Latest Articles by ereuben

4 Easy and Proved Ways To Pull In Traffic to a New Website

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 05:54:17 -0600

The reason so many people fail online so quickly is because they don't get traffic, at least not enough of it.

The problem is, people end up spending money on advertising without making much (if any) profit back, or they simply spend too much time trying to get free traffic and burn themselves out.

Of course, once you're successful you can pay someone to get you the traffic, but how do we get out of the never ending cycle of trying to get traffic without wasting time and money?

Well, I am going to start with the fundamental tasks that you should focus on first, then we'll take it from there...

1. Directory submissions.

This can be achieved using automated submission software or can be done by hand. It's a little dull but will result in lots of back links to your website for better visibility in the search engines. This is pay off as you add more content and back links to your site.

2. Social bookmarking.

This is about submitting links to the major Web 2.0 social bookmarking sites such as Digg, Propeller and Reddit (to name just a few). The great thing is you can use software such as socialmarker.com to make the process far easier. You can also buy inexpensive software to automate the whole process.

The benefit of social bookmarking your content is so that you gain back links from these authority sites (which is essential for being found in the search engines) but also, if you content is worthwhile and interesting, you increase the chances of your submission being passed around other readers really quickly, which can of course result in a lot of traffic to your website.

3. Back links.

Back links are the backbone of getting your pages listed high in the search engines. The more people link to your site naturally (i.e. without being paid or listing your site in some sort of link farm where the site linking to you is junk), then the better your rankings will be in the search engines. Not to mention the direct traffic that will come from the actual links from other sites too.

4. Collaboration.

Most people want to be the "one person wonder" or the sole entrepreneur in their business, which is fine. However, don't underestimate the sheer power of teaming up with other well established websites directly and offering your content, help or other services in exchange for some exposure to your own website.

The classic "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" effect comes into play here and trust me, it works like a charm providing you genuinely approach people to help them first.

There are of course, many other ways to start getting traffic to your site such as writing articles like this one, or getting involved with many of the Web 2.0 properties out there online today. The more social you become with your website at other people's parties, the more people will come to your party when you come to tell them about it...just like real life isn't it?

I've only scratched the surface of getting heavy volumes of traffic to your website. If you'd like to know more about using the new wave of traffic inducing methods to really get your business off the ground, then check this out: http://cjnpromo.com/review/secretaffiliatecode2/index.html

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Ed Reuben operates three blogs http://edreuben.com, http://easyoneclick.com/blog and http://cjnpromo.com/review.
They are all on starting and/or running an Internet Business.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Who Would Want To Run A Membership Site?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

What kind of person would want to run a membership site? Someone who is passionate about something and wants to share his knowledge or someone who is an expert at something and feels that people would benefit from that knowledge or even someone who is really serious about making a lot of money online.

Membership sites sell content to those interested in the focus of the site. Individuals pay to have access to this information. Typically, the member's area is a password-protected area of a Website. The content contained in the member's area can be articles, eBooks, videos, CDs, DVDs, Teleseminars, Software, games, even music.

Why, you ask, are people willing to pay for information when the Internet is such a highway of FREE information? Let us examine the Internet for a moment in order to answer that question. You do not need permission to place information on the Internet and anyone can put up a Web page with information on it and no one checks it for accuracy. It is true that there is a lot of free information on the Internet, but is it quality information? Most memberships are not only giving their members quality information the site provides information that is not found online. The information may come from experts in the field, or it may come from those doing the activity or those who have access to valuable information about a topic. Pay-for content is a hot revenue maker at this time and it is projected to be an excellent way to generate a solid income for many years to come as membership sites are just now taking off and there is still a wide-open field of topics yet to be covered by membership sites. People are willing to part with their hard-earned income to the tune of $2 billion dollars in the U.S. in 2007. This amount will increase as more membership sites pop up.

In answer to our question, who would want to run a membership site?" lots of people have already said, I do! They come from all walks of life, some to share a hobby with other enthusiasts, some to teach as a mentor or a coach, and still others to impart skill or share knowledge with others. Perhaps after reading this article you too might answer the question with a resounding, "I would like to run a membership site!"

If you do join the many Website owners who are making money with a membership site, you will reap the rewards of residual income as members pay you month after month or make yearly payments to you, if you offer that choice. You will also be rewarded with the knowledge that you too are sharing valuable quality content with your members by providing products or a service to them.

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Ed Reuben is operating two membership sites at the present time Learn by Audio and Video http:// www.learnbyaudio-video.com and CJN Announcer http://www.cjnannouncer.com.

He also has a blog on starting an Internet Business at http://www.edreuben.com and offers everything you need to start an online business at CJN Promotions. http://www.cjnpromo.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

How Do You Know If Running A Membership Site Will Be Right For You?

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

You have been doing a lot of reading about membership sites and know the value and potential of running one. You worry though that despite the possibilities you may not be as successful as others. How do you know if running a membership site will be right for you?

There are so many factors involved in running a successful membership site that you are right to question if you will be able to be successful at it. Not everyone is able to run a membership site the correct way. Some do fail, just like any other business. There are so many questions a new membership site owner may have such as do I have a good enough topic? How do I control the access to the site? How do I integrate billing? The fact that the income is residual, ongoing and monthly has a lot to do with the fact that the idea of running a membership site is so enticing to online marketers.

Perhaps the most important key to your success as a membership site owner is that you must be perceived as being an expert in the topic of the membership site. You also must be respected in the field. Not just anyone can make a go of running a successful membership site. To be a success the owner of the membership site will have to have a background in the industry, knowledge, and industry contacts. The owner will also have to be a good salesperson, as they will have to sell the benefits of the site to prospective members.

A membership site is not just something that you can put together and forget about and expect it to continue to bring in revenue for you month after month. You have to actively promote, maintain, and add to your membership site on a daily basis. You need to post new material, interact with site members, tend to customer service issues, and stay up-to-date on industry news so that your site projects the current trends in the industry.

You will know if a membership site is right for you if you can address all of the issues outlined above and with confidence say, "yes I can!"

Membership site ownership will be right for you if you feel passionate about the topic of the site, have a great deal of knowledge about the topic and are viewed as an expert in the field by others interested in the topic. You can become an expert or at least present an era of being an expert by utilizing business forums and forums on the topic and posting informative posts about the topic. It will take time to build up a following of those who look up to you as an expert but it can be done.

Is running a membership site right for you? By the time you have read this article, you should know the answer to this question.

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Ed Reuben is operating two membership sites at the present time Learn by Audio and Video www.learnbyaudio-video.com and CJN Announcer www.cjnannouncer.com.

He also has a blog on starting an Internet Business at www.edreuben.com and offers everything you need to start an online business at CJN Promotions. www.cjnpromo.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Why Do People Join Membership Sites?

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Most people are suffering from information overload and need a place to find reliable, quality information amidst the hoards of questionable information that can be found online. People want to be able to save time when they need information and instead of spending hours even days researching a topic they can turn to a membership site where they can find in one location all the information they are looking for.

Membership sites can also save people money because the membership is often offered products or services at a discount.

People join membership sites because they save time and money!

People also join membership sites to be able to share with others who enjoy the same interests. You can learn a lot from other people sharing stories of how they grew such and such a plant or played a great game of golf. People join book club sites and cooking membership sites to enjoy learning new things and sharing hobbies that they have in common with others. Most membership sites have forums or chat rooms that facilitate a "community setting" that encourages members to chat with each other.

People join membership sites for the opportunity to share with those who have a common interest so that they can learn from others and have an online community to be a part of.

People also join membership sites to improve skills or receive an education. There are many mentorship or tutorial membership sites online that offer members the chance to learn a new skill or improve an existing skill. Many business membership sites show individuals how to run a business online or how to work from home. Knowledge is powerful and many members agree that membership sites are one of the best ways to increase your knowledge on most any subject.

People join membership sites to increase their knowledge about a subject or to learn a new skill, even to earn a living by gaining valuable information from those who are already earning a living doing something that are willing to teach others.

Some people join membership sites because of the bonuses, or prizes that are given to members for being part of the membership site. Some sites offer discounts to members, or give monthly awards even run regular competitions. Membership sites are always finding new ways to reward members for being loyal and participating in the workings of the site.

People join membership sites for the extra rewards and goodies that membership site owners often give to members as a way of saying thank you for being a part of the membership.

Sometimes membership site members are given the opportunity to earn money through the site like when they participate in affiliate programs run by the membership site.

People join membership sites for the opportunity to make money through what the site offers.

The reasons people join membership sites vary but could be to save time or money, share common interests with others, be a part of a community of others who like what they like, increase or gain knowledge, because of the extra rewards, bonuses, discounts, or prizes and also some people join membership sites in order to make money.

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Ed Reuben is operating two membership sites at the present time Learn by Audio and Video www.learnbyaudio-video.com and CJN Announcer www.cjnannouncer.com.

He also has a blog on starting an Internet Business at www.edreuben.com and offers everything you need to start an online business at CJN Promotions. www.cjnpromo.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

The Differences Between Free and Paid Membership Sites

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

There are many pros and cons that can be mentioned for both the free membership site model and the paid one. Basically, with the free site, you will attract more members and have no recurring income but you can make money as you cross-sell to them. The paid membership will yield fewer members than the free one but you will have a recurring income through membership fees. The paid site will have a higher drop out rate than the free one and the paid site is more difficult to up sell to because they have already paid for content.
To understand fully which model is better for your particular membership site you have to analyze your content or service to see how valuable it is, know your market and know how well your backend products will sell. If you have weak backend products than the paid membership will be better. If you have a narrow niche than the free site will not work.
One solution is to use both models, the free and paid. You can entice the larger numbers to your membership site by offering a free first tier and then increase the content and tools for those who want to upgrade to the paid second tier of membership. This way members can try out your site and get a feel for how valuable the content is and then when they learn to trust that what you have is consistent quality products or service they will be confident enough to pay for the second tier of your membership site.
With a free membership site, you can generate an income through ad revenue.
Look towards your closest competitors to see if they are paid or free. If you have a close competitor that is free and you come along, as a paid site unless you are offering superior content and can promote it well prospective members will probably opt for your competitor's free membership site.
You will need to test your market to discover what your prospects respond better to the free model or the paid one.
Your content will ultimately be key in determining if you can successfully have a paid membership site. High quality content that is fresh and consistent will mean real value to your customers and they will not mind paying the monthly fee.
Most successful membership sites have found that the best solution seems to be having a limited free option for members with a quality package of goodies for paying members. Whether you will do best with a limit on how many free members or if you will have a time frame limit for the free membership depends on your market, your content and your up sell products as well as your competitors.

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Ed Reuben is operating two membership sites at the present time Learn by Audio and Video www.learnbyaudio-video.com and CJN Announcer www.cjnannouncer.com.

He also has a blog on starting an Internet Business at www.edreuben.com and offers everything you need to start an online business at CJN Promotions. www.cjnpromo.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Understanding the Need for and How to Start a Membership site

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Perhaps you have heard about how lucrative membership sites can be. Perhaps you belong to several successful membership sites and would like to join this online business model. You can make a lot of money by owning a paid membership site. You can have steady income for years from just one membership site. Membership sites come in automatically as long as the site is running.

In case you are unsure of what a paid membership site is, let us review:

You may have heard them referred to as member only sites, membership sites, subscription, or even mentorship sites. All of these sites have one thing in common and that is that a member has to pay to have access to the content of the site. These sites all bring in a steady flow of money month after month, year after year and can be on a variety of different topics. Some membership sites provide useful information on a particular topic, some sites mentor members in a particular field while others offer information such as review or articles about a particular product. Other membership sites provide specialized services or act as a gathering place for the members who all have a common interest. No matter what type of site it is the one thing all of these sites have in common is that all of the members are only entitled to the information if they pay for it.

People gladly pay for information online because the information is easily accessible, can be specialized to a particular topic or product or can be about mentoring them in a particular field of interest. The site offers something of special value that is not offered anywhere else. This is why people are willing to pay for membership in these sites, to obtain valuable information that they feel they cannot get anywhere else. People pay for this information because it would be time consuming to gather the information on their own, or because the information is difficult to come by.

Just a few years ago, most people did not have to pay to access information online; it was free for the taking. Membership sites did not become popular until a few years ago, so the field is pretty wide open yet for new membership site owners.

Membership sites are springing up that are focused on all sorts of unusual topics and some common topics too. Topics of membership sites can range from business, to hobbies, to products, marketing, fitness and weight loss, dating and other social topics, even cultural websites.

Now that you know a little bit more about membership sites and the need for them it is time to learn a little about how to start a profitable membership site.

Your first step in starting a membership site is to choose a topic. The topic should be something that you are passionate about, have some expertise in, and are viewed by others as having knowledge about the topic. Sit down and make a list of all the things that you have interest in, your hobbies, your vocations, any business training you have had, or even what you do when you have free time. Are you a consultant, speaker, or mentor to others on any topic? Once you have narrowed down a topic it is time to set up your member's only site.

Setting up your membership site:

You will find many software programs and tools to help you set up your membership site. Basically, you need a Website, hosting, and 3rd party services to help you with the administrative tasks of running a membership site. You can find all of this in one place by using membership management software systems. These systems automatically do all the administrative tasks involved in running a membership site. Using a system can reduce your workload greatly.

Google the terms "membership site" and discover all the software systems available. Look them over carefully to see what benefits they offer. Choose one that has a good support system, knowledge tools, and a forum for asking questions and getting good advice from knowledgeable individuals who are currently running or who have previously run successful membership sites.

Some that I can recommend are EasyMember Pro and aMember Pro.

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Ed Reuben is operating two membership sites at the present time Learn by Audio and Video www.learnbyaudio-video.com and CJN Announcer www.cjnannouncer.com.

He also has a blog on starting an Internet Business at www.edreuben.com and offers everything you need to start an online business at CJN Promotions. www.cjnpromo.com.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Why Write an eBook?

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500

It's not true that everything that has been said has already been written. Since that unfortunate axiom came into use, the whole universe has changed. Technology has changed, ideas have changed, and the mindsets of entire nations have changed.

The fact is that this is the perfect time to write an eBook. What the publishing industry needs are people who can tap into the world as it is today - innovative thinkers who can make the leap into the new millennium and figure out how to solve old problems in a new way. EBooks are a new and powerful tool for original thinkers with fresh ideas to disseminate information to the millions of people who are struggling to figure out how to do a plethora of different things.

Let's say you already have a brilliant idea, and the knowledge to back it up that will enable you to write an exceptional eBook. You may be sitting at your computer staring at a blank screen wondering, "Why? Why should I go through all the trouble of writing my eBook when it is so impossible to get anything published these days?

Well, let me assure you that publishing an eBook is entirely different than publishing a book in print. Let's look at the specifics of how the print and cyber publishing industry differ, and the many reasons why you should take the plunge and get your fingers tapping across those keyboards!

Submitting a print book to conventional publishing houses or to agents is similar to wearing a hair shirt 24/7. No matter how good your book actually is, or how many critique services and mentor writers have told you that "you've got what it takes," your submitted manuscript keeps coming back to you as if it is a boomerang instead of a valuable mine of information.

Perhaps, in desperation, you have checked out self-publishing and found out just how expensive a
venture it can be. Most "vanity presses" require minimal print runs of at least 500 copies, and even
that amount will cost you thousands of dollars. Some presses' minimal run starts at 1,000 to 2,000 copies. And that is just for the printing and binding. Add in distribution, shipping, and promotional costs and - well, you do the math. Even if you wanted to go this route, you may not have that kind of money to risk.

Let's say you already have an Internet business with a quality website and a quality product. An eBook is one of the most powerful ways to promote your business while educating people with the knowledge you already possess as a business owner of a specific product or service.

For example, let us say that you have spent the last twenty-five years growing and training bonsai trees, and now you're ready to share your knowledge and experience. An eBook is the perfect way to reach the largest audience of bonsai enthusiasts.

EBooks will not only promote your business - they will help you make a name for yourself and your company, and establish you as an expert in your field. You may even find that you have enough to say to warrant a series of eBooks. Specific businesses are complicated and often require the different aspects to be divided in order for the reader to get the full story.

Perhaps your goals are more finely tuned in terms of the eBook scene. You may want to build a whole business around writing and publishing eBooks. Essentially, you want to start an e-business. You are thinking of setting up a website to promote and market your eBooks. Maybe you are even thinking of producing an ezine.

One of the most prevalent reasons people read eBooks is to find information about how to turn their Internet businesses into a profit-making machine. And these people are looking to the writers of eBooks to provide them with new ideas and strategies because writers of eBooks are usually people who understand the new cyberspace world we now live in. EBook writers are experts in Internet marketing campaigns and the strategies of promoting and distributing eBooks. The
cyberspace community needs its eBooks to be successful so that more and more eBooks will be written.

You may want to create affiliate programs that will also market your eBook. Affiliates can be people or businesses worldwide that will all be working to sell your eBooks. Think about this? Do you see a formula for success here?

Figure out what your subject matter is, and then narrow it down. Your goal is to aim for specificity.
Research what's out there already, and try to find a void that your eBook might fill.

What about an eBook about a wedding cake business? Or an eBook about caring for elderly pets? How about the fine points of collecting ancient pottery?

You do not have to have three masters degrees to write about your subject. People need advice that is easy to read and easily understood. Parents need advice for dealing with their teenagers. College students need to learn good study skills - quickly. The possibilities are endless.

After you have written your eBook

Getting your eBook out is going to be your focus once you have finished writing it, just as it is with print books. People will hesitate to buy any book from an author they have never heard of. Wouldn't you?

The answer is simple: give it away! You will see profits in the form of promoting your own business and getting your name out. You will find affiliates who will ask you to place their links within your eBook, and these affiliates will in turn go out and make your name known. Almost every single famous eBook author has started out this way.

Another powerful tool to attract people to your eBook is to make it interactive. Invent something for them to do within the book rather than just producing pages that contain static text. Let your readers fill out questionnaires, forms, even crossword puzzles geared to testing their knowledge on a particular subject. Have your readers hit a link that will allow them to recommend your book to their friends and associates. Or include an actual order form so at the end of their reading journey, they can eagerly buy your product.

When people interact with books, they become a part of the world of that book. The fact is just as true for books in print as it is for eBooks.

That is why eBooks are so essential. Not only do they provide a forum for people to learn and make sense of their own thoughts, but they can also serve to promote your business at the same time.

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Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Some File Naming Tricks for Your Online Home Based Business Web Pages

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Conventional Wisdom states you should use Sub-Directories to organize your web Pages. Unfortunately the Page Indexing Tools Penalize your Page Rankings when you Do this, Many of the Page Ranking Algorithms in use today deem that pages closed to your Root are of a Higher Value then pages that are further away from your root. If you have 2 Web Pages with the Exact same content (web1.html and web2.html) http://yourdomain.com/web1.html and http://yourdomain.com/articles/training/web2.html
All things being equal Web1 will have a higher ranking then Web2.html because Web1.html it is in the Root Directory.
As a Web Designer or a Home Based Business owner wearing a Web Designer Hat it seems you have 2 Choices, do what seems right and in many ways best and use a Pretty Directory Structure and Loose Ranking points or Throw out the Directory Structure and Gain Ranking Points. Many People Choose the Directory structure either because they don't know about the page Ranking Algorithms or they feel a strong need to be organized and are willing to sacrifice ranking points.
There is a 3rd Choice. You can use what we shall call a Pseudo Directory. A Pseudo Directory is a simple tool that you can use that will not only keep you organized but has the added bonus if used properly can actually increase your ranking points because you will have file names that are extremely optimized for the Page Ranking Bots.
A quick lesson on File Naming if you have 3 Web Pages with identical content and they are named page1.html,bathroom.html and Home-Repair-Bathroom.html which file do you think will have the Lowest ranking and The Highest Ranking for the phrase "Bathroom repair". Page1.html will be lowest ranked and Home-Repair-Bathroom.html will be the highest rank.
The Pseudo Directory takes advantage of this page naming structure to allow you to organize your Web Pages and still maximize your page ranking.
So you have a Web Page that is Promoting products and Services to Homeowners and Would be Homeowners. You want to build some content rich web pages using articles that you find and Reprint. Using the Conventional Method you would have a Directory Structure that looks like
root/articles/Home-Loan/file.html, root/articles/Home-Repair/file.html and root/articles/Home-Selling/file.html etc.
With the Pseudo Directory method you keep all your files in the root Directory you just name them using the Optimal naming rules. An Article on Roof Repair would be named home-repair-roof.html not roof.html. Similarly an article on Kitchen Repair would be named Home-Repair-Kitchens.html and on Bathroom repair would be named Home-Repair-Bathrooms.html
This next step is optional but it does have a few advantages and will help increase your page rank even more. Create a Table of Contents or Site Map for each Pseudo Directory. So continuing with the above example create a File called Home-Repair-Contents.html and list all the files that start Home-Repair.
Next (If you have more then 3 or 4 sub topics) Create a Page called Home-Contents.html where you have links to Home-Repair-contents.html and Home-Loan-contents.html and Home-Selling-contents.html ...
Mike Makler has been Marketing Online Since 2001 and has Built an Online Organization of over 100,000 members. You can see My Web Page Here and be sure and Subscribe to my Newsletter http://www.ewguru.com/hbiz/viraltraffic.html

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Ed Reuben wants everyone to learn the Internet Business the easy way.

http://www.new-fyi.com, http://www.learnbyaudio-video.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com