Archive for July 2010
July 31, 2010 | 
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CW Teo asked:
In any business, thieves pose a real problem to business owners. This is true for online home based Internet business owners too. Thieves will take money and merchandise and it isn’t any different online. The real world merchants use locks and alarms and other security features to drive away thieves. Internet business owners use anti-theft software to protect their commissions.
In this article, we look at some things you can do to protect yourself and your commissions:
1. Use Meta Refresh: A meta refresh is a piece of HTML code which automatically redirects your visitor to another page (your affiliate URL). It provides a neat way of presenting affiliate links in newsletters. It probably helps reduce commission bypassing and commission hijacking. A big advantage of using meta refreshes is that if merchants change their affiliate links, you can change links on dozens of pages quickly and easily by altering only one file.
However, do note that some search engines don’t like meta refreshes because they’re frequently used for unsavory purposes. So do exercise caution if you use this technique.
2. Use a URL redirection service. These services may come free, or you can buy a unique domain name for each affiliate program you join. This technique of URL redirection reduces some commission thefts because the affiliate links become less obvious and therefore safer from theft.
3. Use a web-based ad tracking service. This service will hide the affiliate link, therefore reduce thefts.
4. Use an ad tracking script. Good ad tracking scripts hide the affiliate link as well as being useful for tracking. The advantage is that it does not promote someone else’s domain.
5. Use JavaScript redirect. Similar to web-based ad tracking service, this hides the affiliate link, and so it should reduce commission thefts.
Do note that you must take every necessary step to protect your commissions because thievery is a problem for all online businesses.
Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress
In any business, thieves pose a real problem to business owners. This is true for online home based Internet business owners too. Thieves will take money and merchandise and it isn’t any different online. The real world merchants use locks and alarms and other security features to drive away thieves. Internet business owners use anti-theft software to protect their commissions.
In this article, we look at some things you can do to protect yourself and your commissions:
1. Use Meta Refresh: A meta refresh is a piece of HTML code which automatically redirects your visitor to another page (your affiliate URL). It provides a neat way of presenting affiliate links in newsletters. It probably helps reduce commission bypassing and commission hijacking. A big advantage of using meta refreshes is that if merchants change their affiliate links, you can change links on dozens of pages quickly and easily by altering only one file.
However, do note that some search engines don’t like meta refreshes because they’re frequently used for unsavory purposes. So do exercise caution if you use this technique.
2. Use a URL redirection service. These services may come free, or you can buy a unique domain name for each affiliate program you join. This technique of URL redirection reduces some commission thefts because the affiliate links become less obvious and therefore safer from theft.
3. Use a web-based ad tracking service. This service will hide the affiliate link, therefore reduce thefts.
4. Use an ad tracking script. Good ad tracking scripts hide the affiliate link as well as being useful for tracking. The advantage is that it does not promote someone else’s domain.
5. Use JavaScript redirect. Similar to web-based ad tracking service, this hides the affiliate link, and so it should reduce commission thefts.
Do note that you must take every necessary step to protect your commissions because thievery is a problem for all online businesses.
Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress
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Jonathan Gafill asked:
There is no doubt that using print ad tracking services can significantly increase your advertising budget’s return on investment. The advanced software that is available these days allows you to determine what ads are bringing you business. Many businesses are able to eliminate half of their adverting campaigns while maintaining the print advertisements that work.Â
Using this software does require a bit of pre-planning. When deciding what ads to publish in the Yellow Pages, you want to place one of the pre-determined unique phone numbers that was supplied to you within the advertisement.
Once all of your ads have all these numbers in place, you can start tracking. The entire tracking process is done automatically. You can even view the successful ads by geographical location! This is very effective when determining what areas to base your direct mail campaigns around. Â The statistics on each ad is displayed in the “back office”, which will tell you everything you need to know to determine which ads to keep, and which ads to drop.
These days, it is extremely important to keep an eye on your businesses expenses. The advertising budget for most businesses is a sensitive issue. Many people feel that it is the expendable. The fact is, they are partially right. There is no reason for anyone to keep ads running when they are not doing anything but hurting your bottom line. That being said, effective advertising is completely essential to the success of a business… but it can be regulated and targeted, which can be much less of a burden on your businesses bottom line.
Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress
There is no doubt that using print ad tracking services can significantly increase your advertising budget’s return on investment. The advanced software that is available these days allows you to determine what ads are bringing you business. Many businesses are able to eliminate half of their adverting campaigns while maintaining the print advertisements that work.Â
Using this software does require a bit of pre-planning. When deciding what ads to publish in the Yellow Pages, you want to place one of the pre-determined unique phone numbers that was supplied to you within the advertisement.
Once all of your ads have all these numbers in place, you can start tracking. The entire tracking process is done automatically. You can even view the successful ads by geographical location! This is very effective when determining what areas to base your direct mail campaigns around. Â The statistics on each ad is displayed in the “back office”, which will tell you everything you need to know to determine which ads to keep, and which ads to drop.
These days, it is extremely important to keep an eye on your businesses expenses. The advertising budget for most businesses is a sensitive issue. Many people feel that it is the expendable. The fact is, they are partially right. There is no reason for anyone to keep ads running when they are not doing anything but hurting your bottom line. That being said, effective advertising is completely essential to the success of a business… but it can be regulated and targeted, which can be much less of a burden on your businesses bottom line.
Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress
Shaun Baird asked:
You’ve built your page and displayed your ad. Sales have come in but you’re wondering if you are missing out? You know that it is worthwhile to test and track your ad, but, where do you start?
As with all things reliant on human nature, there is no real starting point. Which also means there is no wrong place either. The main point is to make a change and breathe new life into your sales.
After your initial sales bonanza, take advantage of your right to obtain feedback. Take a look at your page again and write some specific questions that will add pertinent information to your testing studies. Send it out to the initial buyers, asking them to be as specific as possible and as honest as possible. Don’t bombard them with questions, stick to the basics, and get a general feeling as to their views. Now is also a good time to ask for testimonials if you have not already done so. Don’t rush to change the page until you have sufficient feedback to warrant the change. You may have to do this more than once during a campaign so keep your options open.
Be sure you feel right about any changes you plan. Careful tracking will show you who is picking up your product and the whole idea of the testing and tracking is to increase the volume of your sales. Be careful not to alienate your first time buyers by re-sending the same sales page over and over. Each time you make a change to your page, take time to see the results.
Another way to fire up sales again is to add an affiliate option into your ad. By doing this, your potential audience will diversify and grow, drawing in more results and more opportunities to improve your ad production.
Is it really worth your while to test and track your ads? Look at this in terms of what you are trying to accomplish. To build your empire will take trials and tests, tracking and re-tracking. Yes, it all takes time but in the end is it not true that “Good Things Come To Those Who Wait?”
Caffeinated Content
You’ve built your page and displayed your ad. Sales have come in but you’re wondering if you are missing out? You know that it is worthwhile to test and track your ad, but, where do you start?
As with all things reliant on human nature, there is no real starting point. Which also means there is no wrong place either. The main point is to make a change and breathe new life into your sales.
After your initial sales bonanza, take advantage of your right to obtain feedback. Take a look at your page again and write some specific questions that will add pertinent information to your testing studies. Send it out to the initial buyers, asking them to be as specific as possible and as honest as possible. Don’t bombard them with questions, stick to the basics, and get a general feeling as to their views. Now is also a good time to ask for testimonials if you have not already done so. Don’t rush to change the page until you have sufficient feedback to warrant the change. You may have to do this more than once during a campaign so keep your options open.
Be sure you feel right about any changes you plan. Careful tracking will show you who is picking up your product and the whole idea of the testing and tracking is to increase the volume of your sales. Be careful not to alienate your first time buyers by re-sending the same sales page over and over. Each time you make a change to your page, take time to see the results.
Another way to fire up sales again is to add an affiliate option into your ad. By doing this, your potential audience will diversify and grow, drawing in more results and more opportunities to improve your ad production.
Is it really worth your while to test and track your ads? Look at this in terms of what you are trying to accomplish. To build your empire will take trials and tests, tracking and re-tracking. Yes, it all takes time but in the end is it not true that “Good Things Come To Those Who Wait?”
Caffeinated Content
Sunil Tanna asked:
If you don’t want to start your own ezine, or simply want to reach more people, you could consider placing paid ads in other people’s ezines.
Many (but not all) pay per sale affiliate programs do allow you to place affiliate links in opt-in ezines – or alternatively you could place ads for your own web site in ezines.
Before advertising in an ezine, it’s a good idea to check it’s an opt-in ezine (not Spam), how many subscribers there are, and to review a simple issue (to check the ezine readers will probably be interested in your ad, and that your ad won’t be buried in too many others).
When you advertise in ezines, you may be offered several options:
- Classified Ads: These are usually short ads, and quite often ezines include a section of containing several classified ads. Classified ads, are usually cheapest, but may generate a low percentage response.
- Top Sponsor and Bottom Sponsor: Many ezines will allow you to place a large ad at the top or bottom of the ezines. As well as more prominent listing than Classifieds, you usually get more space (several lines) to explain your offer,
- Solo Ads: Some ezines send out solo ads, which are special issues that are devoted entirely to a single ad. These are, of course, highly noticeable to the recipient, with no distractions – and advertisers usually are allowed to place quite long ads of this type.
If you do place ads in ezines, you will want to know which ads are generating a response, and which are not. This information would allow you to determine whether advertising in any particular ezine is worth the money. You can use an ad tracker to find this out.
Website content
If you don’t want to start your own ezine, or simply want to reach more people, you could consider placing paid ads in other people’s ezines.
Many (but not all) pay per sale affiliate programs do allow you to place affiliate links in opt-in ezines – or alternatively you could place ads for your own web site in ezines.
Before advertising in an ezine, it’s a good idea to check it’s an opt-in ezine (not Spam), how many subscribers there are, and to review a simple issue (to check the ezine readers will probably be interested in your ad, and that your ad won’t be buried in too many others).
When you advertise in ezines, you may be offered several options:
- Classified Ads: These are usually short ads, and quite often ezines include a section of containing several classified ads. Classified ads, are usually cheapest, but may generate a low percentage response.
- Top Sponsor and Bottom Sponsor: Many ezines will allow you to place a large ad at the top or bottom of the ezines. As well as more prominent listing than Classifieds, you usually get more space (several lines) to explain your offer,
- Solo Ads: Some ezines send out solo ads, which are special issues that are devoted entirely to a single ad. These are, of course, highly noticeable to the recipient, with no distractions – and advertisers usually are allowed to place quite long ads of this type.
If you do place ads in ezines, you will want to know which ads are generating a response, and which are not. This information would allow you to determine whether advertising in any particular ezine is worth the money. You can use an ad tracker to find this out.
Website content
Steve Sipress asked:
Sports fans can argue all day about certain statistics from seasons past. But as soon as they look up the facts in a record book, the argument is over.
Scrabble players can argue about the correct spelling of a word. But as soon as they look up the facts in a dictionary, there can be no more difference of opinion.
These days, thanks to the rise of the internet, it’s all-too-common for small business owners to believe that “No one uses the Yellow Pages anymore.”
But the facts show that print phone books are still used millions of times every day, resulting in millions of calls and billions of dollars going to local businesses of all types.
How do we know? Well, first of all there’s a ton of research done by various organizations through surveys and focus groups. But even more powerful are reports from advertisers who actually track every single phone call from their Yellow Pages ads. They do this by using a unique phone number that appears only in their Yellow Pages ad and nowhere else, or by paying a tracking service to put a unique number in their ad and provide them with monthly reports. Sophisticated advertisers even use a different phone number to track each one of their individual ads!
If you’re going to be serious about your marketing, of course you know that you have to track everything. After all, how can you improve what you don’t track? How can you know what to do more or less of if you don’t have accurate statistics? How can you know which of your ads are doing great and which need to be improved?
But what if you don’t want to go through the time, trouble and expense of tracking your ads? Here’s the good news:
Yellow Pages publishers will often pay the tracking service’s fee AND give you an additional ad for free if you’ll simply agree to let them publish your ad’s results.
Then they can use your tracking report as proof to other potential advertisers that Yellow Pages advertising can produce boatloads of calls and cash. In return, you’ll have gotten a free ad that brings you extra calls and profits for zero cost. Everybody wins (except your competitors)!
But there’s a catch, of course: The publisher MUST KNOW that your main ad will work well (why would they want to pay to track a poorly-designed ad?). That means you’ll have to place an ad that follows enough of the rules of Yellow Pages advertising (size, content, etc.) so that it’s clear your ad will perform well. Don’t even think of placing a small ad with your company name at the top and nothing that differentiates you from your competition and expecting the publisher to want to pay to track the few calls you’ll get.
So make sure to create a great ad, and then ask your local rep if the publisher will offer you a free ad. Even if they won’t, they may at the very least offer to foot the bill for the tracking number and reporting service. Either way, you win!
Website content
Sports fans can argue all day about certain statistics from seasons past. But as soon as they look up the facts in a record book, the argument is over.
Scrabble players can argue about the correct spelling of a word. But as soon as they look up the facts in a dictionary, there can be no more difference of opinion.
These days, thanks to the rise of the internet, it’s all-too-common for small business owners to believe that “No one uses the Yellow Pages anymore.”
But the facts show that print phone books are still used millions of times every day, resulting in millions of calls and billions of dollars going to local businesses of all types.
How do we know? Well, first of all there’s a ton of research done by various organizations through surveys and focus groups. But even more powerful are reports from advertisers who actually track every single phone call from their Yellow Pages ads. They do this by using a unique phone number that appears only in their Yellow Pages ad and nowhere else, or by paying a tracking service to put a unique number in their ad and provide them with monthly reports. Sophisticated advertisers even use a different phone number to track each one of their individual ads!
If you’re going to be serious about your marketing, of course you know that you have to track everything. After all, how can you improve what you don’t track? How can you know what to do more or less of if you don’t have accurate statistics? How can you know which of your ads are doing great and which need to be improved?
But what if you don’t want to go through the time, trouble and expense of tracking your ads? Here’s the good news:
Yellow Pages publishers will often pay the tracking service’s fee AND give you an additional ad for free if you’ll simply agree to let them publish your ad’s results.
Then they can use your tracking report as proof to other potential advertisers that Yellow Pages advertising can produce boatloads of calls and cash. In return, you’ll have gotten a free ad that brings you extra calls and profits for zero cost. Everybody wins (except your competitors)!
But there’s a catch, of course: The publisher MUST KNOW that your main ad will work well (why would they want to pay to track a poorly-designed ad?). That means you’ll have to place an ad that follows enough of the rules of Yellow Pages advertising (size, content, etc.) so that it’s clear your ad will perform well. Don’t even think of placing a small ad with your company name at the top and nothing that differentiates you from your competition and expecting the publisher to want to pay to track the few calls you’ll get.
So make sure to create a great ad, and then ask your local rep if the publisher will offer you a free ad. Even if they won’t, they may at the very least offer to foot the bill for the tracking number and reporting service. Either way, you win!
Website content