Archive for August, 2007
Ecommerce Copywriting
August 18th, 2007
MatthewI have been focusing a lot on ecommerce copywriting this week. I have donw a lot of research on successful online businesses and the product descriptions are just one of a few important eliments on creating a successful ecommerce website.
Here’s an example of both good and bad product descriptions. Each of them is a combination of informational and marketing copy. Imagine that you’re a small business writing this product description for both new and repeat customers, and you want to maintain a polite, welcoming tone:
BAD: This newest model of the Sock-Saver 2007 is better than ever before! If you liked the Sock-Saver, you’ll love the Sock-Saver 2007. For the last year, we’ve been examining your feedback and implementing it into this great product. Now we’ve brought these changes to you in the form of the Sock-Saver 2007! Save more Socks!
Not only is this description fluffy and poorly organized, but it offers no real information to the potential consumer. What are the upgrades? Why would owners of the Sock-Saver want to upgrade to the 2007 model? Also, there’s no clear tone or audience established, which makes the description seem cluttered and ill-placed.
GOOD: We’ve examined vendor and customer feedback for our most popular product during the past year and discovered that buyers wanted more room in the main compartment, larger drainage holes, and a choice of colors to match a home or business. We’re now proud to present the Sock-Saver 2007. The newest Sock-Saver offers all of the missing sock protection of the original, enhanced with the customer-driven features outlined above. Just stuff the Sock-Saver full of socks, toss it into the washer and dryer, and never suffer from one-sock syndrome again!
If you’re a current owner of our original product, send in a photo of you loving your Sock-Saver for a 15% discount on the Sock-Saver 2007.
Notice how the tone of the example above maintains the company’s commitment to its repeat customers, as well as providing plenty of information for new customers. It carefully outlines the improvements that they’ve made to the product, explains how to use it, and offers a number of incentives for all customers to take action and buy the product. The benefits are clearly outlined in a way that is exciting for the customer, and maintains the tone that the writer has selected for the site.
Don’t buy, Lease
August 18th, 2007
MatthewI came across this website while researching a domain name.
Introduced in July 2006, and launched globally in January 2007, LeaseThis.com is the first company to offer advertisers the option to lease domain names on a global platform, giving them exclusive advertising and branding rights for the duration of the ad lease.
The company is based in Los Angeles, California and has strong connections with New York Advertising Agencies as well as some of the biggest domain owners across the globe.
With access to over three million domain name assets, LeaseThis.com has the ability to deliver the Internet’s premium assets to individuals and businesses worldwide.
Start a home based business
August 15th, 2007
MatthewHere’s the truth, beginning a successful home based business has never been easier.
Therefore, many people out there try to tear the idea down and discourage you in your efforts.
Ignore them and move forward.
Key 1: Expanding Personal Focus
It is my belief that no one will achieve long lasting success unless they are working on their one true core desire. You should first focus on what stirs you passionately and tap into that energy.
Identify your goals, desires and the purpose you have for creating a successful business at home. If the reason why you are doing this is big enough the how will reveal itself.
The essential arousing foundation of your wish to begin a home based business is the intent that you use to begin, and to push on.
Your main purpose for your work at home lifestyle is contained in this inner desire. Whereas the outer intent lets, you know what purpose your home based business will do to be beneficial to others.
You should keep in mind that more than likely someone has already begun a home based business like your own. Of course, everyone is different as well as his or her desires are different.
You will become inspired by understanding your true focus, rather than to doubt yourself.
Key 2: Instant Impact Of A Message
Normally a customer will wonder to themselves when they find a product, what will this product do for me or how will it help me?
Their question should be answered in the first ten seconds without wasting time.
Therefore, your message of impact should instantly inform the customer the value of your product or service, and persuade them to do business with you.
Creating this remarkable marketing message can be easy and does not take a long time to do. You must make sure that the message stays focused while clarifying the purpose of the item for their needs.
Once you have come up with an inspiring sales message you should use it on all your business endeavors.
For instance place the message on your web site and business cards, just about anywhere you can think to display this message will encourage people to find out about or see your business, making the world aware of you and your successful home based businesses.
Key 3: Discovering What Works
Do the research to find out which business methods have been successful for others in work at home businesses to find out what measures should be taken and then compare their applications to your own.
This will save you lots of money while figuring out the best workable methods for your at home business.
Look to see what type of article content they use and then make yours even better.
You should regularly invest time in keeping current with research and updates. Before using expensive methods, you should learn about and use the many free tools available online for use in your home business.
Key 4: Perform a Reality Check
When beginning a successful home based business, there will be many hidden complications that you may uncover. Do not let this discourage you from your route of moving forward.
You must be realistic in all ways both positive and negative.
Learn how what is successful now can be improved, while keeping in mind the obvious and unnecessary problems so you are better able to work around them to create multiple successful home based businesses.
Remember success leaves clues. You must constantly be on the look out for resources and people that will show you the path to your desires.
If not us, get someone who cares to help you quick. It will short-cut your learning curve, and save you lots of money you might spend on useless efforts.
To help you discover what works we have put together a business tips area on our website.
ClubPenguin.com Acquired by Disney for $700 Million.
August 14th, 2007
MatthewI am always amazed at the type of money that is involved in a successful website. The Cool Virtual World for Kids was just acquired by Disney for $700 Million ($350 million in cash now and opportunity to earn $350 million between now and 2009).While, I have to say I had never heard of Club Penguin prior to reading about their recent acquisition by Disney, I did check out their site and was super impressed with the safe, innovative and kid-friendly virtual world they have created. I was equally impressed by their global involvement in education and medical treatment for children in Uganda and Romania.
As a parent, I can tell they have really gone beyond the call of duty to implement the appropriate safety measures for children interacting in this game. Club Penguin seems to have it all: a innovative solution, a cool site and a social conscious.
Pay Per Call
August 14th, 2007
adminGoogle may have dumped pay-per-call listings from its Maps product (some speculate due to abuse) but that has not seemed to stop others from integrating the technology.
LexisNexis launched Direct Call Service for their existing Attorney Match program. The new Pay Per Call service is currently hosted on attorneys.com. To bring the product to market, LexisNexis joined forces with Ingenio, Inc, the leading provider of Pay Per Call advertising.
Via the release: After a nominal set-up fee, Attorney Match – Direct Call Service allows attorneys to advertise but only get billed for calls received in response to the their ads, allowing them to directly experience a return on their marketing investment while targeting consumers with an immediate need for legal services.
Those that subscribe to the services will receive calls from a variety of channels, including attorneys.com, lawyers.com, Internet Yellow Pages, directories, mobile search providers and free directory assistance services - seemingly everywhere LexisNexis has a presence. Typical of Ingenio services, attorney’s will be able to set the price they want to pay for each phone call received.
LegalZoom seems to be the only legal resources using the new platform at the moment, but there is a lot of potential here as attorney’s can afford the service more so than a traditional offline business (plumbers) which Ingenio tried to focus on initially.
Yahoo Favored Over Google
August 14th, 2007
adminThe University of Michigan American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has shown in a new poll that overall user experience has favored Yahoo over Google for the first time. Watch out, hell may be freezing over soon. Based in terms of customer satisfaction score, Yahoo got a 79, while Google slipped to 78.
Google is still clearly the king of search, but Yahoo is presenting customers with more offerings - unlimited email, other websites and social networks are some.
“People have gotten comfortable with the (Yahoo) interface,” said Larry Freed, chief executive of ForeSee Results, which sponsored the study. “They’ve also done a good job in continuing to be dominant in communities and sub-functions of the portal. That’s always been Yahoo’s strength.”
“For the average consumer, what you see with Google is what you saw three years ago,” Freed told Reuters.
The ACSI method uses data from interviews of nearly 70,000 customers to measure satisfaction with more than 200 companies in 45 industries. The Internet business data was compiled in the second quarter with at least 250 respondents for each company studied.
A Growing Business
August 9th, 2007
MatthewOur Business is always growing and striving to be more, do more, and make more. We are proud to offer two new services to our growing business. Both further our abilities to build better business.
Professional Web Design Copywriting
It’s one thing to write copy that fits on a website. It’s quite another to write copy that fits in with a website. You wouldn’t try to force an incongruous visual element into a carefully considered design. Same goes for written content. Even if you’ve wisely designed a site around the content it delivers, written copy may fit neatly physically but still ring false to the intended audience.
Ideally, you should work with a writer from day one to design the voice of the copy in conjunction with the visual language of the site. And getting a writer involved early can help you solve lots of other problems—from content strategy issues to information architecture snags. Remember that writers are creatives too, and they are, in many cases, the keepers of the content your design ultimately serves.
Press Release Service
Publicity is the most cost-effective marketing tool there is and it’s the only part of a marketing strategy that builds credibility. Many industries have innovative up-start companies that are relatively unknown. For these new companies to gain an edge over their competition, it is vital that they build credibility through publicity.
We are happy to offer a professional press release service. We write it and send it out all for a low cost.
More Shopping Cart Conversions
August 9th, 2007
MatthewI have been writing and sharing some real gems with our clients in our marketing tips and tricks section of our website. I decided to post a little “gem” to our blog. What separates success from failure with an online store? One and I mean only one, of many things about conversion is: shortening the distance.
Shortening the distance between the visitor and the product can make a huge impact on conversions. I have years of experience in analyzing buyers habits. This tip will not only bring your customer closer to the product but it will also help you with organic search engine results.. Don’t believe me. Put me to the test. Contact me and I will show you how we have created successful online stores.
We are going to photoshop world 07
August 8th, 2007
MatthewWe are going to the Home of the largest Photoshop® training event in the world…
Intoday’s market, efficiency, productivity, and creativity are in very high demand, and that’s why each year thousands of Photoshop users from around the world come to Photoshop World. It’s where you’ll learn the latest cutting-edge techniques, the fastest and most effective ways to work in Adobe Photoshop, and the hottest and most amazing new Photoshop tips from a hand-picked team of the industry’s most talented and creative instructors.
This conference brings together photographers, designers, artists, educators, motion graphics designers, and Photoshop users of every kind for a three-day Photoshop love fest of training, learning, and fun.
Be warned, We will be in Vegas from Sept 6-8
Universal File Converter
August 7th, 2007
MatthewHave you ever wanted to convert files without the need to download software ? This is the sentence that represents ZAMZAR.
At this site you can upload up to 100 Mb of files and to convert them to what you need. All it requires is an email adress where to send you the converted files. It’ indeed a great “software” resource.