July 8th 'Seminars with the Experts' Call.

Internet Growth Techniques from Jesse Jameson.

After eight years in Corporate America, Jesse Jameson ventured into Internet Marketing feet first and gradually established his credentials as a "behind the scenes" expert. Jameson has personal coaching and mentoring experience, but is particularly skilled at partnering with companies that want to establish a winning web presence.

Jesse's initial online breakthrough came via the "Interview the Experts" path. Creating interview products is a "WIN-WIN" situation for aspiring entrepreneur and guru alike. So, if you like communicating and are prepared to sell yourself, seek out 5-10 experts in your niche and develop your own interview products.

Starting from Scratch...

The path to Internet Marketing glory starts with recognizing and exploiting a "viable" passion. To that end, Jesse Jameson suggests that individuals:

1. Make a list of hobbies and interests that you really enjoy or always wanted to try.
2. Narrow your list to hobbies for which you already possess specialized knowledge, or are prepared to learn and access that knowledge.
3. Do market research on 3-5 choices from your list to determine their viability (case studies, networking, surveys, results of people already in niche, etc.).

Blazing "Old" Trails.

Jameson provides newbies with some counterintuitive advice:

"DON'T be a pioneer!"

Choose innovation over invention; long-term viability means swallowing your pride and leaving the "lab" work for later. Competition must not intimidate beginners. In fact, it is the best indicator of a healthy niche that supports multiple players - provided you can supply a superior product that everyone wants, and can connect with a hungry target market. Find out who the major players are, and how they are making money.

Filling the Market Gaps.

Foregoing original product research and education does not mean ignoring existing opportunities in your chosen market. Jesse strongly advises newbies to sign up to several established marketer lists to learn about expert tactics and current results. More importantly, learn about their weaknesses and how you can stand out with a better approach. Top marketers often volunteer great information:

• Website statistics and information collection methods.
• Price points, i.e.; how to decide what the market will bear.
• How to partner with established marketers.
  

JV marketing is Jesse's #1 prosperity method, so consider how to create such alliances (e.g. interviews, offer front-end products, technical work, etc.).

Internet Marketing Basics.

Jameson lists the "brick and mortar" aspects of your online business:

• Web page
• Domain name
• Domain hosting service
• Autoresponder
• Merchant account or shopping cart

He also enumerated the traffic tactics that are at your disposal:

• Organic search engine traffic.
• Joint Venture traffic (i.e. partnerships).
• Pay-per-click (PPC)
• Web 2.0 (social networking, bookmarking)
• Article marketing with legitimate content
• Affiliate programs with integrated marketing tools
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Note that there is division within the SEO community concerning the use of black hat and white hat tactics. "White Hats" employ traditional methods and always try to play by the rules to organically grow long-term traffic. On the other hand, "Black Hats" focus on dominating search engine rankings and making money today. They have been described as sneaky and short-term, and are susceptible to delisting. That is why Jesse and others advise white hat strategies for newbies and other marketers.

Jameson's Campaign Management Strategies.

Jesse tells aspiring Internet marketers to overcome their fear of rejection. Ask prospects for their contact information on your opt-in forms and landing pages. Face it - if you cannot ask people to join your list, how can you ask them to pull out their credit card later on?

Ongoing testing and tracking will tell you if web surfers want freebies to join your list. Regardless, Jameson advises us to stick with a double opt-in process, followed by 'Thank You' pages that offer high-quality products. Industry research shows that buyers need seven 'looks' on average before making a purchase, so take advantage of every opportunity to bond with your subscribers. Do not use misleading traffic tactics to manipulate prospects' search and buying decisions.

The Wave of the Future and Present.

Many entrepreneurs mistakenly abandon their past experiences and interests to dive head first into the Internet Marketing niche. Although digital product creation and various 'pick and shovel' services can be lucrative, Jesse Jameson cautions against leaving the offline world all together. If you do not sell real products, you risk losing touch with the corporate world and limiting your options for growth.

Internet marketing is becoming more and more mainstream, and its value as a direct sales channel opens up great opportunities to help 'brick and mortar' companies establish a web presence. So consider developing long-term marketing skills that will be useful for authors, publishers, etc. (e.g. copywriting). Seek alliances with micro and macro businesses; create 'win-win" partnerships that are financially, and spiritually fulfilling.

Closing Tips from the Expert.

Jameson offered his final thoughts to future and current marketers:

• Avoid distractions. Don't buy products unless you can use them immediately, or if you are able to make them pay for itself.
• At live events, "face-to-face" encounters with fellow networkers and presenters are often more beneficial than the scheduled lectures.
• Before launching an online campaign, contact your merchant account processor and website host to ensure that they can handle sales "spikes" and increased traffic.
• To maximize the benefit of outsourcing, create process maps that clearly define your objectives and ensure duplicability.
  

Conclusion.

Jesse Jameson created his Internet lifestyle by sticking to fundamentals - practicing what he preaches with beginners and high-powered corporate clients alike. He foresees a time when Internet Marketing (e-business) will become a core component in university management programs. He believes in the role of mentoring and personal development in entrepreneurship. At the same time, he has found balance in his life by looking beyond dollars and cents. For Jameson, traveling the world brings peace and serenity, but something else might do it for you. Get a life!

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Rahul Majumdar is co-author of The Best of List Profit Academy with Brian Edmondson. To claim privileged insider information about it's impending launch, click here.

June 24th "Seminars with the Experts" Call.

Learning the Affiliate Marketing Ropes with Matthew Glanfield.

Hilary Stewardson's final June 2008 teleseminar guest was noted Internet entrepreneur Matthew Glanfield. Since bursting onto the scene in 2005, Glanfield has parlayed several strong selling online properties into a solid six-figure annual income. Matthew's passion for helping others succeed in the often brutal world of online marketing is evidenced through his groundbreaking video tutorials. Small wonder that most of his 25,000+ list subscribers are "newbies" or relative newcomers to making money online.

Capturing Affiliate Marketing Success.

The internet attracts people from all walks of life who dream of becoming financially independent, or at the very least supplementing their present income. Matthew Glanfield suggests that 99% come online without prior business experience and a lack of money. However, they should not be discouraged from achieving success. Chances are that their working knowledge and special interests can trigger some growth, especially in affiliate marketing.

Glanfield offers the following advice for selecting a good affiliate program:

• Learn what products are selling and NOT selling. Use search engines to isolate the most popular sites, and those that are most likely to attract and convert other marketers and advertisers.
• Investigate how other people generate leads and traffic for their affiliate pages. Go to where they are!

Contrary to popular belief, affiliate sales competition is good because it indicates that a particular product is highly valued and a good seller. After all, why else is it being promoted?

Making the Most of Your Affiliate Marketing Efforts.

New marketers often pour money haphazardly into advertising, thinking that the volume of "one-time" affiliate sales will eventually offset their costs. However, even a respectable 1-2% conversion rate means that 98-99% of your visitors leave your affiliate site without giving you their names and e-mail addresses.

What Matthew would call "Leaving money on the table"...

So, what's the solution? Incorporate list-building into your affiliate marketing campaigns. Put up a squeeze page that offers a free, quality report in exchange for a visitor's valid contact information. Then, direct the person to your 'Thank You', i.e., affiliate page. Although they may reject your current offer, you now have a chance to build a real relationship with subscribers. Something that can become much more valuable in the long run.

Matthew's Traffic Generation Primer.

Glanfield defined targeted traffic generation as finding your niche market, then getting in front of it at the right time. Look to attract people who are actually interested in what you have to say.

How do you do it? Here are Matthew’s suggestions:

- Buying Leads: A definite NO-NO!

- Google Adwords: Learn how to do it properly, test it out, and then ask yourself: Is it profitable or not profitable?

- Banner Advertising: Although expensive in the pre-Internet Bubble era, a careful web search can reveal quality services (e.g. graphics, video impressions) and banner exchange websites at a reasonable price.

- Video Marketing: An essentially free traffic generation tool where you present yourself as the expert. Present tutorials in an entertaining format that highlight your personality. Use screen capture videos or motion pictures; all it takes is a camcorder and some software to post content on video sharing sites like YouTube.

- Article Marketing: A time-intensive, long-term traffic method. Focus on offering unique and insightful articles (not generic advice). Use software or outsourcing to handle ezine directory submissions.

- Forum Marketing: The raw frontlines of Internet Marketing. Can be rewarding, but need to discipline yourself to fixed time limits.

- Blogging: Great communication tool to establish your credibility and gain exposure; 2-3 entries weekly for maximum benefit.

Traffic Conversion Hints.

Matthew Glanfield believes that tracking website traffic flow can lead to positive adjustments for your sales conversion rate. What is tracking? Simply the best answer to the question:

"Where are my current sales coming from, and where are my future sales likely to come from?"

Many free products, notably Google Analytics, can be used to track and test your web pages. Split testing can be used to optimize every aspect of a salesletter (i.e. header, call to action, postscript, etc.) as well as determine what traffic methods lead to the highest percentage of paying customers. Why spread yourself thinly across 5-10 techniques once you learn what works, and more importantly - what doesn't?

Glanfield is among marketers who believe that human behavior is predictable, and that proper statistical analysis can provide great insights into your conversion rates. Ultimately, it will make you a better and more profitable marketer.

What to Consider when Approaching Joint Venture Partners.

Joint ventures (JVs) are considered by many Internet Marketing insiders as the best way to generate traffic, grow subscriber lists and generate sales. Yet beginners have a difficult time figuring out who to approach, and how to promote themselves to get their "foot in the door". Matthew Glanfield advises the following:

1. Understand your market niche. Relevant and applicable knowledge is powerful.

2. Is the potential JV partner is a good personality fit for you? Is he very money-driven, or more fun-oriented? Do you complement each others strengths and weaknesses, and is there an opportunity to cross promote?

3. Never underestimate the value of "Internet Marketing"' bartering. Whereas the "9 to 5" workplace is a straight “time for money” operation, be prepared to present a "skills for traffic" proposal to more experienced partners. There are numerous tasks that marketers need done, and becoming the person they turn to can explode your business prospects.

4. Show people what you've done, and solicit their feedback. Getting their attention is always easier with products in hand. If financially feasible, use live events to improve visibility and build your reputation.

Membership Sites Alert!

It's common knowledge that one-time sales are easier to generate than regular, residual income. Yet, viable continuity programs (i.e. membership sites) that offer fresh content and minimizing attrition are high maintenance vehicles that are viable for only the most spirited and dynamic marketers. So, Matthew asks the newbie-to-intermediate crowd to consider a compromise: Offer high quality, high converting, front-end products followed by a mouthwatering membership offer with monthly fee attached.

Conclusion.

Matthew Glanfield's fast start in Internet Marketing ($100k in six months, 2005) has not diminished his drive to connect with more and more people. Admittedly, the overwhelming majority of his list subscribers are newbies. Yet, he has used that reality to become a recognized expert in "How to" video marketing to address beginners’ needs. Glanfield has forgone the mentality of making a quick buck in favor of the mentality to build a real business.

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Rahul Majumdar is co-author of The Best of List Profit Academy with Brian Edmondson. To claim privileged insider information about it's impending launch, click here.