My first real foray into Internet Marketing was a Pay Per Click ad campaign. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into and the results were predictable. I soon had a mountain of debt with little in the way of results to show for it.
It wasn’t the Pay Per Click company’s fault. They basically did what they pronised to do. They got people to my website. The blame was all mine. I had made a couple of serious mistakes during the planning of my campaign. I will share those mistakes so that you can avoid making those same errors yourself.
My first, and probably biggest, mistake was not “looking before I leaped”. I did not take the time that I should have in researching Pay Per Click and learning just how much it could potentially cost. As a result, I was completely caught by surprise by how quickly my credit card was being charged over and over again. Take the time to do the proper amount of research before beginning a Pay Per Click campaign or any other business or advertising opportunity. You should always be aware of the cost or risks of any program before you invest money or time on it.
I made another major mistake when I did not set a daily budget for my campaign. That was a direct result of my ignorance about how much Pay Per Click could actually cost. I did learn an extremely valuable lesson though. Always set a budget. Determine beforehand exactly how much you can afford to spend per week or per month. Be disciplined and stick to it. You should always try to avoid going into debt unless it is absolutely necessary.
The final mistake that I regret was waiting too long to pull the plug on the campaign. I suppose that stubborness set in and I just did not want to admit defeat. However, admitting defeat is sometimes not so bad. If you sense that an opportunity is not working out, then cut your losses. No purpose whatsoever is served by throwing more good money after the bad. Always know “when to say when”.
Learn from my mistakes. Alway do your research before pursuing Pay Per Click or any other new opportunity. Be sure to set a weekly or monthly budget and stick to it. And, finally, if an opportunity is not working out, then don’t give in to stubborness. Cut your losses right away.
Copyright 2005 Ronald Gibson
Ronald Gibson is a Web Designer and Web Marketer. He is the Webmaster of AffiliateUtopia.com, which offers information about some of the best money making opportunities on the Web. For more information, visit: http://www.affiliateutopia.com/
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You see them when you enter hotels, motels and businesses of all types. I’m talking about floor mats with an imprint of the the business’ custom logo. They serve a practical purpose. They provide a method for the customer to remove dirt and moisture from their shoes, thus avoiding slips and falls. They also remove dirt at the entrance to your building that would otherwise be spread throughout the building. Additionally, they add a touch of class to the interior entrance and a recognition by the customer of a committment to customer service and a pride in the business identity.
Custom logo floor mats are more expensive than off-the-shelf mats. However, there are several factors which you control to keep the costs down. These factors include size, purchase quantity and shipping. If you are a business owner considering the purchase of a custom logo floor mat, you need to consider these price influences on your purchase.
First, these mats are offered by a variety of floor mat stores in many different sizes. Consider the size of your entrance and pick the appropriate “standard” size from the vendor’s available size list. Keep to the standard sizes available from your vendor. If your potential vendor does not offer the exact size you desire, check with other vendors. If the size does not appear to be available from any potential vendors, either choose the closest available size or be prepared to pay a premium price every time you have a run of these mats produced. Also, remember that the manufacturing charges are directly related to the size of the mat. Check your potential vendor’s price list. The prices for the different available sizes should be very close to the same per-square-foot price. If there are substantial per-square-foot price differences across the vendor price list for various sizes, ask the vendor why! The manufacturing price is based on the size of the mat and the quantity being purchased.
When considering a custom logo floor mat, never buy a quantity of one! Realize that the manufacturer of the mat must prepare the artwork from your logo. A manufacturer utilizes human labor for the computer work and masking requirements. If a customer is purchasing a quantity of one, the manufacturer is obliged to pass this cost along to the vendor. The vendor passes this cost along to you! With any custom logo floor mat, repeat business is usually expected. However, if the customer purchases in a single quantity, repeat business is thrown into doubt and the vendor cannot reasonably expect to recupperate the manufacturing costs associated with the initial logo preparation. Therefore, the vendor must pass the artwork costs along to the customer. Smart vendors change the per-square-foot cost for the single quantity purchase to recupperate the extra manufacturing costs, rather than adding a separate artwork charge. Regardless of how the charges are added, they have to be there since the vendor must make a profit off the sale and cannot count on additional quantities for the same product to offset the additional costs. By purchasing a minimum of two identical custom logo floor mats, the vendor often does not even incur an additional artwork charge from the manufacturer. Even if the art charges are still there, the vendor has a reasonable expectation of repeat sales and can pass along quantity savings to the customer. If you are considering a custom logo floor mat for your business, purchase one for every entrance. If you have only one entrance, purchase two. Vacuum every evening or at every shift change, depending on the foot traffic and weather conditions. Rotate the mats weekly. Use the down time for thorough mat cleaning.
Always plan your purchase to allow standard ground shipping. Mats are heavy. Even ground shipping is relatively expensive due to the weight of the product. Because of the steps involved in the manufacturing process, the time between purchase and delivery of custom logo floor mats ranges between 20 to 40 business days. If the manufacturer is in a heavy purchasing period, that time can be longer. Realize that the manufacturer must take your custom logo and prepare it for transfer to a mat. If your logo is trademarked or otherwise protected, you will need to provide an authorized company officer’s signature allowing the use of the logo on the mat. Once the artwork is done, the vendor must provide you the proof for your approval. This is critical. Custom logo floor mats are usually only returnable due to manufacturing defects. The vendor must have your complete approval for the proof of the mat artwork before the mats can be manufactured. If you are unavailable for several days, have an alternate point of contact who has authority to make a decision on the proof, or be prepared for delay of the delivery of your mats. Until you approve the artwork, the manufacturer cannot begin making your mats. Once the approval is given, the manufacturing usually takes 10-20 business days, depending upon the manufacturer’s backlog. When considering a custom logo mat purchase make your buying decision a month to two months before you actually need the mats. This will allow ample time for the process involved and allow the mats to be shipped via standard ground service. If you need the mats sooner, be prepared to pay a premium price for two day or overnight shipping. Given the weight of matting materials, two-day or overnight shipping could add 50% or more to the cost of the purchase!
The final consideration that you need to make is the quality of the mat. When purchasing a custom logo floor mat, make sure the mat backing is nitrile rubber. Nitrile rubber-backed mats will last 5-7 years in standard high-traffic situations. Lifetime costs need to be considered in your purchase. The other mat backing choice is vinyl. Vinyl-backed mats can be expected to last 1-2 years in high-traffic commercial entrances. Either type can be visually acceptable and cleaned identically. But you need to take the lifetime costs into account. Nitrile rubber-backed mats are more expensive than vinyl-backed mats. However, they last twice as long and typically are not double the price. Make your quality choice based on your expected lifetime costs.
Cliff Bell
Owner of Best Mats
http://www.safety-exercise-yoga-mats.com
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Does the size of your popcorn machine matter?
The short answer is ‘yes’. The long answer is that it all depends on the number of people you intend to serve with your popcorn machine. For small families or groups, a 4 ounce (110 grams) capacity popcorn machine may be fine. But if you are going to be entertaining a larger group, you may want to buy a six ounce (180 gram) or eight ounce (220 gram) capacity popcorn machine to avoid making multiple batches. Keep in mind that even with a big popcorn machine, you can make small amounts when ever you feel like it.
How long does popcorn take to cook in a popcorn machine?
This depends on the type of popcorn machine you have, but once your machine has heated up (on the stove for stove tops, or by plugging into the mains for electric machines) the popcorn will only take 3-4 minutes to cook. Once you have the oil in the machine, and it is correctly heated, it’s a good idea to test with a few kernels. As soon as these pop, put in the rest and close the lid. Then it is up to the popcorn machine to do the rest - simple as that. You will start to hear popping pretty soon. Stove top popcorn machines cook popcorn more quickly than electric machines, but we are only taking a minute or two. Read the manufacturer’s guidance on this point, and always follow the particular instructions given. You’ll soon hear things getting rather exited in your popcorn machine and then the popping will start to slow around the 3-4 four minute mark. Then you are done. Enjoy.
What oil should you use to cook popcorn?
The key point to make here is that the oil you use will affect the taste of your popcorn, so choosing the right one to suit your taste is important. A big favourite with many is coconut oil because it burns the cleanest, and, arguably, tastes the best. However, the health conscious may wish to opt for canola oil (which has lower fat and cholesterol). Other oils available are sunflower, peanut and soy. Under no circumstances should you use vegetable oil: it will not appreciate the heat and will in all likelihood catch on fire! The only way you are really going to know which oil is best for you is to try them all and see.
What assembly is required with popcorn machines?
None, unless you buy a cart. Popcorn machine units are pre-assembled, but the carts will not be. If you don’t buy a cart, then an electric machine can just sit on any flat surface. Stove tops obviously sit on the stove when in use. The hottest part of an electric popcorn machine is the kettle, which is always at the top of the machine. The base of an electric popcorn machine remains cool enough to sit on any flat surface. With stove tops the heat comes from the cooker and so the base will be the hottest part of the machine — all pretty obvious really.
Why are hard-coat anodized aluminum ‘kettles’ considered the best?
There are two issues here: heat transfer and ease of cleaning. Aluminum gives the best heat transfer to the popcorn which gives a better result. Once the aluminum is anodized is has a smooth, easy to clean surface, and it is very hard-wearing.
How do I clean a popcorn machine?
You can clean popcorn machine surfaces using standard dish cleaning products and water. Let the machine cool then wipe it with a damp cloth. Stove tops can be cleaned just like any other cooking pan. With electric popcorn machines you’ll find that after a while your ‘kettle’ will blacken through carbonization, and when this happens you will need to use a special cleaning kit (ask your supplier for one). Under no circumstances should you submerge an electric popcorn machine in any type of liquid because its electrical components will short out, as may you if you still have the thing plugged in!
Why does popcorn explode?
Now we come to the interesting science of the matter. A popcorn kernel is made up of hard starch with a small amount of water locked inside. As the temperature around the kernel rises, the water inside the kernel turns to steam and expands. The pressure inside the kernel rises until the kernel can no longer hold in the steam and it explodes. Popcorn kernels will dry out with age, so make sure that your kernels are fresh so that they go off with the required pop. Never store your kernels in a refrigerator or freezer, since this will dry them out. Neither should you store them in a moist place, since they will become chewy. The moisture level needs to be just right to get a good pop and the right taste. The best place to keep your kernels is in a sealed container at room temperature — below 90F. Don’t expect your kernels to have a shelf life of more than 12-18 months.
© Stephen Turner 2006. Stephen Turner has set up an information and resource website Popcorn Machine. You’ll find loads of popcorn machine information, advice, articles, features, discussion and specially chosen links to other popcorn machine websites for products and services. Please take a look. Stephen would also welcome your feedback on the site. Click on the contact link on the site. This article may be reproduced in its original form provided this ‘author resource paragraph’ is displayed below the article.
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Buying children’s clothing from the internet is becoming more and more common. Not only is online shopping convenient, but it also offers an advantage over traditional shopping because of the wide variety of clothes that are readily available at your finger tips. From new designer jeans to used vintage dresses, you’ll be able to find every type of clothing style imaginable on the internet.
If you’re looking for name-brand apparel, you’ll discover that the web site’s of most major department stores sell children’s clothing. If you visit the sites of large retailers such as JCPenney, Sears, Marshall Fields, Target or Wal-Mart, you’ll be able to browse for much of the same clothes that’s offered at their physical locations. These internet sites also offer special clearance and sale items, just like you’ll find while shopping the traditional way.
Convenience and variety are both good reasons to shop for children’s apparel online, but discount prices is what draws many people to the internet. From the comfort of your own home, you can easily comparison shop for children’s clothing from two, three, or even ten retailers if you so choose. In addition to saving money by finding the lowest priced clothing, you’ll also save money on gas and the wear and tear on your vehicle.
Another nice feature of ordering online is that many retailers provide a way of tracking your shipment as soon as the purchase is made–from the time it leaves the warehouse until it reaches your front door. You’ll know the location of your package while in transit and when the expected delivery date is. Depending on the retailer and any running promotions, you may even be able to receive free shipping on your order or a free upgrade to next-day delivery.
As parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, it seems that our schedules are becoming more hectic all the time. This results in less time for our families, friends and ourselves. Shopping online for the children in our lives allows us to save some of this valuable time, while saving money as well. It also adds another much needed convenience that we can all benefit from.
John Purdy operates a web site featuring some of the internet’s top childrens clothing stores. For a wide selection of quality children’s apparel at affordable prices, visit his site today at: http://www.childrens-clothing-stores.com
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50% of Yellow Page Directory Users are Looking for Just One
Thing Dr. Lynella Grant
Directory Users Seek Information about Location First People who
open the Yellow Pages already have a desire to buy. That sets it
apart from all other advertising media. For a brief time, the
eager-to-buy directory user checks the competition, to see what
each of them offers. They scan for solutions that satisfy their
needs. Readers hope to find ads that leap out from the rest, and
will simplify their choice.
So they ignore any ad that doesn’t match what they’re looking
for. And the piece of information that fully half of them look
for first is the location of the business. Buyers want to know
how easy it is for them to get there. Businesses that are too
far away are eliminated. So their ads aren’t even read.
Convenience is the preliminary deciding factor. As readers scan
through the heading, they mentally delete: too far…, too
far…, don’t know where that is (so no)….
After Sorting by Location, Then they Read the Ads The selected
ads are then studied in more detail. Not until that point, does
the information in the ad actually get read or considered. Aside
from location, when directory users are in the “information
gathering phase,” they’re looking for many different kinds of
answers, like hours, payment methods, and brands offered (which
differ according to heading). They’re being educated by what
they read in the ads. They gain a clearer idea about their
options and who provides it (you being just one).
Directory users don’t want to drag that step out. So it’s up to
your ad to jump to the front of their brain with a clear
indication that you offer exactly what they’re looking for.
Look-alike ads just make readers work harder to uncover what
they want to find.
There’s no need to overcomplicate the matter. The test of a good
Yellow Page ad is its ability to generate calls. You don’t have
to be a graphic designer or a marketing whiz to prepare an
effective ad. You just have to know your customers well enough
to know how they think and what they want. You need to be able
to signal to them that you’ve got what they’re looking for.
The Ad Sells the Call or Next Step Some ads prompt directory
readers to pick up the phone and call one or more of the listed
businesses. Callers often continue down their short (close) list
until they can find enough of a reason to pick one.
Yellow Page industry studies show the average number of calls a
user makes is 5.3. An advertiser doesn’t have to be the first
choice, as long as it’s among the few chosen for a call or
visit. At that point, the business owner’s ability to field
questions or “sell” is more influential than the published
directory information. After the potential buyer closes the
directory, its work is done. They’ve move on - one step closer
to a purchase.
Location Defines Who Your Competition Is The Small Business
Administration states that distance is a major factor as to who
comes to buy from you. The average independent store draws the
majority of its customers from not more than a quarter of a mile
away. The average chain store draws most of customers from less
than three-quarters of a mile away. For the average shopping
center, that figure is four miles. Service business have
different distances.
Many kinds of business really only need to worry about
competitors within their immediate area. You don’t have to beat
out every other business in the heading. Compare your ad to
those competitors within four miles, and make sure your ad is
more prominent or enticing than theirs.
Some of the biggest, high-powered ads ahead of yours simply
won’t be called because they’re inconvenient. You need to know
where your customers come from, and how far they’re willing to
travel for you. Here’s where knowing their specific mindset and
priorities pays off. Ask them; take a survey.
You don’t need a big ad if you are the only game in town, or in
a very small heading. Directory users can’t help but see you.
Buyers are likely to call everyone who looks appropriate, if
there are only a few. So you’ll get called anyway - as long as
you’re listed.
Unless a business has the biggest and best ad, most of the money
spent for display ads is wasted. That sad truth applies to most
of the business headings. Cut through the prevailing
misinformation, and learn what makes a Yellow Page ad effective
at Yellow Page Sage - http://www.yellowpagesage.com.
Location Matters on the Internet, Too Already, 25% of online
searchers are looking for information about business location.
And that percentage is increasing. Most customers prefer to
spend their money close to home - it’s more convenient. But
rather than consult the printed Yellow Page directory, they
search online. Searchers add additional terms like zip code,
city, and region to narrow their search. This strategy is called
“local search.” It’s a boon for connecting buyers and local
businesses. Because location really does matter to buyers.
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