As an Internet Marketer you have most likely come across the term “viral marketing.”

The Internet is one of the optimum incubators for utilizing Viral Marketing.  This isn’t a new medium of “getting the word out.”  Most of us have heard the anecdotal quote: “Telegraph, telephone, tell-a-woman.”

What is viral marketing?

THE PRIME GOAL OF VIRAL MARKETING IS TO GET OTHERS TO PASS ALONG YOUR MARKETING MESSAGE TO OTHERS WITH SIMILAR NEEDS OR INTEREST FOR GREATER INFLUENCE AND EXPOSURE.

. . . just like normal cell reproduction when one cell splits in two, and the two cells split in two creating four cells, and so on, and so on.  The growth from reproductive division becomes exponential.  The medium of the Internet allows for this same explosive growth . . . when on person tells a couple of  other individuals, and they tell a couple of individuals, and so on, and so on, you have explosive distribution of your original message or offering. What is taking place is a simple  geometrical doubling of numbers with each reiteration or repetition. From such a simple beginning you could end up being exposed to millions of prospects–depending on what you are marketing.

How do you engage this explosive marketing message dispersal method to your advantage in promoting your wares?

Viral makerting is using the basal element of simple person to person networking.  The prime feature most viral marketing campaigns rely on are the social and psycological motivations, needs and behavior each of us posess.  Each of us is driven by various motivations and needs which shape our behavior.   Some of these basic need motivations are: food, shelter, reducing pain and increasing or maximizing pleasure.  Viral marketing utilizes the merits or benefits of these motivations to get individuals to share or pass-along our email information to others. 

FREE!!!!  seems to be one of the catalysts for motivation in viral marketing.  We all like to receive things for free–even things we don’t want.  The fact that something is being offered for free is reason enough to accept it.

In viral marketing campaigns providing some “carrot” of “free something” begins the process.  Some campaigns have offered free: newsletters, software, email service, free web space, e-cards, consultation, graphics, templates, banners, link directory,  screen savers . . . and the list goes on. 

What is more important than the “free item” is the benefit the user will receive, and its focus on your website’s theme or target.  Visitors have come to your website because of what it represents and offers in the way of information and opportunity.  An exception is when humorous, bizarre off-the-wall videos or photographs are being shared for their shock or hilarity value.

 Dr. Ralph F. Wilson, E-Commerce Consultant in his article “The Six Simple Principles of Viral Marketing” says:

 ”1.  Well written and factual articles is far Give away free e-mail addresses and services,
 2.  Attach a simple tag at the bottom of every free message sent out . . . and,
 3.  Then stand back while people e-mail to their own network of friends and associates,
 4.  Who see the message,
 5.  Sign up for their own free e-mail service, and then
 6.  Propel the message still wider to their own ever-increasing circles of friends and associates.

Dr. Wilson’s encouragement to provide “well written and factual” articles is more rewarding for most visitors to your website, or reader of your emails.  Let’s be honest, that’s what most of us are searching for as we “surf the net.”

Viral Marketing is a dynamic opportunity to maximize your overall exposure to the world via the Internet.  Being targeted in your efforts can reap significant financial rewards if used correctly.  This may not be your “cup of tea,” but it has validity.  You may want to give it a go.

As an Internet Marketer you should have an email list to help you follow up with customers and subscribers.  We assume you do. If you don’t have an email list you need to create one. (You may want to read our article: “Website Lists Are Essential to Maximize Your Internet Income.“)  Which type of list should you have?  Single opt-in or Double Opt-in is the question.  Each has its benefits and drawbacks:

Single Opt-in:

Benefits:

• Simple process to sign-up by completing a form provided by you to include nothing more than their email address.
• Can ask for additional information such as a user name.
• Assumed to be one of the quickest ways to build a list.

Drawbacks:

• Never sure if subscribers are sincere. 
• Lower credibility about subscriber’s email address.
• Receiving subscriptions from malevolent individuals:
  • Towards others
  • Towards you or your website 
• Greater risk of being accused of SPAMMING.

Double Opt-in:

 Benefits:

• Requires subscribers to take a second or verifying–confirming– action.
  • Greater assumption of validity of subscriber’s intent to receive your information . . . they have shown some specific interest in what you have to offer.
• Assumed to be the best method of building a “quality” list.
• Eliminates malevolent subscribers because they need to respond to a confirmation email sent to the email address provided at the time of subscribing.
• Verifies valid emails–problems with misspelled addresses, etc.
• Generally it reduces being accused of SPAMMING, but those users bent on SPAMMING are finding ways around this double opt-in process.
  • You have confirmed information about who subscribed, their email address, along with the date and time they subscribed–valuable data should you receive a SPAM complaint.

Drawbacks:

• Some subscribers don’t like the added opt-in confirmation step.
• Confirmation email can go directly to a subscriber’s SPAM box.
• Subscriber fails to read the confirmation emails instructions.
• You may irritate some subscribers because they have the confirmation step, and may chose to not respond.
• Unwittingly, some subscribers may respond with a notation they are not interested.  If you are not “hand screening” these confirmations, and those using an autoresponder service don’t, they’ll be missed and added to the list because they responded.

A clean quality list of interested subscribers is your ultimate goal.  Which of the two opt-in methods you chose is up to you.  We favor the double opt-in method for obvious reasons.

In our list building efforts  we have chosen to use the benefits of using an autoresponder service.  There are several available.  The preferred autoresponse provider we have chosen because of their willingness to allow the input from outside list builders–like ListCrew, is Autoresponseplus . 

We also recommmend you check out our other articles regarding:

•  autoresponders, 
•  the benefits of having a list,
• and opt-in lists.

List Building and Email Follow-up Can Be Automated with the Help of an Autoresponder

When it comes to e-commerce, in any form, you are looking to accomplish a few important things: market your wares to as many customers as possible, have them return, and build a list of potential customers and former customers–to  stay in touch with them–mostly by email.  You want to share information and opportunities to entice them to return to purchase more of your wares.

The three principal areas of interest are: marketing, list building and keeping in touch.  An Autoresponseplus can help you efficiently deal with all three. (more…)

Making money using the Internet is no different in many respects to marketing done by “brick and mortar” businesses.  The prime goal of each is to sell as much of their product or service as they possibly can.  Brick and mortar stores or businesses rely on advertising–primarily “hard copy” via magazine and newsprint . . . they also utilize the airwaves with radio and television ads.  Their complete focus is to entice potential customers or clients to buy or use their service over others.  This is simple Marketing 101.

The real key to brick and mortar business’s  success, is getting REPEAT customers.  The cost of getting someone to return to purchase more products or services costs little or nothing if they have done their marketing correctly.

What can you learn from them?  There are some similarities with brick and mortar businesses and your Internet business, and there are some unique differences.  What are the similarities and differences  you can capitalize on?

SIMILARITIES:

• Customers – each business model has customers.  Both can, and should gather information from customers to keep in touch with them–some more so than others.
• Potential customers – or “Looky Lou’s” should be solicited for information to keep in touch  for future sales potential.
• Ability to offer “Free” enticements – is a possibility, but may not be the most optimum forum to use.
• Ask for referrals – can and should be used by each business model.
• Buying lists – again not necessarily the most judicious use of advertising resources.  Getting focused niche compiled  lists with proven, or even guaranteed response returns can be difficult and expensive.

DIFFERENCES (Advantages):

• Benefit from website browsers (Looky Lou’s) -  your product or service information is readily available on the website.  The browser can review as much or as little as they choose at their convenience.   Opt in requests allow them to provide the information they need to provide you in order to be on your ” email mailing” list.  When they opt in there is an applied assumption they have some interest in what you have to offer–perhaps more so in the future.  The cost to stay in touch via emails, newsletters, etc. is negligible  In addition, it take between 6 and 8 contacts before a sale may take place.  You have to building a relationship of trust.
• Promoting goodwill – your website alone can create goodwill just from providing continuous, valid and beneficial content in the form of articles and information visitors can review at their leisure.
• Your market place is global – where most brick and mortar businesses are more local or regional in scope.
• Websites can be instructional – with videos, articles, ezines and ebooks.  Teaching and training visitors to your site with the full extent of the benefits you and your product or service offer can be very beneficial.

The benefits of having a client/prospect list is critical to help maximizing your websites full financial potential.  Creating and utilizing a client/prospect list allows you to capitalize on the efforts you have spent in creating, maintaining and marketing your website . . . for current and future profits.  The more you can “squeeze” from your earnest efforts the better off you are.

See our article: Opt-in Mailing List for more information and benefits for creating and maintaining a website mailing list.

What Are the Real Benefits of Having an Opt-in Mailing List?

You have worked hard to build your Internet business–what ever it is?  How can you expand the earning potential of your business?  You need to get your messages, products and programs in front of as many people as possible.  Marketing, and especially Internet marketing is all about numbers–a pure numbers game.  If you aren’t building a list of interested prospects or past customers, you are losing a significant income increasing potential.

The real major benefit to having a mailing list is to keep in touch with visitors to your website(s) well after they have come and gone.  This gives you the opportunity to invite them time and again to visit and consider what you have to offer for information, or products and services you have for sale.

Having a compilation of interested prospects and customers is critical to your continued success and growth.  You don’t have the time, nor should you have to, “re-invent the wheel” with every campaign you promote on your website.

You should have a list already–prior customers at least.  You are trying your best to make it grow!  Most likely you are relying on a sign-up form off your website(s).  This is all well and good, but just how many people are visiting your site(s), and most importantly–signing up, or becoming customers?  Maybe you have a list of a few hundred, a thousand or a few thousand.  You do the math to see what your closing rate is per list member (customer), and the profit margin from each sale.  What would your income be if your list contained a hundred thousand and your closing rate remained the same?  We wish, right!  You can make it happen.

What are the benefits of having a mailing list?

• Eliminating the issue of SPAM – from your incoming emails to subscribers.  They have voluntarily chosen to receive your emails.  You stay on the good side of the law and have a dignified relationship with your subscribers.
• Maintain a good standing and reputation – with your customers and subscribers by providing quality content and information along with any sales proposals you wish to share.
• Improving your conversions and response rates – because subscribers to your mailing list have chosen to receive your emails based on a mutual interest in what information and/or services, surveys and products you offer them.  The potential to increase your ad clicks, or convert subscribers to customers increased because of the collective mutual interest you have.
• The cost to increase your list can be reduced or eliminated – versus purchasing or renting lists from others.  Their lists may not be as directed or focused as you would prefer, and thus be less effective.
• You can better target your subscribers – by providing specific quality content and worthy products and services.  The more precise your information and offerings are to customers and prospective customers, the better your chances of them producing income for you from ad clicks and purchases.

Using other services could help you build your list efficiently and faster.

• The big question now is how do you increase your list? You need to increase the traffic to your website(s).  Using SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is one significant method.  You need to know about how to do this, if you don’t already.  There are many programs available on the Internet.  I have chosen, and used, James Martel’s Program.  We recommend you check out his program.
• You could purchase lists, as noted above, but that may not be the most effective directed plan.  On the other hand, you may well be served by using a program like ListCrew.com to have exposure to your site(s) being advertised by other websites with a similar focus or marketing objective.  Again, we recommend you check out ListCrew.com (formerly Subscriptionrocket.com).  This is like putting your list building on steroids.
• Autoresponder services are the only way to accumulate and manage large volumes of data base inputs from subscribers to your website.  If you have a newsletter, ezine or other mailing you put out on a regular basis, these services will save you countless hours of time and effort.  There are several services you can use: Aweber, GetResponse, 1 ShoppingCart, etc., and the one we use and highly recommend because of their flexibility of working with other list gathering services–such as ListCrew.com is: AutoResponse Plus.

If you are one of those individuals who lacks knowledge and skill when it comes to getting on the computer, don’t feel alone.  Many others are rowing in the same boat.  There are ways to gain the knowledge and skill you need to make your internet business functional and profitable.

Each of us has a learning curve.  Some are more versed in computers than others.  There isn’t anyone who knows it all, but some who come close . . . maybe a friend or neighbor.  Not too worry! You can gain the skill and knowledge you need, but it will take some of your time, and perhaps, some of your hard earned cash.  What is important here is that you gain what ever skill and knowledge you need to make your website(s) work for you.

If you are blessed with a family member, a close friend or good neighbor who can help you, or teach you, what you need to learn–hooray!  Don’t be disappointed if they aren’t excited about teaching you.  They may not have the time or patience to teach you what can be some technical stuff.  For those who have none of these, don’t be discouraged.  There are resources you can tap to help you.

Community Education class is a great way to get started.  These  hands on” training programs are geared to every level of expertise.  They offer a good array of topics for you to select from.  The hands on nature of these classes lets you get the specific help you need–regardless of your level of expertise (or lack of expertise).  Their cost usually is nominial.  They do have limitations–mostly being limited to a narrow topic focus.  You may have to take several classes in order to master your needed skill.  This means time and some expense either way.  They don’t always move at the speed you’d prefer, but at the speed the class, as a whole can accommodate, and the instructor.  Be sure to ask any and all questions, or you’ll lose out.

There are programs and tutorials you can take on the internet.  The biggest disadvantage here is the lack of being personal–help when you need it as you need it.  We have no specific recommendation.  We suggest you check the internet and review some of the options–free programs and those you may have to purchase.  You can also purchase  programs to help you gain the knowledge you need.  The most notable one is Video Professor.  They use a CD program.  They too aren’t without there flaws, but seem to have a simple process to follow.  BE AWARE THAT WHEN YOU ORDER YOUR PROGRAMS (THEY OFFER A FREE CD FOR ONE APPLICATION) YOU WILL RECEIVE A PORTFOLIO OF PROGRAMS AND WILL BE CHARGED $185 FOR THE ENTIRE PACKAGE.) Most of the negative feedback we’ve read or heard about has been with this sticker shock.  Be forwarned!!!  That dosen’t mean you shouldn’t consider their program.  You just need to know the cost going in–no sticker shock later.  They offer numerous programs you could well benefit from.  If you are only looking at one program, we suggest you look elsewhere.

Take the time and expense to bulk up your knowledge and understanding of the programs you need and will be using in your internet business.  Even if you have someone else doing most of the “hard lifting” on your website, you will be well served to have a clear understanding of what they are doing and why.

Let’s You Receive eCommerce Payments

As you engage in your internet business you need a way of getting paid for the products and services you offer. For eBay businesses it becomes almost imperative to use PayPal. There are other payment services, but PayPal is well recognized and easy to use.

There are several reasons for using PayPal for payment—especially for eBay businesses. PayPal is owned by eBay. This means they are closely connected. PayPal was purchased primarily to accommodate eBay buyers and sellers a convenient safe way to make payment for goods sold by buyers, and an easy process for sellers to accept payments. You don’t have to wait for money orders to be mailed, checks to clear (if you ever accepted them), and trouble-free way to accept credit card payments.

This payment system is provides a safe, flexible, and quick way to complete the selling process.  PayPal allows for transfer of funds between your PayPal account and your banking account.  You can access your funds through transfers, a check, or use a debit card. Also, your PayPal account can act as a savings account paying you interest on your held balances.

Buyers are not inconvenienced with having to wait for their payments (check or money order) to arrive and clear before their item is shipped. They can use their current credit cards to make there payment, thus not having to supply personal information on accounts—a real safety and account privacy issue in our world today.

PayPal helps in your record keeping. They keep a record you can access on all of the sales and purchased made using your PayPal account. This could be especially important for tax purposes.

PayPal is being accepted by more online businesses. This can expand the value of your own account for purchases and sales on the internet.

PayPal is not without issues or problems that can cause abuse and/or frustration.  Understanding them can go along way in dealing with them:

1. PayPal’s service is NOT FREE! They can charge a modest commission to sellers. Sellers can add this anticipated loss of payment to their shipping expense, or to start their bid price at a higher level to recoup the shortfall. Either way the buyer ends up footing the expense.
2. You need to have a bank account and a credit card to participate. PayPal requires a back-up payment method to draw from. They are not a credit extending entity themselves. Another inconvenience to deal with, and you will need to provide account information.
3. You need to keep track of your purchases because PayPal is so easy to use, and they add your charges to your credit card on account when there is no cash in your PayPal account. This “out of sight, out of mind” circumstance requires you to manage your accounts closely.
4. For your safety to deal with anti-fraud, PayPal can freeze your account(s) as it verifies information to protect you. This can be frustrating and embarrassing, but is not something you should expect to deal with frequently, but when it happens you need to know what is taking place and why.

Our experience with PayPal is that the benefits far outweigh the distractions and minor inconveniences that can be a part of the doing business with them. If you haven’t already signed up, take a moment to do so now with PayPal.

The blank web template below from Template4All.com is representative of what a template is.  This is one of their free offerings.  The layout and tool applications are simple.  You don’t always need a complex website . . . in fact the K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle works very well in creating websites that can have good traffic.

So was is a template you may be asking? (more…)

Text editors are a type of program used to help edit plain text files. (A text file is a computer file that generally holds text files, but can also hold binary data too.)  A typewriter or basic word processor produces text.  In a computer program you need to convert this text (ordinary “unformatted”) to computer language.  That is what a Text editor does for you in its simplest form.  Plain text does not contain “tags” used by the computer for formatting. Word processors have “control characters” that are not needed or wanted in your computer programs.  So, you need to put your files in a plain text format.  A good HTML editor should provide ways of automating the insertion of  the needed HTML tags in order to make working at the source code level a lot quicker and a lot easier.

Internet, or “www” programmers have a variety of text editors for use in their web page/site development.  These tools or programs help in the creation of plain text files and web pages.  Some of the HTML editors are: HTML Kit; Alleycode HTML Editor 2.21; Arachnophilia 4 (Legacy version); Crimson Editor 3.70; Metapad 3.5;  NotePad++ 3.1; Web Design Toy; Text Pad (This list is not all inclusive.).  These are all freeware programs.

Screen Shot of Adobe’s Dreamweaver 8

There are other processors you can use that are WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). A WYSIWYG processor program/application is one where you see on the display screen exactly what will appear when the document or page is shown on your web page. This differs, for example, from word processors that can’t display different fonts and graphics on the display screen even though the formatting codes have been inserted into the file.   Some of these programs are: Dreamweaver, E (text editor), Frontpage, HotDog, Homesite,  GoLive, etc. can be purchased.  Three freeware options are: HTML Notepad, Tidy and Nvu.  Neither of these list is all inclusive.  (We would note that some of these text editors are comprehensive and may require some additional training to use.)

The purpose of this article is to make you aware of some of the tools available to you as you build your website(s) and create your web income business.

HTML is the acronym for HyperTextMarkupLanguage.  HTML is a recognized universal code language used on the World Wide Web (the internet).  This is the code you use to build web pages. Essentially, this code allows you to direct how you want your web pages to look–colors, sizes, indents, fonts, etc.  So as you are looking at this web page–written with the help of HTML–you are seeing how we directed the page to look–good, bad or indifferent.

In order for you to designate how or where you want things to go you use “tags” or indicators your computer understands and translates into what you visually see.  The actual technical aspects of how and why this all works is less important at the moment than just knowing that it is the means of communicating what you want others to see on your web page.  There are rules and parameters to follow to make these things happen.

You will read or hear others tell you that you do not need to know HTML in order to have a website.  On the surface this is true.  There are plenty of services that will do all of the work for you, or using templates where some of the basic layout is done for you.  All that having been said HAVING A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HTML WILL AND WILL NOT DO FOR YOU IS EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL. Think of it like driving a car.  You may not know all of the workings of your car, but you do have to have some idea of what is what:  where to put gas in the car, where to put the oil, how to start the car, etc. There is more to it than just pressing on the gas to go, or stepping on the brake to stop . . . you get the picture!  The same is true of having an understanding of HTML, and how it’s used.

TAKE THE TIME TO GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF TUTORIALS TO GAIN SOME UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT HTML IS AND WHAT IT CAN DO FOR YOU–IF YOU HAVE LITTLE OR KNOWLEDGE OF HTML.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE “MUST DO” ITEMS AS YOU BUILD YOUR WEB INCOME BUSINESS!  DON’T SHORT CHANGE YOURSELF HERE.

We continue to expand our knowledge base by learning more about HTML as we go along–you should too.  If you are doing everything for yourself you have to have HTML down pat.

There are many tutorials on the internet you can use to begin and expand your knowledge base.  There are two we have used:

Introduction to HTML
A beginners tutorial to learning HTML by BreBru.com

Dave Ragget’s Introduction to HTML
A simple introduction to beginners to HTML

HTML Tutorial at davesite.com
This is a more in depth tutorial on HTML. Our only dislike is the extra busy stuff on the page. If you overlook this busy stuff to begin with you’ll have some great information.

There are a couple of sites where you can get just the code tags:

HTML Tag Reference List

The HTML Codes -  Characters and Symbols

There is certainly more you can, and maybe want to learn about HTML.  We encourage you to be a versed on the matter as you feel comfortable with.  You may want to be an expert at it–be our guests . . . it’s your business–your future!