Saturday, January 27, 2007

Increasing Your Search Engine Ranking

The methods employed to increase your search engine rankings may seem like rocket science to you, so you have probably avoided dealing with this issue. I am here to tell you - the time has come to face your website! A high search engine ranking for your website is so essential that if you have the slightest desire to actually succeed in your business, there is no way you can continue to avoid this issue.
At least 85% of people looking for goods and services on the Internet find websites through search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN. The idea of optimizing your pages for high search engine rankings is to attract targeted customers to your site who will be more than likely to make a purchase. The higher your page comes up in search engine results, the greater the traffic that is directed to your website. That's what search engine optimization is about.
You can immerse yourself in all the technical information available online to figure out how to optimize your webpages to achieve higher rankings. Or you can look at a few simple items on your pages, make some small adjustments,and most likely see improved rankings quite rapidly. The first item you should examine is the title bar on your homepage.
The title bar is the colored bar at the top of the page.Look at the words that appear there when you access your home page. To increase search engine rankings, the words on your homepage's title bar should include the most important keywords or phrases, one of which would include your company name.
Then click on all your links and examine the title bars on the pages you access. Each title bar on every single page of your site should contain the most important keywords and phrases taken from the page itself. However, avoid very long strings of keywords, keeping them to six words or less. Avoid repeating keywords more than once in the titlebars, and make sure that identical words are not next to each other.
The next item to put under your microscope is your website content. Search engines generally list sites that contain quality content rather than scintillating graphics. The text on your site must contain the most important keywords- the words that potential customers will be typing into search engines to find your site.
Aim to have around 250 words on each page, but if this is not desirable due to your design, aim for at least 100 carefully chosen words. If you want to achieve a high ranking on search engines, this text is essential. However,the search engines must be able to read the text, meaning that the text must be in HTML and not graphic format.
To find out if your text is in HTML format, take your cursor and try to highlight a word or two. If you are able to do this, the text is HTML. If the text will not highlight, it is probably in graphic form. In this case,ask your webmaster to change the text into HTML format in order to increase your search engine rankings.
Next we come to what is called meta tags. I know this sounds like something out of science fiction, but it is really just simple code. Many people believe that meta tags are the key to high search engine rankings, but in reality,they only have a limited effect. Still, it's worth adding them in the event that a search engine will use meta tags in their ranking formula.
To find out if your page is set up with meta tags, you must access the code. To do this, click the "view" button on the browser menu bar, and select "source." This will pull up a window revealing the underlying code that created the page.If there are meta tags, they usually appear near the top of the window. For example, a meta tag would read: metaname="keywords" content=. If you do not find code that reads like this, ask your webmaster to put them in. This may not do much for your search engine rankings, but any little boost helps.
Lastly, we come to the issue of link popularity. This is a factor that is extremely important in terms of search engine rankings. Almost all search engines use link popularity to rank your website. Link popularity is based on the quality of the sites you have linked to from your links page.
If you type in "free link popularity check" in a popular search engine, the search engine will then show you what sites are linked to your site. In the case that there aren't many sites linked up to yours, or that the sites that are linked up have low search engine rankings,consider launching a link popularity campaign. Essentially,this entails contacting quality sites and requesting that they exchange links with your site. Of course, this requires checking out the rankings of the websites you want to link up with. Linking to popular, quality sites not only boosts your search engine ranking, but it also directs more quality traffic to your website.
Search engine rankings are extremely important for a successful Internet marketing campaign. Before you go outand hire a search engine optimization company, try taking some of the simple steps listed above, and see if you can't boost your rankings yourself. Don't ever ignore this all-important factor in Internet marketing. Remember, the higher your search engine ranking, the more quality customers will be directed your way.

Larry

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Analyzing Website Traffic

Analyzing your web traffic statistics can be an invaluable tool for a number of different reasons. But before you can make full use of this tool, you need to understand how to interpret the data.
Most web hosting companies will provide you with basic web traffic information that you then have to interpret and make pertinent use of. However, the data you receive from your host company can be overwhelming if you don't understand how to apply it to your particular business and website. Let's start by examining the most basic data - the average visitors to your site on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
These figures are the most accurate measure of your website's activity. It would appear on the surface that the more traffic you see recorded, the better you can assume your website is doing, but this is an inaccurate perception. You must also look at the behavior of your visitors once they come to your website to accurately gauge the effectiveness of your site.
There is often a great misconception about what is commonly known as "hits" and what is really effective, quality traffic to your site. Hits simply means the number of information requests received by the server. If you think about the fact that a hit can simply equate to the number of graphics per page, you will get an idea of how overblown the concept of hits can be. For example, if your homepage has 15 graphics on it, the server records this as 15 hits, when in reality we are talking about a single visitor checking out a single page on your site. As you can see, hits are not useful in analyzing your website traffic.
The more visitors that come to your website, the more accurate your interpretation will become. The greater the traffic is to your website, the more precise your analysis will be of overall trends in visitor behavior. The smaller the number of visitors, the more a few anomalous visitors can distort the analysis.
The aim is to use the web traffic statistics to figure outhow well or how poorly your site is working for your visitors. One way to determine this is to find out how long on average your visitors spend on your site. If the time spent is relatively brief, it usually indicates an underlying problem. Then the challenge is to figure out what that problem is.
It could be that your keywords are directing the wrong type of visitors to your website, or that your graphics are confusing or intimidating, causing the visitor to exit rapidly. Use the knowledge of how much time visitors are spending on your site to pinpoint specific problems, and after you fix those problems, continue to use time spent as a gauge of how effective your fix has been.
Additionally, web traffic stats can help you determine effective and ineffective areas of your website. If you have a page that you believe is important, but visitors are exiting it rapidly, that page needs attention. You could,for example, consider improving the link to this page by making the link more noticeable and enticing, or you could improve the look of the page or the ease that your visitors can access the necessary information on that page.
If, on the other hand, you notice that visitors are spending a lot of time on pages that you think are less important, you might consider moving some of your sales copy and marketing focus to that particular page.
As you can see, these statistics will reveal vital information about the effectiveness of individual pages,and visitor habits and motivation. This is essential information to any successful Internet marketing campaign.
Your website undoubtedly has exit pages, such as a final order or contact form. This is a page you can expect your visitor to exit rapidly. However, not every visitor to your site is going to find exactly what he or she is looking for, so statistics may show you a number of different exit pages. This is normal unless you notice a exit trend on a particular page that is not intended as an exit page. In the case that a significant percentage of visitors are exiting your website on a page not designed for that purpose, you must closely examine that particular page to discern what the problem is. Once you pinpoint potential weaknesses on that page, minor modifications in content or graphic may have a significant impact on the keeping visitors moving through your site instead of exiting at the wrong page.
After you have analyzed your visitor statistics, it's time to turn to your keywords and phrases. Notice if particular keywords are directing a specific type of visitor to yoursite. The more targeted the visitor - meaning that they find what they are looking for on your site, and even better, fill out your contact form or make a purchase - the more valuable that keyword is.
However, if you find a large number of visitors are being directed - or should I say misdirected - to your site by a particular keyword or phrase, that keyword demands adjustment. Keywords are vital to bringing quality visitors to your site who are ready to do business with you. Close analysis of the keywords your visitors are using to find your site will give you a vital understanding of your visitor's needs and motivations.
Finally, if you notice that users are finding your website by typing in your company name, break open the champagne! It means you have achieved a significant level of brand recognition, and this is a sure sign of burgeoning success.

Larry

Monday, January 15, 2007

Rating eBook Compilers

Now that you've finished writing your eBook and have abasic understanding of what an eBook compiler does,you may be feeling overwhelmed by the number ofcompilers on the market. To help you make yourdecision, I have tested and reviewed the best-ratedeBook compilers currently available.
* E-ditor
This software has a demo version that you can downloadto try out before purchasing. You can't actually usethe demo to create an eBook, but you can run thesoftware and test it out thoroughly to see if it doeswhat you need it to do for your particular eBook.
This eBook compiler is one of the easiest to use. Thesoftware has a very user-friendly help menu thatprovides instructions for and explanations of everyfield on every screen. The program also includes videotutorials demonstrating every step of this compilerwith clear explanations of all fields that need to befilled out. There are 7 screens that you use to chooseyour eBook options.
This compiler requires your files to be in HTMLformat. You follow simple directions, and the compilerloads your files. If you decide to edit your eBookafter it has been compiled, make any changes in youroriginal files and click on "Compile you eBook" andyour changes will appear in your compiled eBook.
E-editor allows for some customization of your eBook.You can create a special page that appears when theeBook is opened; create customized icons that appearon the desktop after downloading; use your own logo onthe task bar of your eBook; customize the task bar'sbuttons, where the task bar appears in your eBook, andchoose the task bar's colors. Additionally, you canchoose to have the eBook open to the last page read,which many of your buyers will appreciate.
An excellent and unique feature of E-ditor is thecapability to choose a standard Microsoft window or tocreate your own design for a window to personalizeyour eBook. The program provides some sample windowdesigns, but you can use any .bmp (bit map skin)graphic you have stored on your hard drive.
E-ditor is a good choice if you are new at producingeBooks because it is easy to use and allows you tocustomize the appearance of your eBook.
* Desktop Author
This compiler does not require a browser, nor do youhave to download software or plug-ins. The programconverts exe. files into pages that look like astandard book. You can create and produce eBook pagesscaled to fit on your computer screen without anyscrolling. Additional features include WYSIWGY (whatyou see is what you get) page editing and creation,the ability to manipulate internal images, cut andpaste functions, hotlinks to pages, email, website, orother files. It is an excellent compiler to use for amarketing tools, such as creating brochures andmanuals in addition to eBooks.
* EBook Edit Pro
This compiler provides a demo version, which allowsyou to test out its features. The software uses aWizard that leads you step-by-step through the set-upand creation of your eBook. Customization includestext editing that appears on the pop-up startingmessage window; the ability to allow or preventresizing of your book and the mouse-click pop-up menu;enabling or disabling the navigation bar and choosingthe buttons you want to appear; and customizing theeBook's desktop icon and the logo that appears on thenavigation bar.
Ebook Edit Pro is loaded with excellent features thatallow you to create multi-media Ebooks, and includes aWizard that is customized for beginners and foradvanced users. The software uses HTML files,downloading them from the directory where they aresaved. Edit and resave your files in the originalsoftware used to create those files, and then with asingle click you can re-compile your Ebook.
Features include customization of icons, toolbars, andthe "about box." This compiler has a particularlyuseful feature called the Rebrander feature. Thispermits you to enter customized code into your Ebookpages and distribute the Rebrander software to youraffiliates or distributors. They can then customizethe links included in the Ebook, but they can notalter any link or information that you have notentered a customized code for.
The software includes "eBrand-It" software that allowscustom fields for your customer's name, affiliate IDor URL. This feature is a powerful marketing toolbecause affiliates are much happier giving away yourEbook from their own site when they can customize it.
* Ebook Compiler
This compiler offers a demo version that allows you tocompile 10 files. If you don't include graphics, youcan create a 10 page Ebook that allows printing andcopying of the Ebook. The catch is that you can't sellany Ebook you create in the demo version.
The purchased software is user-friendly witheasy-to-follow help files that not only guide youthrough the steps of compiling your Ebook, but alsoexplains what an Ebook compiler does. The softwareprovides detailed instructions on how to create sourcefiles from Microsoft Word 2000 and 1997, PowerPoint2000 and 1997, and HTML documents. It contains lessdetailed instructions for creating source files fromother programs.
This compiler allows for password protection of yourentire Ebook or for selected pages. Additionally, youcan set a time limit on your Ebook. When the runs out,the customer no longer has access unless they pay forit. In other words, it allows you to create a demoversion of your Ebook for marketing purposes.
You can set a single password or multiple passwords.Using multiple passwords assigns each user their ownspecific password. Online help files guide you throughsetting up your passwords. You can also create a Salesand Thank-you page for selling a password protectedEbook. This is a good choice for the novice,particularly since it includes basic features forpassword protection and distribution.
* Activ Ebook Compiler
This is an easy to use compiler that providesexcellent features. This software can support HTML,JPEG, GIF, and all active plug-ins. Features includespassword protection, branding, internet linking, iconcustomization, assigning unique serial numbers, splashscreen, file compression, and start-up messages. Italso provides free lifetime upgrades. Additionally, itincludes a preprocessor, re-brander, active script,and detailed instructions for using HTML, Power Point,and Microsoft Word files.
There are several other excellent Ebook compilers onthe market that are worth looking into.
Ebook Generator features splash screens, passwordprotection, branding, icon customization, andcompression control. Additionally, it includes virusprevention that alerts the user to any modificationsmade to your Ebook and offers usage statistics so youcan track your Ebook's use. With all these advancedfeatures, this is an excellent compiler for thebeginner because it is exceptionally easy to run.
Ebook Creator is another excellent compiler,supporting HTML, JPEG, GIF, and PNG graphics, andJavascript, VB script, and Java applets. It alsosupports all Internet Explorer plug-ins. Standardfeatures include unique serial numbers, direct linkingto a form or a page on your website, disabled rightclicking, and search functions. The software allowsfor expiration after a set number of days or usages,which allows you to create demo versions. You cancreate up to 1000 different passwords; every time theEbook is downloaded, a unique password is required toaccess protected pages. The software providesuser-friendly menus and buttons that allow thebeginner to the advanced user to easily create theirEbook.
Obviously, there are some excellent compilers outthere. So figure out EVERYTHING you need in terms offeatures, and then compare prices and options. Do takeadvantage of demo versions if they are offered beforepurchasing. And then, have fun creating your Ebook!

Larry

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Choosing an eBook Compiler

What is an eBook compiler?

You've written and revised your ebook, hired an artist
who has produced outstanding graphics, and now you're
ready to actually put together your ebook. What you
need to make an ebook is software called an ebook
Compiler.

There are many different compilers to chose from, but
first, you need to know exactly what an ebook Compiler
does. Here is the simple explanation:

An ebook compiler is a software program that converts
either text pages or HTML text into a single
executable file or an ebook.

If you or someone you hired has created a file with
graphics in HTML, you will need an HTML ebook
Compiler. This type of compiler requires a working
knowledge of the HTML tag language. You can also use
software to do this for you, such as Microsoft
FrontPage or Macromedia Dreamweaver.

How do you choose an eBook Compiler?

There are a large number of ebook Compilers available
on the market, all with glowing sales copy and tekkie
language. It can get very confusing and overwhelming
very fast without some simple guidelines to help you
figure out which compiler is right for you.

Choosing an ebook Compiler depends on a number of
factors:

1. How did you create your pages? Did you use HTML or
PDF format? There are many more compilers available
for HTML, but you can find some very good compilers
that will covert your PDF files into an ebook.

2. Consider how easy the program is to use and the
thoroughness of the software's instruction manual. It
is absolutely necessary that the compiler you buy have
an instructional manual, documentation, or online
"wizards." If it doesn't, your chances of figuring out
how to correctly use the program are compromised, and
the time required doing so is going to be significant.
Many manufacturers of compilers offer a free trial
version so you can play around with it and see if it
suits your needs. Download the trial version and
ascertain that it actually does what it claims to do.

3. Security features. If you plan to sell your ebook,
check out the security features of the compiler
software carefully. Security features should include:
prevention of the reader from modifying text, access
only to the pages you assign or by entering a
password, different ways of generating passwords such
as secure passwords, user-friendly, and open
passwords.

4. Supported scripting. Find out what scripts the
software supports. Scripting allows you to create
special effects, customize menus, and create and
modify other user interactivity. Choose a compiler
that permits you to include graphics, search windows,
hyperlinks, forms, surveys, etc.

5. Pricing. This is a factor that is not always easy
to gauge. The highest priced compilers are not
automatically your best choice. Choose your compiler
based on the necessary requirements for your Ebook.
That means you need to know exactly how you plan to
use your Ebook and what functions you require.

Let's look at some of these factors in more detail.
First of all, make sure you have the correct browser
to run the compiler. The majority of HTML compilers
use Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape. Check out
the version that the compiler supports. Compilers that
require a browser will not run on a computer that does
not have the required browser installed. However,
there are ebook HTML compilers that don't require you
to have any browser installed on your computer. These
compilers run on any Windows system.

If you choose a compiler that requires a browser,
check to ascertain that the browser is installed
correctly and that it is properly configured to the
specifications of the compiler. Check to see if
certain functions are turned off or on, and make any
adjustments according to the compiler instructions.

Security is an essential element of any compiler,
regardless of whether you plan to sell or give away
your ebook. One of the main reasons for using a
compiler is to prevent the reader from modifying the
contents. A secure compiler allows access only to the
pages you want the user to access unless they enter a
correct password.

To find out how secure an ebook HTML compiler is, open
an ebook on it. While it is open, check the temporary
directory of your computer. This can usually be
accessed by typing in C:\Windows\temp. If you see a
bunch of files when your ebook is open or running, it
means that your computer is decompressing the secure
data from your ebook before showing the ebook to the
viewer. This method is not secure! It means that
anyone with the knowledge of how to access these
temporary files can steal the secure data and then
they can fiddle with your ebook to their evil heart's
desire. Remember, one of the main purposes of buying
and using an HTML compiler is to protect your
property.

Next, let's discuss passwords. When trying to choose
an ebook Compiler, check out the type of passwords
that the compiler supports. Almost all compilers offer
some kind of password protection that insures that the
user can only access the contents they have purchased
from you. However, the best compilers offer varied
ways to generate different types of passwords. Choose
a compiler that gives you the options of secure,
user-friendly, and open password generation.

Another important factor when it comes to passwords is
how the compiler generates them. A compiler that has
internal password protection generation built into the
software is more secure than compilers that link to
live Internet password control systems.

Find out if the compiler generates passwords online.
If it has this option, it allows you to choose any
payment processing system you want or to do the
payment processing yourself.

Next, look into the size of ebook the compiler
supports. The best compilers can create ebooks up to 2
GB in size without decompressing the HTML pages or
images to your hard disk. Usually, ebooks that are 2
GB in size can easily support 6 GB of compressed data.
The catch here is that only text files will generally
be compressible.

You do not want a compiler that decompresses this
amount of data when the user attempts to open your
ebook. This would mean that anyone who purchases your
ebook will have to wait for all the data to decompress
before they can access your ebook right after
downloading it. So look for compilers that only
decompress temporarily files that are NOT HTML to the
local hardisk. Non-HTML files include Flash, Word, and
Acrobat files. This type of compiler is more secure
and certainly faster.

Make sure the compiler you choose is compatible with
your system software. Check out what version of
Windows it requires, and make sure you have that
version before buying your compiler.

Support issues are extremely important. Choose a
compiler that includes an installation program. This
program allows your user to choose a number of
different places on their computer to install the
ebook, to place a shortcut on their desktop, and to
add the ebook, if they choose, to the Start Programs
menu.

You also want excellent and accessible vendor support.
Make sure you can access quick technical support! At
three o'clock in the morning, this factor will be VERY
important. Also, check to see the terms of free
technical support offered. Unlimited technical support
is obviously the best option.

Check to see if the company that puts out the compiler
software offers a service level agreement. This
agreement is to assure you of their quality response
to your questions or problems.

A good thing to consider is how long the compiler has
been on the market. Usually, the version number will
give you an idea. The longer the program is on the
market, the higher the version number, the more bugs
have been worked out.

When choosing an ebook compiler, do not be swayed by
incredible promises and dazzling sales copy. Do your
homework first, and then consider all the above issues
and factors before choosing an ebook compiler.

Larry

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

Steps to Publishing Success

Even if your best friend owns a top publishingcompany, giving you an immediate "in," this does notguarantee publishing success.
First, you have to write a quality book that has aclear target audience. And your book must answer acommon problem or need that audience shares. Then youhave to develop a marketing plan, and stick to it forat least two years.
Let's begin with the process that should commencebefore you write your first word. Begin by reading ALOT. Read both books you passionately love and booksyou can't seem to make it past page five. Then figureout what the author did in the book you loved, andwhat was wrong with in the book you couldn't finish.Write down these points so they are crystal clear toyou. Read other people's books for inspiration and todiscover what you should avoid as a writer.
The next step is to plan out your book. Narrow downyour subject, and then divide it into chapters. Eachchapter should address a specific aspect of theproblem your book is going to solve. In each chapter,break the specific aspect down into several parts.This will help your readers take in your information abit at a time instead of overwhelming them with everybit of information clogging up the pages until theyfeel like they're about to go blind. It's not quitespoon-feeding the information to your readers, butit's close.
The next two steps are obvious. Write your book andthen revise it. And then revise it again. And perhapsagain. Of course, writing is extremely hard, andwriting a book can seem like an impossible task. Thereare many books out there that give you guidelines tohelp you become familiar - and even love - the processof writing and revision. Find a number of books aboutwriting. Better yet, find a number of books aboutwriting the specific type of book you aspire to write.These can serve as roadmaps on your writing journey.
Once you've written your ebook and revised it at leasttwice, show it to someone else whose opinion yourespect. If you're lucky enough to know a good editor,see if you have something to barter for him or her togo through your manuscript. Or join a writing groupand let the other members critique your work.
Then take all these ideas from other people, andrevise your manuscript one last time. And then stop!Put down that pen! Get your hands off the keyboard!
One of the most important steps to actually producinga book is to know when to stop writing and tinkeringwith it.
You've finally written your ebook! Pop open thebubbly! Give yourself a night out on the town!
Okay, now that this necessary celebration is out ofyour system, what do you do next?
How to turn your ebook into Profits
Ebooks are a revolutionary way to publish your bookwithout incurring the costs of print production. Allyou need is a relevant and targeted subject and someinexpensive software, and you can transform yourmanuscript into a book.
The problem, in terms of actually seeing any profitsfrom your ebook, is that the market is overwhelmedwith ebooks, and many of them are not worth the timeit takes to download them. Just because the abilityexists to easily produce an ebook, doesn't make itgood writing.
Make sure your book does not simply rehash oldmaterial. You will injure your credibility as anauthor by claiming to offer valuable new insights anddisappointing your audience with material they've reada zillion times before. So spend enough time writingand revising your book to make sure it's of thehighest quality and presents the most currentinformation. A good book will eventually sell itself;false claims about your book will make it extremelydifficult to sell any future books you may write.
Assuming you have determined that you do indeed have aquality product that answers some question or need ofyour target audience with NEW information, how do youknow how much to charge for it? Rule number 1: Set aprice for your book equal to its value. Anunder-priced book will only give the impression thatyour book isn't worth very much.
To figure out a fair price, estimate how much time youput into creating it and how difficult it was totransform the necessary information intounderstandable and engaging writing. Figure out howmuch your time and effort is worth, and then price itaccordingly. The goal is for you to be adequatelycompensated for your talent, your time, and youreffort.
Once you've figured out a price that is high enough toconvey the value of the book, but not so high as to beout of the reach of your target audience's meanbudget, then it's time to offer it for sale on yourwebsite. To attract sales, you will need to develop apromotional campaign, particularly if you are anunknown author.
There are multitudes of books about self-promotionthat will guide you in your efforts. Choose a planthat is both creative and professional. Learn how towrite a catchy yet informative press release, and sendcopies of your ebook to sites that specialize in ebookreviews.
Learn how to write powerful sales copy, or hiresomeone to write it for you. This is an essential. Youabsolutely need excellent sales copy to sell yourbook. Make sure the copy includes all the reasons yourtarget audience needs your book, and the benefits theywill derive from buying it.
Use graphics in your promotional materials. Beautifulgraphics have the power to instantly convey thequality and value of your ebook. Graphics can alsoconvey the amount of valuable information the bookcontains, and your careful attention to detail.Professional graphics sell professional books. Theyreassure the customer that the product is what itclaims to be.
Consider excerpting chapters for articles. You canoffer these tidbits for free on your website as a sortof demo of your book. Include an order form for yourebook at the end of the excerpted articles.
Finally, when you set-up your download link, make sureto simplify the process. It's a good idea to offer afew bonuses that make your book even more enticing topurchase, but make sure the bonuses are valuable andhigh quality. Too many bonuses that are basically aload of useless stuff will compromise the impressionyour audience has of your ebook. The goal is to conveyto your audience that they are getting a qualityproduct for a good deal. That means applyingrestraint, especially when it comes to adding bonusitems. Too much free stuff offered diminishes yourcredibility.
Make sure your book is a quality product. Make sure itis relevant and current. Develop an effectivemarketing plan that includes excellent sales copy andexcerpted articles. Then offer your book for sale, andwait for your audience to discover you!
Technorati Profile

Larry

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

How to sell ANY Product - FREE DOWNLOAD

I just read this great ebook by Internet Marketing Guru Harvey Segal and he would like you to have it for FREE! Just click on the link below to get your copy of The Ultimate SuperTip:

http://www.internetpowerseller.com/links/supertip.htm


You will thank me later!!

Larry

Monday, January 1, 2007

How to Use ebooks for Marketing and Promotion

There are innumerable ways to use ebooks to promote your business and drive quality traffic to your website. Once posted on your site, you can turn them into a daily course, which brings your customer back to read the next chapter. You can use them as a free gift for making a purchase or for filling out a survey. Put your ebook on a disc, and you will have an innovative brochure. Blow your competition away by inserting the disc into your sales packages.
The most effective marketing products are those that are unique. Copyright your ebook, and immediately, you have a powerful tool that you, and you alone, can offer to the public. People will have to visit your site to acquire your ebook, which increases the flow of quality traffic and the potential of sales and affiliate contacts.
Make sure that you keep your ebook current. Update it frequently as the market and trends change. Add new advice and techniques to show your prospects how your goods or services can enrich their lives. By constantly keeping abreast of new trends and techniques, you can continue to see profits from your ebook for years after your original creation.
Another phenomenal advantage of ebooks is that you can test their marketing potential without putting out hardly any cash at all. You can even produce an ebook one copy at a time, each time you receive an order, eliminating the need for storage and inventory. By this method, you can gauge the saleablity of your ebook, and make adjustments as necessary until the orders start pouring in. Ebooks allow you to learn about your market and customer habits and motivation over a period of time, without risking your precious financial resources. They also provide you with an invaluable way to gather marketing information, which you can use in many different facets of your business.
Use your ebook to discover what the specific goals and problems are in your specific industry. Then figure out how to solve these problems, and publish an ebook with this invaluable information. This will increasethe value of your business, upgrade your reputation,and get you known as an expert in your field.
You can extend the value of single ebook by breaking the book down into chapters for a serial course, into special reports available on your website, or into audio or visual tapes. Ebooks can be broken down into several different promotional materials by excepting some of the articles and using them to promote your product. You can include a catalog in your ebook to promote all the products or services you sell. You can include a thank-you note for reading your book and an invitation to download a trial version of your product. Or you can include a form for your audience to contact you for further information or with questions, thereby building your business relationships and your mailing list.
Using ebooks in this manner helps to cut the cost of individually producing separate promotional materials. You can use a single ebook to entice new prospects and to sell new products to your current customers.
No other medium has this kind of flexibility and ability for expansion. Think of your ebook like a spider spinning a beautiful and intricate web. Now go and create that web, and see how many customers and prospects you can catch!

Larry Sullivan

Ebooks are Promotional Powerhouses

Ebooks are part of the new frontier of cyberspace. They are an entirely new medium for sharing marketing information, ideas, techniques, and expert knowledge. Each day the number of people accessing the Internet grows, causing the exposure of your ebook to increase incrementally. It's obvious why electronic self-publishing has become so popular so quickly.
The publishing industry, I hope, does not intend to forever banish the printed word to the dust bin of history. Books in print have their own special qualities and merits, and the world would be diminished by their disappearance.
Having said that, let's look at what makes ebooks so important and so unique. Ebooks have certain abilities and qualities that other mediums do not possess.
For example, ebooks are fairly easy to produce, and their production cost is inexpensive. Just think about it: you don't need a publisher, an agent, a printing press, offset film, ink, paper, or even a distributor. You just need a great concept, the ability to write it or to hire a writer, and the right software.
Additionally, ebooks are easily and rapidly distributed online. They are also easily updated; they do not require a second print run. All you need is to go into your original creation and modify the text or graphics. Because of this flexibility, ebooks can change and grow as fast as you can type.
Ebooks are also immediately obtainable. You don't have to go to a bookstore or search through endless titles at an online bookstore. All you have to do is download it from a website, and presto! It's on your computer,ready to be read.
Ebooks are interactive. This is one of the most unique and specific qualities that ebooks offer. You can add surveys that need to be filled out, order forms for customers to purchase your products or goods, sound and video that draw your reader into the virtual world of your ebook, even direct links to relevant sites that will expand your ebook outward. The potential is virtually limitless.
Ebooks have a particular kind of permanence that other mediums do not possess. Television shows and radio shows air once, and then may rerun a few times. Ebooks remain on your computer for as long as your choose,and they can be read and reread whenever you choose to. They can even be printed out and stored on the shelves of your traditional home library.
Another wonderful quality is that ebooks have no barriers in terms of publishing. You don't need to go through the endless process of submitting your manuscript over and over again, and then once you land an agent, having the agent submit your manuscript over and over again. Nor do you have to shell out thousands of dollars for printing a self-published book. All ebooks require is a writer and appropriate software. Figure out your market, write your book, post it on your website, and with the right business savvy, your audience will come to you.
Finally, you have creative control over your ebook. You don't have to compromise with an editor or the publishing trends of the time. You don't have to haggle with a designer or wait for copy edited galleys to arrive by snail mail. You are in complete control of the design and the text.

Larry Sullivan

www.internetpowerseller.com