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1. Google exec: 2005 the turning point for online ads
 Corporate
marketers have made online advertising a standard part of media budgets as online spending looks set to accelerate
further in 2006, Google's North American sales chief said late Tuesday.
"There is robust interest in online advertising and that interest is now turning into real
dollars," Armstrong said, noting that market analysts are predicting a banner 2005 year with forecasts ranging
from $10 billion to $15 billion.
"The experimenting and testing phase begun in the 1990s has ended. Corporate ad buyers are
investing now," he said. more
>
2. C|NET news: 6
December - Can there be another Google? >
3. Axandra news: 22 November
- New features in Google Sitemaps >
What the heck is a WEBSITE REPORT CARD? The Power of VISION.
Most websites fail to generate significant income. Why? Because designing and promotion a website
is very complex. It takes both short and long-term vision and marketing strategy. It requires a budget. It requires
constant supervision and complete understanding and control of your website's content and design.
Unfortunately, most companies jump into website design with absolutely NO VISION. The usual chain
of events for website development is...
- have a friend or relative design website
- learn it's tougher than you thought
- pour tons of money into it getting it redesigned by a professional
- learn that you have to market a website for it to be effective
- pour tons of money into it promoting the site yourself through paid advertising
like Google AdWords
- learn that online marketing is tougher than you thought
- pour tons of money into it promoting by paying a professional to promote
it correctly
- cross fingers and hope for the best - and if it DOESN'T work...
- repeat if you have enough energy and money and time
Are you getting expert advice during this process? Who knows? We know. You need a person
that will analyze your current site and tell you what's wrong and how to fix it! An unbiased opinion on
your state of affiairs online.
Analysis Consists of...
I: Web Design
- Site Integrity: does your website have programming violations?
- Structure & Navigation: is the site easy to learn?
- Visual Integrity: are you appealing?
II: Web Sales
- Good Description: are you getting the message across?
- Good Communication: are you available for comment?
- Closing the Sale: are you convincing customer to buy?
III: Web Promotion
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): are you ready to promote?
- Marketing Tricks: that little extra something
- Viral Marketing: repeat and new customers
A Website Report Card is only $350. It could save you thousands of dollars
in failed redesigns alone.
For more information on the Website Report Card >
If you want your website to survive future Google updates, you must find out what Google is trying
to achieve with its updates. Google wants to present high quality web sites that are interesting to web surfers
in its search results. Whenever Google updates the ranking algorithm, they try to give those sites more relevancy.
If you want to survive future Google updates, you must make sure that your web site looks attractive
to Google:
1. Your web site should have a certain age:
The older a website is, the less dramatic are the fluctuations with each algorithm change. If
your website has a certain age and if the content of your website has regular updates then search engines know
that it's worth to list your web site because you'll probably still be around tomorrow.
2. Your web site should have good content:
Search engines want to redirect web surfers to web sites on which they can find useful information.
The more content your website has, the better you'll be listed. It's very difficult to get good search engine
rankings with a website that has only a few pages.
3. Links from other sites are still important:
The more websites link to you, the more important is your website. Of course, you shouldn't link
to every Tom, Dick and Harry and the other sites that link to you should also be related to your site.
Consider how the link popularity principle was originally meant: you think that another website
is a great resource and then you link to it. If you get links like that, you'll get solid search engine rankings.
4. Make it easy for search engines to index your site:
Many websites have great content but it is nearly impossible for search engines to index them.
If you want high search engine rankings, you should make it as easy as possible for search engines to index your
site.
This article was printed
with permission from Axandra news archive: 6 December 2005 >
Whether you use snailmail, email, or tv spots to advertise (or even a combination of all types)
ALL marketing media should be CODED so you can track it.
Example: Mass Snail Mailing.
Let's say that you have a list of 1500 local addresses that you want to send a piece of advertising
for weight loss. You could send the exact same marketing message to the entire list, but that's a waste of marketing
dollars! What you are REALLY trying to do (other than make money) is to see how people react to message. Remember:
marketing data is hard to come by and very powerful.
So, instead of sending the same message to all 1500 recipients, send 4 messages to about 400
people each and track the results. Remember, to really have a 'legitimate response' you should do at least 300-400
mailings of each type:
- How to lose 20 pounds of fat in 30 days without dieting. For
information, call 555-1234. Ext. 101.
- Amazing new non-diet melts 20 pounds off the average adult in only 30 days. For information,
call 555-1234. Ext. 202.
- Doctor discovers way to eat all you want and still lose weight. For information, call 555-1234.
Ext. 303.
- Make your friends jealous with your new slim, trim figure. For
information, call 555-1234. Ext. 404.
Note how we changed the extension? That way, when someone calls up, you are immediately tracking
their response to the specific ad they read. Nifty, huh? Just tally the results and you have instant marketing
data. Also, notice that we only changed ONE variable and no more. If you have multiple variables, you don't know
what to contribute success to.
But let's not stop there. There are probably dozens if not hundreds of variations of
this theme. You could use a snail mailing to point to your website, and track the results there!
Let's say it's a online ad or ad that references a website. If you have statistics on that website,
you can send out 4 addresses on the marketing material like this:
- go to our website, www.losenow.com/ad101/
- go to our website, www.losenow.com/ad102/
- go to our website, www.losenow.com/ad103/
- go to our website, www.losenow.com/ad104/
Then you just tally the addresses at the end of the marketing run and count 'entry pages' in
your statistics program.
Some of this example was found in an incredible book that I read years ago by Brad
Antin. You can find more information about his really great book at http://www.commonsensemarketing.com/.
The website might be a bit funky, but he is a marketing ninja. See below for a review of the book.
Back by popular demand! We have, in January, a seminar talking about the 10 biggest mistakes
that websites make. A MUST SEE for people designing their own websites!
For more about the 10 biggest mistakes (downloadable
copy) >
To contact Gregory about the seminar >
 Gregory's
Note: This is actually one of the first books I ever read on marketing. It's also one of the best.
In a very no nonsense way, Brad Antin shows how marketing can really work for you. It's concise and to the point
with plenty of examples and strategies. What I think is most important about the book, is that I was inspired
to market!
- How to make customers and prospects believe everything you tell them (it's easier than you
think)...
- How to "steal" market share from right under your competitors' noses and keep it
forever...
- An absolutely fail-safe way to tell if your prices are too high -- or even worse -- too low...
- A simple technique to virtually eliminate "buyers remorse" and reduce refunds while
increasing sales at the same time...
- A can't miss way to get the "fence-sitters" to make up their minds and buy from
you today, rather than risk losing the sale by letting them procrastinate...
- How to get paid over and over again for the same sale...
- Some eye-opening facts about guarantees and how to use one to supercharge sales without increasing
(in fact, often decreasing) returns...
And much more. It also gives this GUARANTEE:
"Take all the time you need to try the concepts revealed, and if you ever (and I do
mean ever) decide that it's not worth many times what you paid, simply give us a call and let us know. We'll
immediately, courteously, and cheerfully refund the price of the book. No problems, no hassles."
Now that's what I call a guarantee.
The book retails for only $17.95. A small price to pay for the information provided.
Click on the link below for purchase information. Don't let the lack of website design deter you... this
information is the real deal!
Brad Antin's
book ONLINE >
Gregory's Note: I have been using this wonderful site for over 3 years,
now. It's chocked full o' designer nuts with how-tos and tutorials, as well as discussion forums about web design,
web promotion and sorftware reviews. Although this site is more 'developer' oriented, it still has great information
for the beginning website designer and promoter.
Check out www.wdvl.com now! >
If you have suggestions as to content, layout, or relevance of material above, don't hesitate to
email Gregory at gregory@leyline.net.
----------- (END OF NEWSLETTER) -----------
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Promotion
Our job here at Leyline Web Promotion is to help you make informed decisions regarding
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If you sign up to our mailing list, your email address and interest preferences will be
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Privacy is important to us; therefore, we will not sell, rent, or give your name or
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So register above! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us.
Sincerely, Gregory Cox, 805-258-3112 |
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