Archive for February, 2010

What Costs Are Involved When Starting Up an Internet Marketing Business?

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

When I was struggling to pay the bills years ago, I did not have the money to throw at every “golden” online opportunity that presented itself. It always amazed me how the “experts” made it seem like I would have to spend a ton of cash before I could ever made a dime on the Internet. This did not make sense, so I made it my mission to find the easiest and cheapest way to earn an online income. Discovering affiliate marketing literally changed my life, and I was able to generate immediate cash flow with a very small monetary investment. I have compiled a list of the cost considerations involved in starting up an Internet marketing business to help those new to affiliate marketing.

Start with a modest advertising budget
Pay-per-click advertising makes it possible to drive targeted traffic to an affiliate Web site right away, and this type of marketing is the bread and butter of almost all Affiliate Marketers. Through a program like Google Adwords, affiliates can create an income stream that flows automatically. It is a good idea to be prudent while learning the ins and outs of pay-per-click advertising, so $40-$60 a month would be a sensible initial investment. Once a little bit of success is realized, it is time to reinvest aggressively in the campaigns that have been working.

The cost of doing business
Although most people already own almost everything needed to run a successful Internet marketing business, it is still a good idea to make sure that you are properly equipped. A reliable Internet connection is mandatory, and it never hurts to have somewhat up-to-date computer hardware and software. I invested in creating a comfortable work environment, and this enabled me to spend more time being productive.

What is your time worth?
The biggest investment that is needed to start a profitable online marketing business is time. There are many effective promotional methods that are free – except for the time it takes to implement the strategies. Be sure to treat your time as a valuable asset by figuring out the most efficient ways to reach your goals.

Make More, Work Less!

Joel “Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula

Guide to Blogging for Online Cash

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

If you had asked me what a blog was five years ago, I would have laughed because the word sounds funny. I had no idea that blogging was taking the Internet by storm, and I was oblivious to the fact that there was plenty of money to be made through creating a blog. The World Wide Web makes it possible for potential customers to connect with businesses on many different levels, and those entities that do not take advantage of maintaining a blog are leaving money on the table. In an effort to help my readers understand the power of blogging as a marketing tool, I have put together this guide to assist you.

What exactly is a blog?
A blog is basically a journal or a running commentary that is posted on the Internet. There are blogs that cover virtually every topic under the sun, and if the blog’s content is compelling, people will continually check back for updates. From a marketing perspective, a blog gives an affiliate the opportunity to explain their product and their endeavors on a personal level. A blog is not a place to perform a hard sell. Rather, an effective blog gives potential customers a chance to gain a deeper understanding of a product or service.

Turning a blog into money
Creating an income stream through a blog will take time and effort, but the end result should be a steadily increasing influx of traffic towards your affiliate Web page. Because a blog attracts individuals who have already expressed an interest in you and your program, those who continue on to your site through links on your blog are very likely to make a purchase.

Setting up a quality blog
There are many types of blogging Web sites on the Internet. Most are free, but a few cost a little bit of money to get started. Search for popular blog sites so that your writings are likely to be found. Try and create an interesting theme, and take care when developing your content – these words will shape people’s first impressions of you and your business.

Make More, Work Less!

Joel “Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula

Tips to Improving Your Keyword List

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Setting up a Google Adwords account is easy. Things get tricky when the time comes to create a keyword list. If making money on the Internet was easy, everyone would be doing it, so those who prosper set themselves apart from the status quo. Developing profitable pay-per-click strategies is what separates those who succeed from those who fail in the early stages of an online marketing career. The effectiveness of a pay-per-click campaign is directly tied into the quality of the keywords and phrases that are utilized, as these words are how potential customers quickly evaluate the product or service being offered. Below is a collection of tips that will help affiliates with improving their keyword list, which will in turn, increase their pay-per-click profits.

Take advantage of the tools
There are many free resources available to marketers who want to study the traffic generated by each keyword or phrase, along with keeping track of how their campaigns are performing. Google Analytics is a free program that will help with gauging keyword effectiveness and overall campaign productivity. Because low click-through rates can wreak havoc on pay-per-click efforts, tracking software is a valuable tool for evaluating every aspect of your campaigns. During the process of choosing keywords and phrases, be sure to utilize the Google AdWords Keyword Tool that shows how certain keywords perform, and this application also suggests alternative keywords that are also generating traffic.

Perform diligent testing
It is important to play around with different keywords and phrases in an effort to find the ones with the highest click-through rates. Removing poorly-producing keywords will optimize your list, and this will help ensure that your advertising budget is being put to good use.

Search for cheap clicks
A good keyword list should contain a mix of popular words and phrases, along with keywords that exhibit exceptional value. To locate such keywords and phrases, use the Google AdWords Keyword Tool to search for terms that receive decent traffic but garner very little interest amongst most pay-per-click advertisers. It pays to get creative in your efforts, and inexpensive traffic will still produce remarkable results – at a fraction of the cost of purely relying on highly sought-after keywords and phrases.

Make More, Work Less!

Joel ” Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula

Four Terms That Every Internet Marketer Should Know

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

I have made a name for myself by simplifying the inherently complex undertaking of making money on the Internet. There is a glut of useless information being peddled, so for years, one of my primary goals was to cut through the garbage, by creating clear-cut directions for Marketers to follow. Even though my efforts have helped many people realize their dream of earning an online income, there are still some individuals who struggle with the core concepts of Internet marketing. I have comprised a list of four terms that should be fully understood before delving into more complex business practices.

Affiliate marketing and networks

It always amazes me when I talk to an affiliate who really does not know what and affiliate marketing and the associated networks stand for. The affiliate program business model makes it possible for virtually anyone to start a viable enterprise with very little in the way of start-up costs. Affiliates play a vital role in finding prospective customers, and this is why good programs will bend over backwards to help their sales partners succeed – it’s a win-win proposition. Affiliate networks are resources that should be utilized by marketers when searching out the most lucrative opportunities.

Pay-per-click
One of the reasons that affiliate marketing is the most effective way of earning money on the Internet is because it is possible to start generating cash flow right away. Pay-per-click advertising makes this possible because after signing up, a steady stream of targeted traffic will immediately flood an affiliate Web site. Early positive results are critical in motivating affiliates to take their business efforts to the next level.

Organic search results
Serious Affiliate Marketers will also want to explore ways in which they can have their site perform well in the organic search results. “Organics” refer to search results that are not paid for, so any traffic generated through search engine optimization is free. Affiliates who do well in organic search results are on their way to making boatloads of cash.

Diversification
There are literally thousands of effective ways to promote an affiliate program. In the beginning, try many different strategies until the right ones emerge. What works for one person may not work for another, so it is important to develop a personal marketing style. Creating a diversified promotional approach provides stability, and every profitable marketing campaign can be considered its own independent income stream.

Make More, Work Less

Joel “Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula

Affiliate Marketing Basics: How money finds its way into your bank account

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Affiliate marketing is a very popular method of making money on the Internet because the concept is simple and it is possible to start earning an income immediately after setting up your online business. The process of how money gets into your bank account can be explained in three steps, and most people who understand the basic principles will likely succeed. Once the cash starts rolling in, the fun really starts, and there are very few things in life more gratifying than creating a profitable business from scratch.

Choosing the best program
Be sure to study all of the information available regarding the profitability of each affiliate program you are considering promoting. When starting out, it is a good idea to go with an established company that boasts high conversion rates for their affiliates. Take your time when making this decision, as you do not want to get into a situation where you waste time and resources trying to market a product that very few people want.

Learn the tricks of the trade

The job of a marketer boils down to efficiently driving targeted traffic to their affiliate Web site. Profits will increase as more potential customers visit your site, and through studying techniques for improving conversion rates, it is possible to develop a money-making formula that will allow you to run your business on auto-pilot. If you can figure out how to consistently make a return on your advertising investment, you are well on your way to raking in a lot of money on the Internet.

Getting paid
After completing all of the necessary work involved with driving targeted traffic to your affiliate Web site, now it is time to enjoy the rewards. There are many ways to actually get compensated, including through PayPal, direct deposit and a check in the mail. Each affiliate program will offer different methods of receiving funds. Once you get to this level, you will have a great time watching your bank account grow by the hour.

Make More, Work Less!

Joel “Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula