<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss version="2.0">
<channel>
<title>Latest Articles by GIFFORD</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/</link>
<description>Articles at Populate.NET</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<item>
<title>Domain Mapping: How to Control Your Blog's Domain Name</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Internet/Blogging/domain-mapping-how-to-control-your-blog-s-domain-name.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Internet/Blogging/domain-mapping-how-to-control-your-blog-s-domain-name.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Would you prefer to have your own domain name on your blog site instead of the domain name the blogging site provided to you? With domain mapping, you can control the domain name of your blog.

Domain mapping ensures that your blog and, consequently your website, are noticed properly by the search engines. Blogs are a great way to keep your website content fresh and interesting, both to online visitors and to search engines.

To boost your search engine results, a blog is a great way to go. But a blog on another website certainly isn't going to help your cause. Domain mapping lets you transfer your blog over to your own domain name so that it will benefit your website and generate traffic for you instead of a blog hosting site.

Do you have a blog but no website to drive traffic to? It is in your best interests to buy a domain name and move your blog over to a personal site using domain mapping. Buying a domain name ensures that you have complete control over your blog. It prevents your blog hosting site from putting ads on your blog and making money off your writing.

If your blog is important to you, why not purchase a domain name for it? Your ideas are your own property, so they shouldn't be sitting in someone else's hands. Having your own domain name for your blog makes you look like a professional and polished expert in your field. Domain names can be purchased inexpensively, and your blog might just surprise you by turning from a hobby into a lucrative moneymaking website once you buy your own domain name.

Choosing a domain name does not have to be difficult. Simply pick a unique title that suits your topic matter or perhaps involves your name. Don't be dismayed if your first or second choices are already taken. Use patience, creativity and persistence, and you are sure to find the blog domain name that is perfectly suited to your needs. Then, use domain mapping technology to route your blog to your new domain.

Domain mapping is better than simply forwarding your blog to your site. The permalinks and URL of your site will contain your domain name as opposed to your blog host's, so you will reap all the search engine benefits and traffic available to you thanks to your blog and domain mapping.

After you purchase a domain name to house your blog, find out the specific instructions for domain mapping your blog to your domain. The instructions are available from your individual service provider. Sometimes, you can find the instructions listed elsewhere on the web by other likeminded individuals who have previously taken advantage of the domain mapping feature.

Domain mapping usually involves a nominal annual fee of about $10 to $15 a year, but the increase in your web traffic that you will see thanks to the inclusion of your blog in your domain are well worth the cost. Once your blog is in your hands, your site will benefit from its content. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Written Word: Success for Your Network Marketing Home Business</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/the-written-word-success-for-your-network-marketing-home-business.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/the-written-word-success-for-your-network-marketing-home-business.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ When you are looking to market your business, there is no stronger tool than the written word. Whether you are working on web copy, marketing materials, business cards, press releases or even a simple business card, mastery of the basic principles of writing is absolutely essential for the success of your business.

The way your company uses the written word will make or break virtually every potential sale in your business' future. In essence, your financial future rests on the foundation of your solid written communication skills.

You have only one chance to make a first impression. If any piece of communication you publish or disseminate into the public has a grammatical or spelling error in it, you stand the chance of losing a customer. When potential clients come across a written error, they assume that the business owner is careless, undereducated, unreliable, lazy or just plain dumb.

On the other hand, when your written communications are immaculate, so is your image. Whether you are communicating in print or online, your words represent you to a wide audience. Be advised that many people are analyzing your every word when it comes to such public forums.

When you leave for a big business meeting, you wear your best suit. If an important client is going to ride in your car, you make sure to vacuum it and get it washed. In the same way, you need to ensure your public image is spotless when it comes to the written word.

If you feel like your spelling and grammar simply are not up to snuff, do not be afraid to ask for professional help. Freelance writers and editors are available to help your company look its very best. When it comes to the written word, cutting corners is like cutting your own throat.

We live in a very visual society. Word of mouth advertising is simply not enough in modern times. We are inundated by advertising messages everywhere we go, from the television at home to billboards on the expressway to online advertising while we are at work.

Companies need a logo and website. They are indispensable tools of communication and brand awareness. If you do not have them, you can be sure your competition does. In the modern competitive market, your web content likely speaks to more people in a day than you do personally.

This doesn't mean that referral business and repeat customers are not important, because they certainly are. However, most of your current and potential client base is looking up your business online when you are not around.

From sales letters to signage, make sure your business has an image that conveys intelligence, refinement, good judgment and trustworthiness. Without using the written word properly, your marketing cannot complete these objectives. How you present yourself in print creates a lasting image on the public. Make sure they carry away a positive impression about your business, and your bottom line will thank you in the long run. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Can You Still Count on Word of Mouth Advertising?</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/can-you-still-count-on-word-of-mouth-advertising.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/can-you-still-count-on-word-of-mouth-advertising.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ If you own a network marketing business and your only method of promotion is word of mouth, you are likely one of the last of your kind. With the proliferation of advertising in modern culture, the days of relying exclusively on referral business are dwindling fast.

Word of mouth used to be a great way to build a client base. If you did a great job servicing a client in years past, you'd likely see more work from your clients' friends, family, neighbors or colleagues. This indeed still happens, and by no means should you abandon your past clients. But without a prominent presence online today, when the friends and family of your satisfied client attempt to look for your website and don't find one, your referral business is likely lost forever to a competitor with a strong web presence.

For instance, if you are in the roofing business and a client recommends your services to his neighbors, they will likely go into their home office and attempt to look up the name of your business on the Internet. If they don't find your page, they will most certainly find another roofer who likely has customer testimonials and online incentives that will be equally as enticing as the praise they heard from their neighbor. They will have contact information for your competitor at their fingertips, and if the website is persuasive enough, they will obtain a quote from your competition as quickly as they can pick up the phone or send an e-mail.

Online advertising isn't the only form of marketing that is replacing word of mouth. Branding in today's marketplace is essential. When a catchy slogan from a print ad, television spot or radio jingle is at the top of your potential clients' minds, they will likely contact that company. The more impressions you make on passive consumers who may not even be in the market for your particular product or service, the more likely they will be to call you when the need for your goods or service arises in their lives.

This isn't to say that you must have a multi-million dollar advertising budget to survive. In fact, a savvy business owner should be very pragmatic with advertising funds. Return on investment is crucial. The amount of money you spend on advertising needs to be justified by its long-term returns. Simply avoiding advertising because you don't know how to measure your return on investment, however, is no longer an option.

The most advisable way to market your business is with a strong media mix. Learn about your targeted customer base's demographics. Are they mostly well-educated, high-income people? Consider print advertising in the leading newspaper in your area. If your target audience is more technologically oriented and younger, online ads with the leading website in your area are probably a better choice than the paper.

If you only rely on one method of advertising, be it word of mouth or a website or any other media, you are missing out on potential business. No business in today's tricky economic climate can afford to miss out on prospective clients. Referral business is great, and customer service should strive to make your word of mouth reputation as strong as possible, but a solid media mix is best to leave no marketing stone unturned. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>How To Promote Your Network Marketing Business With An RSS Feed</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/how-to-promote-your-network-marketing-business-with-an-rss-feed.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/how-to-promote-your-network-marketing-business-with-an-rss-feed.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Are you looking to promote your network marketing business by using an RSS feed on your blog? If you're looking to get repeat visitors to a blog or improve your network marketing strategies, it's time to get serious about RSS feeds.

An RSS feed is a web feed format that is used to frequently update online content, like blog entries, headlines, weather and breaking news in a universally acceptable format. The letters stand for "Really Simple Syndication," "Rich Site Summary" or "RDF Site Summary," depending on who you ask.

RSS feeds make it easy to distribute time-sensitive material to a large number of people. RSS feeds are written in computer code that organizes the information in a way that it is easy to read for the general public.

It is often tedious for the general public to constantly check back on a webpage for new updates. If you allow your visitors to sign up for an RSS feed, they will be notified almost automatically of any changes and updates you make to the content of your website. So, when you post a new blog, add a public speaking engagement to your calendar, offer a new product or make any other change to your web content, an RSS feed will let your client base know about it.

E-mail notifications about updated content were the way to go a few years ago. However, now that e-mail spam filters are working overtime to protect people from unwanted e-mails, it is difficult to get e-mails across to people about your website updates.

RSS feeds are welcomed by your website viewers, and they make it much easier to get your updates spread across the Internet. As an added benefit, an RSS feed will increase web traffic to your site.

So, how does an RSS feed work? When you add a new item to your web page, you need to list it on your RSS channel as an "item." The item will need to be listed with three bits of information: its title, a description and a link to the item. For instance, if you have a new concert date to brag about, list the item on your channel with the title of "New Concert Date Announced!" and a description of the time, date, place and cover charge of the show. Then, link it to your web-based calendar, and you are all set.

Once the RSS file is completed, be sure to validate it to make sure you entered it properly. Using a Feed Validator service, type in the address to your RSS file and make sure everything looks good. If there is a problem with the code or information in your RSS feed, simply change the item until it looks the way you want it to.

Now, you can syndicate news about yourself or your business and drive traffic to your website in a fast and easy manner. Any time of the day or night, you can update your loyal customers and fans with news and information all around the globe. RSS feeds are a great way to keep your audience informed. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Start A Blog and Set Yourself Apart</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/start-a-blog-and-set-yourself-apart.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/start-a-blog-and-set-yourself-apart.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Are you looking for a fantastic way to make yourself and your business stand head and shoulders above the competition? Make yourself an expert in your future customers' eyes by writing and updating your own blog.

Writing a blog is a great way to keep search engines interested in your online content. When your website's content is old and dry, you are not getting as high in the search engine results as you need to be. Fresh, new content that is useful and relevant inspires search engines to boost your page ranking.

New content in a blog also inspires your customers to actually pay attention to your website. If you have something fresh and new to share with them, they feel like you are a relevant and informed expert in your field.

Blogs build your credibility. Instead of just being a nameless and faceless corporation, you become a business owner that your customers and potential clients can get to know online before they ever contact you in person.

Imagine if you could talk directly to prospective customers and educate them about the products and services your business has to offer. Blogs make that idea a reality. If you are an expert in home siding repair, public speaking or online banking, it is time to make your voice heard.

Writing a blog isn't as intimidating as it sounds. Simply sit down at a computer in a quiet room or office, and brainstorm a list of topics about which you feel you know enough to write. It is often helpful to keep the keywords of your website in mind when you are choosing a blog topic. For instance, if you sell siding, you are probably going to want to concentrate your blog content on issues related to home repair and vinyl siding.

When you start to write, be sure to avoid typical pitfalls. Don't try to infuse your blog with too much humor unless you're a professional comedian. You want your blog readers to take you seriously. Don't write about overly complicated issues, or your readers won't understand what you are trying to teach them. Also, do not write about things that are out of your league. Make sure you keep the informative tone of an expert and educate your readers about facts they need to know.

If you are comfortable writing your blog, but you know your grammar and spelling skills are less than stellar, consider hiring a freelance writer to edit your blog before you post it. If you don't have a budget big enough to accommodate the fees of a freelancer, find a friend or family member that knows how to write well and ask them to proof your blog as a favor.

Once you've finalized your blog's content, it's time to post it on the web. If you don't get immediate rave reviews from everyone you know, be patient. It takes time for blogs to pick up readers. Traffic isn't generated overnight, but it will constantly increase if you continue to write new blogs on a regular basis. Aim to create a new blog at least once a month in order to see results. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Smile, You are on Promotional Video: Promote Your Network Marketing Business with Video</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/smile-you-are-on-promotional-video-promote-your-network-marketing-business-with-video.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/smile-you-are-on-promotional-video-promote-your-network-marketing-business-with-video.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ No doubt you've encountered some of the millions of short video clips that are floating around the Internet, either in your email inbox or on a video sharing site such as YouTube. Some, if not most, of these videos are posted purely for entertainment value. Video is also an invaluable resource for those who want to promote their business. If you have a network marketing business, you shouldn't overlook this method of promotion. Posting a video about your business really drives traffic to your site if it is done effectively.

Like article marketing, video marketing can be a very effective, cost-efficient way to drive traffic to your site. Many video sharing sites will even let you publish your clips at no cost. Because of that, this mode of promoting your network marketing business should not be overlooked. Take the time to learn how to fully capitalize on this opportunity, and you could soon see quality traffic flocking to your site in droves. Here are a few tips on how to use video clips to promote your network marketing business.

*Keep it short

The Internet is a wellspring of information, and most users want their information fast and in small, manageable bites. Rarely will a user take the time to read (or watch) all of the information available a topic of interest. Instead, he will scan the options and choose the one or two that are most likely to yield the information he wants. Make sure your clip is chosen by getting to the point fast. The entire clip should be no more than 2 to 3 minutes.

*Make it pretty

Aesthetics matter. Your choice of color scheme, background, motion graphics and even font can work either for or against you in terms of driving traffic to your site. Make sure your clip projects the kind of image you want for your company. Most likely these elements will also appeal to your target audience.

*Buy the sounds of it

If people are going to buy what you are selling, it's important, even critical, to ensure that your clip looks good and sounds great. Include sound, via narrator, to emphasize your chosen keywords, and you will greatly increase your chances of successful marketing message delivery. Successful narration will help keep peoples' interest long enough to hear what you have to say.

*Be friendly to your user

The Internet offers virtually endless choices for people looking for information. If your clip takes forever to load, chances are an Internet user will move on quickly. Be sure to use a format that has a small, quick-loading size, such as Flash.

*Set Your Videos Free

If your network marketing business is new or otherwise has low public recognition, it's not likely you'll get much traffic from search engines.  Consequently, if your web video is only found on your website, it won't effectively drive traffic to your site. You need to attract the most watchers to your video as possible, and one of the best ways to do this is to submit them to as many video-sharing sites as possible. There is a domino effect in doing this:  blogs, other websites, and publishers download your video clips and republish them. When that happens, your network marketing business's exposure increases exponentially.

Video marketing is one way to spread the word about your network marketing business. It often yields impressive results. Learn all you can about how to take full advantage of this technology, and your customers will thank you. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Indulge Your Inner Spielberg: Getting Started With Video Marketing</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/indulge-your-inner-spielberg-getting-started-with-video-marketing.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/indulge-your-inner-spielberg-getting-started-with-video-marketing.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Online network marketing is extremely popular today. If you are focusing solely on traditional network marketing techniques, you are missing the bus. One of the best ways to generate free, targeted traffic to your site is through the use of video marketing.

You can thank video marketing for helping to create scores of online millionaires. But what can it do for you?  Video marketing:

*Brands you as an expert

*Forges relationships between you and your potential customers

*Informs and teaches

*Has the potential to become "viral" (more on this below)

*Is usually a free lead generation source

*Can be search engine optimized to further drive traffic to your site

*Is another way to market your business.

There you have it. Above are the many ways video marketing can help launch your network marketing business to the next level. But how do you get started?

First, if your computer doesn't have a webcam, buy one. You'll need this (especially one that is at least 1300 px) in order to create clear and professional-looking videos. To get a decent one, you should only have to fork over about 100 bucks, which is not a big investment when you consider the potential return. Webcams are easy to set up, too; it should only take you a few minutes.  Once that's done, take a few minutes to get acquainted with the cam's features. It will help to know everything your camera can do when you start creating.

When you sit down to make your videos, be yourself. The goal is to brand you. When people feel they know you and can trust you, they will be attracted to what you have to say.

Most likely, your PC is equipped with a software application called Windows Movie Maker. To find it, check in your Program Files. With this program, you can take videos, and the possibilities are so much further reaching than that. Create titles and credits, add audio and even add images to your videos. It's a handy little tool for making videos at home that will effectively promote your network marketing business.

Once you have created your video, you'll need a place to publish it. The video is yours to publish again and again, and you'll want to use it to its full advantage to help you generate leads.

You can upload your video manually to the various video sharing sites out there, but there is a faster way. Certain sites will distribute your uploaded videos to a variety of video marketing sites for you at no cost.

For most video sharing sites in general, getting started is as easy as creating a free account. Then, all you need to do is upload your videos, which is usually very straightforward. As part of the process of uploading your videos, there is a critical step to the success of your video marketing efforts: optimization.

Optimization is a way to make your videos, or any web content, easy for a web user to find. It is at this step that you will want to do a little homework. Log onto a site and see what other videos aimed at your target market are there. Take a look at those videos and check out how their owners have optimized them. Pay special attention the keywords they have chosen; you'll want to include these same keywords into your article summary. The goal here is that when someone searches for particular keywords, your article will always come up. Doing so will help drive traffic to your site. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Your Website: A Virtual Business Card</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/your-website-a-virtual-business-card.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/your-website-a-virtual-business-card.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Building a professional website for your network marketing business is an important key to success. Accessibility is a key feature of a good network marketing website. You should be prepared to accommodate the traffic that comes from a well-designed website.

Think of the Internet as a vast shopping mall with countless shops and boutiques. Each store is owned and operated by a webmaster. The entrance to a store is just like your home page. You open the doors and shed a welcoming light for your visitors when your site is fully accessible. All the graphics load quickly and the page renders seamlessly. Even visitors on older computers or those who have slow Internet connections can enjoy your site.

Accessibility will be the main factor to address when building your website. There are two forms of accessibility in use today. These are 1.0 and 2.0. Accessibility Standard 1.0 was developed in 1997. While it is functional, it is outdated and does not take into account modern advances in web design. When you are building your site, you should keep that in mind. Use Accessibility Standard 2.0 for your network marketing website whenever possible as it incorporates the most contemporary technology.

Creating a website is an easy task today. Web-authoring software and HTML editors are readily available online and in stores. You also must purchase a good domain name. It should be professional and a name you will feel comfortable with in a year. You will need to find a good hosting company after you purchase your domain. 

Your content will require the most attention from you as the webmaster. You will need to provide legitimate and interesting information on your chosen topic. Your network marketing website will not draw in visitors or traffic if it is nothing more than a brochure. Offer something of interest to your visitors. Good content that is updated often will pull in more traffic than advertisements will.

Your content can be about anything relevant to your network marketing website. You can offer sections of non-topic content if you feel you can tie it in with your business. You may even offer specialized information just to bring in visitors. Do your clients have interests in common? Do they enjoy a particular hobby or art? This will make a great addition to your site if it is tastefully and tactfully incorporated. 

Designing and creating your website are only the first steps in a long journey of domain administration. The next step will be to use "meta" tags. These are manually inserted into your HTML code. The most widely used meta tags are for "keywords" and "description." Many free resources are available online discussing the use of these elements.

Lead-capturing elements are precisely what they state. They are methods used by webmasters to capture leads for network marketing. The most common methods of capturing leads are:

* Articles. Articles offered to other webmasters are a great way to lure traffic to your own site through backlinks.
* RSS feeds. These are free and easy to use and give visitors the option of carrying your news and information to their blogs and websites.
* Opt-in lists. This is a highly recommended method as it prevents your network marketing website from being labeled a spam site. Visitors offer their information voluntarily.

There are a number of things to be mindful of when attempting to generate sales leads from your website. You should avoid duplicate content, as this is risky with search engines. Improper lead pages can negatively affect visitors' trust. Visitors may believe your site is spam if it appears too focused on sales. These are just a few things to keep an eye on when building your network marketing website. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>What's in a Domain Name? Your Business Success</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/what-s-in-a-domain-name-your-business-success.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/what-s-in-a-domain-name-your-business-success.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ A good domain name is imperative to creating a successful network marketing website. Your domain name serves a variety of purposes and gives visitors an indication of your website's theme. A good domain name will make your website grow by drawing in interest from the web.

There are several methods of choosing the right domain name for your business website. What sounds good to you? What is the most appropriate name for your business based upon personal preferences? Make note of these names and save them for reference, but don't purchase a domain yet.

The next step is to ascertain how the domain name will reflect on your network marketing business. There are many services online that research keywords for you. They can show you the most relevant keywords for your network marketing business. These keyword services can help you decide on the appropriate content, what words to use and possibly even a domain name.

Purchasing a domain is an easy process. The best way is to evaluate a number of domain name registration companies. These online entities are known as "registrars." You can begin narrowing your selection once you locate a number of suitable registrar companies.

Does the registrar accept a variety of payment methods? This is very important, as your registrar should be eager to work with you. They should be focused on catering to the needs of the customer. If you find a registrar that is a "credit card only" company, then avoid them. These companies are notorious for being somewhat lazy and providing poor customer service. If they aren't willing to work with you when you are giving them money, then you can imagine what it will be like should you need technical support.

You also should do general research on each company to ensure there aren't any complaints against them. Has anyone reported an experience with them? Were their reports positive? Is there any indication that the company does not provide adequate service? You also can check with the Better Business Bureau, but keep in mind that companies aren't required to list themselves with the BBB. An absence of a listing doesn't mean they are not legitimate. It simply means they aren't listed. 

You will purchase a domain name for your network marketing business in the same way you would any other product. Your purchase will be good for one year; you will be able to repurchase your domain annually. The domain price should never be more than $15. You should remember that you get what you pay for and a very low price may indicate a very small registrar. Your ideal price range should be between $10 and $15.

Domain redirection is a simple process that can have great results. This is the act of purchasing extra domains and having all traffic going to those redirected to your primary home page. There are many methods for redirecting traffic from a domain to your website. DNS redirection employs the use of IP addresses and independent servers. If your domain names have a unique server, DNS redirection should be adequate and simple. This method of redirection is usually free. 

Inline redirection involves linking a URL address with a file in a different server. This may involve a small annual fee. This provides a link on the spare domain's landing page that visitors can click to continue on to your main website. 

Domain forwarding is most often offered at no cost to domain owners. This is an automated process where all traffic to the spare domain is automatically forwarded to your primary domain.

Finding the right domain name is easy with all the options available to webmasters today. Keyword research and free advice is available across the Internet to accommodate your needs. You can have a domain name that helps build a successful network marketing business with a few clicks of the mouse and a few hours of research. ]]></description>
</item>
<item>
<title>Send Your Network Marketing Business into the Stratosphere with Email Marketing</title>
<link>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/send-your-network-marketing-business-into-the-stratosphere-with-email-marketing.html</link>
<guid>http://www.populate.net/Business/Network_Marketing/send-your-network-marketing-business-into-the-stratosphere-with-email-marketing.html</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[ Too many network marketers struggle with increasing their business's distributor database on a consistent basis. They employ the traditional methods, and as a result, these businesses inevitably turn to the Internet in search of answers and help. What they find there is scads of information about how Internet network marketing has the potential to be an effective way to grow a business.

As you delve into the world of marketing your business online, you learn much that will help you become a rock star marketer. One of the marks of a stellar network marketer is the ability to successfully build relationships. The element that bridges the gap between Internet marketing and network marketing is the tool known as email marketing, and it's something every network marketer should have in his bag of tricks.

Email marketing is the term given to the online, yet personal, process of forging relationships with prospects that are brought "into the fold" of your business through email. Here's how it works: Your business needs a lead capture page (the web page that gets peoples' attention), an autoresponder (to reply to inquiries automatically) and a blog. When a prospective customer chooses to opt in to your lead capture page, he is directed to your autoresponder. He has agreed to let you contact them in the future. This is your golden opportunity.

When a potential customer opts in, he is saying that he wants to learn more about your product or service. He is interested in what you have to say.  Take advantage of this by sending each new prospect emails that promote your business in some way. Do you have expertise in your area? Promote your knowledge. Can you solve a problem? Promote your solution. Are you peddling a product or service? Promote your wares. The goal of email marketing is to sing the praises of something that interests your audience.

An autoresponder is a key element in successful email marketing. Think of it as your personal automated secretary. The autoresponder sends out pre-written emails systematically over a period of time designated by you. You write the emails in advance, when it is convenient for you. Be sure to inject your personality into these emails; it has been shown that after 4 to 7 emails from you, your prospect feels like they know you and they will have warmed up to you, which equates to a willingness to buy from you. And that's the goal! You can influence what your prospects want to buy, too, so be sure to promote what it is you want them to buy.

Email marketing is the piece of the business puzzle that most online network marketers overlook, and in doing so they let fall through the cracks the crucial relationship between themselves and their prospects. That is the key to the success of their network marketing business. Particularly in an MLM situation, it is important to forge this relationship so that your prospects will be inspired to become part of your network, which means more dollars in your pocket.

Here's one final word about how to improve your business through email marketing. It affords you the luxury of having leads driven to you, rather than having to chase them down. Having to play the role of the hunter rather than the hunted is the primary reason that many network marketers fail. You want your prospects to come to you, and email marketing is one of the best ways to do it. ]]></description>
</item>

</channel>
</rss>

