Sunday, September 27, 2009

“Steps for Mastering Twitter”

With the coverage it has been receiving lately, there would not many people who would not have at least heard of the word Twitter. Okay maybe If you don't have access to the web or have not been watching TV lately then the fact that social networking sites like Twitter are booming may havetweeta03_512 alluded you. Next time you have some spare time while surfing the net, you should do a Google search on twitter or consider visiting the site to find out directly the many fun and interesting benefits it has for users.

You must register before being able to enter the website to meet the wide variety of members, all with their own reasons for being there. Most people that you will find on Twitter are there to link or network with other people. Much of twitter's fame can be attributed to the ability to stay in touch, literally every hour of the day as new information is provided by friends, family or any topic of interest, all in one free to use system. In addition to those members, there are those who simply want to extract more income or take their business to another level.

Following the steps below will have you on the road to being a master of all things twitter, whatever your purpose:

1) Visibility - you must aim to have high exposure on Twitter. Spend a few hours every day writing new tweets and replying the tweets you get sent to you. It's a great way to make more contacts socially or for business. Set up a daily routine for your twitter activities like designating certain hours for tweeting. Always follow a number of new members each week and try to entice them to follow you in return. A good thing on Twitter is that you can respond by using your cell phone. This consistent sending and responding to tweets can be time consuming but it can definitely help increase your visibility.

2) Powerful profile – after registering at Twitter, one of your first priorities should be designing your own unique member profile. This page should aim to be interesting yet reflect your personal character or business. A powerful profile may be informative but not boring. A great profile can draw immediate reaction and the need for connection to you.

3) Twittering - you should make a effort to tweet about the fun and interesting events occurring in your life. You can use anything about your life and experiences. After receiving messages, try to respond to them in a timely and respectful manner. When someone sends you a tweet also remember to thank the person. Try to look at Twitter as a blank piece of paper, where you are free to write whatever you want others to know.

4) Twitter Networking - Millions of members use Twitter daily. Focus on making contact with those in your target market and follow them. Also endeavor to establish good and friendly bonds with those you meet. After developing many friends, you can progressively promote your business without seeming too over zealous. Gaining new clientèle for your items and services will be easier with time because they have built up confidence in your reputation.

5) Direct Messages (DM) - directly sending messages like emails or private messaging in forums to specific users only can be effective. Read any messages received and let them know how much you appreciate it. This specific list of close contacts can be used as your own custom targeted group of leads but don't over do the advertising because that can be interpreted as spamming them.

6) Videos and Images – This is an often over looked medium in Twitter but it can be very rewarding to share video clips and images. It builds branding and familiarity with your user name because other people can get an overview of your life and the type person that you are.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

"Does Google Really Penalize for Duplicate Content?"

A video by Greg Grothaus of Google that goes into detail about how Google really feels about duplicate content.

Friday, September 18, 2009

"Making Twitter Work For You"

A lot of people still don't understand Twitter? I'll admit it when I first saw it I thought it was stupid. Now I'm hooked. Watch this video WebproNews did with Michael Gray to get his insight on what you should and shouldn't be doing on Twitter. Let me know what you think.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

10 Tips for a Better Website

By Merle

There are just some things that need to be included in every website. If you integrate these tips into your site your visitors will "thank you" for it later: twittermoon_128

1) Navigation:  Keep it simple (KISS), and make sure it's consistent from page to page. No matter where you place your menu bar -- either at the top or down the side --always include a small text menu at the bottom of every page.  To create a site map see http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/

If you're one of those people easily impressed with Flash, don't design your navigation with it. There are still some people who don't have or want the plug-in, so they won't be able to navigate your site. Besides, search engine spiders have a harder time reading it, so that could lead to some of your site pages not being included in their index.

2) Privacy Policy:  With all of the concern over privacy on the Web if you collect any type of information from your visitors (even if it's just an email address) you need to include a privacy policy. There are many online templates that will help you to create one easily. Once made, post a link to it on every page of your site. Here’s a site that will help you in creating a privacy policy http://www.dmaresponsibility.org/PPG/

3) Contact Information: Nothing drives me more insane than having to search through an entire website just to send the owner an email. Post your contact info at the bottom of every page of your site, along with your email address. Don't make me fill out a whole form when I just want to send a simple comment. Include your email address, hot-linked and ready to go.

4) Logos & Graphics: Please keep your graphics down to a reasonable size. No one wants to wait two minutes while your huge, beautiful logo loads onto the screen. If you must use a lot of graphics to get your point across, I've got one word for you: Compression.

5) Fonts: Remember if you stray from using the standard fonts that everyone has installed on their computers (such as Arial, Verdana, Times New Roman) the viewer won't see your fonts as intended. Your users' computers will display your site in their default fonts. Stick to standards. If you must have a certain font used you'll have to turn it into a graphic to maintain its look.

6) Make It Sticky: Include interactive features if possible, such as live news feeds. or widgets. Use chat rooms, discussion boards, blogs, etc. You want to create a sense of community where people will want to  return.  See http://www.google.com/ig/directory?synd=open

7) Newsletter/Blog: If you're going to have a website you need to offer a newsletter or a blog, even if it's strictly going to be about sale items, specials or site updates. You need to start collecting a list of your visitors'email addresses so you can keep in touch with them. Ezines help to keep your site fresh in the client's mind and helps to establish trust and credibility. For more on how to start your own ezine see http://www.ezineuniversity.com/

8) Browsers: You'd be amazed at how differently your website appears in different browsers. Make sure you take a peek at your site in Firefox and Internet Explorer. Try http://browsershots.org/

9) Index Page: This may seem like a given, but I'm going to mention it anyway. On the very first page of your site (the homepage) the first paragraph should answer the "5 W's"; basically telling them who you are and what you're offering. You'd be amazed at the number of websites that leave this out; making me think "what do these people do, and what's in it for me?" You need to answer these questions and do  it fast. Surfers are a very impatient group. Stop them  before they click away.

10) Disclaimer: Along with your privacy policy you’ll want to include a standard disclaimer page. You could have a lawyer draw one up or use an online generator and modify it to what you need. Here’s a free online one, remember, use at your own risk http://www.easyriver.com/free_disclaimer.htm

If you remember the above 10 pointers when putting together your next website, you'll create a winning site that visitors will want to return to, and not run away from in frustration.

PS. For more help with your site see http://www.merlesworld.com/required_website_elements.htm

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Free PDF’s to Download

Nicole Dean from EasyPLR.com has taken her most popular "Online Success" podcasts and had them transcribed into downloadable PDFs. merle_money

The first is her interview with affiliate marketer, Lynn Terry

http://www.merlesworld.com/e-books/SuccessCast3-lynnterry.pdf

The second is her interview with PLF Champ, Ronnie Nijmeh

http://www.merlesworld.com/e-books/SuccessCast9-Ronnie.pdf

Go ahead and download them to your own computer and feel free to pass them onto your friends. Their good stuff Maynard!

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

“Teleseminar Training MP3”

I've got a real treat for you today. My friend, Ronnie Nijmeh, has a PLR club that provides the best self-help PLR content out there, plus he does monthly mastermind coaching teleseminars for members-only.

Well, I was able to twist his arm to give me a free MP3 recording from one of his past members-only teleseminars.  It's called: "PLR PROFITS" Go here to get your no cost access now:
http://www.plr.me/id/plrtraining/msmerle

If you've always wanted to use PLR (or want to explode your traffic and sales with PLR), then you should listen in. Here's a sneak peek of what Ronnie covered in the MP3:

- What PLR is and why you need it

- How to use private label content for traffic generation,
  loyalty building, and product creation

- Creative approaches to use and profit from PLR

Get access to this free training MP3: http://www.plr.me/id/plrtraining/msmerle


P.S. This coming Tuesday the 15th, Ronnie's releasing this
must-have PLR pack. It's five complete, ready-to-sell products.
On the bottom of the page, there's an Early Bird sign-up form.
You'll want to enter your name and email so you'll beat the rush:
http://www.plr.me/id/plrtraining/msmerle

Monday, September 07, 2009

“Learn about Twitter Tools”

Heaps of people are happily devoted Twitter users, a social network and even so, there are still a lot of other people who aren't acquainted with the mini blogging web site. For the twitter uninitiated this information will be just perfect to learn more about this latest online craze.  bluebird_256x256

With the release of Twitter in 2006, those from the younger generation were quick to realize the sites ability to keep them connected with friends and their day to day activities. Personal text messages can be transmitted and received fast by using tweets. Tweets are limited to a maximum 140 characters and come to be also known as a micro-blogging. The topic or purpose of these tweets are limited only by the creators imagination - you can share your personal point of view, the things that you are doing or simply to also view some areas that may interest you. As its community began to rapidly increase, private organizations saw the opportunity for it to work as a promotional tool. Some companies have been able to improve their business but there have also been those who would have spent substantial money and resources on twitter only to derive little benefit.

The premise of Twitter is to basically follow anyone or anything of interest to you. Once you follow a certain person, you will receive their tweets. When a member follows you, the profile of that person can be checked in order to decide if you want to follow them in return. When you want to send the tweets, you do not have to do so manually because there are tools can be used to automatically send your messages to all your subscribers. Most of these Twitter tools are available for use at no cost and can be big time savers. There are twitter applications like 'PostLater' and “autotweeter” to automate many of the processes such as to follow users who follow you.

When writing your tweet updates, make sure that you aim to generate a reaction from its reader. If your tweets are appealing, you can easily gain more valuable followers. This is very useful when you do blog posts or performing internet marketing.

Online business is a very competitive industry now and twitter can be a cost effective way to get precious leads for getting new clientèle. In order to gain a custom list of followers, you need to make friends before swamping them with advertising propaganda. Having lots of trusting friends will help your business marketing success. When you have a lot of fans, you can mention your business and services that you want to advertise. You can provide a url link to your service or programs, and if they have confidence, they will not hesitate on clicking on the text links.

Twollo is a another free application designed to track targeted individuals based on keyword terms. All that is required is provide the keyword that interests you and the tool locates people who are also talking about that niche. If these people want to, they will also follow you back too.

Beware that just because you choose to follow a member, it does not assure that they will follow you back. Always check your statistics. When someone is not following you, unfollow that person and its recommended that this clean out of your account account occurs weekly. The program from "friendorfollow.com" is just one such available tool that is perfectly suited to this account maintenance job.

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

"TV for All Contest"

TV advertising can be expensive for small businesses. So Google TV Ads and Spotmixer have joined forces to bring you the "TV for All Contest". Create and submit your own TV commercial for a shot at winning 25,0000 of free national TV advertising on select cable channels.

A panel of celebrity judges will pick the finalists around mid October. Then the YouTube Community will chose the three winners. If you need help in creating your own TV ad it's easy with Spotmixer and can be done from the contest page above. Entries must be received by Oct 5, 2009 For more information go to-

http://www.youtube.com/tvforallcontest