Biz Tips Blog: Internet Marketing Tips

The Trust Factor: 7 Ways to Build It

How do you build trust over the Internet with visitors to your sites? If you're selling anything over the Web, people don't usually have personal contact with you, so your written words have to create confidence with potential buyers.

This is one of the reasons we advocate blogging for your business. When you are writing frequently, people get to know you on a level that is beyond your web page brochures and sales copy.

There are other things that go into creating an impression of reliability and trust with people. Here are a few things to consider:

1. You write in a clear and transparent way
2. You show you're fallible and make mistakes, and admit and correct them
3. You provide free reports, teleseminar access, and other info for free
4. You don't over-hype your products but deliver your sales copy with research, case studies and valid testimonials

Flip Video Camera Gets Pink Shoes

I don't usually blog about tech tips or tools, but I went gadget crazy on Amazon, buying a Flip video camera with tripod and a Canon PowerShot digital camera.

You see, 2008 is going to be a great year on the Internet, especially for multi-media, and we'll need to create great experiences for readers.

Trust me on this one: even if you already have a camcorder and a still camera, if it's not tiny enough to go in your pocket, you're not going to use it often. I had both these items, but they were big, heavy and difficult to use.

So after seeing Denise use her Flip camera at Blog World Expo, I decided to get the newer version that attaches to a mini tripod. That way, I can film myself at the computer, or Denise and I can film ourselves together.

But little did I realize how cute this gadget would be. The tripod comes with interchangeable colored feet! Of course, I put the bright pink booties on so it would be matching our Blog Squad logo colors... how silly is that? You gotta love it! I'll bet it was a woman who thought up that customization idea, non?

What's your favorite gadget, what's on your Holiday list? Oh, I'll take a short video clip soon...

Related post:
Flip Video is a Hit at BlogWorld Expo

InstantTeleseminar.com Rocks!

If you are currently hosting teleseminars or if you are thinking about getting started with it, I have a recommendation for you.

I have been using IntstantTeleseminar for the last couple of months and I wanted to wait to make any recommendation until after I had some experience with it. Now I have and I can honestly say, I love it.

In one system, for one monthly fee, InstantTeleseminar provides bridge lines, instant online webcasting, automatic call recording, mp3 file download, online interaction so listeners can ask questions before and during the event, and templates for your web pages.

I'm always looking for tools to make my business easier, even if it costs a bit of money. In the end, the investment can be worth all the time saved.

In the last two weeks, we have put the system to a true test, hosting two teleseminars with 350 and 400+ participants. The system worked like a charm.

You can see the service and what it does at InstantTeleseminar.com.
Plus you can get a 21-day trial for only $1. That's a great deal if you're ready to host a teleseminar.

Information Products: Why They Are Good for Your Business

©2007 Patsi Krakoff, Psy.D. & Denise Wakeman, The Blog Squad (tm)

Are you struggling with how to create more revenue? Providing services is great, but there are only so many hours in a day. Why not turn your expertise into information products and watch your income grow. Transform your knowledge into ebooks, a tips booklet, or other digital format. With low production and delivery costs and high profits, you can't afford not to repackage your expertise to reach more customers world-wide.

What's an Information Product?

Generally, the term refers to electronically delivered, knowledge-based products. This can include e-books, reports, transcripts, as well as audio and video files. Information products can also be produced in physical form like CDs, DVDs and combined with printed material in a binder for a home-study course.

Common electronic examples are:

• E-books
• E-zines & newsletters
• Reports & white papers
• Tutorials, courses & FAQ’s
• Transcripts from interviews, teleseminars
• Audio files (MP3, for example)
• Videos and screencasts

Why are Information Products Important?

Sales Online: Creating Impeccable Customer Experiences

If you want to make money online, you have to make it easy for people to buy something from you. Information products are relatively easy, because you deliver them digitally, online, automatically, providing you have the right infrastructure in place, such as Kick Start Cart.

We recently staged a one day sale, and there were an amazing array of steps involved, including creating several HTML based web pages, sending out email announcements, affiliate announcements, and 12 autoresponder messages. Each one had to be proof-read and double-checked for accuracy.

Is The Blog Squad Breaking Up?

No, we're not breaking up, but we are having a squabble! Denise wants to discount all our blogging products by half! I say she's breaking my heart in half! I finally agreed to this sale, but for one day only - Valentine's Day.

She says I'm stingy. I say she's crazy. Well, she says she just wants all you aspiring bloggers to have the best help you can get to start a blog and optimize it for getting new clients and making money.

Okay, but you gotta act fast. Stroke of midnight ET Wednesday, these prices disappear.

So click the link below now to benefit from the 'Break My Heart in Half' Valentine Blogging Sale.

     http://www.theblogsquad.net/VDay

Blog on!

Patsi Krakoff
The Blog Squad

P.S. Remember, this sale ends at midnight Eastern Time on February 14.
http://www.theblogsquad.net/VDay

The Blog Squad Gratitude Sale

We are truly grateful, on many different levels.

Biz-wise, we enjoy hearing from all you savvy professionals out there, and feel really blessed to be able to help you grow your businesses in some small ways...and in some really big ways too!

Personally, we have appreciated all your support and well wishes as we both recently took care of some health issues and are now back on our feet(s)!

We’d like to give back to you by offering a $25 discount on our biggest selling products as a token of our appreciation for you being part of our community. Note: You must use the links provided to get your discount.

==> Build a Better Blog: The Ultimate Guide for Boosting Your Business with a Professional Blog

Save $25: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=272761

==> Conversations with Experts Lifetime Membership: Private Access to over 60 audio programs with experts in on and offline marketing and business practices.  Check out the list of experts here (but be sure to use the link below to get your gratitude deal):

Save $25: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=272762

==> 25 Proven Ways to Grow Your Ezine List: multimedia package with audio, ebook, tons of tips and resource links.

Save $25: http://www.1shoppingcart.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=272764

Discounts good through November 26, 2006.

In gratitude for your support and enthusiasm,

Denise and Patsi
The Blog Squad

P.S.  All discounts are calculated after you click the 'check out' button.

Free Services Translate to New Clients

The concept of giving away a sample of your products or services is not new. But I just stumbled upon a new term for it: "Freemiums."

Chris Mercer writes about the value of freemiums for professional service providers in the financial industry, over at his excellent blog MercerOnValue.com. Of course, this business model can apply to any business with an online presence. Here's what Chris reports:

...the Business 2.0 article (written by Katherine Heires, freelance writer) provides nine tips for venture capitalists and entrepreneurs to help in developing freemium businesses:

How to fast-track your business into the blogosphere

Have you been looking for the perfect, complete blogging package to help get you fast-tracked into the blogosphere?

Have we got a deal for you!

Let me explain. This past weekend Patsi and I were guest expert speakers at an intensive marketing seminar. Naturally we spoke about blogging for business. Part of the deal when you speak at these types of events is that you get to pitch your products and services.

Me, being very optimistic, produced a lot of conference packages. In fact I produced more than the number of participants who attended. I don't know what I was thinking. Now, though, I have a whole bunch of pink bags strewn around my living room. The bags are filled with our blogging book and audio programs about blogging on CD.

This is where you win. I don't have enough room to store all this product. So rather than wait for the next conference, Patsi suggested we have a pink bag sale and offer you, who have requested info about blogging from us, a chance to pick up one of these packages and save big. I have 20 12 9 5 packages ready to go right now.

Here's what you get:

Chris Knight Reviews Our All-in-One Ezine Publishing System

We're very pleased that Christopher Knight of EzineArticles.com and EmailUniverse.com has reviewed our new product All-in-One Ezine Publishing System.

Being biased of course, I'd say his review is balanced and fair.  Check out Chris' review here.