1.0 Getting
Started
As you may already know, just by having a web site on the
Internet does not mean that visitors will come flocking to
your site. Amazingly, many people think "If you build
it, they will come". This would be nice, but not a reality.
The fact is you will need to promote your site so that customers
can find you. The good news is that by doing some very basic
promotion, you will be doing more than most sites online today.
This will give you the advantage and greatly increase the
likelihood that you will succeed.
Building a successful online business also takes time and
patience. You will hear this over and over again from the
most successful people and businesses online. Here's a great
quote on this:
"Building a business is a lot like raising a child.
It takes time and patience. If you're going to start a business
and you're only willing to give it six months to prove itself,
don't start a business. That probably isn't even enough
time for a franchise. Would you throw out your child because
it can't fend for itself six months out of the womb?"
Source: How
NOT to Build a Successful Online Business
At eBiz-U, we want you to succeed. Our philosophy is that
is that we can't be successful unless you are. So we put together
the guide below with suggestions on how to promote your site
as well as how to customize your site if you want to add additional
features. You should remember to use this as a guide and then
make decisions that work best for you. We will update this
guide often, and we're always here to help.
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1.2 What NOT to do
While starting on online business is exciting and you want
to get as many customers to your site as quickly as possible,
there are some things that you should not
do. These methods will not bring you targeted customers
and you will probably end up wasting your time and money.
Not to mention, you risk having your web site shut down.
- Do not sign up for programs that promise
you hundreds, thousands, or millions of visitors or clicks
to your web site. Most of these are scams and will probably
only deliver "false hits" to your site. This also
can put a strain on your web site and the server which will
cause us to shut down your site.
- Do not use pop-up or pop-under programs.
Most search engines do not like to see sites with this and
may end up banning you from getting listed with them. Plus,
studies show that most online shoppers do not like pop-ups
and will leave sites that use them.
- Do not spam. Spam is sending out massive
amounts of email to people who did not request to receive
email from you. Using an email distribution list for newsletters
is a great way to get customers, but you should either build
your own list or go with a reputable company that can supply
a targeted list of people who have opted in and agreed to
receive email.
If you have questions about a particular program that promises
to drive traffic to your site, you can always ask us what
we think of it. There are many ways to get honest traffic
from truly interested online shoppers, and by doing things
right, both you and your customers will be happier.
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1.2 Getting linked!
Most website owners do not realize that the number of incoming
links pointing to a website determines its importance on the
search engines. If a website has hundreds or thousands of
incoming links from other websites pointing to it, the search
engines determine it to be very popular and rank it accordingly.
The more incoming links that a website has pointing to it,
the higher it will rank on the search engines. On the other
hand, websites that have no little or no incoming links are
deemed unimportant by the search engines and get lost in the
millions of search results.
To increase the number of incoming links to your website,
you have two options. You can take the slow route of exchanging
links one by one with other websites, or you can join an automated
link exchange program like LinksMaster.
Manually exchanging links with other websites is a slow and
tedious process that will take many months of hard work to
increase your search engine ranking - not to mention robbing
you from focusing on your other important duties. Joining
LinksMaster
will not only save you the time and hassle of manually exchanging
links, but will also instantly provide you with hundreds of
quality incoming links to your website. Within a short time,
these new incoming links will drive your website to the top
of the search engines under your preferred keyword phrases.
New
bonus SEO software included with LinksMaster. Click here to
learn more!
In addition to saving you endless hours of tedious link exchange
duties each week, LinksMaster can also help you increase your
income. Once you become a member of LinksMaster
you will automatically receive $10.00 per month for every
visitor to your website that subscribes to the service by
clicking the referral link located on your links page. You
will receive $10.00 per month for each referral for as long
as they remain a member of the service. Simply referring three
visitors a day for one year will result in over $10,000.00
a month in referral payments. See the income chart below to
get an idea of how being a LinksMaster
member can help you increase your bottom line:
| Sales
Per Day |
Your
Cost |
Daily
Profit for Initial Sale |
Monthly
Profit for Initial Sale |
Monthly
Income after one year |
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Instructions for LinksMaster: If signing
up for LinksMaster, fill out all of the information for your
account, then go to the Page Code screen. Here you should
select PHP Scripting for the page type. You can then either
send us the downloaded pre-configured links page or copy the
code from boxes 2 and 3 and paste this into our Request
form. Lastly, you should enter where the links page will be
in the box for step 6. This should look like http://www.yourdomain.com/links.php.
After you submit your request, we will build your LinksMaster
page and email you as soon as it's ready.
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2.0 Submitting to
Search Engines
Most Internet users (over 85%) find what they are looking
for by using a search engine. Below are some links to pages
that will help you get your site submitted. Keep in mind that
it takes a while after you submit your site for search engines
to find you.
Top ranked search engines for manually submitting
your site:
Top ranked programs or sites that handle multiple
submissions (some require fees, so please read carefully).
Top ranked sites for advice and tips on search engines
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3.0 Title, Keywords, and
Meta tags on your site
When your site is built, the title, keywords, and other meta
tags will be included in the HTML code. If you would like
to change any of these, you can do so by using the online
editor. If you need help with this, you can always submit
a Request and our developers will help out.
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4.0 Pay Per Click Advertising
Looking to get listed with search engines fast, and ranked
high? Then you should probably look into Pay Per Click (PPC)
advertising. These types of programs allow you to choose
how much you want to pay relative to the position where
your ad will show up in a search. You also don't pay unless
someone clicks on your ads. However, you should always approach
PPC advertising carefully to avoid spending too much.
Pay Per Click advertising programs that will cover the major
search engines of Google, Yahoo, and Bing:
Google
AdWords - Probably the most well know PPC advertising
program.
Microsoft
Advertsing - Advertising with PPC on with Bing and Yahoo!
Search
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5.0 "Amazon Suggests"
Keeping a healthy and sustainable flow of traffic to your
Web site can be a key to success, but also one of the hardest
tasks to accomplish. To help you crack the traffic puzzle,
we've assembled different solutions, tips and case studies.
Go where the traffic starts: working with Search Engines
Most web surfers start their sessions at a search engine.
There are a number of different methods you can use to capture
their traffic and drive it to your site. We've provided an
outlined overview of suggested best practices below.
1. Buy it: Pay-per-click Search Engine Services
One of the best methods of purchasing Web site traffic involves
leveraging pay-per-click services offered by many major search
engines.
Most of these search engines require you to bid on key words
or phrases that users type in. The highest bid gets the highest
ranking on the search results and the advertiser pays the
amount bid every time someone clicks on their link.
Some basic guidelines:
Choose key words carefully: pick words that match your site
content or visitors' interest. Remember, sometimes the most
obvious / popular keywords are the most expensive. You can
be frugal and benefit from thinking of more specific, but
less obvious search terms that may convert higher for you
at a lower cost--if they match your content or site expertise.
Do the math: consult your Associate reports to see how many
visitors to your site ultimately make a purchase. If your
average is one out of one hundred visitors, then bidding $.05
for a position on a paid search engine placement will cost
you an estimated $5.00 per sale. If your gain per sale is
greater than $5, you're in good shape. If it's less, you will
need to continue to optimize your results.
Test where the traffic is: search engine traffic has consolidated
greatly over the last couple of years. The following search
engines all offer pay-per-click services and are widely used
by consumers:
Advertise your Web site with Yahoo!
Sponsored Search. Sign up and get a $25 credit into your
new account. Learn
more. 
2. Optimize for it: Get the most from Search Engines
Building up an advertising budget isn't the only way to get
the most out of search engine listings. Here are some steps
to take to optimize your search engine placements:
Add keywords and meta tags to your site
Search engines provide search results based on the relevancy
of the site content and its popularity. Make sure that the
copy on your homepage that contains many keywords that users
might search on to find your content. The higher the frequency
of the keywords, the more relevant your content can be deemed.
Note: eBiz-U creates your site with keywords and meta tags
built in. You may also change them yourself or request us
to change any of your keywords or meta tags at no charge.
Leverage links
Web sites that have lots of other sites linking to them are
often deemed more popular and get a higher rank because of
that. Contact folks with sites similar to yours and ask them
for a link back to your site.
Domain names
Getting your own domain name gives your site added credibility
and can help you get listed higher in search results. Make
sure the name you pick is a logical name pertaining to the
subject matter of your site and isn't too long to remember
or easy to misspell.
Register your site
Manually register your site with major search engines, or
let a partner like Submitnet.net to do it for you.
Some search engines don't index dynamic content on framed
sites. If your site is dynamic, think about ways to modify
your homepage that will make it easier for search engines
to index.
Note: eBiz-U does not create "framed sites" so this
should not be a problem for you.
3. Encourage your current traffic to return: Produce
an email newsletter
Starting an email newsletter is a great way to create repeat
visitors. Make sure your newsletter contains useful information
beyond just a link to your site. Content updates, editorials
& product reviews make great content. Keep it informative
and determine a reasonable frequency for emailing your newsletter
out.
If you're looking for a partner to help get your email newsletter
off the ground, we recommend you check out Constant Contact.
We've worked with the team there to put together a great offer
for Amazon.com Associates.
4. Content is king:
Provide rich site content and update it frequently to give
people a reason to return on a regular basis. A loyal and
interested audience can be a lucrative asset for Associates.
5. Keep on top of your traffic:
Monitoring the number of visitors to your site and where
they come from is a vital step in the traffic-driving process.
It helps you determine not only what's working, but how and
where people find your site.
Use traffic counters so you can see how much traffic you're
getting, what pages on your site get the most visits and where
users spend the most time. These are pages you'll want to
optimize.
Know your visitors: make sure you ask your visitors for feedback
about your site. Feedback forms, polls and opportunities for
customers to review your site content not only let you know
how you're doing, but offer you insight into who values your
site as well.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Check out the
top-trafficked sites on the web. You may find great content,
layout and site features you can adapt for your own site.
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6.0 Email Marketing
Marketing by email is one of the most effective ways to
gain and keep customers. By keeping them informed of new features
or special features on your website, you can keep a steady
stream of traffic to your site. However, it should be noted
that you should ONLY send emails to those visitors who have
requested (opted in) and given permission for you to send
email to them. Not getting permission is regarded as SPAM
(unsolicited email) and can get you blacklisted from your
ISP and your account terminated with eBiz-U. This being said,
if you go about building an email list over time, you will
have a loyal following of subscribers, and customers.
The following is a program that is great for beginners or
experts in email marketing. It also provides you with a free
60 day trial, and you pay nothing until you have over 50 subscribers.
Another great way to let people know about your store through
email is by adding your store web address on all of your personal
email. Think about how many emails you send to friends and
family, and how many emails get forwarded on to others. You
can let them all know about your new business as well as how
good your prices are. They'll thank you for saving them time
and money when they see your store and products in comparison
to traditional retail stores.
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7.0 Community Advertising
Get the word out in the area where you live! People in your
community make excellent customers since most prefer to buy
from local merchants, and those they know and trust through
community organizations.
Some great ideas include:
- Flyers around your neighborhood
- Advertising in local papers
- Postings at your local coffee shop (many have bulletin
boards)
- Get included in your Church flyers
- Post flyers with local merchants (that you wouldn't compete
with)
- Let schools know the great deals you have on supplies,
computers, educational games, etc.
- Look around your community for other ideas!
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8.0 Adding Your Own Products
through Amazon.com
Just follow this link and the directions. Your products will
automatically be included in your store under either Used
or Third Party links for those particular products. Not only
will your products show up on your site, but also on Amazon.com
and other sites so you will get great exposure.
Sell
Your Stuff with Amazon.com
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9.0 Customizing Your Website
At eBiz-U, we want you to be able to customize your store
how you wish. With the Online Editor,
you can add or change just about anything you want. In addition,
we will work with you one-on-one to create additional features
that will make your store a unique experience and help you
make more money. For simple additions there is no charge.
However, if you want more significant changes, there may be
fees associated with this type of request.
- Your banners,
images, or text
Adding your own content is simple using the Online Editor.
You can also request us to add banners, images, or text if
you wish. All you need to do is supply us with the HTML code,
images, or text and tell us where you want it on your page.
You can submit a request from the Request
Form.
- Format for text
When adding your own text or sending us a request to add text,
we ask that you have everything formatted as you would like
to see it on your page. Keep in mind that you should use "web-safe"
fonts such as Arial, Times Roman, or Verdana in order for
the text to display properly for your visitors.
A great place to start adding your own text is on your home
page where you can replace what is there when the store is
set up. You should try to limit the amount of text so that
it will fit nicely on the page. You can also add text to other
parts of your site by selecting those pages using the editor.
- Sending Requests
to us
If submitting requests for adding banners, images, or text,
you should use our online Request Form. You need to supply
us with your name, domain name, description of what you would
like, and . We will follow up with you on all requests you
make.
You can access the request form from the top of this page
or go to:
http://www.ebiz-u.com/requests.htm
- Restrictions
For any additions you request, we do not accept objectionable
material or subject matter. This is per our discretion. We
also can not accept any additions that may interfere with
performance of the site in any way. All requests will be evaluated
before and after implementation to ensure there are no negative
effects.
While we try to accommodate all reasonable requests, there
may be instances where an addition is not possible for either
technical or aesthetic reasons.
- Adding Additional Pages
You can add additional pages to your site easily by using
the Online Editor. Instructions on how to do this is located
here. If you would
like us to add additional pages to your site, we can do this
as well. Just use our Request form. If the work involved in
this is more significant, there may be additional charges,
but that is usually rare.
(If you plan to accept payment online for your own products
you will need to have some understanding of either PayPal
or 2Checkout.com so you can enter the proper information and
code for your site.)
Images - If sending us images through the
Request form we ask that you attach the images in standard
image formats like .gif, .jpg, or .png so that we can upload
them properly to your site.
Payment buttons - When adding payment buttons,
we recommend using payment processors such as PayPal or 2Checkout.com
who provide you HTML code that you can enter into your site.
Download pages - If you are selling downloadable
products (like eBooks), this would require you to create an
additional page for your customer to return to after making
payment.
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9.1 Make Additional Money with your
Site
A key to success in online business can be summed up with
3 words: "Multiple Income Streams".
This is the method of generating income from many different
sources rather than relying on just one to make money with
your website. Best of all, it won't cost you money to make
money this way!
There are thousands of businesses online that want to drive
more traffic to their sites, and they are eager to share the
revenue they make with you if you send customers their way.
All you need to do is place a link or banner on your site
which contains a unique code that identifies you as the referring
site.
Luckily, you don't have to search far in order to get these
types of links and banners. The following online sites represent
almost every major company in the world where you can get
professional links and banners to place on your site.
IMPORTANT - Remember to use
our Request form to add links and banners so that we can place
your requests appropriately.
http://www.ebiz-u.com/requests.htm
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10.0 Additional Help or Suggestions
If you need additional assistance with anything, please use
the Contact Us page for the appropriate contact to use. We
will make every effort to help you no matter what the question
or problem may be. Also feel free to email us with suggestions.
After all, the best ideas sometimes come from our customers!
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