casthompson

So, I finally did my first video post. As most of you know, to stay healthy, I have been on a serious couscous kick.  It has gotten so serious that about a year ago I started a couscous recipe blog to document the recipes I have found online.

Although the site is monetized, the true goal is to help people open their eyes to other foods and cultures.  After getting tons of questions from curious friends, I decided to pull out my flip mino and start shooting.

What have I learned about adding video to the site in the past week?

Readers are much more engaged with video over static content.  Sometimes it’s easier to hit play and just listen in comparison to reading.   Video is also more exciting.   The more excited readers are, the more word will travel and the more traffic you will get on your site.

Video is also more socially spreadable the text.   Readers love interaction, even when it’s virtual.  Within an hour of posting, your video can be funneled through friendfeed, twitter, facebook or any of your other favorite social media sites.   Test it out, shoot a video today and your traffic will increase…   just try not to over do it.

By the way, check out my simple couscous recipe video

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I got a call today from Kyle over at Market Leverage. It was a typical publisher question and answer session which ended with him approving my application!

They have been receiving a heavy buzz from many top tier affiliates and I did not want to miss any opportunities to make additional money.

A while back ML sent John Chow a Nike bag with tons of goodies. I was a little jealous but hey, I dealt with it. Now they are giving away another bag over at John Chow dot Com.

You’re going to want to sign up for Market Leverage and if you comment on his post, you automatically enter to win the goody bag. Check out all of these freebies!

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I would like to announce our latest project, TryStuffForFree.com.

URL: http://www.trystuffforfree.com

TSFF is a member based, private freebie portal. We have partnered with several online and offline businesses to bring Products and Services for consumers to try before they buy.

We will also communicate existing product and service providers who are offering trials or free promo materials to increase market awareness. We will serve as the liason between the business and you, the free loader

Some of the product and service categories coming to you in the next 6 months are, electronics, t-shirts, health supplements, food products, pocket books, web tokens and then some!

If you are interested in Trying Free Stuff, you can sign up here.

If you are interested in tracking offers and getting contest info, you can follow us on Twitter.

If you are a business owner or blogger interested in reaching a larger target audience, you can contact us here.

As the economy softens, it’s good to know that we can still get some things for Free

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Still doubtful that you can make money online?  If you have a product that you believe in, then you can earn money online.

The case study started on May 26 (less than two weeks ago) and I challenged myself to make something out of nothing.  Would you like to make $20.88 (or more) in one day?

1.  Read and establish a niche.   I love electronics.  So everyday I read up on gadget news.  Not necessarily to buy websites, just for the love.  Your niche should always be something you love and have a passion for.   If it’s not then the whole process will seem like work (and work sucks!) –
Note – don’t pick ringtones, weight loss or dating.   These aren’t even niches anymore.  Be truly unique.

2.  Get ahead of your niche.  Whatever niche you roll with, be a chess playing, ninja style assassin.  Know the trends of your niche and then you’ll have a feel for whats coming next.

3.  Start a blog, a website, a twitter account, a myspace page, something…  or anything, just start.   The people who are afraid to start, out weigh the people that do it.   I started the flipmino site for $5.99.  Don’t complain about expenses, skip Starbucks for two days and put that money into an online investment.

4.  Hook up with Amazon.   Amazon is my favorite long term affiliate program.   When Ebay was rolling with CJ, I could count on some strong earnings but now Amazon really does it for me.  As seen in the image, all you have to do is drive a potential customer to the site.   It doesn’t matter what they buy, you will make a commission.

Note – Amazon was the perfect affiliate for the Case Study but depending on your niche, you might want to check out other programs

5.  Hustle, Hustle, Promote, Hustle, Promote, Promote

6.  Don’t give up.   By my own admission, I got lucky with this test site.   It doesn’t always go this smooth.  A matter of fact, I fail way more than I succeed.   I fail so much that I have a process that minimalizes failure.  The key is that I keep trying and my processes has gotten tighter over the past 6 years.  Another thing to keep in mind is that failure isn’t often glorified.   There aren’t too many sites where the author is displaying how many times he’s messed up.   All you see is the money he/she made promoting xyz product or getting seed money for his/her startup.

Have fun with it!  oh, and check out the Flip Mino

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The Flip Mino, a pint-sized but more powerful companion to the so-easy-your-grandma-will-be-a- YouTube-star Ultra, is now official. We already saw the $180 mini-cam in a fuzzy picture, but now we know that although it carries 2GB of on-board flash for 60 minutes of VGA-quality recording like the Ultra, it’s 40% smaller—a scant 4” x 2” x 0.6”. The Mino distances itself further by adding a Li-ion battery and a flat back-panel with touch-sensitive buttons (rather than the Ultra’s AAs and push buttons). Check back shortly for a full hands-on; meanwhile, there’s a spec-laden fact sheet and a gallery’s worth of more shots after the jump.

Flip Video Mino Camcorder Details:

• Amazingly thin, pocket-sized camcorder
• 40% smaller than Ultra Series. Dimensions : 4” x 2” x 0.6”. Weight: 3.3 oz.
• 2GB of on-board flash memory records up to 60 minutes of video
• Sealed, internal rechargeable lithium ion battery that recharges through built-in USB arm
• Flat back-panel with touch-sensitive buttons
• No Glare display screen (1.5”)
• TV quality video
• Instant playback, pause, fast forward/rewind, and delete features
• Available in black and white models
• Connects to TV for instant viewing
• Built-in high-speed software enables instant video sharing from any PC or Mac:
  o Save and organize videos on computer
  o Email videos and video greeting cards
  o Publish videos instantly on video sharing sites like YouTube, MySpace, and AOL
  o Capture still photos from video clips
  o Create custom movies with your own music
  o Make your own DVDs and have them shipped anywhere in the world

Nationwide at www.flipminos.com Available at additional retailers Fall 2008.

Suggested Retail Pricing:

60 minute model: $179.99

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Going from nothing to number one for a search term on a new domain is always something to be happy about.   Since this is more of a learning tool, we wont be popping out the champaign quite yet though.  This screen shot is for learning purposes only.  The first rule is…  never brag about being number one on google for a search term!

Bragging will only draw attention from other marketers and will create unwanted competition.   Don’t think that you can hold the spot forever if other people have caught on.

The second rule is, be ready for success.   Have you ever searched for something, clicked on the number one spot and it’s a wasted page?   Grrrr…    Without being too spammy, try to provide quality content related to your niche.   That’s the best way to hold your position.

I still have not spent anything for advertising and the test site got 75 hits yesterday.   Tomorrow is the 4th so we will see what Flip does with the Mino.

(fingers crossed)

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After 6 days from purchase my new test site is now listed on google.  This was done organically without using any blackhat techniques, paying a seo specialist or subscribing to a link swapping site.

Tip number one is to just simply ask google to be listed by submitting your url here.

Tip number two is to add google adsense to your page.   I could be totally wrong but my new domains that have adsense running always gets picked up faster than those that don’t.   The google spiders are quick to see whats going on on your page.

The flip mino is slated to drop in June, so this position puts me ahead of the curve.  I really want to be number one but getting listed is a start and anywhere on the first page is good.   Does anybody buy anything from the second page of a google search?  Rarely

Check the site out and in my next post I’ll speak about layout.   www.flipminos.com – an unofficial affiliate case study.

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Even though I really try to save this blog from falling in the category of a “make money online” site, making money online topics are what I get emailed about the most.

I’m not an expert and mostly everything I know about earning online income came from trial and error.

I recently got an email asking for an example of starting with nothing and turning it into something. I will track all expenses and income from one website that I’ve just created over the next six months.

The website is http://www.flipminos.com

Date purchased: 5/23/2008

Cost: $5.99 from 1and1

Why did I purchase it? The Flip is a very popular, low end, usb camcorder that has been used by many bloggers, tweens, teens, early adopters and video journalist over the past year. Two days ago, using twitter, I overheard that a slim version of the flip should be entering the market place early in June. The new cameras are rumored to be called Flip Minos. My chance of failure is 50/50 but that’s what domaining is all about. You see, this is just a rumor and what if the camera is called something else? ... FlipMinos.com will become dead space.

Before I do anything with a site, I site down and open up notepad and then I take project notes. I need to determine what I want out of the site. Do I want to make it a fan site for enthusiasts? Should I cover tips and tricks? Do I want a forum or a blog? How much time do I really have to devote on this one site?

These are all serious questions that shouldn’t be taken lightly. If this is your first site, I suggest going all in. The next set of questions I put out is, how will I monetize? For electronics I usually run with Google Adsense, Amazon Affiliates and Buy.com.

The next step is building up the site. I know that it’s old school but for a one page site (what I plan on using) I still use frontpage.

I aim for a lot of key words and clean crisp images.

After I publish, then I start marketing. My short term goal is to get to the first page of google using desired keywords.

I’ll be back in a bit to let you know how I’m doing.

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My biggest online money maker is clickbank. Often times when people see this check, they immediately ask for a step by step run down of how to make money with clickbank.

My job just got easier with CBPayDay.

CBPayDay was developed by Mike Hill and I am officially endorsing it as the Clickbank Blueprint.

Visit Clickbank Blog to read a full CBPayDay Review.

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This is not a “make money online” blog and I’m far from being an internet marketing guru.   Do I make money online?  Yes.   Can I guarantee that you will?  No.   Yet, the number one question that hits my email is, how do I get checks like this?

...  and what items do you promote?   I can’t tell you what items I promote because that would make you my competitor but I can tell you how to get big checks from clickbank.

1.  Check out a list of market place items here

2.  Pick one product

3.  Market, Market, Market

4.  Don’t quit

5.  Get big checks

Not enough info?  I know.  I would rather talk about pumpkin carving…

Most of the techniques that I have picked up came from Project Wealthy.   They do a better job than I would on how to get paid online.  Check out the video here.

Let me know when you get your first check.

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Here are three quotes from the movie American Gangster that can be applied to any business model.

“The loudest man in the room is also the weakest man in the room. ”

“...quitting while you’re ahead, is not the same as quitting”

&

“You can be successful and have enemies, or be un-successful and have friends”

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$2,933.84 is now my new record for the most money made from one affiliate (in two weeks). It doesn’t beat out my biggest check ever but I’m very pleased with how clickbank has been converting.

Clickbank pays bi-monthy and I usually average $3000 per month. I have made a few changes in the past few weeks that have doubled my earnings. Namely, more strategic advertising. I read dozens of blogs that talk about making money online but very few talk about spending more money online.

I want to reflect briefly on what I spent in the past two weeks to get $2,933.84. These are not new to all of you big timers out there but anyone that is just starting out can add these two to your budget.

• Text Link Ads – $175 – utilized only on blogs in my niche to drive conversions and not to build seo. Their $100 promo is still active. You can use this to push any clickbank product. The hardest part is going through all of the sites that use TLA. They have many active participants to choose from.


• Google Adwords – $300 – It has taken me months to master adwords and I’m not sad to say it. It’s soooo easy to burn through a budget that you have to know what you’re doing.

Those are the only two methods that I used. Next month, I am thinking about jumping into Adcenter but I’m really trying to pace myself.

For a more in depth look at how you can profit from clickbank, check out Jeremy Palmer’s Quit Your Dayjob Blog or read my How To Become an Affiliate Post.

Read more about clickbank here.

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Don’t you hate jumping on the bandwagon too late?!

DealDotCom just sent me an invite and I have to pass this opportunity on to all of my readers.  If you have been searching for the right affiliate program to start with, DealDotCom makes it very easy for the beginner.

I am already liking DealDotCom for two reasons.  It’s a two-tiered program (you get paid for sign ups and products) and you get paid for life.  They also have an easy format to follow.  You don’t have to worry about devoting hours of research and maintenance into campaigns.

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Yes it can!

I’m always willing to try something new and different; and after hearing about the million dollar wiki three weeks ago, I decided to lay down $100 bucks to get suckered in.

Why $100?  Well the stack gets you a dedicated homepage for the next 15 years.  Won’t blogger be around for the next 15 years?  Of course but the MDW is getting a lot of buzz right now so I decided to take if for a test drive.

I used my money maker page and replicated it onto the wiki site.   Without doing tooooo much marketing, I was able to take in $57.  I was able to track this by using affiliate sub id’s just for that page.

My goal is to make at least $200 over the next 15 years and at this pace, I am on track.  The MDW is getting a lot of detractors because of the $100 cost and the lack of links.  I say, in time it will work itself out.

Here’s to trial and error.  Check out My Million Dollar Wiki Tips.

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I just got an email from my pal Jim regarding all the new Apple news.  A while back I wrote about investing your online income using Sharebuilder.

I started my account with a small investment of $500 to test the waters.  I did my research and started watching more CNBC (thanks Joe).

I eventually went with Apple stock and boy was it a solid move.  I dumped a boat load of $$ back in and it has paid off.   I won’t publicly report the figures but the Iphone isn’t the only thing on Apple’s radar.

Check out more Apple IPod news here.

Thanks Jim!

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Just when I thought that I was starting to get good at being an affiliate, this past weekend put things back into perspective.

Using my own tips to rediscover my niche, I set out to conquer the “next big thing”.

Should I develop a new product, start a new blog, join another affiliate program…?   Easier said than done.  Finding the next big thing online is like finding a new girlfriend.  How long should you court and invest before you say “this isn’t going to work out”?  How much pretending will you have to do with your new hot idea before you realize that it really isn’t that hot?

This weekend I purchased two new domain names, added four new blogs to google reader and started three new affiliate campaigns.

Sad to say that I don’t feel too excited.

What do you guys do when you feel like you’re losing your internet mojo?

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Quick Tip: If you are a My Berry Tree Account Holder Vista Print has a Free 250 Business Card Offer for all of us.

If you’re not a Member of My Berry Tree, don’t worry the program doesn’t officially launch until September of 2007.

What is it?

“THE BERRY TREE IS AN ONLINE BUSINESS THAT EVEN GUARANTEES YOUR SUCCESS IF YOU DON’T QUIT…. NOTE: ALL BUSINESSES TAKE TIME TO BUILD!

For Tips on How To Push Your Affiliate Program, Go Here

IF THESE ARE THE QUALITIES YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IN A PART TIME ONLINE BUSINESS, THAN POSSIBLY THE NEW BERRY TREE IS THE BEST ONLINE BUSINESS FOR YOU…..

GET THE FACTS… GO TO THE BERRY TREE INFORMATION WEBSITE:

www.myberrytree.com

OH YES, MYBERRYTREE.COM IS INTERNATIONAL…

ps. *** Great For Extra Retirement Income Also… JUST JOIN AND DON’T QUIT.. *** Leave the work to The Berry Tree…

NOW is the best time to join myBerrytree.com”

You can push the Berry Tree program online but 250 Free Business Cards is a great way to push it in person.

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I became an affiliate by accident. I got my start in the technology world as a graphic designer and then transitioned into teaching and training. I built up a nice reputation and even created a side business as the “computer guy”. From typing resumes to setting up wireless networks for small businesses, there was nothing that I wouldn’t do for a quick buck. As my name got around I would often get phone calls from friends, family and friends of friends of family regarding my recommendations. I wasn’t salty at all, a matter of fact I like the fact that I was respected in my field and someone trusted my opinion enough to pass on my name. My father told me a long time ago to become an expert at one thing. Be a master at many and be able to adapt to many things but the one thing that you are an expert in will yield your riches.

The same applies to the internet. Some of your favorite websites out there are owned by “experts”. In my younger days, I had an affiliate network and didn’t even realize it. If you would like to take your expertise to the next level here are a few steps to follow.

1. Find Your Niche – What are you an expert in? Being an expert has nothing to do with education. It has more to do with passion and experience. What are you passionate about? What ever the answer is, there lies your niche. Before you go to the next step Ask yourself, is my passion fun? What ever you pick can not seem overbearing or chore like. What ever your answer is, you should build a website around it.


2. Get a Domain Name – You should have your own domain name. This gives your site better credibility. You can use free hosting services such as blogger and have your newly created domain name forward to it. You can get a domain for as low as $2.99 per year.


3. Target Your Market – Find out who you are selling to and market to them. Do not waste your resources baiting for fish in the wrong pond.


4. Market Your Site – It comes down to two things; to pay with time or to pay with money…. but you will have to pay. If you decide to pay for traffic with money I recommend TextLinkAds or Adwords. I will not get into a full review of which one is better but please do your research. If you decide to pay with time then the answer is social networking. Forums, mybloglog, facebook and myspace are just a few social networking sites that you use to spread your product or service around.


5. Keep It Fresh – It’s simple. Keep your your content updated.


6. Create an Opt-in E-mail List or Newsletter – An opt-in e-mail list is one of the most powerful Internet marketing tools around. Using a list to contact site visitors, who have opted to receive it, gives you a chance to offer products or services, and entice visitors to return to make a purchase or perform an action that will generate revenue.You can use this opportunity to promote the benefits of a product or service. Please note – spamming (sending unsolicited commercial e-mail to people that have not opt-ed-in to your e-mail list) is forbidden. Visit http://www.aweber.com for more information on e-mail marketing.

You can do it, just apply yourself. After you have put a few of these steps in motion, you can check out my certified money makers.

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When I got home today I was surprised to see that I was blocked out of my driveway. There were a few kids from the neighborhood with a table and a sign that said Rockzone. I’ve supported lemonade stands and purchased ton loads of girl scout cookies but I’ve never purchased a rock.  At .25 cents per rock, the profit that they made was more than satisfactory being that… well… there was no overhead.

Crazy? Not really. Today the kids made $3.25. Without taking a Bus Org Mgt 101 class they already have all of the basic concepts down.  Now, you really don’t have any excuse not to start your online venture. Even a bunch of 8 year olds can do it.

I sure wish I had a rockzone affiliate link.

Technorati Tags: capitalism

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In the past two weeks, the question of niches has popped up several times.  I have a friend that has read the secret and she is determined to make $20,000 in the next several weeks.  She has asked for my opinion and guidance and after listening, I gave her the answer that I would give to anyone.  Whatever you love doing the most is where your fortune will lie.  Even if you struggle, you will eventually turn the tables because of your love of that industry.

My father has always said that America is the land of the professional.  Become a professional.  Don’t do what someone else is doing, do your own thing.  Break it down to specifics.  If you like cars and your favorite car is the lexus and you also love basket weaving, then design hand crafted weaved lexus ornaments.  Yes it’s a bit exaggerated but you get my drift.  If you like it and no one else is doing it then someone else might like it too; they just don’t know it yet.

My niche is consumer electronics, namely wireless devices, gaming units and cellphones.  All of my sites have been based off of things that I love and can relate to.  Maybe you have tried and failed a few times.  So what.  Try again but this time do it for the fun of it, not the money.  Start all over and rediscover your niche.   The money will come later.

Technorati Tags: niche

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