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Rags to Riches Internet Entrepreneur Launches First Online Business Training Event

21st May 2012

Nick James, internet entrepreneur, has announced his first training event to help ordinary people learn how to make money online. Money Making Mastery will be held 23-24 June 2012 in Reading, Berkshire to an audience of 450 business owners.

Nick, based in Berkshire, has assembled an international line up of presenters who will share how they created their own online businesses in simple language using real life examples. These are all experts who have personally inspired Nick and helped him to create his own business success.

Money Making Mastery speakers include Matt Bacak and Diane Conklin, who run successful marketing businesses over in the US. From the UK, Andy Harrington, Jerry Clark, Lee Sandford, the ex-UK Premiership footballer who is now an expert trader, plus Tom Breeze and Andy Frain, professional video creators and many more.

Andy Harrington is Nick’s personal mentor who started his own business with a £10,000 bank loan and turned it into a 52 Million Pound business. A well known personal development coach and public speaker, he’s shared a stage with luminaries such as Sir Richard Branson, Alan Sugar, Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Paul McKenna and T Harv Eker.

Jerry Clark is another self-made business success, a US direct sales and networking expert, Jerry became a millionaire in his Twenties. To date he has produced over 100 audio training programmes which are used by dozens of businesses in 35 countries. Jerry’s area of expertise is teaching how to increase productivity and profitability in home based businesses.

Nick has a very personal reason for organising this event, as just ten years ago, his life changed after a chance meeting with a stranger:

“I’d just split up with my fiancee, the mother of my son, and had to move out of our home. To make ends meet, I was working as a car park attendant. One day, I helped out a customer who had boxed his car in and we got talking.

“He explained to me what he did for a living and I was amazed to learn that he ran a successful online business. {{In those days, an internet based business wasn’t an option I would have ever considered possible for myself}}.”

Encouraged to do something different, Nick set up his first business and began developing software and products to help small businesses improve their online marketing. Now he has a seven figure business, his own online training centre and continues to develop his own products while helping others do the same. He’s worked with business people as diverse as driving instructors, magicians, chicken keepers and bouncy castle organisers.

Said Nick “I’m very excited to have the opportunity to share with others how the internet can give anyone the freedom to set up a low cost, flexible business and reach millions of people around the world.”

Money Making Mastery takes place on 23-24 June 2012 at the Hilton Hotel, Drake’s Way, Reading. Further details here: Money Making Mastery

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You waste two days a year waiting for websites to load

18th May 2012

According to research released today by 1&1 Internet Ltd, www.1and1.co.uk, a global leader amongst web hosting providers, slow running and unreliable websites are still a major gripe for British Internet users.  With 71 per cent of UK web users regularly inconvenienced by slow running websites, they continue to cause negative emotions.  The extent of consumer annoyance is hardly surprising when we consider the average Briton estimates that they waste 9 minutes every day, or 2 days a year, waiting for slow websites to load.  As a result, 1&1 advises UK firms that choosing a fast and robust hosting provider has never been so important.

1&1’s ‘Need for Speed Survey’(1) finds that most UK web users are still regularly inconvenienced by slow running websites.  Over half (59 per cent) see large variations in the speed and reliability of the websites which they use.  The data suggests that consumers have felt little improvement since 1&1 last conducted the study exactly 5 years ago, which found a wastage of 10 minutes per day.  As in 2007, the citizens of Northern Ireland remain the most affected.

A total of 78 per cent of consumers have felt negative emotions as a result of a slow or unreliable website.  Women appear more affected by related stress or anger, 34 per cent as compared to 27 per cent for men.  On average 31 per cent of Britons admit that related stress or anger has increased over the past 5 years.  Half of consumers believe that websites have either not improved in speed or have become slower over the past 5 years.  Doubts over whether a slow online transaction has been successful are experienced by 44 per cent of UK consumers.  Whilst men may suffer less emotionally, they are perhaps more judgmental on the issue.  Some 42 per cent of men and 35 per cent of women have decided not to use a company again as a result of an overly slow website.

The strength of consumers’ reaction is indicative of their awareness of what slows websites down.  Over the past 5 years, 37 per cent of web users believe that they have become better able to judge whether a website is running more slowly than it should.  Respondents point to more attractive designs and more complex features as contributing to slow loading speeds.  Only 1 in 4 web users believe that the websites they use are getting faster each year.

“Oliver Mauss, CEO 1&1 Internet, said “There is no doubt that slow loading and unreliable websites remain an inconvenience to many.  Whilst consumers can ensure their own super fast connection, if website owners do not host their sites effectively, the web experience will suffer.  Consumers appreciate the benefits felt from industry-leading connectivity and geo-redundancy offered by large web hosts like 1&1”.

It appears that Britons are more affected than some other Europeans.  In Spain, only 60 per cent complain of slow running websites, and the average time wasted is slightly better at 8.5 minutes every day.  German web users appear to have a faster experience.  In Germany, only 44 per cent complain of slow running websites, and the average time wasted is lowest at 5.5 minutes per day.

1&1 web hosting packages, available from £2.99/month+VAT, benefit from optimal uptime and super fast 275 Gbit/sec connectivity, via the company’s own pan-European and global backbones.  Furthermore, 1&1 Dual Hosting means a new dimension of resilience as every online presence exists in parallel in two different high performance data centres at the same time.

Mauss added, “Consumers have never been so aware and unforgiving of slow running websites.  If a website does not meet their expectations, users will switch to an alternative.  Firms must be aware that their choice of hosting provider has never been so important.  Those that fail to leverage the fastest possible bandwidth and most reliable hosting platforms risk losing revenue and reputation”.

As a global leader among web hosts, 1&1 is well placed to deliver a high quality service to its customers. The company currently holds over 10.5 million customer contracts worldwide and manages 11 million domain names.  For more information visit the website at www.1and1.co.uk.

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How to Make an Email List That Will Get Major Conversion Rates

7th May 2012

“If marketers know how to make an email list, why isn’t every visitor to their website signing up for a subscription?” asked today’s DigitalMarketer.com article. There’s no simple trick or magic wand that can instantly increase email recipients, but it is a great indicator of the condition of a business. Large lists mean large exposure ratios, and ultimately more opt-ins for online sales and offers. Just making a list doesn’t complete the task; the article said driving more and more email subscribers to it is the main objective.

That’s why Digital Marketer is providing a must-have training course in email subscription techniques called “How to Double Your Subscriber List Without Doubling Your Traffic.” It draws attention to the important connection between list members, sales, and profits, which in turn allow more marketing money to be spent elsewhere.

The article said even though learning how to build mailing lists isn’t brain surgery, it’s also not directly clear what changes need to be made without doing a little research. Digital Marketer excels in that department, and has analyzed tons of data to make accurate and effective suggestions.

“Double Your List” is being offered in two formats: one is a RAW Training webinar, and the other is a Special Report. The RAW Training version began life as a live webinar, presented to Digital Marketing Labs members who were able to interact with the presenter in real time. Afterwards, a recording of the webinar was made available on DigitalMarketer.com. The information was also comprised in a Special Report, which can be downloaded as an e-book, said the article.

Paying for something like traffic generation gets extremely pricey, but the article said some marketers insist it’s the only way to build an email list. Digital Marketer will help businesses understand that as the biggest, most expensive mistake they can make, especially if they’ve paid little attention to their email subscription efforts up to this point. Conversions are the main focus of “Double Your List,” and Digital Marketer gives the ten best practices for boosting them, said the article.

Digital Marketer releases Special Reports to help businesses and entrepreneurs gain insight and information on the trends, data, and strategies that can take them to the top of their industry. Through training courses, strategic plans, blogs, and Special Reports like this one, Digital Marketer supercharges every single marketing campaign it touches. For more information, visit DigitalMarketer.com.

Digital Marketer is holding nothing back in its search for improved email lists and subsequent conversions, the online article said. Businesses that embrace their best practices and employ them for their own email lists are destined to have great success. To learn how to make an email list that promises conversions, consult the expert guidance in “Double Your List” today.

“If marketers know how to make an email list, why isn’t every visitor to their website signing up for a subscription?” asked today’s DigitalMarketer.com article. There’s no simple trick or magic wand that can instantly increase email recipients, but it is a great indicator of the condition of a business. Large lists mean large exposure ratios, and ultimately more opt-ins for online sales and offers. Just making a list doesn’t complete the task; the article said driving more and more email subscribers to it is the main objective.

That’s why Digital Marketer is providing a must-have training course in email subscription techniques called “How to Double Your Subscriber List Without Doubling Your Traffic.” It draws attention to the important connection between list members, sales, and profits, which in turn allow more marketing money to be spent elsewhere.

The article said even though learning how to build mailing lists isn’t brain surgery, it’s also not directly clear what changes need to be made without doing a little research. Digital Marketer excels in that department, and has analyzed tons of data to make accurate and effective suggestions.

“Double Your List” is being offered in two formats: one is a RAW Training webinar, and the other is a Special Report. The RAW Training version began life as a live webinar, presented to Digital Marketing Labs members who were able to interact with the presenter in real time. Afterwards, a recording of the webinar was made available on DigitalMarketer.com. The information was also comprised in a Special Report, which can be downloaded as an e-book, said the article.

Paying for something like traffic generation gets extremely pricey, but the article said some marketers insist it’s the only way to build an email list. Digital Marketer will help businesses understand that as the biggest, most expensive mistake they can make, especially if they’ve paid little attention to their email subscription efforts up to this point. Conversions are the main focus of “Double Your List,” and Digital Marketer gives the ten best practices for boosting them, said the article.

Digital Marketer releases Special Reports to help businesses and entrepreneurs gain insight and information on the trends, data, and strategies that can take them to the top of their industry. Through training courses, strategic plans, blogs, and Special Reports like this one, Digital Marketer supercharges every single marketing campaign it touches. For more information, visit DigitalMarketer.com.

Digital Marketer is holding nothing back in its search for improved email lists and subsequent conversions, the online article said. Businesses that embrace their best practices and employ them for their own email lists are destined to have great success. To learn how to make an email list that promises conversions, consult the expert guidance in “Double Your List” today.

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State of Search Integration Survey Open for Submission

2nd May 2012

Hydra, a leading provider of software-as-a-service tools for digital marketers, is pleased to announced that its second annual survey [https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6M2S6G6 ] charting the state of search, is underway.

Hydra’s annual “State of Search Integration – 2012″, research aims to gain intelligence and insight on the digital marketing industry, find out how organisations are managing the discipline and to what extent the integration across different channels of search – Natural Search, Paid Search and Social Media, has shifted

Hydra invites digital marketers and practitioners in this field to participate by submitting their responses to the five minute survey [https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6M2S6G6 ], currently open for completion until Friday 11 May 2012.

Together with receiving the full findings, respondents will also be entered into a draw for three months free use of Hydra’s One Platform [http://www.onehydra.com/the-one-platform ].

Some key findings to emerge from Hydra’s 2011 survey revealed:

  • 55% of digital marketers did not know which words or expressions being used in the market were worth spending money on when it came to gaining optimum returns campaign-wise
  • One third of digital marketers felt that less than 50% of their needs were being met by their current tool set
  • In firms where multiple digital marketing teams existed, 35% of respondents stated their teams interacted rarely or not at all. In effect, teams on different channels predominantly operated as separate entities
  • Measuring performance for terms at a granular level and discovering new high value keywords proved challenging for most marketers
  • Teams sharing terms between disciplines displayed greater confidence in dealing with them when compared to their peers working in isolation

Martyn Jobber, CEO at Hydra, comments: “Last year’s research revealed the innate need for greater collaboration between digital marketing teams – teams that shared terms and worked collaboratively had greater confidence in their success than those who did not. It will be interesting to see whether Search integration has moved in a year, how essential it is perceived to be by digital marketers in contributing to success across Natural, Paid Search and Social Media and if specialists are scaling their campaigns effectively and increasing their online visibility as a result of a joined-up approach.”

Full findings of Hydra’s “State of Search Integration – 2012″ report will be published in June 2012.

 

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Using Pinterest as a Nonprofit Fundraising Engine

1st May 2012

Chances are you’ve heard of “this Pinterest thing” that’s become the new social media cool kid on the block. It’s now the third largest social media site and the 16th most popular site on the web.

While chatting with nonprofits, we’ve been asked how they can use Pinterest to help their organizations. Here are 7 tips on how nonprofits can start using Pinterest to raise awareness, impact and fundraising.

1) Pinterest engages.
One of the most important aspects of a digital fundraising campaign is intertwining storytelling throughout the technology. Pinterest is a fantastic resource for visual storytelling, which translates perfectly into the nonprofit space. For example, if you’re running a capital campaign for a new building, “pin” different images of the project. Invite people to follow your Pinterest board, and start the engagement from the inception of the campaign.

One of the most common misperceptions in fundraising is that if the technology is there (the dreaded “Donate Now” button) then people will donate. People first need to be engaged. After that, they will contribute their time and resources. Pinterest helps engage. Engagement drives fundraising.

2) Make non-visual things… well, visual.
We’re all inundated with facts and figures. Many nonprofits have been successful in turning data into a visual that people can easily consume (e.g. infographic). Post this on Pinterest to provide a visual gallery of data that many wouldn’t take the time to digest.

Also, nonprofits can take quotes and testimonials of the difference that they’re making, and create a visual out of this. The more people are familiar with your success, the more willing they will be to visit your site, learn about your organization, and give to your cause.

3) Brainstorming fundraising ideas.
Most of us are visual creatures and seeing something is easier than reading about it. Pinterest takes advantage of the web information overload and makes it easier for us to consume information visually. If you’re looking to have a successful fundraising campaign, it’s powerful to get buy-in from your constituency at an early start. Instead of having a top-down fundraising strategy where the nonprofit is telling constituents how to fundraise, ask your base to “pin” pictures of interesting fundraising ideas.

4) Social fundraising at its best.
Pinterest gives organizations an opportunity to engage in an online visual conversation. If you’re raising funds for any cause, ask your volunteers to get a ‘photo of the day’ that represents your campaign. It goes back to engagement. The more they’re engaged, the more they’ll be willing to contribute to your fundraising campaign.

5) Highlight your volunteers: Your volunteers are working hard for your organization. They’re in the trenches and can vouch for why their funds make their respective nonprofit tick. Take a 30 second clip of a volunteer’s testimonial in a video, post it on YouTube, then put it on Pinterest. Your video is now part of your visual storytelling.

6) Highlight your success while pinning others.
The same application as highlighting your volunteers can work for the individuals that your nonprofit is helping. Create a Pinterest board for a very specific cause “Labrador Rescue in Chicago” and then “Like” other posts that may spark interest in your post. This will notify that user and start a conversation.

7) Increase your exposure.
If you have a focused fundraising campaign, then tag your posts to be relevant to your cause. As people are looking for your organization, this will improve search engine optimization. When you’re thinking of your Pinterest board names and descriptions, this is something that should be at the forefront. The more people can find your organization; understand your cause, the better for your fundraising campaign.

In summary
Pinterest should not be the fundraising tool, but only one tool in a myriad of fundraising tools to be used in the digital space. A solid digital strategy should also include other social media outlets, mobile, web alongside a carefully planned and executed marketing strategy to get the word out about your campaign. Also, Pinterest should not be used to directly promote your organization. That will quickly turn off people. Instead, use it to extract the human stories from your organization and put that into digital form. That’s what engages. When people are engaged, they’re much more willing to take action.

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