Using RSS to Make Money Online

Most of you have seen those little buttons on websites labeled RSS or XML. If you are wondering what they are, RSS means Really Simple Syndication. Really simple because when you subscribe to a site that has this feature, you keep up-to-date with new information without having to check the site every day. This is really good news because you can use it to get newsfeeds from major news networks, news on new movies, even your favorite musician's tour dates or CD releases.

This new twist to the Internet is very valuable to you as a Internet marketer too. Imagine replacing email marketing with RSS marketing. People actually subscribe meaning they want your information updates, similar to opt-in newsletters. With newsletters you have to write them and your site content. With RSS, when you update your content, all subscribers are notified by their newsreaders.

Newsreaders are special software that read RSS feeds. To get started, download a free RSS reader.

If you use a Windows PC, go to http://www.rssreader.com

For Mac users, see http://ranchero.com/netnewswire

Once you are set up, here's all you or your customers have to do...

Right-click (control-click for Mac users) on any RSS button on a site, blog or news source that interests you. Select Copy Shortcut ("Copy Link to Clipboard" for Mac, "Copy Link Location" for Firefox browsers), and paste that URL into your RSS Reader. And that is it, you are subscribed. Once you get started, your favorite parts of the Web come to you. No need to go out and check for updates all the time. If you do not want to download software, subscribe to your favorite feeds through My Yahoo or My MSN.

So how does any of this make you money?

More traffic means more money. By placing RSS on your website or your blog, anyone can subscribe automatically and know when a new product or service is available. This new breed of Internet shopper is not to be ignored. To take advantage of the traffic you have to make your RSS feed available to website visitors and submit your feed information to RSS, blog and XML type directories.

Here's how you get RSS for your site!

Go to http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss for the best source of RSS and Blog information. There are several file types for RSS and here you learn which is best and why. The easiest and fastest way to learn more about this technology and see it in use is to go to http://rss.sitesell.com where you find all you need to know about RSS, including solid marketing ideas.

There is no need to become a techie, no need to know all the ins and outs of RSS and XML. There is a huge need for you to know enough about this newest technology to use it. Once you do, it becomes easy to see how you make money online with RSS. In the same way newsletters and opt-in email are used for successful marketing, RSS is much easier, faster, and a much less intrusive way to communicate with potential or existing clients and customers.

It's very critical to provide exactly what people want to make money online. How can there be a better way to do that than to allow people to subscribe to their wants and wishes? Start using RSS and XML technologies to make money online now before it too becomes the jungle email marketing is. To add fuel to your marketing fire, use optimized content for frequent updates to your blogs and web pages and deliver it with RSS.

The Internet changes quite quickly. RSS seems to be made to stick around, at least until something bigger and better comes along. It is easy to setup and monetize. Online entrepreneurs should take advantage of this new technology as soon as possible. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, so start now to reach a very targeted, eager audience for your opportunities.

Read more!

How to Approach MLM Network Marketing Leads with the Consultative Approach

When you’re approaching your mlm prospect you have to honestly ask yourself, “If I were approached in this way, how would I respond?” If you have an uneasy feeling about the answer to that question then chances are you’re being a sales stereo-type in your mlm prospecting. Why is it that most people hate sales? Because they fear either being approached by or being the stereo-typical salesperson. You know the image, the plaid coated snake who manipulates you into a buying decision that really isn’t a good fit for what you’re looking for.

So if you’re feeling that way about your approach to your mlm leads then chances are you’re not using a consultative approach. What’s the difference? Well basically a consultative approach encompasses the idea of focusing on the prospect and the prospect’s wants and then working together to find out if what you have to offer is a fit for the prospect. When approaching the prospect, ask questions geared toward finding out what your prospect wants. What are their goals? How did they arrive at these goals? Who supports them in their decisions and actions? Ask about how they’d like to see themselves 90-days, 6 months, and a year down the road. After this, help the prospect to search for options as to how they can attain those goals. Obviously the prospect understands that your end goal is to recruit them or make the sale if there’s a fit. Don’t try to hide that you are looking for a win-win here. However, don’t cheat the prospect out of searching for feasible solutions that do and do not include you. As these options become apparent, you can work with the prospect to share how what you have to offer can truly be a fit for the prospect if you feel that is the case.

You want to hone in on you and your mlm company as a feasible alternative by sharing with the prospect what differentiates you and your company from other opportunities out there. Your prospect is interested in how your MLM or Network Marketing Company can help the prospect. You have to be specific as to how you are different and how that difference is relevant to your prospect as an individual based on the information you gathered in the beginning of this process. When you do this you build a relationship that 97% of network marketers out there today are not bothering to do. In essence, this creates a sustainable competitive advantage for you. Think again from the standpoint of your prospect, what would I do if someone contacted me in this way? What if someone contacted me (given that I am actually looking into an MLM or Network Marketing Company) and took the time to understand me in this way and then relate that understanding to how their opportunity could help me as an individual? Right, that’s a big difference from the initial feeling most people have about how they’re currently approaching their leads or prospects.

All of this works under a few assumptions.

Tip 1- Have a way of contacting prospects who want to be contacted. A great system for filtering through to the right people is to have a system like Power Filter Page in effect. Essentially, when you sit down to work in your business you are contacting those that actually want to hear from you. This should also take the horrible feeling of cold calling out from the pit of your stomach as well. MLM or Network Marketing isn’t magic and it does require work, however you can choose to work smart with a lead filtering system.

Tip 2- Qualify your prospects. Before taking the time to develop the relationship be sure that the prospect does in fact have the time, money, and desire to work with you. If not, you’ll both get frustrated and results will suffer. When initially contacting the prospect, be sure to ask questions relating to this.

Tip 3- Posture yourself as a professional. When you don’t sound desperate that definitely separates you from the majority of multi-level marketers out there. Avoid creating the impression that anyone can just join your business at anytime. Be selective and let the prospect know that your time, money, and effort will be invested in those who qualify and join your team. Make your prospect want that opportunity because if they’re properly qualified, you should in fact be spending that time with the new distributor.

As an MLM or Network Marketing Distributor it’s your responsibility to recruit into your business because that leads to long term profitability and leverage. This process doesn’t have to be the most painful thing out there. Speaking with prospects who have requested information from you specifically is a great foundational building block for you and your organization to implement immediately. With a prospecting filter in place, the relationship building strategies referenced become much easier.

Read more!

Viral Marketing

Viral marketing is a marketing strategy for a product or service whereby its users feel encouraged to pass along the marketing message. Viral marketing is dependent on pass-along rate, and so it follows that if large number of people pass along something to large number of recipients, who in turn repeat the same cycle, the whole phenomenon takes the shape of viral marketing.

That job is In relation to today's e-world, the concept of viral marketing takes its cue from phenomenal success of Hotmail in late nineties. Between July, 1996 when it was launched and Feb 1999, Hotmail grew at an astounding rate of a million users every month to reach 30 million members in just 2-1/2 years. Venture capitalist Jurvetson, who funded Hotmail was to later compare addiction to Hotmail with the virus that causes sneezing, for he learned that each sneeze released 2 million particles.

While Hotmail's was a very successful viral marketing, a recent example of viral marketing is Gmail. Both are free email services, but the path to success is different from one another. Let us examine how viral marketing worked for them.

Viral Marketing - Hotmail
Before Hotmail there was no concept of virtual mailbox. Emails were received and stored in mailbox that would reside on computer hard-disk. It was inconvenient because it ate away disk-space. Hotmail changed the scenario. Since it was free, people rushed in to sign for Hotmail, thus beginning a prolonged spell of viral marketing.

To be a hotmail member soon became an addiction. Even small-time email users queued in. As time wore on, owning Hotmail account became ultimate recognition of having 'arrived' on the internet. Such an absolute co-option wasn't witnessed before, such was the power of Hotmail's viral marketing.

Viral Marketing - Gmail

In sharp contrast, Gmail adopted a different viral marketing strategy. Debuting in April 2004, Google started sending limited invitations to likely users, each of whom would thereafter invite more users, thereby initiating chains of viral marketing.

Gmail's viral marketing is succeeding not only because there is a clamor to own a Gmail account. Remember there are many free email services out there. But none comes close to Gmail. Here you have gigantic virtual storage space (2-1/2 gigabytes) and a string of top-class free add-ons like online chat, calendar, auto-save, conversation views, search mail and so on.

Viral Marketing - Necessary ingredients

What are essential constituents of successful viral marketing? Studying Hotmail and Gmail, here are some emerging points for would-be adopters of viral marketing strategy:

1. Free valuable product or service is a powerful incentive for interested viewers. If you have access to one which you can afford to offer free (e-books for example), your viral marketing will get a boost. Whatever you offer free, it must translate to immediate tangible or intangible benefit(s), so people will get attracted in no time. While so doing, earn revenue from selling ads or selling some other product or service.

2. To be effective in viral marketing, ensure your offer's easy availability. It has to transmit effortlessly, capped with simple yet addictive message.

3. Watch out what goes. Both Hotmail and Gmail succeeded as viral marketing strategy because there existed need for them. Similarly the concept of blogging expanded fast because people wanted their own place on web.

4. Viral marketing requires you have ability to scale up facility to keep pace with demand. If there is a sudden surge in demand and your resource is unable to cater, your viral marketing stops immediately.

5. Make use of existing communication network for viral marketing. For example, if your service concerns medical advice, consider placing your message at places frequented by medical personnel.

6. Take advantage of others' resources to spread your viral marketing. Suppose you are an expert writer, think of placing your articles in other newsletters and web publications. Affiliate programs routinely insert ads in highly visible related websites.

In conclusion, it is important to bear in mind that typical viral marketing plans have certain 'shelf-life', beyond which the advantage tapers off. Timely actions and a perfect rhythm among your moves form the bedrock of successful viral marketing.
Author:Joshua Mabilia

Read more!

10 Killer Secrets For Making Your Customers Respond To Your Email Now!

Email has resulted in a revolution in marketing-an explosion in messaging.

For some it is a god-send, a technology and a method that allows people to sell products and services quickly and effectively.

For others, it's a doomsday machine, a spam filled mailbox filled with angry mail from people who will never again be customers.

Website Conversion Expert Dan Lok says you have to learn several special techniques before you can truly leverage and make maximum use email -- the Internet's wonderchild.

Here are some of the Dan's most important keys to successful email marketing campaigns:

1. Get Permission. Use web page sign up forms or post card return cards, but get permission in a valid way. Create and offer incentives for people to sign up online to receive value-added information.

2. Target carefully and make it relevant. Send only relevant email to opt-in subscribers. Develop and give people what they wanted and what you promised. Don't send email that is outside the scope of what was promised to people who opted in. Target and segment your subscriber base and tailor your messages to specific demographic characteristics.

3. Your Subject Line is Critical. Don't make it look or sound like spam. The purpose of the subject line is NOT to sell, but just to get people to open the email, that's it! Be careful of the words you select. Check your email against a spam checker to see that it doesn't contain words that will automatically result in deletion.

4. Use your personality. Talk in the first person. Develop your persona as a friend or as an expert. Define your persona based on your customers' needs and desires and based on professional behaviors.

5. Don't sell. Advise, advise, advise. Offer value-added problem solving information, advice, tools and help. Use email to get people to use your email as a reason to call you or visit your web site. Offer people more of what they like to build and your personal relationship and their satisfaction and your personal connection with your customer.

6. Create a single, clear and benefit laden call for action. Focus on getting people to take one action. Don't offer more than one action. Identify the action clearly and persuasively and track the results. Get them to click and go to a relevant landing page to net them to take further action.

7. Create a life-cycle campaign. Design a program that results in you sending out four to six messages over a six to eight week period. These recurring campaigns can be created in advance and operated in a totally automated fashion.

8. Use triggered email. Design and set up automated email campaigns so that when clients order product or sign up for items or request information online, that a suite of email messages are then sent to them periodically automatically.

9. Use email to get them to Click! Keep the email short - no more than 3 or 4 pages. Relate first paragraph to subject line. Drive people to a web page and then close the sale, don't try to close the sale with an email. Don't mention price or cost in email. The purpose of the email is to PRE-SELL, not to sell. Again, it's to get them CLICK, then go to your web page. Then you can do the selling there.

10. Comply with CAN-SPAM Act requirements. Send from a valid address. Respect all remove requests promptly. Never send a second email to someone who has requested removal.

Read more!

Preplanning Creates Home Internet Business Success

In my past sales career, I quickly learned the importance of having a solid pre-plan. I thought I could walk into an account shooting from the hip and come out with great success. However, that attitude resulted in getting shot down before I even took flight.

If pre-planning is such a major factor as a salesman for somebody else's company, how much more important do you think it is when starting your own home internet business?

You may have an original idea never marketed online before, but the idea alone won't reward you with success. Only a strategic business plan will get you where you want to be. Lets discuss the basics that should be included in your business plan.

The three most important parts of a business plan are the business summary, the goals and objectives of the business and a marketing plan.

The business summary should give a brief description of the entire business. Next, you can list what you wish to accomplish with your business. Determining this will help you focus on what marketing methods you'll need to reach your goals.

Marketing is the key factor of a business plan. First, figure out who your targets are. Is your service or product going to attract business men, college students or stay-at-home-moms?

Next, evaluate any competing products and try to come up with a unique angle that will make your brand stand out. Also check out the competitors pricing and methods of doing business. You can do much to improve your product by understanding the pros and cons of competing brands.

There are many options when it comes to advertising. Check out all the different options and determine which is best for you. Set a budget that you can afford and stick to it. There are also free methods of advertising that may require a little extra work, but do pay off in the end. Spend time reading and educating yourself on the various ways of advertising on the Internet.

Try to find a balanced price point for your product or service. Pricing too low may give the impression that your brand is cheap and of poor quality. Likewise, Pricing too high may drive away a lot of business.

Shipping plays a big role in your online business. Post the shipping details on your web site for your customer's benefit. If you are shipping things of great value, consider providing shipping insurance. You may also want to look into shipping outside of the country you live in.

As equally important as shipping is payment methods. Common methods of accepting checks and money orders are needed. However, don't underestimate the power of the credit card. It is stated that if you don't accept payments with credit cards, your business can loose more than half of its sales. When deciding to use credit card payments, You should educate yourself on using a merchant account as opposed to a third party processing center and decide which method suits your needs.

Don't make the same mistakes I made as a sales representative and assume that you can wing it. Having a solid business plan can lead you to the path of success without the fear of being shot down before your home Internet business can even take flight.

Copyright © Robbie Fanucchi
http://www.RJFanucchi.com

Read more!