9 Truths About Internet Marketing:

1. There are literally hundreds of Internet Marketing strategies out there.
2. Certain Internet Marketing Strategies work better for certain businesses. Others may not work at all.
3. Consistency is the key to any effective Internet Marketing Plan. (i.e. uploading new content daily)
4. Internet Marketing is often mis-used by disguised “experts.”
5. It’s the wave of the future, starting TODAY!
6. Internet Marketing is fun. But only if you fully understand it.
7. A/B testing is the best source of gathering truths. NOT reading any ole’ blog you stumble upon.
8. Small business owners can now compete with the big boys!
9. It takes time & patience to get results, but the results are amazing when they come in!

I eat, sleep & breather Internet Marketing and would love to help you reach your goals. Connect with me … and let’s talk strategy!

Check it out in action, then let’s talk about what makes it so simplistic. Visit Federal Agent Forum.

1. Auto-expanding Modules
Haven’t come across this using any other wordpress theme. But everytime you insert code into a widget frame, it builds the frame out exactly the size you need.

2. Header and Footer Boxes
Forget about going into editor.php. This theme makes it simple to add boxes into the header or footer. Be sure to check out the footer boxes on the Federal Agent Forum. Very sleek, easy to read, and yes they are auto-expandable!

3. Built in RSS feeder is AWESOME!
This high-powered RSS feeder auto-attaches your most recent blog posts so readers can get a good feel for your content. Here’s a look at the custom RSS feeder plugin that you can instantly install on your blog:

The theme is called SemioLogic. If you are serious about taking your blogging to an all new level, making more time for writing and marketing … and less time for tweaking images and editing html, contact jeffhopeck Blog Designs to learn more about how we can help you build your dream blog!

I don’t have a foul mouth. My intention was to perk your ears and get you listening to what I’m about to say:

If you are using the same keywords, the same permalinks, and the same ole strategy you’ve been using, it’s impossible to get bigger and better results. It’s time right now to implement the following tips into your Internet Marketing strategy:

1. Run a thorough keyword analysis.
Where do you rank for the words you’ve been using? Are there better words you can be using? Can you find a word that has higher traffic, and that you can still rank for? If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask by simply contacting us. Your Internet Marketing Plan can’t afford to suffer another day.

2. Thoroughly Scan Your Anchor Text.
What keyword density strategy have you employed? Are you under-using keywords? Over-using them? Either way, you’re running a major risk of getting penalized by search engines.

3. Analyze your Analytics. Don’t Just Browse Over It.
What is the average time spent on your website? “Hits” mean nothing. A hit is simply a call to your server, and you can increase hits by adding more pictures to your website or blog post. A hit can mean someone spent 1 second on your website. Is this of any value at all to you? I hope you said NO.

4. The 6-second Test.
Sending all the traffic in the world to your website can do nothing for you if your website isn’t designed properly. A good design DOES NOT mean “pretty.” Just because a website is “pretty” doesn’t mean it works properly. For example, did you know the phone number should go in different places depending on your target market.

Did you know there are certain pieces of content that should be placed above the fold, while certain content should go below the fold? Visit our portfolio to get a feel for what I’m referring to.

Go ahead and kick your Internet Marketing Plan in the ass … it’s time you start getting the results you deserve! If you have additional questions or would like to speak with an Internet Marketing Professional, contact us now!

1. In 6 seconds did the visitor thoroughly understand the INTENT and INTEGRITY of your website?

Usability studies have shown that web surfers land on a website and make their decisions in just 6 seconds! In that little of time, your website needs to grab the surfer, show them exactly what your intentions are (to sell something, to teach something, to ask for his/her email, etc), and show them exactly what your integrity is.

I’ve tested several website using simple A/B concepts and found that websites that prove these 2 critical elements above the fold, have a much higher conversion rate.

If your call to action is below the fold, expect to have lower conversion rates. Check out The Atlanta Kettlebell Website we designed, and notice these theories in action.

2. How many quality, 1-way incoming links are built into your website?

I run a link check every single morning to stay on top of all incoming links. Why? Because search engines want “credible, 1-way, incoming links” built into your website to prove its credibility. You need these links for 2 reasons:

1. When you are linked from another website, your traffic can increase because you are more easily accessible.
2. Your overall link bank needs to have as many quality links possible. The more links, the more credibility. The more credibility, the higher ranking you may receive (all other things being equal).

If nobody links to your website, it’s probably for good reason. You have NOTHING good to offer, or you haven’t marketed your website effectively. You need to be honest with your website evaluation and bring in the pros to help out! Why? So your conversion rates increase!

Of course there are hundreds of other factors in the famous google algorithm. I will be covering these in the weeks to come. For now, you go and make sure you’re on top of these 2 tips. I have to run now and check on my links!

However, you know it’s a MUST to advertise online, yet you don’t know how to effectively do so. Or, you keep saying things like “I don’t want to advertise in California if my business is locted in New York.” Sound like you?

No worries, this article teaches you 6 simple ways to start an effective internet marketing campaign:

1. Video Campaign

Video Optimization is a simple strategy that just about every business owner today tends to overlook. Why? Because it takes time out of their busy day. However, this FREE form of online marketing can reap tender rewards for years and years to come. All by placing a video onto the right platform and getting traffic to it!

Here’s how to start:
1. Get a $100 FLIP camera.
2. Shoot helpful videos that your readers will enjoy watching. (Rule of thumb: Would YOU enjoy the video if the tables were turned?)
3. Place the video onto YouTube to get started. Then link from it or embed it into your website or blog.
4. Now the fun begins! Submit the video to TubeMogul. This tool helps you shoot your footage out to 30+ other websites! WOW- talk about getting great exposure. All this in 5 minutes or less.

2. Top 30 List

In your email list, start a group that contains your closest 20-30 friends and family. Everytime you launch a new product, promotion or discount you email these people first. They will be the first to stop what they’re doing to help you.

Encourage your “30-list” to forward the email to their contacts. Every once in a while, the email might get forwarded several times! Can you imagine? All that exposure because you took 5 minutes out of your day to compose the email.

NOTE: The email must consist of helpful information. If you are selling something, chances are the email will get deleted. I hope by now you are starting to get the hang of Internet Marketing- it’s about HELPING not selling. Once you build trust with your readers, they will buy from you forever.

3. Facebook

Don’t just sell your products and services on your Facebook page. Rather, push out helpful content that allows your readers and clients to learn something new. For example, if you are running a restaurant, write a post like “5 ways to cut calories when eating out.” Then of course be sure to offer that dish at your facility. Your readers will love you!

While building your fan page, actively search your local area for keywords using Search Twitter. This tool will help you study the competition, see whose actively talking about topics related to your business, and then give you instant access to that person!

4. Twitter

It’s not a fad or fly-by-night social media platform. Twitter, if used properly, can be a powerful tool for marketing your small local business. Twitter has geotagging capabilities so only people in your surrounding areas can view your “tweets.”

In short, Twitter is merely a small blog. If you use it to help readers, you will succeed. If you use it to sell, you’re in trouble. The rule of thumb is PEOPLE BUY FROM PEOPLE THEY LIKE AND TRUST.

5. eHow

eHow is a “how to” article submission website that pays you to write. You simply create short articles (4-6 steps), post them, and then get paid when people read them.

eHow also allows you to place links back to your website or blog, making it an excellent platform to execute a successful link building campaign. It’s such an amazingly effective website… that I built an entire blog that teaches people How to Make Money Usine eHow!

To learn more about using eHow to make money and generate 1-way incoming links to your website, also read How to Make Money Online Writing eHow Articles.

6. Do it Yourself SEO

(SEO= Search Engine Optimization) Search Engine Optimization simply means doing all the little things to your website so that search engines can find it and RANK IT higher. Everything from keywords to alt tags, anchor text to picture optimization. SEO is that secretive “behind the scenes” activity that can help your site get from page 3 to page 1.

Can’t afford the budget to hire a boutique SEO firm? No worries, you can start your own SEO campaign using simple, time-tested principles that will help raise your website’s rankings fairly quickly. Read this article I wrote about Do it Yourself SEO.

Would you like a FREE 15 minute Internet Marketing analysis of your website so we can tell you even more ways to attract customers? Simply fill out the form below and we will contact you very soon:

1. Kudzu- It’s a powerful business listing website that allows you to place your business info and link to your web property. The major benefit is that Kudzu ranks very high in search engines. This means that if your website doesn’t rank for a particular keyword, maybe you can still benefit because the Kudzu article may rank!

2. Merchant Circle- A simple, free listing site that acts pretty much the same as Kudzu.

3. Insider Pages- Another very powerful small business marketing site. This online property serves pretty much the same benefit as Kudzu and Merchant Circle.

4. Jayde- Even easier to submit than the above listed, Jayde serves up a good quality link to your site, and it’s also free!

5. DMOZ- It’s been known as the perfect link by some, and by others its an average link. I submitted my site and can’t really say there is any downside to being on DMOZ. Go ahead and grab the link, it’s waiting for you!

6. Yelp- Remember the last time you looked for a local restaurant or business? Chances are there was a YELP listing that popped up on page 1. That’s the justification for taking the next 2 minutes of your life and submitting your business there! Then, take it 1 step farther and send that link to your friends asking them for a review.

And, now for 2 of the best (arguably) FREE small business online marketing strategies you can possibly employ:

Google Local and Yahoo Local. Be sure to get on their maps, and listed in their “small business directories.” These are great links to have!

Follow Jeff Hopeck on Twitter!

1. Install Mozilla Firefox OnlyWire plugin. It allows you to bookmark pages and content in all of your favorite social bookmarking websites. I noticed an increase in traffic to my Infomercial Marketing Consulting page instantly.

2. Write eHow articles. eHow is a very credible PR8 website where you can post “how to” articles about products and/or services you offer. At the end of the article, you can post a few links to landing pages you’ve established “to learn more.” I’ve created an entire website called Make Money Using eHow that takes you through all the steps of writing effective SEO content for eHow.

3. Install SEO SmartLinks. WOW! This plugin has me very impressed to say the least. You place your main keywords into the plugin settings, and it automatically turns those words into hot links! Talk about a major time-saver? This one takes the cake, along with WP Admin Bar.

Let’s walk through each step of the process so you can understand why certain content NEEDS to be there:

1. Testimonials – Educated internet consumers buy great products from trusted people, that have proven results for others just like them. Simply stated: Get success stories from people that would be of interest to your target market.

The most common mistake I’ve come across when reviewing with author book sites is the lack of targeted testimonials. If you are selling your book to 35yr old females, try to avoid swamping the site with testimonials from your Grandpa Bob and Grandma Jane- both way outside the target market. To learn more about crafting an effective testimonials page, you can view the sample I’ve built for STOP Killing Yourself Testimonials.

2. Chapter Excerpts - I’ve tested this page using my analytics software, and it definitely gets more traffic than I would have ever guessed. Seems people want to learn just a little bit more about what’s inside the book before they actually reach into their wallet and grab their credit card.

For that reason, I would strongly recommend building this kind of page on your next author website. You can read over my Chapter Excerpts Page to get more ideas for crafting your own!

3. BUY NOW – Although it’s a given, I wanted to mention the buy now page in a different light. Is there a way to weave the buy now function into your content?

Consider this: Someone is reading through the content on your author website page, and something in their brain triggers them at that exact instant to BUY! Why make them scroll all the way to the top to find the buy now button? Consider building it into your pages appropriately. Here’s how I leveraged it on STOP Killing Yourself.

4. Video (suggested) – It’s 2010 and time to get up to date with New Media! Promise it’s not too difficult… and with a FLIP camera you can easily shoot video and upload it within minutes!

Let’s actually backup one minute. When you land on a website, do YOU click the video? If you are like most other internet surfers, you are clicking the video whenever you can.

5. Phone Number – Just like there is still snail mail, there has to be the physical contact number for those who will only order from a human being. If the number is hidden, you might lose the internet surfer because the person may think your book is only sold online.

6. FREE Giveaway – Depending on your marketing strategy, you can increase sales by giving away a “sneak peak” of your new masterpiece. For instance, you can give CHAPTER ONE FREE – in exchange for their email address. Or you can just give the chapter away FREE, and have a very strong call to action at the end of the chapter to come back and buy the entire book!

What are your thoughts?