How to Boost Your Traffic and Profits with Content!

Editor of "The View From The Cabin" newsletter

http://www.online-business-centre.com/lan/newsbiz_blog_perm.htm

Are you aware of how vitally important and valuable CONTENT is to your online business? In fact, content can do more to build your business and profits than just about any other resource or service available.

Following is a list of 5 key ways that content can help build your traffic, subscribers, and customers starting today!...

1. Boost your search engine ranking and daily visitor count by posting keyword rich articles and content on your web-site. For example, if your business involves offering products and services related to fitness, posting fitness related articles and content will attract unlimited prospective customers on a regular basis!

2. Generate double or even triple the number of newsletter subscribers you do currently, simply by offering content in the form of "special reports" or manuals as bonuses for subscribing to your publication. People love freebies, so give them what they want and watch as your results increase!

3. Create an automated cashflow by using content to formulate multi-part email training courses with related web-site or affiliate links "sprinkled" throughout each course. Use an autoresponder service to automate the delivery of your training course (such as a 5 part training course delivered over a 5 day period).

Training courses can also serve as excellent bonus offers for your prospective newsletter subscribers.

4. One of the most important keys to a successful online business is not JUST having a list of mailing list or newsletter subscribers... It's about building a trusting relationship with your subscribers (ie, "cultivating" your list)...

By sending informative articles (content) to your list on a regular basis you will establish yourself as an expert on your topic of business, as well as gain the trust of your subscribers over time. As a result, your subscribers will be EAGER to take advantage of your "paid" product and service offers. (Just make sure that you NEVER take advantage of the relationship you develop with your list by offering products or services of poor quality just to make a quick buck!)

If there is one "constant" in Internet marketing, it's this: A cultivated list of subscribers is as good as money in the bank. Write that down and never forget it!

5. Another excellent way to generate no cost traffic is by submitting ready-made articles to "content hungry" web-site and newsletter publishers with your "resource box" attached. A resource box is nothing more than a little 3-6 line "bio" about you and/or your web-site - including a link to your site (or even instructions on how to subscribe to your newsletter)...

When submitting or offering your article(s)
for reprint purposes, just make sure to
specify that each article is to be reprinted
"as is" with your resource box attached.

...Even one article can go a LONG way towards generating no cost traffic and visitors for you. Just imagine your article being sent out to a newsletter subscriber base of 100,000 individuals - many of whom will be reading YOUR included resource box and clicking on your URL to learn more about what you have to offer!

Well there you have it, 5 sure ways to build your online business exponentially with the help of articles and content...

With the declining effectiveness of many of the online advertising methods that we've relied on in past years, content is only strengthening its position as the ultimate KEY to generating unlimited traffic, subscribers, and customers!

Tom Taylor

BSc, MSC, PHD (School of Hard Knocks and Real Lessons)

http://online-business-centre.com

Editor of "The View From The Cabin" newsletter

http://www.online-business-centre.com/lan/newsbiz_blog_perm.htm

This article may be republished so long as the resource informationis left intact.

5 Tips on Using Private Label Content

Editor of "The View From The Cabin" newsletter

http://www.online-business-centre.com/lan/newsbiz_blog_perm.htm

Private Label Content is becoming increasingly popular
as people join the rush to fill their websites with high
-quality information. Admittedly, you can have articles
written by freelance writers at sites like Elance or
Rentacoder, but it gets expensive. For those who are
not yet generating a high income through AdSense or
affiliate sales, Private Label Content (PLC) provides a
welcome alternative.
=== What is Private Label Content? ===
PLC generally refers to articles, e-books and manuals
that are free for subscribers to
use as they wish. There are a few restrictions,
however: you cannot claim copyright to PLC, or
submit it to article sites, unless you change the
content significantly. (Interpret 'significantly' as
'unrecognizable as the original article'.) The cost of
membership varies, but typically ranges from around
$24 to $67 a month. For this you might receive
anywhere from 150 to 300 articles per month. Some
sites also offer graphics (e-book covers and site header
graphics) and even ready-made sales letters. To use
PLC to the best advantage, you need to be aware of a
few things.
=== 1. How Can You Use PLC Articles? ===
The most common use for PLC articles is to provide
useful, interesting content for websites. There are
other uses, however. Think about your immediate
needs. If you require an incentive for people to sign
up for your newsletter, you can offer an e-book or
training manual made up from PLC articles. It's easy
to tweak these to be more relevant to your website
and your clients. (As well as putting yourself in
Google's shoes, put yourself in your clients' shoes.
What do they most need to know?) You could also
create an e-course (anything from 6 to 52 articles -
a short e-course, or one that offers an article for each
week of the year). This gives you an excellent reason
to stay in touch with your clients.
=== 2. How Can You Alter PLC Articles? ===
Submitting articles to public article directories along
with your resource box is a great way to generate
traffic to your web-sites. However, many directories
don't allow you to submit duplicate content - ie, you
have to submit your own unique article. Therefore,
when submitting an article that you obtained from a
private label content resource, it's advisable to first
alter the article before submission. Here are a few tips
in that regard... (a) Change the title of the article. If
you are using keyword-optimized articles, make sure
you keep the keyword in the title - but be creative
about the words that surround it. So if your article is
based on the keyword "Mongolian Guinea Pig", your
title might be "Where to Find the Mongolian Guinea
Pig" or "Taking Care of Your Mongolian Guinea Pig"
and so on. (b) Change the opening paragraph. All you
need to do (usually) is make sure that your keyword
appears once. Take a look at the rest of the paragraph.
How can you say the same thing in a different way?
Look for synonyms - using your thesaurus - or alter
the tone. Perhaps you can adopt a more casual
approach (this might work better for your readership
anyway). You might prefer write a different
introduction altogether. (c) Work through the article.
Add a sentence here; subtract one there. Present the
facts in a different order. Expand by adding some new
points. Break a long article into two shorter articles.
(If you do this, make sure each article seems complete
in itself.) (d) Rewrite the ending. When you do this,
think about what you want the reader to do. Is this a
good place to put your own affiliate link, or write a
lead-in to your own product or services?
=== 3. Blend Several Articles Into One ===
You can get a whole new look if you take two or more
PLC articles on the same theme and blend them into
one longer, fact-packed article. Sometimes you might
find you HAVE to do this, if an article seems a bit
'lightweight'. Not all PLC articles are created equal!
Sometimes it's obvious that the writer was low on
inspiration.
=== 4. Think Outside the Square. ===
Most PLC articles are presented in batches relevant
to one niche. For example, you might find that over
the course of a month you get 20 articles on golf, 20
on cell phones, 20 on credit cards and 20 on travel.
Let's say that you are busy building a golf site. It
might seem at first glance that only 20 of the 80
articles are relevant to your needs. Not so! Golf
vacations, for example, are very popular. Could any of
your travel articles be massaged to fit the theme of
golf vacations? It's very likely that they could. And
what about communication while you travel - or while
you play golf? Does the golfer need a new cell phone
that will easily adapt to overseas communications?
How will the golfer pay for a new set of clubs or a golf
vacation? Might he need to explore credit card options?
You see how it's done. Be creative in your use of
Private Label Content, and you will definitely get your
money's worth. === 5. One Final Tip - Hold Out For
Quality! === Now that Private Label Content is
becoming popular, more and more PLC sites are
opening up. You can afford to be choosy. Check out
the quality of the articles on offer, and especially the
niches being targeted. Niche areas like golf and credit
are popular, and that's exactly what you want. You
want to go where there is an *existing* demand. You
do NOT want obscure niches where there is little
activity. You WANT to go where there is competition.
Naturally, the profitable niches will always have
competition. Where there is competition, there are
buyers! So you want to look for demand, look for
competition, and carve your niche! Finally, consider
being a member of more than one PLC site. Is it worth
it to you to spend $150 a month on quality, no-strings-
attached content? That would get you membership of
3-4 sites and upwards of 400 articles each month.
Even if you can use only 50 of those articles, you're
getting them for $3 each - a bargain!

Tom Taylor

BSc, MSC, PHD (School of Hard Knocks and Real Lessons)

http://online-business-centre.com

Editor of "The View From The Cabin" newsletter

http://www.online-business-centre.com/lan/newsbiz_blog_perm.htm

This article may be republished so long as the resource informationis left intact.

8 Ways to Gain Expert Recognition

Editor of "The View From The Cabin" newsletter

http://www.online-business-centre.com/lan/newsbiz_blog_perm.htm

No matter what business you are in it always helps to be seen as
an expert. If you were calling someone to fix a drain or sell your
house you would approach the person you saw as most credible
and reputable in that area of expertise. To become an expert
takes hard work and experience. It can involve study or the
honing of practical skills. It demands high standards of work. But
after all this effort will you be perceived as an expert? If you feel
you've earned the mantle of expert but are not recognized as
one, here are eight ways to start establishing your reputation.

Publish a book or series of reports or articles The internet has
made this much easier. You can now create an ebook that can
be downloaded without having to involve a publisher. There are
ezine owners always looking for good quality articles and reports
for their ezines. A well-written book or series of articles will
establish your reputation as an expert in your field. Publish a
newsletter Set one up on the internet and distribute it to your
customers. This is an excellent way to regularly keep your name
in front of your prospects as an authority on your subject.

Write press releases Used correctly these can gain you a lot of
positive publicity. Make sure the press release looks like
newsworthy information and not like an advertisement. Create
a website Set up a user-friendly website that will appeal to
customers and you have expanded the reach of your reputation.
Keep it timely and informative, and people will continue to return
to your site. If you don't know how to set up a website there are
plenty of web designers who do. Alternatively enquire at a college
teaching web design. Some students might want to build a portfolio.

Join associations If you are a member of an association it will
enhance your credibility. But don't just be a member. Be an active
member. This will build your reputation among your peers and
lead to useful introductions. Membership can have many benefits,
and it will certainly keep you up to date in your field. Networking
You can boost your reputation and influence by speaking to the
right people. Keep your name in front of your prospects. Organize
mutually beneficial ventures.

You cannot predict what may come from a contact so make as
many as you can. Public Speaking Even speaking to a local group
of people can establish you as an expert and get you referrals
that may lead to a wider audience. If you are not sure you can
speak in public, preparation and rehearsal are the keys to success.
Make sure your presentation is aimed at the right level, follows
a sensible sequence and will not sound like a dry textbook-like
monologue. Write your main points on small cards so you are
not relying solely on your memory and start in front of a small
audience. Teach workshops or seminars If you have knowledge
that people would like to tap into you can pass on your expertise.

If your presentation is well planned you will be seen as an
authority in your subject. You will also meet people who are
likely to recommend you to others. If you are teaching a hot
topic you will also be gaining a useful income stream. Any of
these methods will start building your reputation as an expert.
Use them all correctly and you will gain the sort of reputation
that will have potential clients approaching you without having
to seek them out.

Tom Taylor

BSc, MSC, PHD (School of Hard Knocks and Real Lessons)

http://online-business-centre.com

Editor of "The View From The Cabin" newsletter

http://www.online-business-centre.com/lan/newsbiz_blog_perm.htm

This article may be republished so long as the resource informationis left intact.

What is a Niche Market Anyway?

Editor of "The View From The Cabin" newsletter

http://www.online-business-centre.com/lan/newsbiz_blog_perm.htm

You are interested in starting a home-based business. You also
want to use the Internet for your work-at-home idea. However, you
are not sure if you can make money online. To make matters worse,
you are confused about what home-based business opportunity to
pursue.

If this sounds like you, rest assured that money can be made
online with a home-based business. You don't need to study for
years until you can reap rewards. There are sound business
concepts that have been taught and proven to be true by some of
the most highly successful marketers in the world. What is the
top sound principle that will ensure your success? It is choosing
the right niche market.

You might be wondering what is a niche. A niche is simply a group
of people with similar interests and needs. They are very
passionate about their topic of interest. Think of a small pond
packed with starving fish and you have the bait specific to their
needs; they will like what you have to offer the best. This, in
essence, is a niche.

Why a niche market? Well, unless you are a huge corporation with
bottomless pockets, niche marketing is the way to go. You see
most of the large corporations blow off niche markets because
they are not trying to make an additional $1000 to $15000 per
month like many home-based business entrepreneurs and other small
business owners. They are seeking to make millions per month,
which is good for you because you don't have to compete with
those companies that have massive marketing budgets.

It really is easy to find potential customers in niche markets.
Here are some examples:

Motor Home Owners
Carpet Cleaner Business Owners
Restaurant Owners
Winter Camping Enthusiasts
Siamese Cat Owners
Dentists
Landscape Company Owners

You get the picture.

Before you decide which niche market to target for your home-
based business, here are four important points to consider:

1. Is the market easily defined and reachable? Do you know where
they hangout? What kind of trade journals or publications do they
read? Do they have clubs or are members of particular
organizations?

2. Is the market small enough that you will not have tons of
competitors, but still large enough for you to make a good
profit?

3. Does the market have the money to spend?

4. Does the group have an insane passion for their hobby or topic
of interest? Do they eat, sleep, and breathe their hobby? Are
they constantly seeking more information related to their
subject? A great example of this would be golfers and NASCAR
enthusiasts!

Doing research related to these questions will help you pick the
perfect niche market for your home-based business.

As you think about starting a home-based business and what market
to target, follow the above suggestions and you will be way ahead
of many other home-based business opportunity seekers who want to
start a work-at-home business.

Tom Taylor

BSc, MSC, PHD (School of Hard Knocks and Real Lessons)

http://online-business-centre.com

Editor of "The View From The Cabin" newsletter

http://www.online-business-centre.com/lan/newsbiz_blog_perm.htm

This article may be republished so long as the resource informationis left intact.