Biz Tips Blog: Online Marketing, Visibility and Business Blogging Tips

500Words.com - What will they think of next?

I received an email this afternoon from Joel Comm, author of The AdSense Code, and well known in Internet circles as an expert on creating revenue using Google AdSense.  His newest project, launched to day is www.500Words.com .

Similar to the million dollar hompage pixel concept, he's selling keywords that you can link to your website.  There are 500 words.  You choose your word, decided the font size, whether or not you want it bold and in color.  Then the word is created to link to your site.  He's already sold a couple hundred words and the starting price is $50!  Why can't I think of stuff like this? 

Technorati Tags: 500words.com, milliondollar homepage, Joel Comm, AdSense

Professional Development Opps This Week

25 Proven Ways to Grow Your Ezine List, Keep Your Subscribers and Build Your Business
Wednesday, June 28, 2006, 8:30 p.m. ET
$27 includes a CD of the program (we pay for shipping) plus an exclusive report on list building tips from some of the top Internet marketing gurus.
Led by Patsi Krakoff and Denise Wakeman

"How can I grow my list? I send out a really good, relevant newsletter, but less than 30-40 percent of my readers are opening it up. I've got to increase my numbers."

We hear this problem daily. It doesn't matter how good your messages are, you've got to work smarter, not harder, at list building.

This teleclass will give you the insider secrets to growing a list that will reward you with Internet sales. Save yourself time and money by learning what we have discovered doing business on the Internet for over dozen of years:

1. Which database and email broadcasting systems work the best
2. How to write an opt-in web page that includes a paragraph that is shown to double sign-ups
3. What's a "squeeze page" and do they work?
4. How to craft a compelling ezine description
5. What to put on the "thank you" page and follow up autoresponder messages
6. 25 tips for growing your list
7. 3 keys to retaining subscribers

The class will be delivered in lecture mode for 60-70 minutes by both Denise and Patsi. At least 20-30 minutes will be open for questions and answers so that you can get your specific challenges addressed.

More details and registration here.

Ruth Klein Shares Tips About Time Management

Ruth Klein, the De-Stress Diva was our 51st guest on Conversations with Experts and started the Conversation by giving some smart tips about the 5 biggest time robbers during our work day:

1. Checking email first thing in the morning. If you want to stay on track, do not check for at least the first hour. Do your important and creative work before getting distracted by email.

2. Work from a priority list to help keep you focused on what matters most. (See below for the "Rule of Two.")

3. Keep your phone on answering mode. Only make calls during set business development times. Use email instead of calling people when you only want to ask a question to get information.

When did it become OK to be rude?

I'm reprinting an article from this week's issue of Savvy eBiz Tips.  I want to get your opinion and feedback about how you deal with subscribes who are abusive before they get the facts.  We actually received two very abusive emails last week and it seems there is a tendency for people to accuse first and ask questions later.  What do you think?  Leave a comment below if you have stories to share and tips for handling situations like the one that follows:

Smart and Savvy Tip: What happens when a subscriber thinks you're a spammer

Here's another important reason you should build your list properly with the right systems.

This week we got an email from a subscriber to two of our email e-courses, to say, "This email address is used solely to help people who are ill. You should be ashamed of yourself for spamming it. Get lost!"  Huh?  We're not spammers.  We only send email to people who have opted in to one or more of our ezines, mini-courses or special reports.

Apparently this guy forgot he signed up, and is probably frustrated by the amount of junk email he receives. We have proof that he opted in because we have the systems in place to show when and for what he subscribed.

List Building Tips

If you're not a subscriber to our weekly ezine, Savvy eBiz Tips, you may have missed the first of our five tips for building an ezine list. 

Smart and Savvy Tip: First 5 of Top 10 Tips for Building Your List

Email marketing works well when you implement tactics to build your list. But you don’t want just a large list of email addresses; you want a large list of people in your targeted niche who are interested in you and your services and products. The more clear you
are about what you do and the products and services you offer, the better results you will have.

  1. Use a database management system, such as with KickStartCart, or one of the email newsletter distribution systems. These systems will provide you with an opt-in form to put on your website.

  2. Define your ideal reader/client: the more clearly you define your targeted niche audience, the easier it will be to deliver messages that are relevant and valued. If you already have a mixed list, you may need to segment it into areas of interest.