Inspiring Story From A Novice Internet Marketer
Over the last 12 months I have been in touch with Dave Clarkson, a tradesman from Brisbane. I met him at FastWebFormula in Sydney in March 2010, and we are both members of the SuperFastResults internet marketing and online business Forum.
Dave was a complete novice when our paths crossed, but his tenacity and will to succeed has driven him to learn about things that were WAY outside of his comfort zone. Dave races rally cars, and he makes parts for them – and he is also an internet marketer.
I asked Dave if he would share his story on a Skype interview, and when he agreed, we decided to be way too clever and video record the call as well, and split the screen so you could see us both! Some of the sound is a bid dodgy in parts, but I’m sure you will agree that Dave has climbed a very steep learning curve, with the support of our forum members and his learnings from FastWebFormula.
I think Dave proves that complete novices are able to learn the skills needed to become an internet marketer.
>> Learn more here about 2011 FastWebFormula3
The Fast Lane To More Traffic
One of the people who were instrumental in launching my career as an SEO Content Writer, and who continues to be a mentor and client, has, in the last few days launched a new training course that demonstrates how to get more traffic, targeted traffic to your website.
Because getting traffic and improving rankings is my business’ raison d’etre, this topic is close to my heart. All of the different types of writing services that I offer my wonderful clients are included in this product, in a structured, systematic way that has real, demonstrated, proven results. I was privileged to be given a sneak preview of Traffic Grab, and am truly amazed at the amount of knowledge James is sharing for such a modest price (under $100).
You see, over the last 5 years this hugely successful Australian, James Schramko has amassed an amazing amount of knowledge on how to get traffic to websites. He has used his strategies, tactics and tools (some of which he developed himself) to create a profitable online empire. It is for this reason that I unreservedly recommend this course to my clients and readers.
Traffic Grab
For over three months now, James Schramko has been assembling all of this information into a system – James loves systems. The result is the just-released Traffic Grab, a very comprehensive yet easy to understand course for getting targeted traffic to your website.
Amazingly, the first three modules are free – James’ way of demonstrating that this course is a no BS, thoroughly researched, and valuable product. He does not want to be grouped with those internet marketers who just rehash old material and label it as their own.
His methods are proven to work.
These first modules show, in video format:
- The right way to research ‘buying’ keywords and keyphrases: you want buying traffic, not just lookers!
- What type of content brings in those buyers
- How to assemble your site in a way that will convert visitors to loyal customers
Once you have absorbed this preliminary information, the next three modules (the paid modules) encompass:
- Massive traffic action
- Profiting from target traffic
- Leverage initial profit to make even more
Nine Hours Of Video
Don’t be mistaken though – the material here is not to be learned in one sitting. James Schramko has compiled 9 hours of video into this course. It has 24 traffic steps, his ‘spaghetti bowl’ mindmap (I recommend having this enlarged and printed to plan-size, laminate it and put it on your wall). It is a visual representation of all of the steps in Traffic Grab.
In the videos, James covers each section from scratch – ideal for beginners and for the more experienced marketers (who are probably doing it wrong!!). His methods for building a quality list of buyers are something every online business needs to grasp and master.
Importantly though, in Traffic Grab, James demonstrates how, once sales are made, you can leverage those sales to scale up for more profits.
Not Theory
Throughout his online career, James has been an advocate of Proof. We all know marketers who espouse theories that are often not their own and try to create an air of authority around themselves.
James, however, provides real case studies that demonstrate the results he has achieved using the various strategies that he outlines in TrafficGrab. He stresses that this is a System, and one that can be replicated by anyone prepared to Implement.
James Schramko’s Traffic Grab is well priced – half of it is free! – but when combined with an impressive Traffic Grab Bonus from his premium content writer, me (!), it is impossible to ignore.
>> Learn about my bonus, and how you can get more traffic to your website now.
A New Breed Of Retiree – Profiting From Decades Of Knowledge
More and more people passing the age of retirement are continuing to work full-time or part-time. A growing number are discovering the opportunities that the internet is providing for them to leverage, for financial gain, the skills and knowledge that they have acquired in their lives.
These skills however, are not limited to the workplace. Indeed, it is by sharing information about hobbies, sports, and life skills that are, that they are offering a real legacy to the next generations.
Baby Boomers – the generation born between 1945 and 1965 – are in the box seat when it comes to leverage their skills online. They are, in general, better educated that their parents, most have remained true to their occupation (amassing high level skills in the process), they have enjoyed a variety of lifestyle choices, and most have electronic communication skills.
However, it is their parents – those who remain with us – who have some old-school skills that it would be very sad to lose. And this presents yet another opportunity: for Baby Boomers to record and preserve their parents’ knowledge.
Believe it or not, there are young people today who would like to make a cake that didn’t come from a packet in the supermarket. There are people who prefer custom made furniture and would love advice on making the perfect dovetail joint. And there are researchers who would like first-hand accounts of life during international conflicts, of journalism and science in the 40s and 50s.
The internet presents an amazing opportunity for knowledge sharing on a massive scale.
Benefits of Working, Online or Offline, Beyond Retirement
Continuing income
Even with life savings, the increasing costs of living and longer life expectancies of retirees may render a retirement fund insufficient. Weak markets have taken their toll on investment properties threatening the liquidity of retirees. Working part-time or full-time ensures continuous income for retirees.
Improved health
Doctors have long been aware of the important health benefits of staying active at an older age, particularly for mental health. Moreover, a study conducted by the University of Maryland suggests that older individuals who continued working, whether full-time or part-time, after retirement had fewer major diseases or disabilities than those who stopped working.
Social interaction
Lack of social activity has been linked to rapid decline in motor function leading some specialists to recommend regular social interaction for elderly people. Working presents opportunities for regular interaction with others and is recommended for the elderly.
Happy disposition
Older people tend to pursue their passions in their retirement years, starting new career paths that they have always dreamed of or establishing new businesses. This promotes positive attitudes and feelings of happiness and well-being.
Working From Home For Older People
Internet technology and advanced computer applications have made it possible for many people to work from home. A reliable computer and good internet connection, and, preferably, a dedicated workspace, are that is needed in most cases. If video tutorials help to get techniques and messages across, a regular video camera (even the inexpensive Flip camera will do!) will be required.
Anyone who wants to succeed in working from home for an employer must have strong self-motivation and an openness to change, as traditional working arrangements take on alternative forms online. On the other hand, managers who wish to tap the valuable experience and expertise of older people need to consider flexible job structures and workloads and to offer training and mentoring as well.
Get Paid For Knowledge Sharing
2011 has heralded a new form of peer-to-peer teaching and learning, with the recent launch of learnable.com.
Learnable.com
This online platform has made it possible for people with knowledge on just about any topic – from worm composting to writing code – to create information products and sell them to a worldwide audience of information seekers.
The beauty of learnable.com is that ‘teachers’ create their product just once, and it remains for sale in downloadable form, on the site for as long as the teacher chooses. It is the classic example of how to earn a recurring income.
Learning is a lifelong pursuit, so this site is ideal for older people to learn about different topics as well. The courses are inexpensive, ranging from around $10-50.
Your Own Website
Selling
Knowledge has value. In these days of instant gratification, young people who want information, want it NOW, and they are willing to pay to have it NOW. Their being able to find and access the information that you have to share is made easier by having a well architected website, that the search engines rank well.
Setting up your own website has become so easy, with services like SuperFastWebsites who can have a good looking, easy to manage, website up and running for you in no time – for just a few hundred dollars.
If you have trouble writing the website content to promote your products or services, it has never been easier to outsource content writing.
Armed with your product or service details, a website and a PayPal account, you can be selling online in a snap.
Posterity
Preserving the knowledge of older people for future generations via an online platform is a powerful gift to future generations. Video hints and tips can create a bond between generations that has before now been impossible.
Creating a website as a means of preserving knowledge, e.g. A video of Grandma making the traditional family festive cake, or Dad pruning his prize roses, allows simple, yet priceless, skills are kept alive. Putting the video on a simple WordPress website can be extremly simple: easy upload to YouTube, then copy the embed code to your page or post!
Paid Employment: Work From Home
For those looking for paid online employment, there are many options – and the list grows daily, including:
Customer service representatives
This employee answers incoming calls, takes orders, tracks existing orders and handles customer complaints for clients. Most companies offer paid training periods which can benefit the elderly.
Online juror
In the United States, attorneys who are working on cases need to obtain important feedback about the details of their cases by presenting them to online jurors who sit in mock juries. Digital files in various video and audio formats make this type of job possible without leaving home.
Virtual assistant
Companies have increasingly tapped the services of virtual assistants who perform various administrative tasks such as making travel arrangement, sending out letters and other support services that may be done through the phone or Internet. Anyone who wants to work as a virtual assistant may need knowledge in computer software applications, desktop publishing, project management, spreadsheets and database management.
Online tutor
Teaching students online is also a popular job that the elderly can do. Usual subject areas for teaching include world history, physics, science, math and English. Advanced learning programs may also offer tutorial sessions for helping students pass the SAT. Online tutors need to pass an exam for subjects they intend to teach.
Freelance writers
Writing online includes many activities such as copywriting, article and press release writing, proof reading, technical and resume writing. To excel in this field, one must have a good grasp of spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Other types of work that can do from home are consulting and mentoring where their long years of experience are an asset.
Online work opportunities for retirees abound in the Web but the challenge lies in determining which ones are legitimate and not mere scams. As a rule of thumb, anything that promises instant wealth without any effort or which charges a fee to obtain additional information about a job is not a legitimate offer and must be ignored.
Reputable work at home sites, where jobs are posted, include ratracerebellion.com, alpineaccess.com and Elance.com.
The Biggest Database Ever
The internet is the ultimate museum, library or employement agency. It is a way for any individual – regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, culture or disability to learn, teach and work. And it provides an unprecedented opportunity for older people to financially benefit from the knowledge that they have gathered over decades.
Seizing the opportunity for you, your parent, your grandparent or your charity to profit from that knowledge, is just the click of a mouse button away.
Google Changes Brings Out GArbitrage And Conspiracy Theorists
Weeks after the implementation of Google’s Content Farm Update, the effects of the algorithm change have begun to surface.
Preferential Treatment? The Huffington Puff
On one hand, a ‘news’ site, the Huffington Post, which auto-publishes stories pulled from various news sites, managed to outrank its original news sources. This latest development appears to contradict Google’s intention to weed out content farms supposedly in favor of high quality content.
Read the rest of this entry »
Award Of Diamond Account Status By ezinearticles.com – How You Benefit
In addressing Google’s algorithm changes at the end of February 2011, which saw its site’s ranking devalued, ezinearticles.com took some immediate steps to re-establish its status.
One of these was to establish a “Diamond Account”. In an email to authors on March 9, ezinearticles publisher Chris Knight explained:
“Over time, we’ve come to realize that we’ve outgrown our current membership level structure.
The trend we see is that Platinum-level members are grouped together unfairly. Our highest quality authors are mixed in with others who may be more concerned with generating high numbers versus creating great articles. Read the rest of this entry »
Google Changes Algorithm to Weed Out Content Farms
Search engine giant Google shook article distribution networks with its recent modification of search algorithms aimed at downgrading the ranks of ‘content farms’ while improving the visibility of highly authoritative websites. This move is an apparent response to criticisms about the quality and relevance of its top search results which have been dominated by the pages of eHow, Ezine, Associated Content and Demand Media. Read the rest of this entry »
Document Sharing For SEO
Most internet marketers use article marketing as part of their marketing strategy.
You can use reproduced/PLR or spun articles (what I consider ‘low grade’ articles) for submission to article and blog networks to improve you SEO by getting backlinks – no news there.
Most importantly, you know that by writing or having written, premium articles, you can establish authority and credibility in your particular niche/s. You can add these articles to you websites as valuable, relevant content, and then submit them to the better article directories as well. You can spin them, alter them, slice and dice them.
But here’s a scoop – you don’t have to leave it at that. Here is yet another – extremely powerful – way to use that content. Read the rest of this entry »
Used and Abused: Copyright, Ethics and the Online World
I’ve got a feeling that this post will probably prick the conscience of some readers, and hopefully may educate others.
There will, I have not doubt, be those who will shrug it off and continue to use the work of others for their own marketing purposes, with little or no respect for the effort that the originator of the work devoted to its creation. Read the rest of this entry »
Over 200,000 Results For Free Press Release
In the last few weeks I have officially launched my latest report Powerful Press Releases. To be able to demonstrate to readers just how effective online press releases are as a backlinking strategy, this week I decided to put a press release into action. Below is the result after 2 days:
In case it is difficult to read, the press release returned 210,000 results – and there are 3 links to my sales page in the release – you do the backlink math. I have seen some very dramatic results from my press releases, and normally 2000-5000 results returned is a great outcome. That the topic is an in-demand one always improves the stats, but this result saw me happy-dancing around the room. Read the rest of this entry »
New Issue of WHAT THE…. Now Available
With the dust having settled on the Christmas/New Year period, I have taken the opportunity to focus on some of my own projects before opening my metaphorical doors to clients for 2011.
First project check off was the completion of my Powerful Press Releases report, and now the much anticipated updated version of my free Glossary of internet marketing terms “What the @%!* Does THAT Mean?”. Read the rest of this entry »
