Carol Bentley

This is a brief, and I do mean brief, message.

If you’ve checked out the videos, web reporting and other material the StomperNet guys are pushing out then you have already got some great material.

But if you want more of their good stuff then you need to act quickly and check out what they are offering at StomperNet before they close the doors again.

(Throughout the SMARTS program I ‘attended’ the membership for StomperNet itself was closed, so I’m confident their claim they will close for a period of time is genuine and not just a marketing ploy).

Have a good weekend,

~ Carol Bentley

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Well, I decided to have a go myself - just to see if the web-report promised by StomperNet was worth the bother (see the post Is your website converting like crazy).

I wanted to see how this blog website fared, so I visited the “Stomper Site Seer” website. It was a surprisingly easy process and delivered some interesting insights. My report included a wealth of information - some I knew about, other aspects were things I hadn’t considered or was not aware of.

This is what my report contained:

• Where my website can be found on the web; Google, Yahoo!, MSN, Technorati, PRWeb, Ezine Articles, Compete, Archive.org, Quantcast and my Alexa Ranking.

Although my site may be present, it doesn’t mean it’s highly visible. The report showed just how visible this website is in the search engines - are people likely to find it? And am I showing up in the social media websites, which can be a powerful marketing technique (glad to say, I am).

• Google’s interpretation of what my website is about and advice on how to improve that perception. (hmm… some of the terms listed were completely off the mark!)

• Described how to use keywords effectively and gave crucial advice on how to stop keywords helping competitors!

• Analysed my tags and images (particularly useful bearing in mind website accessibility for visually impaired visitors) All OK there.

• If you are thinking of doing any sort of PPC (pay per click) campaign then the analysis of your keywords and the competition you would have in an Adword campaign is useful. I don’t think I will for this website, but it could be handy for other websites I have or plan to develop.

• The report dispels the top 10 myths about how Google treats your website for positioning in their search results. Now that was enlightening!

So how did this website do overall?

Well, let’s say there’s some work to do - but it could be a lot worse

Of course like anything, this sort of analysis is only worthwhile if you understand what they are talking about (after all we are getting into ‘geek country’ here ) and can (or feel like) doing something about it.

They covered the first point (understanding) because peppered throughout the report were 23 links to videos explaining the different concepts and why they are crucial to web positioning.

But the second point; can/will do anything?

Who Is This Report For?

Well that depends upon who is responsible for your website; you or someone else. If you have someone who takes care of your website then they are the people who need to take action on the report.

Mind you, I’d suggest it would be good idea to know what the report contains so you can check they’ve carried out the changes needed.

My Advice

There is a ton of good, down to earth, web optimising advice with extra tips thrown in. So I reckon it is worth going through the exercise - especially as it is free.

If you want to check the results for your website you can do so at “Stomper Site Seer”

Right - I’m off to check out my other websites, I suspect there will be work to do on those as well!

~ Carol Bentley

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Well, is your website attracting visitors and converting like crazy? Or do you find, like many business people, that it seems to be a never-ending battle?

I’m always searching for ways to improve my results, which is why I recently completed a programme with the StomperNet people. It was amazingly informative and has helped to increase the traffic to this blog site.

Then an interesting email arrived..

It came through, at 23.18 last night, talking about StomperNet’s new release and I took a quick peek.

They are making their new SEO competitive intelligence tool available free to visitors when they release it today (Friday 16th).

Is this worth looking at?
Now you and I are business people; marketers, so we know that even though this tool freely gives valuable information we can use, we also know the StomperNet guys will probably follow through to see how they can help us get the results we want. And maybe they can. That’s your decision.

The way I look at it is why not get the know-how they’re offering for free and then decide whether or not to go for anything else?

You decide
Anyway - here’s the message that came through, the links are affiliate links so it’s up to you whether or not you want to check it out.
______________________________________

The cat is out of the bag and people are spilling the beans all over the ‘net.

StomperNet’s new SEO competitive intelligence tool, “Stomper Site Seer” is going to be released THIS FRIDAY, May 16.

And it will cost you NOTHING.

That’s right. You will be able to submit *your* site and get a complete StomperNet diagnostic report! It’s as if you had their entire faculty of seasoned, hands-on SEO and internet marketing experts looking right over your shoulder.

They ANALYZE your SEO, they DIAGNOSE problems…

Then, they PRESCRIBE the solution!

The tool tells you what you’re doing right, and what you’re doing WRONG. If you’re messing up, “Stomper Site Seer” tells you EXACTLY how to fix it!

Get a sneak peek demonstration of this groundbreaking tool narrated by StomperNet faculty Jerry West and Howie Schwartz .

They’re smart, experienced, and funny, too!

Not only do they reveal how this helpful little robot can put you on the path to profit and success - they ALSO tell you how to avoid the worst SEO accidents that would keep your site out of the Search Engine Results *you* want.

Listen, if you think it’s all hype, just go check out the page and read the comments from folks who have already watched.

There’s nothing to lose, and they aren’t asking anything at all from you.

Watch the preview, and if you like what you see, subscribe on that page to get the early-bird notice when “Site Seer” comes online.

___________________________________

That’s it! Your decision.

~ Carol Bentley

P.S. If this release goes as well as the programme I took part in, then I reckon they will be inundated. If you want to be FIRST IN LINE to get started on fixing up your site for SEO domination… (their words ) opt-in right away. It’s first come, first served. Don’t hesitate.

Questions asked in my recent survey included:

• “What’s the best way to market to potential customers when starting afresh with no prior customer list or contacts?”
• “Increasing visitors to web sites”
• “How to drive visitors to web site”
• “What should I do to make a big impact on-line and off-line without spending a fortune?”
• “How to get more clients”

All of these questions, in one form or another, are asking about finding more people who are interested in what is on offer. It doesn’t matter if your business is conducted on or off line; the challenge is the same - finding customers in the most effective and economical way possible.

And very often the way you can do that works well for both on and off line activities.

In his new report Ed concentrates specifically on finding new visitors, contacts, for websites. Effectively increasing the number of people you can market to. Many of his principles can be used in the off-line world as well.

In ‘Who Else Wants More Traffic Than Their Site Can Handle’ Ed goes through a 6-part strategy starting with an old favourite of mine. One that has proven to be very successful - for both Ed, me and many other business people.

I strongly advise you to pop over and grab your copy of the report - it doesn’t cost you a penny. You just have to agree to Ed giving you loads more valuable info when he makes it available.

Seems like a bargain to me! Go to http://www.NoBSTrafficTactics.com

~ Carol Bentley

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When I asked “What’s your most burning question you’d like answered on this blog” in my recent survey there were quite a few people who asked about marketing their websites. From making the website visible, so people could find it - to attracting visitors - to marketing the website on a budget.

And as I pondered the best way to answer these questions - which were very much on the same topic - I remembered I had done something similar quite recently for a new, private client who was not familiar with web marketing.

I created a mindmap showing a web marketing strategy and wrote a brief overview of the different aspects of the strategy. And, because my client is rather busy, I recorded an audio of the report as well.

“Ideal for you guys” I thought. So I’m gifting the 3 files to you; the mindmap - in a PDF file so you can open it regardless of whether or not you use mindmapping software; the audio (MP3) and the transcript (PDF report).

Now - let me just point out one thing. Web marketing, as a subject, is vast. And I do not profess to be an expert in all the different ways you can do it. I’m sticking to my chosen area of expertise - the copywriting aspect - thanks very much.

However, I do have a broad understanding of how things fit together, purely because I need to know it for my own marketing activities. And that’s the approach you’ll see in this overview. I hope it helps.

Obviously I need to edit the audio (and report) to take out anything that is personal to my client but the information it contains points you in the general direction of what you need to consider. So it will be ready for you either tomorrow or Wednesday (16th April).

Subscriber Only Gift

Oh, and it is going to be on a password protected post. You will get the password to open the post in your announcement email. Sorry, if you are not subscribed you won’t get this. This is a ’subscriber only benefits’ post.

Of course if you subscribe before the announcement post then you will get the password too. Simply use the subscription box in the right panel or the one that appeared in the pop-over.

~ Carol Bentley

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There’s a lot of buzz going on over the Internet at the moment about a new product launch. It gives a strategy to resolve the problem of how to sell online when you haven’t got a list or a connection with someone who does.

You may have already heard of it.. Product Launch Formula 2… it launches today (27th March) at 2:00pm Eastern U.S. time (6 p.m. GMT).

I watched the original Product Launch Formula on DVD as a home-study programme and I’ve seen it put into practice successfully by business colleagues. This version of product launch is for a ‘hands-on’ coaching programme and includes many up to date internet marketing practices.

Pop over to Successfully launching products via online marketing if you want to know more… but you’ll need to act quickly - that’s why this post is going up a lot earlier than normal.

~ Carol Bentley

If you haven’t already done so, don’t forget to claim your copy of Offline Marketing Strategies in exchange for answering just 7 questions. The survey is open until 12p.m. (GMT) today at copywriting4b2b survey

If you have already given me your answers - thank you. Your feedback is really appreciated and will help me to keep this blog vibrant, relevant and interesting.

If you’ve completed the survey and asked a question about web marketing, getting visitors to your blog etc. then please check the Q&A’s at this posting on Ed’s blog, which may give you your answer immediately.

I’ll be covering the questions that were specifically for marketing and copywriting in my future blog posts.

Have a good weekend - I’ll catch up with you next week.

~ Carol Bentley

If you have a website and are familiar with the idea of online marketing you may have come across the term ‘Landing Page’. An ideal web landing page is specifically designed to target a specific audience with an end result in mind; that your visitor takes the action you want.

The design, structure and content of your landing page all have an impact on the outcome of any visit to your webpage. Are you creating a true landing page that makes your visitor feel they’ve arrived somewhere worthwhile - or do you leave them floundering; wondering why they are wasting their time?

• How exciting is your landing page?
• Is the headline so strong your visitor’s eyes are magnetically drawn by it into your message?
• Is the offer you are making compelling? One that no-one in their right minds would dream of ignoring?
• Do you get high conversion rates; you know, the number of visitors who go on to take the action you’re asking them to? That’s the real test of how successful your landing page is.

Testing each element of your landing page moves you closer to the ‘perfect page’ - if there is any such thing - but having a plan before you start also gives you a greater chance of realising your goal.

Get your landing page planner plus…

Ed (I know, I’m always mentioning him - but hey, why not when he’s giving valuable info I believe you can use!) is gifting 3 useful tools for marketing on the web; Landing Page Flow Chart, Web Marketing Tactics and a nifty little tool that calculates the lifetime value of your average customer. And all you have to do is sign up for his blog posting announcements.

So - if you’ve not yet visited Ed’s blog, or if you have signed up but haven’t yet checked out your gifts, I suggest you pop over there and grab them now. Visit his post Three Powerful Resources

~ Carol Bentley

technorati tags: Internet Marketing Landing Pages Business Resources

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This post is giving you very short notice - and I’m sorry if you don’t see it in time.

I’ve mentioned previously about Ed Rivis publishing his book The Ultimate Web Marketing Strategy [Aff]. If you took a look at his blog then you already know about his startlingly low priced 24-hour launch of his book which commenced yesterday (4th March) at 10.30 GMT.

As I write this post that means there is just over 2.5 hours before it goes from £6.99 back to its normal price of £19.97.

The description on the front of the book cover says…

“How everyday business owners can use the world’s most tested and proven online marketing strategies to attract thousands of new customers, hyper-gear revenues, boost profits up to 2.5 to 25 times and grow their business or professional practice within the next 12 months or less.”

I think that says it all - I’ve watched Ed testing and proving these strategies over the last year and, what’s more, in his book he shares how he’s discovered what works as well as explaining what to do.

If you want to take advantage of his ridiculous starting offer pop over to Ed Rivis’ 24-hour Special

~ Carol Bentley

Today’s blog is a bit shorter and sweet - bet you’re glad about that

How many times have you heard someone say ‘people who take action find the rewards’ or something along the same vein? Well, it is a truism isn’t it? And this post gives you a chance to take a quick and simple action that delivers a valuable (in my opinion) free gift.

You’ve heard me mention my good friend Ed Rivis on occasion. And you’ve seen my comments about the advantage of being a published author. Well Ed is about to join the ranks of being a published author. He has taken his popular ebook, expanded and updated the topics and is about to launch his book; The Ultimate Web Marketing Strategy into the ‘real world’.

And to celebrate he’s gifting the unabridged PDF version of the book to everyone who is subscribed to his blog page BEFORE 1st Feb. So you see, a simple quick action and you get this informative book for free. Read more about the book on his blog

Is it worth taking action for?

Well -actually - YES!

Ed is my go-to guru when I want to check anything about Internet Marketing. Whenever I get web marketing advice from someone else I go check it with Ed before taking any action.

Ed helped me get this blog set up - so you can thank (or curse) him for everything you’ve read on here because without his help it would not have been published. And his blog is full of good marketing insights - and not just to do with the web.

But you need to act quickly to be sure of getting a free copy, in fact why don’t you do it now? Pop over to www.edrivis.com and subscribe whilst you think of it.

~ Carol Bentley

P.S. Ed has agreed to be interviewed about his journey along the road of being an author - which will give interesting insights if you’re thinking of positioning yourself as an expert in this effective way.

It’s the online marketing dilemma. You want to encourage people to subscribe to your newsletter, blog, reports or whatever other valuable incentive you’ve created for your web visitors.

You’ve studied the best way to encourage people to sign up - as I did - and took note of the experts opinion about what works and what doesn’t.

And then, with gritted teeth, even though everyone I talk to (and that includes me… yes , I admit it I do talk to myself ) hates those annoying pop-ups I added one to my website. You may remember it.

Did you notice it wasn’t displayed this time?

No, I haven’t capitulated to the majority opinion (sorry, I do value you and hate the thought of upsetting you) but I’ve found a way to enjoy the best of both worlds. The power of the pop-up as a marketing tool and being able to stop the irritation you may have been experiencing.

Let me explain…

Once you’ve subscribed - whether it is through the pop-up or the in-line request in the right panel - you’ll never see the pop-up box again. Isn’t that great?

So how did I do it?

Well, I’m sorry to say it wasn’t me!

Oh yeah, I implemented it… but the actual method came from a brilliant techie-geek (his words ).

If you have a website using pop-ups (because you know they work) then take a look at Hill Henderson’s solution at http://hillrobertson.com

And do it NOW! Why?

Because Hill is currently offering his easy-to-follow system for an unbelievably minuscule $10 until 4:59 am (GMT) on Friday 18th Jan.

I hope you see this post in time… if you don’t he isn’t going crazy with his new price so it’s still worth popping over to look.

Is it worth the bother? Do Pop-Ups really work?

Now, if pop-ups really do annoy you, you might think it’s easier just to ignore using them altogether…

Not a savvy marketing decision. Based purely on my experience with this website here are my conversion stats, take a look and make your own decision:

Using pop-up displayed on every visit:

Inline conversion (unique visitors to subscriptions): 6.8%

Pop-up conversion 16.1%

Then I tested showing the pop up every 5th visit you made…

Inline conversion 3.7%

Pop-up conversion 6.8%

I think the figures speak for themselves.

It will be interesting to see how the new structure works…

~ Carol Bentley

The biggest challenge when sending out a message is getting your reader to respond. That applies to email messages, advertising, direct mail letters and other marketing approaches.

That is the essence of the question Martin Russell from www.wordofmouthmagic.com sent in:

Q: “You send out blog notification emails with a bit of the post in it, so is there any evidence for which is better; title only, part of post, full post?”

A: I got my training on ‘how to create a blog’ from Ed Rivis’ programme on business blogging for profit. And, initially, I followed his email notification style of sending just the title of the post.

However, I noticed that in email notices I received from Dan Kennedy for his marketing newsletters, he always included the start of his article. Sometimes this intrigued me enough to go and have a look, sometimes it didn’t.

And I wondered if giving a bit more of an idea of what a post was about would encourage more of my blog subscribers to visit. Effectively act as a teaser…

So I decided to test this and changed the notification style of my emails (if you’ve been a subscriber for some time you probably noticed the difference). It is still early days yet but the figures are showing an interesting trend. My average number of daily visitors has increased by 31.65% since sending the new style notice.

Now this is not scientific testing because the topics are different so it is not really a fair comparison. I shall check the average again after a few more weeks.

As regards sending the full post in the email, I’m not too keen on that approach. Not because I’ve tested anything - purely a personal thing because:

1. I would have to be more careful about the wording I use in the post to avoid triggering spam filter programs, which could prevent my messages getting through to you.
2. It would make some of the emails extremely long and I prefer to let you decide if you want to visit to read the full content.
3. If you got the full post in the email, you’d have no reason to visit this blog website. It would be more like an ezine newsletter. The idea of the website is to create a relationship, with the chance for you and I to interact. When you visit to read the post you can use the comment link to respond if you want to; effectively continuing the conversation I’m starting.
4. As this blog site grows, I’ll be adding links to useful products I’m developing. If you never have any reason to visit you won’t see the links and could be missing out on something that is important to you and your business.

So, on that basis, I don’t have any plans to test sending the full post message.

What are your thoughts?

Do you prefer to have an email showing just the post title? Or do you like having the introductory text that gives a hint of what the post is about?

I’d like to know your opinion - post your 2p’s worth using the comments link below.

~ Carol Bentley

technorati tags: marketing copywriting web marketing

May I ask a favour?

Following the adage ‘Actions speak louder than words’ I’ve taken up Rich Shefren’s challenge to produce a 66 seconds video, whilst saying something worthwhile about his powerfully informative report The Attention Age Doctrine 2.

And it was a real challenge - especially as my normal mode of communication is long, explanatory and valuable information-packed letters, adverts or articles!!

But it was done - and within the designated time-scale. So here’s the favour I’m asking…

I need your support

Will you gift me 10 minutes of your valuable time to visit this video site, play the clip and then vote?

The clip is only 66 seconds long and voting is done through Digg and Sphinn (there are instructions on how to vote).  So, I think it may take you about 10 minutes. You have to play the clip for your vote to count.

Then - and this is where the power of what the report talks about comes into action - please ask your friends and business colleagues if they would do the same.

Now why should you or they bother, except as a favour to me and you? Because they too can download the free report I’m describing in the clip and gain valuable marketing insights. Plus - there are some brilliant prizes for voters to gain too.

Why do I want to get a good result? Because it will show the power of peer recommendation, which is something we all need to embrace more in business, and I can share the experience with you and explore how it fits with copywriting. And I’d quite like to walk away with the accolade of getting a hit!

Thank you for your support and for ’spreading the word’. I’ll let you know how it progresses in future postings on this blog.

~ Carol Bentley

The expert advice, if you are looking for a web domain name, is to find one with the specific keyword or phrase your target audience is likely to use in search engines. Plus, to increase your chances with search engine positioning, it’s best (so I’m told) not to separate the words with hyphens or underscores.

As a copywriter I’d add another consideration to that… be careful about the words you choose from your readers’ point of view. Let me explain:

I’m an avid fan of the TV programme QI and I watched the ‘Children In Need’ edition last week on BBC4. Stephen Fry asked the celebrity panel to describe what was being sold on four example websites which were:

• www.therapistfinder.com
• www.whorepresents.com
• www.penisland.com
• www.presentsexchange.com

You can imagine the ribald comments that came out of these names. I’ve capitalised the words to show the true intention of the domain names:

• www.TherapistFinder.com
• www.WhoRepresents.com
• www.PenIsland.com
• www.PresentsExchange.com

Words chosen perfectly innocently can take on a different meaning when they are run together as web domain names. So - before you settle on a web domain name - make sure it’s not going to cause any embarrassment for you.

~ Carol Bentley

technorati tags: copywriting web copy web marketing