| Internet Marketing - Why 2010 Will Be A White Knuckle Ride For Web Marketers |
[Dec. 17th, 2009|09:37 am] |
Next year may just prove to be one of the most challenging times for pursuing online or Internet marketing on the web. It may just be a watershed moment for many marketers struggling to keep abreast of all the different factors which have come into play in recent months. Most of these changes will stem from two main sources for potential upheaval: the first being the New FTC (Federal Trade Commission) Guidelines regarding Testimonials and Endorsements and the second being "ALL" the recent changes within Google.
Actually, we already have the new FTC Guidelines which came into effect on Dec. 1st of 2009, but how these new rules are enforced will play out in the coming year as test-cases are brought to court. Basically, these new rules call for absolute disclosure and full transparency regarding Testimonials and Endorsements when a product or service is being offered for sale. Any business (monetary) relationship between the endorser and the company must be made known to the potential buyer. Obviously for those in online or affiliate marketing this could have a great impact if these new rules are strictly enforced. Just imagine all the website owners and bloggers who slap a few banners or affiliate links on their sites to cover hosting or operating costs... will they now have to disclose all these business arrangements?
For professional affiliate marketers and the companies/products they're promoting, these new guidelines could cause potential headaches and/or legal ramifications since a general blanket disclaimer on their sites will no longer be suffice. To help solve this problem, many of the major companies are now placing an "affiliate" tag on all their banners and making it obvious a business relationship exists with its affiliates. In addition, many online marketers are placing additional disclaimers, affiliate seals and in other ways making it known certain links are indeed affiliate links and a relationship does exist with the product and/or services being promoted.
With these new guidelines, another big issue is email marketing, one of the major marketing techniques of most online marketers. Will a full disclosure be necessary for every email sales pitch? Savvy web marketers know the key to increased sales is in the "follow-up" and the "cookie-ing" of potential buyers; how will the new Guidelines affect this very effective marketing practice? How all these new rules or guidelines play out will make next year a very interesting one for marketing on the web.
Despite this, perhaps the greatest cause for upheaval in the coming year will be Google. There are countless reasons why Google will be a major game changer in 2010 for online marketing. Ever since Bing and more recently the potential Bing/Yahoo competition, Google has gone into complete overdrive, implementing new changes and debuting new programs like there was no tomorrow.
First, we have Google Caffeine which Google is introducing (full force) early in the new year. Google Caffeine, which is a major overhaul of its search engine, will no doubt cause many a marketer some sleepless nights as the total fall-out becomes evident. Other Google updates in the past (Florida Update comes readily to mind) have wrecked havoc on many top ranking sites, but this time Google is doing things a little different and have even given webmasters a beta version of the new search engine. Still, rightly or wrongly, many online marketers are bracing themselves for the full impact of Caffeine, will it mean smooth sailing or a stomach sickening roller-coaster ride for marketers and webmasters?
Second, we have the introduction of "Real Time" search which will be featured in Google's SERPs. This will make the social media sites like Twitter, FaceBook, MySpace... much more important. Again, the implications for online marketers could be enormous since many can now reach the first page through a different route. Will it also mean more "Real Time" spam? But more importantly, will it mean a greater marketing opportunity for the online marketer who exploits it?
Third, we are seeing Google moving more and more towards "Visual Search" with the introduction of Google Goggles for mobile phones. Just take a picture and you get the Google results instantly - no typing, just point and click. Just envision countless clueless teenagers or more importantly helpless shoppers suddenly being empowered with knowledge and wisdom. Could do more for education since the invention of the printed word and the info-commercial combined. Talk about scary! But will the implications for web marketing be just as revolutionary and enlightening?
Fourth, Google has made it known through its spokesperson Matt Cutts, that site-loading times will be a ranking factor in the new improved Google. Also, proper and correct page coding will also be more important if you want your site to be at full advantage. Broken links will be a big "No-No", while linking out to important related sites a big plus. All this is only logical, Google's main product is and has always been its search results, anything which improves those results and provides a more pleasing experience for the Google user should be front and center. Obviously, one way for Google to stay on top, is to provide the best search results to its users.
Fifth, in order to please the end-user, Google is also moving more towards "Personalized Search" which will make SEO and ranking in the top spot for your chosen keywords a total nightmare for many professional SEOs and online marketers. If everyone can choose their own top results, isn't SEO more or less, a lame duck? Again, the ramifications of personalized search will further play out in 2010, but will professional marketers like what they see?
Finally, while no one would argue Google is King of the Hill when it comes to online search, will all these new changes strengthen or weaken Google's grip? Will the combined Bing/Yahoo be able to give this giant some much needed competition? Or will Google's main competition come from an unlikely source, such as big name multi-national corporations who are moving their operations online. Can these big-name keyworded domains start directly pulling in the majority of the web's traffic, making all search engines secondary? As people become more web savvy, will they go directly to what they're looking for on the web, bypassing the search engines altogether - including the mighty Google? Such a scenario could have greater consequences for the affiliate marketer since a direct line to a company's site or product will obviously mean less sales for the online marketer, who really works in coordination with the search engines, either through organic search or PPC (Pay Per Click) advertising in these same search engines.
Overall, the new FTC Guidelines and recent changes to Google, will make next year one of the most interesting times to be pitching anything online. Throw into this the full effect what a combined Bing/Yahoo might bring to the table, and you have the recipe for a tumultuous white knuckle ride, until the dust finally settles and marketers make adjustments like they always do. Until then, hold on because things will probably get a little hectic for many web marketers before we see the light at the end of the tunnel.
...
The author is a full time online affiliate marketer who has sold millions of dollars worth of other people's stuff (mostly electronics) on the web.
His livelihood is derived from and depended upon search engine marketing and the daily monitoring of targeted keywords, mainly within Google. He operates numerous niche sites, as well as two sites on Internet Marketing, where you can get valuable marketing tips for free: Internet Marketing and Internet Marketing Tools
Titus Hoskins Copyright 2009. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached. |
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| Does Google PageRank Count Anymore? |
[Oct. 23rd, 2009|11:10 am] |
Being a full-time SEM (Search Engine Marketer) I have been
conditioned like Pavlov's dog (not a pretty picture) to jump
every time Google twitches. Lately Google has been doing a
lot of twitching.
Specifically, the rather startling news from Google Webmaster
Trends Analyst Susan Moskwa that Google has ditched PageRank
from Webmaster Tools.
"We've been telling people for a long time that they shouldn't
focus on PageRank so much; many site owners seem to think it's
the most important metric for them to track, which is simply
not true," states Moskwa. "We removed it because we felt it was
silly to tell people not to think about it, but then to show
them the data, implying that they should look at it."
Find more here on WebProNews:
http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2009/10/15/google-ditches-pagerank-in-webmaster-tools
Now, for SEO reasons or for ranking in Google's index, PageRank
has long been eunuchified by Google. However, even missing
a few dangling bits, history has shown us eunuchs still wheel
tremendous power. PageRank is no different.
Regardless of what Google wants to happen, PageRank is still
extremely important to anyone marketing on the web, especially
if you're selling SEO services or operating a web business. Try
selling SEO services when that little green bar on your site
is pointing to PR0 or worst yet, pointing to a solid gray bar.
Obtaining a high PR7 or PR8 simply means more business and revenues...
regardless of how Google is or is not using PageRank. People know how
to count and they learned long ago, a ten is a lot more than
a big fat zero.
Placed against a PR1 site, a PR8 will win more respect in the eyes
of potential clients and can produce enormous profits for the site
owner and we won't even mention the still widely practiced
habit of selling links, which Google is desperately trying to stop.
Total and full elimination of PageRank would be an honest start
but it will still be an uphill, if not an unwinnable battle, for
Google to fully eliminate link selling.
Even with my modest sites, I have turned down a small fortune
by not selling text links on any of my sites. When I had a PR6
site instead of a PR4 - those link requests were nearly doubled.
So one can easily understand Google's position and the need to
downplay PageRank, if they want to put a small dent in all
this link selling and buying, which is still running rampant
on today's web.
PageRank is Google's creation, and unless they remove it fully
from their system and the Google toolbar, then PageRank still Counts.
Actually, in the whole scheme of marketing your website on the
net, PageRank counts big time. And in more ways than one.
There are several reasons why you shouldn't count PageRank out.
For years Google has been downplaying the important of
PageRank and states it's only one of about 200 ranking factors
which determines how Google ranks its index for keywords.
Obtaining top organic rankings for popular lucrative keywords
in Google simply means money in the bank. Actually, even a movement
of only one or two places on those first page SERPs (Search Engine
Results Pages) can make a major difference to any online marketer's
bottom line.
Now while you can have a lower PR number and still rank above
other higher PR pages for your chosen keywords, I have even had
many times when my PR drops but my actual SERPs rankings in Google
goes up, mainly due to building related relevant backlinks. So
PageRank counts little towards your keyword rankings but it can't
be totally dismissed.
Mainly because, even if PR is just one ranking factor, in close competitive
keyword battles (I am presently fighting tooth and nail for some
very choice keywords) just one ranking factor such as high PR can make
the difference of whether or not you get to the top spot. Big dogs
are still jumping and for those of us who know how to count, getting
a number one spot in Google makes all the difference in the world.
Not only because Google controls roughly 80% of all search engine
traffic, but more importantly Google has established unmatched
credibility and brand recognition in the eyes of potential customers
visiting your site. Web users trust Google. Web users look to Google
for guidance and direction. Web users believe what Google is telling them.
In the online world, rightly or wrongly, perception is everything.
As an online marketer, I am completely amazed each day at the
marketing power Google now commands with web surfers and with the
general population. Google is king of online search and no other
search engine even comes close to Google.
PageRank is Google's ranking system, and in the eyes of those who
notice these things, it still wheels tremendous influence and power.
By default, PageRank is Google's opinion of your site, and web
users can count (at least to 10) and if Google believes people
are still not counting when it comes to PageRank, then they are fully
mistaken.
...
The author is a full-time professional online marketer who has numerous
niche websites. For the latest web marketing tools try: Internet Marketing Tools
or here: Free Marketing Tools
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins. This article may be
freely distributed if this resource box stays attached. |
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| Ouch Google That Hurts! (How Recent Changes Within Google May Affect Your Rankings) |
[Jul. 20th, 2009|09:45 am] |
Google recently has been changing the whole way it ranks
or lists its results for lucrative high-paying keywords.
The playing field has not only gotten more competitive
but it has gotten a lot smaller.
What does all this mean?
Well, if you're an online marketer like me who depends on
Google (directly or indirectly) for the large majority of
your monthly checks. Your will be greatly concerned how
this affects your own keyword rankings within Google.
I have seem big shifts in some of my more lucrative
keyword rankings within Google. And I am searching for
the reasons for those drops. You can view my findings
on Goolge's recent changes here:
Ouch Google That Hurts!
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| Internet Marketing Tactics For These Tough Times (From Google and Me!) |
[Jan. 8th, 2009|03:40 pm] |
Teaser:
Google and Me! Sounds like something Micheal Moore
would say, but as we enter into some dire economic times,
online marketers need all the help they get - regardless
of the source. Some of these tips are directly from Google
& some of them are from a seasoned, full-time online affiliate
marketer - that would be me!
Internet Marketing Tactics For These Tough Times (From Google and Me!)
Copyright © 2008 Titus Hoskins
As we enter into what many enlightened souls are calling
the most dire economic times since the Great Depression,
online marketers need all the help they can get - regardless
of the source. You have probably heard of Google; but chances
are almost 100% certain, you have never heard of me. Lucky you!
Actually, the only thing you need to know about me is
that I am a full-time online affiliate marketer and I
make a very comfortable living from the web. Last year
(2008), was my best year online so far, which left me
scratching my head and saying what recession?
But that may be something of a false positive, as I will
never know how much I could have made if the economic
times had been good instead of bad. Plus, judging from
my own limited experience, selling and marketing online
may not have been hit as hard as those businesses in the
real world in 2008, since consumers are doing everything
to save a penny and shopping online has become a much cheaper
alternative for many.
As we enter into these uncertain times, online marketers
and webmasters need all the help they can get. Recently,
Google mailed a small booklet to its Adsense users;
in it Google gives "6 Top Tactics For Tough Times."
It is obviously referring to its Adwords PPC (Pay Per
Click) program and clients but Google's advice can be
applied to your own general online marketing.
These tactics include: (quoting directly from the
Google mail-out)
1. Focus your ads on low prices and savings.
2. Use Value-related keywords.
3. Ensure your ad groups are targeted and relevant.
4. Don't waste money on irrelevant clicks.
5. Make it easy for customers to buy.
6. Focus your money on your high-performers.
(End Quote)
Sound advice and I especially like the idea of focusing
your marketing on low prices and savings mainly because
people want bargains in tight economic times. I also like
the fact that you must make it easy for your customers to
buy... something as simple as putting your "order/buy link"
above the fold can increase your conversions.
Also, targeting value-related keywords, is a very effective
marketing tactic. Relating your keywords to "discounts,
bargains, cheap, inexpensive, lowest prices..." will help
increase your sales. So too, is catering to phrases that
suggest the searcher is in a buying mind-set: gifts, presents,
gift ideas, wedding gifts... shoppers searching those words
are ready to buy.
Plus, focusing your time and money on your high-performers
is solid advice. Sometimes succeeding online is simply
finding a market niche that works/performs - then running
with it. Once you have found the keywords and products
that perform well with your site or sites - focus the
majority of your time and energy developing those niche
markets.
Now here are some of my most effective marketing
tactics that have worked for me and tactics I will
be relying on in the coming years - even in these
hard times.
o Make Keywords Your #1 Goal
This is the single most important factor for my own
online success. You have to make keywords and ranking
high for them in all the search engines your main
objective if you're marketing online. Might sound
obvious, but many beginning marketers don't truly
understand how important getting top rankings for
your chosen keywords will be in your online success.
Target less competitive long tail (multi-worded)
keywords to get started and slowly work your
way up to more popular keywords. Center your
marketing around getting those first page listings
(Top Five) for your keywords. Achieve this goal,
(especially in Google) and it will be almost
impossible for you not to succeed and make
a profit with your online marketing even in
bad times.
o Autoresponders, List Building & Online Relationships
Keeping in contact with potential buyers is mission
critical. You must use autoresponders to send follow-up
messages to build trustful relationships with your
potential customers. Establishing this personal contact
or trust is very important because the Internet is
still a cold distrustful environment for most people.
So building a large contact list is essential. That's
why the social networks such as Twitter, Facebook,
MySpace can be very effective marketing tools for
building this online contact and trust. Truth be told,
all these social networks are, more or less, just
glorified autoresponders and list builders!
o Your Unique Selling Position
You must give potential customers some very good
reasons for them to buy from you or your links.
Offering special bonuses and discounts works
wonders for your sales. Some of my most successful
pages simply consists of coupons and discounts
offered by different companies. If buyers can
save $100's OFF by buying thru your links, they
will.
Always remember, besides looking for the best
deal or bargain, consumers are also looking for a
quality product. If you're into affiliate marketing,
only pick top quality products to promote. Picking
top brand names also makes it easier to make sales.
So too is only promoting popular online merchants
like Amazon, can be an effective marketing strategy.
Most importantly, always remember consumers are also
looking for INFORMATION on the products they are
considering buying, give them helpful information
and you will succeed.
o Find A Niche You Enjoy
There are millions of profitable niche markets you can
choose from - pick one that truly interests you and run
with it. Your favorite hobby or something you enjoy
doing in your spare-time. Picking a niche market that
you like is a key factor, you won't mind spending your
time exploring and exploiting it. Just won't seem like
work because you will be having fun while you do your
marketing.
o Go With The Flow
If you're marketing online, you have to follow what's
working for you. Most times you will try countless
ideas or tactics - once you have found a process or
system that works, really work it or scale it up.
Making your first dollar is the hardest, but once
you do something that earns you that dollar,
just repeat that "something" a thousand times.
Tracking what works is very important so keep a
close eye on your site's traffic logs to find where
your customers are coming from. Something like
Google Analytics is simply priceless for "fine-tuning"
your site and your online marketing. It will tell
you what's working and what's not.
o Target Recurring or Residual Income
One of my most effective marketing strategies is to
promote and sell products and services that give you
a recurring or residual income. Make one sale and get
paid for years or for the life of that referred client.
Concentrate on services like web-hosting, telephone,
marketing programs... once customers sign up to these
services, they will likely keep them for years. I am
still earning income from sales I made five years ago.
Building a large residual income could be the key to
surviving in tough economic times. This will be income
which will carry you or your business over the rough
patches since it is based upon past performance and not
on your current selling situation.
o Target the Right Customers And Markets
The biggest advantage of marketing online is you
can precisely target your customers and your markets.
One tactic I use is to target customers who are likely
to buy more than one unit of what you're selling. For example,
if you target Corporate Business Gifts, a boss or employer
will not be buying just one coffee mug but ten or even
hundreds of mugs.
Even in tough times, seasonal markets will still
perform... back to school, mother's day, Halloween,
Christmas market... things might slow down but these
markets will still perform even in tough times.
</b>
o Automate Everything</b>
The real beauty of marketing online and using computers...
you can automate just about every process in your marketing
system. Make it a point of automating everything you do...
use autoresponders to follow-up with potential buyers, use
automatic check-outs, automatic reporting... just set-up your
whole online marketing system that runs itself with little
or no supervision from you. This will free up your time to
concentrate all your efforts on marketing/promoting your
site or product. Besides, nothing beats coming back from
a vacation and finding out you have earned the cost of
your vacation and then some - all the while you were lying
in the sun and miles away from any computer.
o Find The Top Online Marketers
If you're just starting with online marketing, you
need to find the top successful marketers and "model"
what they're doing. This is relatively a new industry
and you have to seek out the experts and pioneers who
have set the groundwork. When I first started marketing
online, I was quite fortunate to come into contact with
some web marketing heavy-weights such as Marlon Sanders,
Ken Evoy, Neil Shearing... and SEO experts like Brad Callen
and Aaron Wall.
Often it is just a matter of finding the right "mentor"
to follow. You need to study their techniques to improve
your own marketing. Perhaps my best advice would be this:
find the top online marketers and stick to them like glue!
o Make Google Your Friend
Whether you love or hate Google doesn't matter, you
just have to make it your number one ally in your
online marketing. Google has just about conquered
the world-wide search market, Yahoo and MSN are
still important, but Google is the deal-breaker
when you're selling stuff online. Consumers have
enormous respect for Google, a number one listing
for a lucrative keyword simply means money in
the bank. Marketers must realize Google will
play a significant role in their online success
and may play an ever increasing role in these
tough economic times.
I have found using Google Search, Google Adwords,
and Google Adsense have played a more than significant
role in the success of my own online sites and marketing.
Google tools such as Google Analytics, Google Alerts,
Webmaster Tools... all have been invaluable and an
enormous help in achieving my "web-based" lifestyle
and livelihood. Of course, Google has also driven me
around the bend more times than I can count, but no
one is perfect.
Besides, when it's all said and done, anyone marketing
on the web must truly embrace Google if they want to
reach their highest level possible. In good times and
especially in these bad times, you must make Google your
friend. Your best friend. Even your BFF. When all else
fails, trust in Google, forget that other guy. Then again,
you better not; for you're going to need all the help you
can get in these coming tough times, regardless of the source.
...
Everyone has a story. Mine is called: "In Search Of The $100 Click
or How I Found A Full-Time Online Income And Came To Love The Internet"
It's located here: Online Income
Everyone is profiting from the web, find out how
you can too! Click here: Best Internet Marketing Training
Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins. |
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