Your weekly collection of marketing tips, hints, and advice interspersed with humor, inspiration, and other goodies to spice things up a bit. Guidance, tutoring, advice, mentoring, coaching, inspiration, English lessons, editing, proofreading services for entrepreneurs and online marketers.
The publisher’s philosophy is that most learn faster by taking small bites, rather than large gulps. Small bites are chewed more thoroughly, swallowed, and digested more readily. Keeping that in mind, many features will be solo items. That way, you will not be bombarded or overwhelmed.
Publisher: Mary Wilkey
Volume 2 - Issue 26 - September 24, 2002
Published every Tuesday evening
Where in the world is everyone? Am I writing to a bunch of phantoms out there? I distinctly remember asking for some feedback/suggestions as to how to handle the HUGE onslaught of ads that come in daily. So if no one wants to speak up, I'll just do as Bill Gates has said: "Often you just have to rely on your intuition." So when I institute a new ad program, I don't want to hear any complaints. You've had your chance! :-)
If you enjoy this ezine, you can help it grow faster by introducing 'elf Expressions to just one other person—because the faster we grow, the more everyone benefits from the ads. Thank you!
If you've missed any issues, you still can see them.
Just go to:
Often you just have to rely on your intuition.—Bill Gates
CONTENTS:
Sponsor Ad
Ad Contest
Subscriber in the Spotlight
Feature Article
Today’s Chuckle
Today's English lesson
Marketing Mania
Internet Tips & Hints
Guest Article
Inspiration
Etcetera
SPONSOR AD
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Results of last issue's ad contest: The question was—Which of the great philosphers said: "Know thyself"? The answer: Socrates. See Donna Wildermuth's ad above.
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The real art of conversation is not only to
say the right thing in the right place, but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the
tempting moment.
—Dorothy Nevill
SUBSCRIBER IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The first subscriber to submit his or her personal profile sharing with the rest of us all about who he/she is, background, family, location, interests, hobbies, goals, dreams, etc., will be spotlighted right here next issue—and yes, an email and/or URL may be included!
This week's Subscriber in the Spotlight is Kristin Wilson.
Hi, folks. I'm Kristin Wilson. I live in SE Wisconsin with my dear husband and our 3 four-legged girls. Maggie (7-year-old
Dacshsund/Miniature Schnauzer mix), Brandy (4-month-old
Sheppard/Border Collie mix), and MooMoo (8-year-old Holstein- looking cat). We live upstairs in our two-family and rent out the lower.
Living across the street from a park, we have a beautiful
view from up here. But we still hate living on a state highway.
It's way too noisy. So we intend to move to the country or up-
state soon. In the meantime, I tend to my gardens and the yard.
Our shared dream is to live up-state someday in the
forest. My husband's family has a beautiful piece of land up there, and we can never wait for the next trip up. It's so peaceful. We were married up there on July 28, 2001 after living together for ten years.
I know that sounds like a long time to wait, but I had to deal with my alcoholism and cocaine addiction first. And we are both glad I came to realize I had a problem and did something about it, or the marriage would not have worked. I did it for my own reasons, not the marriage. But the marriage is simply the best thing we've done, and it wouldn't have been if I hadn't been sober and clean.
I do work for myself, as most of us do or try to do, and it's
worked out well for me. But that is because of my wonderful
husband's support. I found that I do have a creative stroke in
me . . . in web design. I love playing with websites. And I'm
always doing something with one. I now have four! . . . LOL. Maybe it'll turn into something I'll do for extra money for others, but not right now. I still have a lot to learn.
For now, I'll concentrate on my family, dreams, and the main
business that will help me do those things.
Imagination is more important than knowledge.—Albert Einstein
FEATURE ARTICLE
Folks, as you know, your 'elf usually writes the feature article for this spot; however, when I found Steve O'Connor's article below, I just had to forego writing a similar article that I'd planned to do, as I feel that I couldn't say it any better than he has.
WHAT RESPONSE SHOULD YOU EXPECT FROM AN EZINE AD? by Steve O'Connor
You've all heard it before, countless times no doubt—"Ezines are by far the best place to advertise online"—and it's true. There is no better place to reach a targeted audience, and the proof is in the results—visitors from ezine ads are more likely to convert to sales at your website. That is fact.
But what sort of response should you expect from an
ezine ad? How do you know whether your advertising
results are good, bad, or indifferent?
These are basic questions that very few people actually
know the answer to. In fact, because of all the hype
aimed at prospective advertisers, I would guess that
most advertisers expect far too much from an ezine ad.
Ezine advertising is not quite as powerful as it used
to be, because of the natural effects of email overload
etc., but it's still good. But just how good? . . .
Well, I'm gonna tell you.
I advertise in ezines, a lot! That's basically what I do.
I advertise in hundreds of ezines on a regular basis and
as such, that allows me to compile some good statistics.
Here's the kind of response that I believe you should
expect from ezine advertising today . . .
Regular Classified Ads:
Average response rate (0.05% - 1 in every 2,000)
Response range (0.01% - 0.5%)
Middle Sponsor Ads:
Average response rate (0.25% - 1 in every 400)
Response range (0.1% - 0.5%)
Top Sponsor Ads:
Average response rate (0.5% - 1 in every 200)
Response range (0.25% - 1%)
Solo Ads:
Average response rate (1.25% - 1 in every 80)
Response range (1% - 3%)
I bet that's less than you were expecting, right?
Well, they are pure facts from our endless stream of
advertising results. Sure, there are a lot of variables
that can affect these results, but I'm trying to provide
you with a benchmark on which to base your own results.
If you're achieving results at the bottom of these
response ranges, then I can assure you that you can do
better. Sure, it may be due to your ad and not the ezine
that you're advertising in, but once you hit an ezine that
gives you the results near the top of these ranges, then
you know that it's time to get choosy.
I've advertised in ezines and gotten absolutely zero
response, plenty of times. There are a lot of ezines out
there with poor subscribers—subscribers that simply don't
react to advertising. But there are still plenty of good
ezines out there—ezines that will bring you results.
Don't give up on what is still the best advertising medium
on the web, but be realistic. There really is no better
place to invest your advertising dollar.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Steve is the founder of World Wide Ezines—a unique online resource providing advertisers with a continuous stream of Ezine Advertising Results every month. Check it out at:
In what month did David's son begin construction on the temple in Jerusalem?
ANSWER: The month of "Zif" as found in 1 Kings 6:1. ". . . in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD."
Too often the strong, silent man is silent only because he
does not know what to say, and is reputed strong only
because he has remained silent.
—Winston Churchill
TODAY'S CHUCKLE
ON THE Q-T
A friend was in front of me coming out of church one day, and the preacher was standing at the door as he always is to shake hands. He grabbed my friend by the hand and pulled him aside.
The pastor said to him, "You need to join the army of the Lord!"
My friend replied, "I'm already in the army of the Lord, pastor."
The pastor questioned, "Then how come I don't see you except at Christmas and Easter?"
He whispered back, "I'm in the secret service."
Your decision to be, have and do something out of the ordinary
entails facing difficulties that are out of the ordinary as well.
Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability
to stay with it longer than anyone else.
—Brian Tracy
TODAY'S ENGLISH LESSON
Seeing the same elementary mistakes over and over again has prompted this publisher to write an English lesson each issue.
This one concerns whether or not to use the optional comma in a series.
Whenever you list a series of things, you'll find a difference
of opinion as to whether the next-to-last noun (the noun before
the "and") requires a comma. (Example: "apples, oranges, pears, and bananas . . .")
Your 'elf's advice is to use the comma, because sometimes
your list will include pairs of things: "For Christmas she wanted books and tapes, peace and love, and for all the world to be happy." If you get into the habit of using a comma before the
"and," you'll avoid confusion in sentences like this one.
Reminder: We offer a reasonably priced editing/proofreading service for articles or even entire ezines. Just email: editingservice@elfexpressionsezine.com
MARKETING MANIA
USING KEYWORDS AND HEADLINES FOR YOUR OWN ADS
Featuring Donna Sweat, weekly columnist, and publisher of
Dee's Helpful Info. and A Real Home Business Newsletter.
Ad copy for affiliate programs is often the same ol', same
ol' . . . used by everyone and never altered. Because of
repetition, many people have the "same ol'" ad drummed into
memory and aren't enticed to click.
You can create your own unique ad by simply using keywords
and/or headlines from the tons of ads already out there.
Take a look at the classifieds section of various ad sheets
and ezines you are subscribed to.
Take down a list of keywords that may ad some "punch" to
your own particular affiliate program. Think of how these
keywords may get the potential customer to click.
It may be helpful to have a dictionary or thesaurus handy to
check the meaning of the words. And have your notepad handy
to begin your own ad copy personalized by you.
Take a look at the following ads I gathered and see the
keywords I gathered for my own ad.
1) Our Company Guarantees YOU a Check!
I have seen similar plans on the Internet, but none of them
can Guarantee you a check for $100 after 3 days!! You
would be crazy not to get a FREE spot and test the system.
2) GOT A WHOPPING LONG DISTANCE BILL? Cut it NOW!
Find out how to get FREE LONG DISTANCE CALLING!
Incredible but true! Don't cut the number of calls you make.
Cut your bill—to ZERO! Details at
3) FREE magazine by home business $100,000 earners helps you
become one too! Packed with insider secrets, powerful
strategies, marketing tips and more. Includes 3 bonuses:
FREE enrollment in the SFI Affiliate Program, FREE Internet
Income Course and FREE lifetime SFI Newsletter subscription
4) We offer full featured banner free hosting with prices
that can't be beat. Web Hosting packages start at $2.35
with no setup fees or contracts. We provide a variety of
reliable hosting plans to meet your business and
personal needs.
Gathered Keywords:
Free (in all 3 ads)
Guarantees
Incredible
Zero
provide
crazy (unique word)
strategies
powerful
reliable
bonuses
Details
My ad: Join Free Advertising resources with powerful strategies
that will provide your business with reliable ad placement.
Guaranteed and full details here:
http://www.xxxxxxxxx.com
You see, I used 6 of the 11 keywords listed.
Try it and see the difference it will make with your own
ad copy!
No one knows what he can do till he tries.—Publius Syrus
Never say never.—Elia Kazan
GUEST ARTICLE
COMPELLING REASONS TO CREATE YOUR OWN PRODUCT (Even If You Promote Affiliate Programs)
by Angela Wu
Like many people, I first started online by promoting
affiliate programs. I didn't have a product of my own,
and affiliate programs seemed like the ideal way to earn
an income. Why bother with the hassles of creating my own
product if I didn't have to?
For many months, life on the 'net was wonderful. Then
one day the bottom dropped out of my income. One of the
affiliate programs I was promoting heavily closed up shop—leaving me with nothing to show for my months of hard
work. Within the next few months, another program dropped
its commission rates by 65%, and two more cut their
commissions in half.
It took me a few months to recover financially . . . but in
that time, I realized that this dependence on another
company was exactly what I *didn't* need. Like the other
affiliates, I had worked hard to bring customers to the
company—only to end up in nearly the same position I
was in when I first got started.
Don't get me wrong; I was grateful for the opportunity to
learn how to market online, without having to worry about
billing, inventory, shipping, customer service, and
everything else a company handles on behalf of its
affiliates. And although it was hard work, the income
was great.
However, it just goes to show that affiliates are at the
mercy of the company. Now, with more experience under my
belt, my opinion is that creating a product of your own
is a far better way to do business. I still use affiliate
programs, of course—just not as my primary source of
income.
So why create a product of your own? Aside from the
dependency issue we just discussed, there are lots of
great reasons. First of all, it's YOURS. You pour your
knowledge and your heart into creating a product that you
can be proud of. Call it a sense of achievement.
Secondly, you know the product intimately. You know what
it does and what it doesn't do; you can talk confidently
about the benefits of owning it; you can listen to your
customers' feedback and use it to improve the product.
And chances are, you'll be much more inclined to market
it consistently—especially since you keep all of the
profits, rather than just a commission!
Most importantly, though, you build a customer base of
your own. You can build a long-term relationship with
your customers through newsletters, special offers, new
product announcements . . . and your customers can offer
constructive feedback, testimonials, and even referral
business.
Affiliate programs are a wonderful way to develop multiple
streams of income. However, having your own product gives
you the option to concentrate on your own success, and on
your terms. Now that's a goal!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, a practical
and hype-free guide to building an Internet business on a
shoestring budget. It's a proven hit with beginners, who
love the down-to-earth style and loads of instantly usable
tips! Click here for details:
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-three students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt.
Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and moms freely brushed away tears.
This class would not pray during the commencement—not by choice but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it. The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.
The speeches were nice, but they were routine . . . until the final speech received a standing ovation.
A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then he delivered his speech. An astounding—SNEEZE!
The rest of the students rose immediately to their feet, and in unison they said, "GOD BLESS YOU."
The audience exploded into applause. The graduating class found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.
To advertise, email ads to: advertising@elfexpressionsezine.com All classified ads are free for right now and are for subscribers only. Classifieds: 7-lines,
65-characters per line (including URL or email address) Top Sponsor Ads: 20 lines SOLO ads: 50 lines.
To pay for an ad, click one of the buttons below:
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