.

To Sell More!

Today’s featured subject, ‘Your 12 Point Check List For Compelling Copy!‘

You’re ready to launch that new product or promotion and you’re really counting on a piece of advertising to come through for you. You’re looking for stellar results! And, you’re determined to do everything in your power to get them. Which means surveys, thorough testing, and ongoing refinement.

When you’ve got your draft, run it through this 12-point inspection. Cover off these basics, and you can be sure you’re off to a running start.

1 - Do You Have A Compelling Headline?

Does it generate curiosity or envy? Does it promise a benefit that will compel someone with an interest in what you’re selling to keep reading? Remember, your headline is the ad for the ad.

When I am being paid to write a sales letter, or have a very important sales objective of my own, I normally write 25 headlines before I begin the body of the piece.

Then I’ll pick half a dozen that I think will work & test them. The best of the rest, I use as sub headings sprinkled throughout the piece to propel readership, and draw skimmers and skippers back into the copy as they move down the page.

2 - Are Your Headlines Pleasing To The Eye?

I most often find that headlines work best when they are centered on the page and present a balanced appearance in terms of the shape they create. Encasing them in quotation marks can also serve to grab more attention.

3 - Is Your Opening Provocative & Arresting?

Does it trip the reader, interrupting the internal turbulence of the day? Each line of your work must serve to ’sell’ the reader on continued reading, especially at the beginning.

You are looking to build enough momentum & interest to convey the points necessary to generate a greater desire for the product than its price. Generally speaking, the higher the cost of the product, the more words required.

4 - Are You FAB Balanced?

You must focus on painting a picture of your prospects future life, as a result of their purchase. Does your ad promise emotional benefits? Does it pledge the realization of positive feelings, or the relief of negative ones?

Does it show how these outcomes are achieved with concise descriptions of the features & advantages that will deliver them? Your copy must strike a balance between emotion & logic if it is to be effective.

5 - Are You Creating Excitement & Enthusiasm?

Demonstrate you personal belief in what you are selling.

Will your message quicken the readers pulse? Is it upbeat, positive, & full of inspired energy? Is there a sense of WOW to it?

6 - Is Your Body Copy Highly Readable?

Remember simple is best. Keep sentences short. Use a plain 10-point to 12-point font. Paragraphs no more than a few lines. Words that are comfortable, familiar, and specific to the audience you are targeting. Inject subheads to break up text. Highlight important points.

7 - Do You Have High YOU density?

Remember to you use the words YOU & YOUR to the hilt. Your reader is auto translating to ME & MINE.

8 - Are you speaking intimately?

Can you get a strong sense of personality when you review your letter after being away from it for a while? Visualize yourself writing a personal letter to your perfect prospect. Never write to a crowd.

9 - Are you inspiring the readers’ imagination?

You must trigger mental images with your writing. The mind has difficulty distinguishing between vividly painted word pictures, & reality. Daydreams enchant and emotions flow in their wake.

When you have emotion, you have desire. When you have desire, you have suggestibility. When you have suggestibility, you can direct action. Your levers are allegory (storytelling), metaphor, similes, verbs, adjectives and specificity.

10 - Do you offer proof?

Specific testimonials and convincing guarantees are essential.

11 - Is your offer irresistible?

People are greedy and they don’t part with their money easily. Are you piling bonuses on top of your reasons why, in exchange for immediate action?

12 - And finally, do you have a killer P.S.?

For some reason, the P.S. at the bottom of the letter gets read a lot. Make it stop your reader in their tracks, like a deer in the headlights! Associate a positive outcome with taking the desired action, or a negative one with delay or inaction.

So there you have it. Exercise this 12-step checklist before your sales rubber hits the road.

Here’s an in-depth resource for further reading & study.

http://www.hypertracker.com/go/dlevis/MDOAS33/

Until next time, Good Selling!

Daniel Levis ;Curator Selling to Human Nature Institute

PS, Why not forward this edition of SHN to a friend?

They’ll thank you for it.

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