Help out the beginners

[jimewing2121]

Hi I am fairly new to the internet marketing scene so I am not sure what will work and what wont. If anyone can give some HONEST tips about what might be some good ways to drive more traffic to my site that would be awesome. My site right now is just a blog explaining how internet marking works and some tips on how to save money in this struggling economy.

[Lynn Terry]

I would be happy to help. If you can ask specific questions, I'll give you specific answers. I'm sure it would be a valuable thread to other members who are newer to IM, and lurkers too.

For traffic, the first thing you want to do is learn Search Engine Optimization - so that you can get targeted traffic from free search engine listings. If you want details, I'd be happy to put some simple tips in the next post (just let me know).

Second, Social Networking is a great method of making connections and bringing new visitors into your site. Social Media properties (like Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon, etc) are particularly "hot" right now.

[jimewing2121]

Ok I would love some tips about search engines. I have a facebook account but I have been struggling to get people interested in coming BACK to my page. Right now I have a blog(which is linked in my signature) which gives newbies like me some advise.

[websitemoneynow]

Well if you check out my site i have some great beginner traffic tips and tricks which will lead you into the bigger things that can help your site , i also have tutorials for various promotions

[napoleonfirst]

Get a blog and use this free service. Article Distribution For Free At Article Marketer - Check It Out.

[Kym Robinson]

I have a traffic generation series on my blog for newbies!
Also lots of articles and info that should get you going in the right direction!
My blog is in my sig - read on!
Kym

[homeslice]

I've had some good luck with article marketing. While I haven't (yet) used any article submission software, I've done some manual submission to ezinearticles.com with good success.

Whenever I read about article marketing, the benefit espoused is that webmaster can grab your articles, post 'em on their sites and send 'em in their newsletters, giving you backlinks and publicity. I don't think that happened in my case; instead I noticed my articles ranking super high in Google for my niche, very quickly I might add. I heard ezinearticles.com has a high PR site, so that must be the reason.

Another reason, too, is that I took the time to read and follow each of ezinearticles.com's editorial requirements. They are quite stringent, but the site is quite prestigious as far as article directories goes, so I figured it was worth it. And the payoff, in terms of extra traffic, while not torrential, is certainly helpful.

Quick question: Not to sound insulting, but if you're new to this (I'm semi-new myself) I wonder if you're getting ahead of yourself by writing a blog about how IM works. You may come across as someone who's just regurgitating info you've just learned or heard, and the niche of making money online is oversaturated as it is. Again, not trying to jump down your throat here, but it might be a common beginner's trap you're falling into. Perhaps better to spend your time finding a niche with less competition. Sounds like you're already finding a good place with your money-saving tips in the current economy. (Maybe micro-niche it with a subspecialty? Saving money while traveling in this economy? etc...)

Just my 2 cents.

[Lynn Terry]

About SEO - here's a basic rundown:

First you have to choose keyword phrases that are highly relevant to each of your web pages. You also have to research those to make sure they are getting searched for. Every web page should be optimized for a unique keyword phrase (you want a strong "message to market match" - meaning your keywords are highly relevant to what the page offers). Dont use keyword phrases that are too general. "Longtail" meaning 3-4 word phrases are easier to rank for, and convert better.

Next, you have to optimize each page of your site. To simplify it you can put your keyword phrase: in the file name (keywordphrase.html), in the Title (meta tag), in the Text Header (h1, h2 or h3 near the top of the page), and within the content a few times (as naturally as possible).

Make sure you have good keyword-rich internal link structure, meaning you have navigation and also interlink relevant pages contextually.

Inbound links are an important part of your optimization as well. You want links from other websites (that you dont own). Preferrably you want highly relevant content pages linking to your pages (relevant meaning they are both on the same topic, or related topic).

Dont just get links to your "home page" - get links to every page of your site or blog. Internal linking helps with theming, and also helps your site as a whole get better rankings.

That's a very basic overview, but should prove a helpful start.

source: Keyword Placement: Page Optimization Basics

[Justin Mandel]

Feel free to read the PDF on traffic generation in my sig. No opt-in needed

[Lynn Terry]

I would recommend that you do the optimization FIRST, and then invest time in other marketing strategies while the search engines are "doing their magic". Just my 2c.

Any more questions, fire away! This could become a very resourceful thread (minus all the "click my sig" posts)...

[jimewing2121]

Thank you VERY much Lynn Terry and homeslice but I do have a couple more questions. Are there any other things like adsense where I get paid if people click? I don't have the money to pay per click or make my own product so I am trying to figure out a cheap way to keep my site going.

And seriously enough with the click my sig. Its annoying.

[Lynn Terry]

Honestly, affiliate programs - whether pay-per-sale or pay-per-lead (CPA) - will generally earn you more than Google Adsense. And you can do both... you just dont want to distract your visitors too much. Each page of your site needs its own strong call to action (whether thats to opt in, click out, or purchase).

Here are two links for FREE affiliate training, both by Jeremy Palmer:

When Does the Course Start? How Long Does it Last?

Affiliate Marketing Learning Center

That should be a great start for you

[Dave Cornish]

I second the suggestion for CPA networks over PPC.

They convert quite well if you make them relevant and the payout is much higher.

[jimewing2121]

Ok so I know I need a new niche but I just bought a new domain so I haven't decided what to put on that domain. So you are saying if I invested a bit of money in PPC I will most likely get it back and more?

[Mike Hill]

jimewing2121, personally I highly recommend you follow Lynn Terry and listen very close to everything she has to say. She is very successful online and has helped countless people get their start.

Forums can have a lot of good advice but can also be a little overwhelming at times with ten different ideas pulling you in 20 different directions.

It's always a good idea to know your direction and focus on that. Fortunately Lynn is an expert at it!

Can't recommend her enough!

Mike Hill

[Easy Cash]

Originally Posted by jimewing2121

Ok so I know I need a new niche but I just bought a new domain so I haven't decided what to put on that domain. So you are saying if I invested a bit of money in PPC I will most likely get it back and more?

Don't attempt PPC unless you are ready to commit some good money and willing to lose it if things don't work out.

You need a page that converts first otherwise you will just be adding to Big G's bank account.

[jimewing2121]

oh i know Lynn in giving me great advice and i totally respect her. And I know I am not thinking about putting any money into my site until I start to see decent traffic to my site.

[Lynn Terry]

Thank you Mike By the way, Mike Hill is one to keep your eye on as well - if I'm not mistaken you have a new group for newbies. Is that right, Mike?

Back to the topic, I do NOT recommend pay-per-click for starting out. Its very easy to dump a lot of money into it and not see the returns you're hoping for. My advice is always this: invest the $50 into Perry Marshall's guide to Adwords and then STUDY it. Otherwise you'll lose at least that much trying to figure it out on your own - if not hundreds more.

PPC (specifically Adwords) is a great way to test keywords, and find out which convert best for your offer -specifically. But it does take skill. I would recommend you start out with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and Social Media. Especially with your target market.

Both are free, and give you an opportunity to get feedback and do some testing on your own while you continue to grow the business model.

Ultimately, CONTENT will be your key. Have something useful to contribute to the niche, and that will be the roots of your future success.

[jimewing2121]

Alright well I guess I have a lot to work on. But I seriously just don't feel like my niche is strong enough. How could I optimize it? And do I HAVE to promote a product? Like i see everyone here is promoting a product that people buy. Is there no way to make money by just giving tips and what not?

[Lynn Terry]

There's Adsense like you mentioned before, but its a lower payout in your niche... and not the money you could earn with affiliate programs or pay-per-lead offers.

[SusanUSA]

Hi Jim,

You can read my story on the Success forum or by clicking on my signature line. I was totally broke with thousands in bills coming due. That's when I turned to Internet Marketing and I made a more than $12,000 in just over 5 weeks and spent under $100 in ebooks and supplies.

I investing a lot of time writing a blog and two eBooks to sell. But the time was well worth it! I still make a good income from the blog and it's kind of seasonal, so I expect things to pick up in the coming months to get back to making $5K or more each month.

Check my story out. No log-in, just my story to give back to forum folks and to encourage newbies that this business is worthwhile if you are willing to focus and invest a little money and a lot of time!

[Amy Bass]

The easiest and BEST way to get started is with niche blogging. I have tried many different business models and it is by far my favorite.

[summer07]

Originally Posted by jimewing2121

Alright well I guess I have a lot to work on. But I seriously just don't feel like my niche is strong enough. How could I optimize it? And do I HAVE to promote a product? Like i see everyone here is promoting a product that people buy. Is there no way to make money by just giving tips and what not?

You could join the Amazon affiliate program and suggest books, DVDs, music, etc., that are related to your tips and posts. Make lists of your favorite things and have Amazon links to them from your blog.

The IM niche crosses over with "work at home" and "self-improvement". You could link to Amazon products that help you stay motivated or help you keep your focus when you're working at home. Just blog about the things you use every day...even the brand of running shoes your wear. They're all on Amazon anyway...just link to them from your blog thrugh the Amazon affiliate program. (Go to Amazon's home page, go all the way to the bottom, then click on the link that says "Join Associates".)

That way, you're not promoting any one product, and it's not a hard sell, if that's what you're concerned about.

I don't know of a way to make money if you don't sell something!

Audre

[Kym Robinson]

Most people expect to get tips and tricks and alot more infact for FREE!
This is called relationship building and works on the premice that the more quality info you can provide to your subscribers - the more trust you build with them.......and the easier it is to sell to them!
But you must have something to sell to them!
Whether its other peoples products or yours doesnt matter.
I would suggest you find some niche relevant affiliate programs while you are building your site. SEO is so important as Lynn rightly points out.
But its no use having a pile of traffic if there is nothing there when they arrive!
Its a huge process - just work through it!
Good Luck
Kym

[jimewing2121]

So I think I finally found a good niche. What do you guys think?

http://www.ewingtalk.com

[jimewing2121]

Sorry it is http"//www.ewingtalker.com What do you guys think? Is it going to be able for me to make sales?

[Kevin Marshall]

I dont like this niche at all. There could be some legal or ethical issues resulting from advertising this niche. Also, I tend to believe this niche is probably over saturated already. You need to try to think of something that most people wouldnt think about for your niche.

[Kevin Marshall]

I should mention that I am also a newbie and I just found my first niche. I am still working on the articles to advertise the products. I am going through a program now and should have everything done in a few days. In looking at the website you mentioned, I think it is boring. Nothing about the website jumps out at me. This is coming from a complete newbie who is just starting out, but I dont think you'll make any money from this website.

[jimewing2121]

How could it be illegal? I don't get that. I am just promoting a product.

[wealthy affiliate]

Hi, i believe that article marketing and forum marketing are the best free ways to drive traffic to your website if you're diligent enough. If you do have a decent budget to start up, then PPC advertising would be a great choice, but PPC is not that easy to handle.

Here're some of the best article submission sites:
goarticles.com
ideamarketers.com
articledashboard.com
ezinearticles.com
articlesbase.com
easyarticles.com

good luck!

[Kevin Marshall]

Anyone who purchases the membership being advertised through http"//www.ewingtalker.com has to deal with copyright issues. It even states on the bottom of the product page, UnlimitedDownloadCenter

"The purchase of a membership, however, is not a license to upload or download copyrighted material. We urge you to respect copyright and share responsibly."

Do you remember the Napster case? Napster was shut down because everyone was downloading music for free and not paying for it. The music industry was able to sue people for thousands of dollars for giving away copyrighted music for free. Sure, there are many people who download music, movies, and games for free. 99.9 % of these people will never be prosecuted. Since a lot of this technology is new, a lot of the copyright laws are still being redefined by the courts. It also depends on where you live. Different countries have different laws about this.
Honestly, if you promote this product, it is highly unlikely that you will ever be held liable for copyright infringement. I still wouldn't promote this product based on the 1 in 100,000 chance that you could get sued for thousands of dollars for assisting people to download copyrighted music, movies, and games for free. Take my advice for what its worth. As a newbie myself, I am trying to promote products that are ethical and won't potentially open myself up to liability down the road.

[jimewing2121]

I see your point with the copy write but I am not selling the product. I am just giving a review and links to their site. But I see what you are saying. Thank you

[wordwizard]

Technically speaking, there IS a way to get paid just for posting cool stuff on your blog, and that's the PayPal "Donation" button. But I wouldn't hold my breath!

I'm also a great fan of article marketing, and I'd like to add isnare.com, another distribution source to the list:

Free Content Articles Distribution Directory and Search Engine for Ezines and Websites

It actually costs money, but not much ($2 or less per article, depending on how many you prepay for, or $59 (I think) for the Diamond or Platinum status or whatever it is, which allows you to submit up to 300 articles/month, plus gives them preferential placement etc.), and it sends them all over the place.

Plus it also gets almost as many reads as ezinearticles.com, which is the most respected site, according to many including Jeff Herring at The Power of One Article, who also provides some great free info, particularly in the form of free teleseminars, plus you can get two free article templates for faster article writing.

Good luck!

Elisabeth

[jimewing2121]

Don't try to sell stuff here. This post is for beginners to learn how to get their site running well. Not tell try to sell to them.

[jimewing2121]

So what is everyone else's experience with google adsense? What is your biggest pay for a single click.

[jimewing2121]

I guess this is dead.

[jimewing2121]

Last thing. Do you have to pay to make an ebook?

[Lynn Terry]

Originally Posted by jimewing2121

So what is everyone else's experience with google adsense? What is your biggest pay for a single click.

I dont believe their TOS allows people to answer that question. You can share your earnings in a payment period, but no other detail. Dont quote me on that, but do check their policies.

There are ways to "optimize for Adsense" and make more money with it, just like anything else. If you're going this route, be sure to research it on Google and read up on all the tips you can. Or start a new thread on that topic here at the WF (and PM me the link to it if you do).

Originally Posted by jimewing2121

Last thing. Do you have to pay to make an ebook?

No. You can download openoffice.org free - it has a word processor similar to MS Word and you simply create the document. Then download PDF995 and PDF995edit from PDF995.com to convert your document to a PDF file.

I would HIGHLY recommend getting Jon Leger's "Write That Report" for seven bucks if you decide to create an info product. It'll be well worth it

[Mike Hill]

Originally Posted by Lynn Terry

Thank you Mike By the way, Mike Hill is one to keep your eye on as well - if I'm not mistaken you have a new group for newbies. Is that right, Mike?

Sorry for the late response... Hard to keep up to all my posts lately... LOL

Watch out for Newbies On Fire it will be HOT!

That's all I can say for now -- I don't want to be accused of promoting in the thread

Mike Hill

[Joseph Park]

Hey,

Probably the fastest way to drive targeted traffic is through the forums just like what you're doing here talking about your site. For my theaffiliatemillions.com site, I've gone from no data to 400,000 Alexa ranking in less than 2 weeks doing forum marketing AND facebook and myspace marketing.

So my suggestion to you is find as many forums related to your niche as possible and start posting. The key is find places where your crowd gather and present your stuff.

Easy, huh?