January 26, 2010

Review - ESET Smart Security

The award winning security program known as ESET Smart Security has been my own personal antivirus & malware protection, antispam, personal firewall program of choice since 2007! It's cost effective, reliable and diverse nature has both combated viruses and kept my identity safe and secure away from the prying eyes of internet hackers.
 
Being techie challenged I found ESET simple to install and as equally simple to add additional computers needing protection and to renew the service each year. My confidence in this product has increased to the point that this is the only service that I use on both my laptop and my desktop, for both business and personal use and I do recommend, frequently and with confidence.

ESET is current with their solutions to threats and has developed software that delivers time and time again. Once downloaded, the program's minimized footprint is highly efficient in reducing unnecessarily large files hence no decrease in speed while doing a system scan.

The most popular competition for ESET is Norton, Mcafee, Symantec and Trend amongst others so as always do your research first. Over the past ten years I've used Symantec, Norton and Mcafee, in that order and was not satisfied more along the lines of confused. I've never heard of Trend until recently but do not plan to switch regardless of what I hear.


ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 for FREE the 30 day trial

Now...Get to work! Do your research, gather more information & make the right choice for you!

Here are the links to Trend, Mcafee and Symantec

Get your Email Address(es)!

To be an active part of the world wide web you have to create a web presence for yourself. This ought to begin with your first email address. And no, this shouldn't cost any money (unless it's part of a whole plan that you are paying for which allows you online access). Depending upon your needs, you may need and/or want multiple addresses to aide in organization. When used accordingly having separate email addresses, one for business and one for pleasure etc. will make daily, routine tasks easier to prioritize.

Once you can freely communicate with other people online you will then be able to access various information on sign-in only websites, sign up for newsletters and offers, join mailing lists, shop at online stores, join and post on forums and in groups....whatever it is you enjoy.

Obtain your first (or additional) email address at either Google, Yahoo and Hotmail which are the three most popular global sites that offer multiple, free email addresses.

Tips...

 As you continue to participate on the WWW you will be required to create and remember usernames, passwords and email addresses. To aide in security this information ought to be stored in a safe place dedicated to this type of information. Either in Microsoft Office within a new, blank page or simply write it down the old fashioned way. As time passes it's easy to forget these details as they tend to accumulate rapidly as the level of internet activity increases.

For business purposes, try to incorporate your name, brand or logo into the email address you create. Brand recognition is one of the ultimate goals, from a marketing stand point, so if you can incorporate this into everyday use via your posted and advertised email address it's all the better! Also, remember to keep your addy on a professional level and save the fun stuff for your personal side ie; smolderingsiren at hotmail dot com as the email address for your local PTA will send the wrong message!
 

January 18, 2010

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate Marketing uses one website to drive traffic to another website and is a widespread form of online advertising and promotion along with a form of generating online income. One person (known as the Affiliate or Publisher) promotes both services and products to potential customers in exchange for commission or revenue sharing. By driving more traffic, sending referrals, signing up subscribers and/or customers etc; your earning potential increases.

Affiliates use various techniques such as search engine optimization (SEO), network marketing, social networking, paid search engine marketing, e-mail marketing, display advertising, publishing reviews, offering comparison shopping and directories. Popular, active sectors of affiliate marketing include adult, gambling, retail industries, mobile phones, finance, travel and entertainment along with unique, niche sites in all sectors.

Regardless of which market you choose understand that it takes time to see the results of your work. Once your website has been established and made available for online viewing it also needs to be indexed by the search engines which can take weeks, if not longer.

In the meantime you need to start getting people to your site so they can in turn click on those affiliate ads you have placed. No traffic =  no clicks = no money! There is no magic code available for driving traffic to your site however, which means you have to revert back to the basics of marketing by asking yourself. What does my customer want? and How can I give it to them?

I've found that focusing on a favourite hobby or passion is a popular way to begin because you yourself have a high level of interest in the topic therefore know what others may also enjoy. For example; if you love Halloween like I do then you could set up a blog that shares your ideas. You now have to ask yourself...What do my viewers (a.k.a potential customer) want to see, know, read about, learn, watch and buy that is has to do with Halloween? Then give it to them!

Offer content that is unique, original and of quality to your viewers whether it is in the articles your write and in the affiliate ads you place on the site. You want to give your customers/viewers the information they are searching for not irrelevant drivel or copy/pasted, plagiarised fluff. As you create more valuable, wanted content the viewers will find your site based on the information you are providing. The more you write about a specific topic the more keywords you generate around the topic. The 'topic' keywords, as they are repeated by both you in the articles and those searching with the search engines will then prove to the search engines that your site offers what it says and is worth checking out! Posting affiliate ads on your sight ought to pertain to Halloween in some way, as this would be one of the ways you would be generating your income.


January 5, 2010

Marketing - Face to Face

E-commerce, as a 'business frame', is growing by leaps and bounds and yet one can go on for days without seeing or talking to an actual, real live person. Many situations still arise however, where customers want to know the people they will be doing business with. In these cases, the best tool in your marketing arsenal is the old fashioned, face to face approach. Opportunities are always presenting themselves in regular, day to day life, at special events, trade shows and meetings. Hone in on your own social skills and begin building a good rapport with your potential customers all while maintaining your established relationship with current customers.






I personally love a challenge and there is nothing like interacting with potential customers face to face, especially when a crucial sale is about to be made. Utilitizing your face to face interactions and keeping them positive creates a solid base for future endeavours, online and off. Consumers are riveted with face to face marketing techniques, many times without even realizing it. The lady who made your coffee, the receptionist who greeted you, the valet who parked your car and the doorman who said 'good mornng'. They all speak volumes for their employers and that business while leaving a lasting impression with you.  

A unique example of an old fashioned, not so recommed, face to face interaction takes place at the carnival. There are hoards of people, hundreds even thousands all with money to spend. They are just trickling past booth after booth of games, food, sunglasses, junk and more junk dying to spend their money. By the end of the day they will most likely be flat busted, have upset stomachs and the proud owner of a cheesy pair of faux Crocs or an undersized stuffed animal. In a situation like the carnival you know the consumer is going to spend their money, it's just a matter of where. Down the game aisle carnival workers use an in your face, loud, harsh approach to lure you. Often embarassing, and sometimes even bordering on insulting you as a form of encouraging you to spend your money. Would this face to face sales approach be acceptable when shopping at the jewellery store? 




Face to face interactions occur in our daily life and in business, and can happen at any time of day in any location. Which do you prefer, a smile and friendly welcome or a boistrous, heckling shoutfrom ten feet away? Both work, however the lasting impression you create will haver a much sweater effect after the fact.

Just remember that regardless of whom you are speaking with, they may already be your customer or they are a potential customer so treat them as such. Try not to be a canary, stay professional, polite and sincere all while developing your listening skills. You may meet someone today who ten years down the road is giving you a job interview. Will he remember you? When he does,will he wish he hadn't? This goes beyond first impressions to lasting impressions. I don't even go down the game aisles anymore but I sure pay repeat visits to the cutie who smiles all the time and doesn't even say a word other than 'thank you'.

Body Language

Para-verbal

Para-verbal is not what you say but how you say it. It is the tone, pace, tempo, speed, and/or volume of your voice. People listen then create impressions based on what they hear and how they hear it.

Non-verbal

Judging by appearance, we are all guilty of it. Dress for success is truely a meaningful statement. It needn't be designer brands but clean, polished and reflective of the enviroment. A tux at a bqq is a little much.

Para-verbal and non-verbal traits will need to be adjusted to match the person you are with but never change your level of enthusiasm for your product or service. If a customer approaches and their body language says 'tired and irritable', you need to adjust your para-verbal and non-verbal to closely reflect theirs while still remaining passionate and enthusiastic. This does take practise but certainly worth the effort, just rememer it's not just what you say, or how you say it but also how look saying it!