Category: Grow a Home Business

    Check Your Stats for Hot Pages on Your Site

    When you are trying to come up with new video topics, one way to do it is to find out what is already popular on your own website. What pages get the most views? What pages get the most interaction? What blog posts get the most questions and “likes”? This information is important because any time you have some topics that are popular already on your website, they will also end up popular as a video.

    * Install Google Analytics – You will need to have analytics on your blog in order to know which blog posts are getting the most traction. You can use Google Analytics to figure out what your website visitors go to first, which page they entered on, how long they stuck around, whether they read something else.

    * Understand What a Hot Page is – A hot page is the page that gets the most views on your blog. In addition to views, find blogs that get the most comments, likes and shares. Read the comments to find out what people want to know, as this is a good way to determine what video to make.

    * Make a List – Using a spreadsheet or other method, make a list of the hot blog posts, with links, notations on visitors, likes, discussion notes and so forth. Use this as your starting point for coming up with video ideas.

    * Create a Video Creation Calendar – From the list, create a publication calendar that makes sense with your current and future promotion ideas. You don’t want to make videos without knowing what your goals are (more sales, more newsletter sign-ups, etc…).

    * Repurpose Blog Posts – If you have a popular blog post, turn it into a video. Your script is practically written. You need to determine how you’ll show it visually, and how you might either cut it down to a smaller and shorter point or expand it so you can go more in-depth about the topic.

    * Start with a How to Post – If you have any “how to” blog posts, start there. They are super easy to transform into videos; you can even make an explainer video with a how to post that will blow your viewers out of the water.

    * Fill in the Gaps – If you notice you have some hot pages, read through the posts. If you find gaps in a post even if it was popular, make a video that fills in the gaps, and then link to the video under that blog post.

    * Make Them Special – Consider doing more than “talking head” videos. Talking head videos are great because people like seeing your face (or any face) as it develops trust. However, you should also add in visuals such as charts, and images that advance your message.

    When you go with what is already popular, you’ll start off on the right foot when it comes to making videos. More than likely the people who liked the blogs you already made are going to like the videos you make, using the blogs as your starting point.

    Categories: video Tags: Tags:

    Eight Reasons a Press Release Still Works

    Press releases are highly underrated these days. Whether you have a digital business or a bricks and mortar business, you should still be sending out press releases for each newsworthy event that your business participates in. New products, new services, events, and anything that your business does or accomplishes that is important to the industry should include a press release. Here are eight reasons why.

    1. Provides Links to Your Website – Even though there is controversy about whether or not press releases are good for SEO due to Google’s algorithm change that doesn’t count them anymore, the truth is they are still good for SEO in terms of providing links to your site that people will click on.

    2. A Permanent Record of Events – They are great for keeping a permanent record of events in your business. If you file them away, you can use them later to document the progress of your business.

    3. Unfiltered Information – A press release, due to how it’s written (with guidelines and the specific newsworthy story), has truly unfiltered information without the fluff. Therefore, if your release is picked up, it will mean something to the readers.

    4. Attracts New Audiences – Blogging and social media posts are great ways to get people to visit your website, but a press release can attract entirely new people within your audience to come to your website.

    5. Improves Your Brand Image – Real businesses send out press releases. If you want your business to be taken seriously, you should be sending them out when you release a new product, plan an event, or do something that is newsworthy in your industry.

    6. Potential to Go Viral – Any well-written press release that you’ve sent out that has something to do with current events will have an opportunity to become viral. Once something like that goes viral, you’d better be prepared for the onslaught of visitors.

    7. Great Additional Content on Your Website – When your press release is picked up by major press, link to that website with the press release on it. This is a great way to get information “as seen on” to impress your website visitors. This gives you additional content to talk about when you post your press releases.

    8. Gives You Proper Bragging Rights – When your press release is picked up by a major news source, it’s great to be able to put their logos on your website due to the fact that you’ve been seen in their publications.

    If you don’t think press releases work, then you need to give them a try. The next time you have a newsworthy event, experiment with sending out a press release. It’s important that you follow advice and get some professional help with sending them out, though. Also, don’t just send them in a way that they go everyplace; find out whom to send them to in advance and send them directly to the right people.

    Categories: Presentations Tags: Tags:

    Common Online Marketing Mistakes

    When it comes to online marketing, everyone starts off thinking they know how to do it. But, the truth is, online marketing is not very different from other types of marketing. The tool is different, but the way you go about it really isn’t. You still need to understand who your audience is, what your product or service is, and know how to explain to your audience why it will solve their problems and why you are the one to offer it.

    The following mistakes can lead to problems with getting more business.

    * Not Sticking to One Brand – Don’t try to be someone different online than you are offline. Don’t try to recreate your brand for every social media network. Keep the same brand image, slightly changed up for each network’s platform and features, but keeping the same colors, values, and ideals as you have on your website. You want your customers to know who you are, no matter where they connect with you.

    * Not Watching Your Competitors – You don’t want to copy your competitors, but watching them will help you stay one step ahead of them. It might even alert you to some cosmic change in the marketplace if you are paying attention. Be aware of what type of products and/or services your competition provides and be ready to do them one better.

    * Not Having a Goal – It’s imperative that for each type of marketing you do, you have a goal in mind. Whether it’s content marketing, pay-per-click marketing, or social media marketing, having a goal to reach will help you know whether or not you’ve accomplished your mission. Plus it will help you know how to move forward.

    * Not Having a Domain Name – Not only should you have a domain name, but you should also have an email @yourdomainname if you want to be taken seriously as a business owner. You can easily set up your own email address with your webhost provider, sometimes at no additional charge.

    * Not Having Diverse and Regular Content – It’s no longer enough to simply put up 500-word blog posts and expect to get a loyal following. Today you need longer blog posts, video, podcasts, infographics, memes and more to ensure that you are reaching all parts of your audience. Everyone learns differently, and it’s your job to educate them in the way they learn best.

    * Not Having an Email List – It’s surprising how many business owners there are who don’t realize the importance of building an email list for successful online marketing. But it’s true; some people don’t build an email list, and they should.

    * Not Having Well-Written Content – You can’t just slap anything up and expect it to be successful when it comes to content marketing. You need original, unique content that speaks directly to your audience. In addition, you need curated content from other experts which you comment on.

    * Not Focusing on Benefits over Features – It’s tempting to discuss all the features of your product or service instead of the benefits. All marketing messages, even on your “about us” page, need to be focused on your client and how your products or services benefit them. That can be difficult to wrap your brain around sometimes, but it is imperative in order to get more conversions.

    Don’t make these mistakes with your online marketing. If you really want to be successful at online marketing, learn from those who have gone before you, and do not try to reinvent the wheel.

    Categories: Marketing, Run a Home Business Tags: Tags:

    Where to Find Great Intern Opportunities

    The hardest thing about an internship opportunity is finding it. But, with these tips you’ll find plenty of opportunities that you can apply for. Remember to send in your best resume, follow their instructions to the letter and then follow through on what you say you’ll do.

    1. LinkedIn – Fill out your completed profile on LinkedIn and let people know that you’re open to internship opportunities in certain fields. Include your resume, examples of your work, and a video introduction that explains exactly what you want in an intern opportunity.

    2. Online Communities – Join online communities that consist of the type of businesses that you want to work with. Talk to and make connections with people answering questions, offering help and so forth. Use your profile and signature to let people know you want an internship. If you’ve been part of the community a long time, create a post asking for an internship opportunity.

    3. Professional Organizations – Find the professional organizations within your industry and join them. They will often list intern opportunities and if they have a message board for members you can inquire.

    4. Colleges and Universities – Any college you have graduated from will help you locate internships if you go to their career offices and ask them about them. Sometimes they will help people who did not graduate there. Just call any local college or university and ask.

    5. Intern Websites – Websites like Intern Match work to match you to an internship program that you want within your field. Join and fill out a profile and then start finding matches.

    Link – https://www.internmatch.com/

    6. Write the Company Directly – If you know what company you want to work with, send them a letter asking them about internship opportunities. Send them your portfolio if applicable, give them your LinkedIn information and explain in a cover letter why you will make a great intern in the department you desire.

    7. USAJOBS.gov – Believe it or not, they don’t just list jobs on this website; they also list intern opportunities for college students. When you join you’ll need to fill out a profile and state which types of positions you’re willing to take.

    8. Search Google – If you are looking for a particular type of internship opportunity, it’s important to leave no stone unturned. Do a Google search using the job title you want, and the word internship in the search.

    Finding great internship opportunities might be right under your nose. If you are part of any group or organization, they may offer just what you need. You can also let everyone you know in on the fact that you want an internship in a certain area, and due to the power of social media you may get connected with someone who can offer the right connections.

    Categories: Employees Tags: Tags:

    Putting Your Best Foot Forward

    When you join a membership such as an “inner circle,” “mastermind group” or a local business club, it’s important to learn how to put your best foot forward. Not only do first impressions matter, so do repeat impressions. You know how a person has to see an advertisement seven times before they choose to purchase? Well, it’s not much different when it comes to building relationships and getting to know people via memberships.

    * Be Prepared – Don’t go to meetings disorganized, dropping paperwork, letting your phone ring, and that type of thing. You need to be fully present at every meeting instead of worried about what’s going on outside of it.

    * Don’t Sell Anything – The worst thing you can do at any membership meetings, or any social gathering at all, is to try to treat it as a sales meeting. You shouldn’t sell anyone anything at these events. Instead, just be yourself, and get to know people and let them get to know you.

    * Dress Appropriately – Each membership has a different personality so you’ll have to base how you dress on the membership. But, you want to show your personality too. Don’t show up in your PJs and looking dirty, but do be yourself and dress right for the membership.

    * Offer Your Hand First – The person who walks up to someone and introduces him or herself is the power person in the group. You need to go up to people, introduce yourself, and offer to shake hands. Look them in the eye, and tell them your name clearly, and ask theirs. Then listen.

    * Get Professional Business Cards Made – Always have cards with you when you leave your office or home. It’s very important because it’s the best way to meet with others after the event. You’ll never remember everyone, so using the card they give you and jotting down on the back something to help you remember them is a great thing to do. It’s something they might do too.

    * Get to Know People – Your entire job at any event is to get to know people. The more you get to know people and they get to know you, the more likely they are to recommend you to others, as well as hire you if they need what you offer.

    * Ask a Lot of Questions – Remember to always put the other person first, and learn as much as you can about them. The more people get to tell you about themselves, the better impression they get of you.

    * Show Up – It’s important to show up to the meetings, events, and luncheons when the membership you choose to join has them. Don’t just sign up and never show up. Showing up is the best thing you can do for your business.

    Whether you have a home business or a bricks and mortar business, it’s important to always practice putting your best foot forward. What that constitutes is different for each type of business and business owner, depending on their audience and niche.

    Categories: organizations, work with others Tags: Tags:

    Tips for Sharing Your Unique Voice and Vision with the World

    Your blog, website, email newsletter, social media posts and other means with which to communicate with the world is how you’ll share your unique voice, vision and perspective. These things that are unique to you, are what will make your blog stand out from the competition in a way that resonates with your audience.

    * Blog Regularly – The first thing you need to know about getting your vision and voice out into the world is that you need to do it regularly. Blog regularly, update social media regularly, appear as a guest regularly and take every opportunity to be yourself representing your brand regularly.

    * Mix Up the Formats – A blog doesn’t have to be text based. It can be in the form of infographics, memes, podcasts, videos and more. Use every content format that you can as long as it fits within your brand and the image you want to portray. Repurpose content into new forms to get the word out to more people.

    * Create a Plan of Action – The content that you create should have a purpose. The best way to ensure that the purpose matches your goals is to develop a content plan that you will use across all channels and that encompasses all promotions planned and events scheduled. Additionally, your plan can include current events and updated news if you’re ready.

    * Understand Your Niche – You can never study your niche enough. Devote some of your time each week to understanding your niche, backwards and forwards. Study the history of your industry as well as what is happening today and what might happen in the future. Keeping your ear to the ground will make you a go-to expert in your niche and keep your blog current.

    * Know Your Audience – While you do want to add your own vision and voice, it’s also important to understand how far you can go without upsetting your core audience. For example, if you start a blog for people who choose to be childless and then change your mind, that’s okay, but realize that you’re going to change your audience entirely as well as the focus of your blog.

    * Don’t Be Afraid to Be You – One of the most wonderful aspects of being online is the ability to be free to be yourself. You will find support and belonging for any lifestyle. You’ll also find detractors. But, to be truly authentic you cannot worry too much about your detractors. Put your audience and your true self first and foremost.

    * Be Consistent across All Channels – Whether it’s your blog or a social media channel, it’s important that you keep the same flavor, voice, and vision apparent in each space. This will make you appear more trustworthy and help your audience get to know you even better.

    * Engage Authentically With Your Audience – Outside of blog posts, social media posts and other forms of content that you put out into the world, there are discussions and commenting in which to engage. Be yourself when you engage with your audience, too. They want to know what you really think and this is a great way to do so.

    Each blog post or other content that you send out into the world are important all on their own. The content spreads your message, establishes you as an expert, and drives traffic through keywords and more. Each deserves the attention called for to bring your unique voice and vision to them.

    Even if you hire someone to write for you as a ghostwriter, it’s important that you edit the content to bring more of yourself to the blog. Whether it’s a sign-off phrase you want to use, or a special way with words that impact the readers doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re consistently yourself no matter where the content appears.

    Categories: blogging, Run a Home Business Tags: Tags:

    Do What PR Would Do

    Everyone cannot afford an expensive PR firm to help them promote their video, but you can have the next best thing. Just do what PR would do yourself. First, look at everything from your audience’s vantage point, then get to work to make sure your audience sees it – while making it all look even better for them.

    * Customize Your Thumbnails – YouTube and video editing software allows you to put a professional-looking thumbnail that helps describe what’s inside the video visually for your audience. Choosing the right thumbnail will increase views exponentially.

    * Study Your Keywords and Terms – Keywords are still important when it comes to any type of content you put online. But, now they are even more important in terms of ensuring that they’re right. You don’t want to use a keyword that draws the wrong audience. Always put your audience first with your keyword choices.

    * Optimize Your Titles – Titles are very important when it comes to a video. Don’t be tricky about a title because people will be angry if they come to your video because of a salacious title, only to find something they didn’t expect. Be clear, concise and accurate but use the right keywords to get the right attention.

    * Include a Call to Action – You can tell them directly as the host, you can include annotations, and you can also include the CTA on an insertable exit portion of the video (called an “end card”) that is consistent throughout your videos. This provides the CTA that your audience needs.

    * Optimize Video Descriptions – Use every aspect of the description area to describe the video, using the right keywords and right language and saying what your audience will get out of viewing the video. Plus, use links that are inside the video and anything you talk about in the video.

    * Allow Embedding of Your Videos – Many people turn off the embedding feature, but if you do that you’re missing out on other people using your videos in their content. When someone embeds the video, you get the credit for the video being watched and people will find your channel.

    * Cross-Promote on All Social Media – Just like you promote a blog post or a product, promote your videos on all your other social media. When you have a new video, link to it on every social media account you have, with a specialized burb that gets the attention of the audience.

    * Recommend Other Videos via Annotation – A really awesome feature that you can use for your videos is annotations. An annotation is where you can make a clickable area right inside the video so that people can learn more about other things you do.

    * Use the Features Offered – With YouTube you can embed a featured video, embed a watermark to brand your video, and more. Use the features that they give you to make your videos better and to help you promote.

    * Allow Channel Ads – Use one of your better videos to allow YouTube to use your video to run a channel ad. This is free to you, but very powerful. Yes, YouTube is going to use your video as their own to promote YouTube, but your video will get a lot of views in the process too.

    * Be Regular – Don’t skimp on your videos; try to produce one at least weekly to keep your audience interested. If you don’t put up videos on a regular basis, then you may lose viewers that would otherwise be wonderful ambassadors to your brand by recommending the videos and your channel to others.

    * Run Paid Promotions – Once you have a number of videos on your channel, run a pay-per-click promotion campaign. This will help you increase subscribers faster than other methods, but you must do this only when you have a good number of high-quality videos.

    Finally, as you become more popular, send out press releases about the things you’re doing outside of YouTube. Get active within your community, and become a well-known name brand throughout the internet and not just where your videos reside.

    Categories: Run a Home Business, video Tags: Tags:

    White Papers: What Are They and Why Should I Use Them?

    A white paper is a report that explains a problem in depth and then offers a solution. If you offer products and services to business owners, white papers are a great way to explain your solutions to your audience. They work especially well for complicated issues that require some measure of education for the buyer to understand.

    The Purpose of a White Paper

    A white paper is not an excuse to include tons of sales hype or puffery. Instead a white paper should be useful and valuable to the consumer by itself. The white paper should:

    * Identity a problem – Describe the problem the target audience has in great detail to demonstrate your understanding of the problem. Use case studies and other examples to get your points across.

    * Describe various solutions – Give examples of various solutions and their drawbacks, along with your solution and why it’s better. Give concrete examples and not sales puffery.

    * Back up your assertions – Using real data and research to back up your facts will make your white paper more impressive and give it credibility.

    If you stick to that formula when you develop your white paper, you’ll do well. Insert case studies, images, graphs, and other points of interest to highlight the facts better. The white paper needs to focus on the problems and solutions and how your solution is the one that works the best. Show this by describing the drawbacks to the other solutions and how your product or service fills the gaps the other ones leave.

    Advantages of White Papers

    In addition to educating your audience, white papers have a lot of advantages such as:

    * Collects leads – Ask for an email address and other information in exchange for downloading the white paper and you’ll collect a lot of information from interested parties.

    * Establishes expertise – Writing a white paper is a process that helps you look like a real expert, as white papers are often used in education and government.

    * Proves credibility – Having a way to show all the facts about the problem and the solutions will make you look more credible.

    * It’s “evergreen” – Most content doesn’t have a very good shelf life. But, a well-researched and informative white paper can last for years with minor changes when your products or services are updated.

    * A good way to reuse content – If you already have a lot of informative blog posts, you can reuse it inside the white paper. Conversely, all the research you gather during the creation of the white paper can be used elsewhere too.

    * They’re cost effective – Word for word a white paper isn’t any more expensive to create or have created than other types of content. Plus the ROI is high.

    * They are good SEO – Long form content is good for search engine optimization. Even if this particular content is something that will be downloaded, it will help your website look more professional.

    * They’re great link bait – If your white paper is especially well written and has a lot of good information, other people will share the information.

    It’s clear that using white papers to market your business is beneficial. It’s time to get started on creating your white paper to improve your subscriptions and establish your expertise.

    Categories: Presentations, Text Tags: Tags:

    How Becoming an Author Builds Expertise

    Building expertise through authorship has been around long before the internet lowered the barriers to entry. It’s still around because it works. Not only does having a book to give to or sell to people make you look knowledgeable, but it will also make you knowledgeable.

    The sheer act of writing the book is a bit like a Master’s Degree education. After all, that’s what you do in advanced education. You read and consume other people’s information, then you write about it, and add your own studies and opinion into the mix.

    * Learn a Lot – While writing the book (even if you outsource the writing), you’ll learn so much about yourself and about your niche. You will indeed become a real expert just due to the process of learning that takes place when you want to publish a book with your name on it.

    * Increase Awareness – When you publish a book about your niche or topic, you will increase awareness about not only the topic but also about yourself. The book gives you a good opportunity to share more information about yourself, your education, and why you wrote the book you wrote.

    * Gain Trust – Putting “author” beside your name in all your online bios, and linking to your book whenever you can, will automatically make people trust you more. They figure you must know a lot of stuff if you put it together into a book.

    * Help People – People like reading books to learn things. Yes, people can read blog posts and watch YouTube videos, but they still enjoy reading books. This is especially true today with the ease of which they can obtain books to read on their mobile devices and Kindles.

    * Prove What You Know – A book is a great way to prove all the things that you know into one manuscript. Putting it together into book form, where a person can read it in the comfort of their home or while waiting on the doctor, is a great way to prove what you know.

    * Increase Your Value – Being an author automatically increases your value. Even with the ease with which anyone can become published today, most people simply don’t do it. You’ll still be one of the few, especially if you also know how to market your book and make the most of it to become the expert you want to become.

    * Become an Insider – When you are part of a niche, there are people who are perceived as insiders and people who are just not known. If you write a compelling book that teaches something or shares something important about that niche, you will become one of the insiders (with the right marketing, of course).

    * Gives You a Platform to Begin With – Believe it or not, some people have started with nothing, and the book was the launching platform to give them their start. If you want to come out in a big way with your products, services, or ideas, a book is the way to go. The book, along with proper marketing, can launch an entire new career.

    If you want a fast way to become an insider within your niche, push yourself to new heights, and become the expert you know you are, becoming an author will do that for you. But, you must get started and learn all you can about marketing once the book is finished.

    Categories: Book Publishing, Run a Home Business Tags: Tags:

    Building Your Affiliate Marketing Program

    Affiliate marketing isn’t a fast results type of program. A well-planned affiliate marketing program built today can pay off in spades tomorrow. But, remember – it’s a long-term plan, not a short-term overnight success type of situation. So, get started on the right foot so that you can do it right.

    Set Up Your Website Right

    You don’t want to have a terrible website with ineffective sales pages if you want affiliates to take an interest in your offerings. Ensure that your about us, privacy policy, return and shipping policy (if dealing with physical products) and contact information are clear for all to see.

    Don’t Link Away from Your Site

    When it comes to promoting a product, the page should promote that product and nothing else. You don’t want to lead people away from your website when they’re coming there to learn about a specific product or service. Take away anything that links them away. Your affiliates will appreciate it.

    Clear Contact Information

    If someone has a question that they need answered, you want clear contact information so that they can contact you easily. You can also use a service that provides a chat with people to help them make purchasing decisions. Whatever you decide, make it easy for people to ask questions and get answers.

    Product Pages That Convert

    It’s imperative that you have a clear call to action, great images, good descriptions and benefits of the product on the page. If your product pages don’t convert, then affiliates won’t want to touch the product.

    Converting Marketing Collateral

    Affiliates need copy, images, text and more to promote your products and services. They’re not going to create it for you. If you want them to send out emails to their list, create an email that they can edit and make their own. Do the same with all the marketing materials you offer them to ensure that they promote your offerings.

    A Fair Commission

    Affiliates are like sales people who get paid only when they make a sale. If you want them to do a lot to make that sale, then they’ll need a fair percentage of sales to make it worth their time. If you don’t offer at least 50 percent, you are unlikely to attract high-level affiliate marketers to your program.

    Offer Incentives to Affiliates

    In addition to a fair commission, you can also offer prizes to top sellers so that they work harder to promote your offerings. People like competition and if you give it to them and let them win prizes such as additional money or a physical prize, they’ll want to win.

    A Fabulous Product

    Of course, if you want to attract affiliates, you need a product that is everything you say it is and more. You want your affiliates to be excited to promote the product because it does what the sales page says it will do.

    Having affiliates to promote your products and services is like having a legion of fans screaming your name. They’ll blog about you, promote you, and be excited about it – because if you are offering a great product or service, they know that it makes them look good. After all, their job is to promote things to their audience that solves their problems. Your product could be the answer.

    Categories: Affiliate program Tags: Tags: