tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11507518574369315182024-02-20T06:33:55.249-08:00Internet Marketing ExecutiveUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150751857436931518.post-70775258219854001482007-06-05T21:47:00.000-07:002007-06-05T21:53:27.265-07:00Web Directory Submission Rules<p><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Web Directory<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A <span style="">web directory</span> is a directory on the World Wide Web. It specializes in linking to other websites and categorizing those links. All sites that are indexed are submitted manually. You need to submit your web site under a relevant category, after which an editor will review your site and then accept or reject your site according to its content.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></b></p><p><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Directory Submission Rules<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The rules for directories submission are completely different from the search engines. Web Directory submission is a too much time consuming job to achieve target result. Every directory will have their own rules and regulations, and hence web pages must also be organized around such constraints. Regarding descriptions, most directories require it to be short – in the range of 100 – 250 words that may vary from one directory to another. It is clear from the foregoing that directory submission could contribute immensely to link building. But, how to get your website acceptable to directories? In order to get better acceptance in directory submissions we should following common rules,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Make sure you read the Terms of Service (TOS) and understand<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana;">They never accept mirror sites<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Repetitive site content will not accepted<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Don't accept sites that redirects on other link<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Under construction site will not accepted <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Affiliate/referral links generally not accepted<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Don't use promotional language<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Choose a local or a regional directory if possible<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Don't write your title with all words in CAPITAL<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Submit your site in appropriate categories<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Research on each directory and sub category<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ensure directory uses static links instead of java script<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Before submitting check the PR of the directory and it's category page<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Web Directories Types<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Directories have various types of listings:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Free Submission</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> - there is no charge for review of the site<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Reciprocal Link</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> - the site submitted must link back to the directory in order to be listed<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Paid Submissions</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> - a fee is charged for reviewing the submitted link<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Niche Directory </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">- <span style="">Topical Directories</span> that offer quality <span style="">link</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">No Follow </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">- there is a rel="nofollow" attribute associated with the link, meaning search engines will not follow the link.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Featured Link</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> - the link is given a premium position in the category where it is submitted<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Featured Homepage Link</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> - the link may be listed on the homepage of the directory.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1150751857436931518.post-18203104804277156402007-05-24T05:57:00.000-07:002007-05-24T06:01:40.367-07:00E-Mail Marketing Tips<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: Verdana;">E-Mail Marketing Tips<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Standard letter format is best for practically all email marketing audiences. Email marketing is just like a personal communication. This means starting with a name and ending with a signature.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1) Email Marketing Structure<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">When writing for email marketing, you must focus on three key areas: the "Fields"; the "Body Copy"; and, if applicable, the "Landing Pages". All require virtually equal attention.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">2) Think in Both Parts<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">An email marketing campaign has two parts, not one: the email your customer receives; plus the hyperlink embedded in the email that he or she clicks on to respond to your offer. This link takes the customer to a web page with a reply form (to email marketers, this is called the landing page). The landing page requires almost as much attention to writing and design as the email itself.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">3) No File Attachments<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Try to avoid the file attachments in email marketing. Mostly internet users hesitate to open the attached file from unknown users. If you have necessary information to share with users then add a hyper link in your email marketing message.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">4) Make It Personal<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Use a personal name & particular department name in the FROM line of you message. This pattern shows the personal attachment or friendly tone.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">For Example,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span>From: Rizwan Zahid <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">ABC Inc<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Customer Support</span></p><a href="http://www.rizwanzahid.com"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> www.rizwanzahid.com</o:p></span></a> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">5) If You Can't, Individualize<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">You may not know the proper name of your recipient. Or, if you do, you may not be able to include this name in the salutation for technical reasons. In these cases, consider individualizing the salutation. For example: "Valued UPS Customer:"</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">6) Dear, hello, or hi?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">"Dear John Smith" is best. "Hello John Smith" is okay. Unless the recipient is a customer, never say "Hi John Smith." That's too familiar for a first-time contact.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">7) Use a Deadline<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you are offering time limit offer in you email campaign, including this in the Subject field can be motivating. For Example,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Subject: “Renewal notice, Deadline noon tomorrow.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">8) Email to by Name<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">E-mail is personal communication. Try to send email by proper reception full name in TO line field. If you not have any name information in your contact list. You can use customized TO field. Avoiding to use only first name in To line field. Its look like too personals, too soon. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">9) Avoid using word Free<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Email is a relationship, not an advertising media.<span style=""> </span>I suggest keep the word ‘free’ out of the Subject field, and use it only once or twice in the body of your email marketing message. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">10) Focus on Opening Sentence<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">You need to give your opening sentence a lot of thought. When I write for email marketing, I focus on the opening sentence as much as I do the headline and SUBJECT field. It is here that the reader is either drawn into the body copy of your message, or skips it entirely and moves on to the next email in her inbox.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">11) No Long Paragraphs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Long paragraphs are intimidating. A rule of thumb for sales letters and other marketing materials is that no paragraph should be longer than seven lines. In email marketing, I suggest you keep paragraphs in your email to no more than six lines. This will make the text look more concise and inviting to read.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">12) Fonts Style<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Readership studies indicate that the best fonts for email communications are Arial 10pt and Verdana 10pt. Never go smaller than 10pt under any circumstance. If you decide to send your email message in 12pt, use Arial.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">13) Highlighting the Benefit<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style=""> </span>Highlighting the key benefit of your offer can be effective in the Subject field. This is provided you can do so effectively in just seven to nine words. Just be sure to avoid a promotional or overvalued tone. State your benefit simply.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">14) HTML or Plain Text<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Email sent in HTML format gives you the opportunity to apply fonts, backgrounds, graphics, and even animations to your email marketing message. Don’t make you email look like a webpage. But internet users are comfortable receiving email in text format, so plain text is usually not a problem. Now a day’s plain text marketing messages will seem unprofessional and cheap.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">15) Subject Line<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Mostly customer decides on whether or not to open after reading the Subject line. Subject line copy is vital to the success of your email marketing efforts. So, pay due attention. Try to ask a question to make a more attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">16) Make it Varied <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Don’t send your email newsletter the same time every month. Make it varied. You don’t want people getting into a routine where they know your sending something and they just delete it.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">17) Don’t make your newsletter about you<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Don’t use your company name as the title. Company names, titles and logos are all about you. Write your newsletter about them. The benefits to them of your product, service or content. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">18) Adding Pictures<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">In HTML email you can also include a picture of your product. In my experience, this has been very effective in lifting response. Of course, if your product is intangible, you'll have to think of an interesting way to present it as an image. But, trust me, it's worth the effort.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">19) Check the Links<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A recent email campaign for a major telecom provider contained an incorrect link. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just a dead link. It was a link to a pornographic web page! I can think of nothing more frustrating for a marketer than losing a potential customer because of such an error. Check, check, and re-check.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">20) Add a Toll-Free Number<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">While most prospects will respond to your offer online by clicking a link, some will prefer to call and speak with someone live. A toll free number will often boost response.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">21) Use a Landing Page for Response<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A landing page is the most popular way of responding to your offer. It works like this: you prospects clicks the link in your email message and is taken to a special web page. This page will often include a form fill out and submit to complete the transaction.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5