Facebook Marketing Secrets Part Final (CPC Versus Impression Based Ads)

CPC Versus Impression Based Ads

With Facebook, you can develop advertisements where you either pay for impressions or based on the number of clicks your ad receives.

If you are just getting started with Facebook advertising, I recommend choosing cost per click (CPC), so that you can accurately test your advertisements, while paying only for responses rather than just views.

You can always change your advertisement format to ‘impression based’ later on in the event you wish to test out alternative options.

Facebook Marketing Secrets Part 4 (Setting Your Maximum Daily Bid)

Setting Your Maximum Daily Bid

One of the most important aspects of setting up an effective Facebook advertisement is in the maximum daily bid that you are willing to pay.  The higher your daily bid, the more exposure your ad will receive.

You want to start off with a lower bid if you are just getting used to advertising with Facebook, and increase your maximum daily bid as you fine-tune your advertisements for maximum results. 

It’s important to always keep a pulse on how well your advertisement is converting, so that you can improve click through rates and overall response.

When you create an advertisement with Facebook, they will suggest a maximum bid based on your advertisements focus and target market (based on your personal configuration and preferences). 

You can start off by setting your maximum daily bid slightly lower than what’s suggested and increase it as you improve your advertisements conversion rates so that you are getting the most bang for your buck!

Facebook Marketing Secrets Part 3 (Stay Within Facebook Guidelines)

Stay Within Facebook Guidelines

It’s important to understand how Facebook advertising channels work, and what is permitted as well as what is not allowed within the marketplace. 

 Facebook is very flexible with the types of advertisements that are allowed to be displayed within their community, however they do not allow images or text that may be considered offensive. 

 

Facebook Marketing Secrets Part 2 (Improve your Click Through Rate)

Improve your Click Through Rate

Your advertisements click through rate plays an integral role in saving you money while boosting exposure and reaching out to your target market.

It’s important to keep a pulse on your click through rate so that you can correct any problems with your advertisement, or make adjustments to improve your overall CTR.

If your advertisements CTR drops too low, it could be automatically paused or removed by Facebook, so you really want to pay attention to how well it’s converting.  

Typically, your ads should never fall below a 2% conversion rate.

One of the easiest ways of increasing your CTR is by creating a highly targeted advertisement.

You want your ad to appear only to those who are within your target demographic, while making sure that your advertisements text or any images used speak directly to your customer base.

Consider split testing various advertisements within the Facebook community to determine what works best, based on your industry or niche market.

You should also pay attention to the times of day that your ads appear. You can choose to either run your ads consistently throughout the day, or have them only appear at specific times (or even specific dates). 

Keep in mind the time zone of your target market, so that your ads are running based on the most active time of day or night.

Facebook Marketing Secrets Part 1 (Create Targeted Advertisements)

Facebook is the leading social community online. With over 300 million users, there has never been a better way to maximize your exposure, and get your message seen by a massive customer base

The greatest thing about advertising with Facebook, is the flexibility of your advertisements.

You can customize your advertisements so they appear only to specific groups or segments of people based on the information contained within their profile or based on gender, location or personal preferences.

For example, if your product is tailored towards single mothers, you could develop your advertisements so that they are triggered to appear only for those who have indicated that they are single mothers in their profiles, or who have demonstrated interest in similar products or services based on their personal profile, communities or groups they've joined, or other advertisements they've responded to.

Create Targeted Advertisements

In order to create the most compelling, responsive and profitable advertisements, you need to utilize Facebooks option to heavily target and tailor your advertisements based on your target market.

With facebook, you can set your ads up so that they appear only to specific people, based on age, location, gender, interests, hobbies or even based on the groups they have joined within the Facebook community.

You will want to conduct market research so that you can accurately define your target market and develop advertisements that target specific segments of your market.

Facebook implores a quality control system to ensure that the advertisements that run throughout their community stay within their guidelines and do not offend or disrupt member activity or overall experience.

Use their quality control system to develop compelling advertisements that stand out in the marketplace, and capture the attention of potential buyers

Also keep in mind that Facebook advertising is based on display, rather than search. This means that your ads will be automatically triggered to appear based on your settings, rather than when a user conducts an on-site search.

Users can also choose to rate advertisements, helping to retain quality throughout the community.

9 Blogging and Forums Traffic Generation Tips

Blogging has hit the World Wide Web with a bang. Every single person wants to put in their two cents, and can with a blog. Although blogs can be tedious and pretentious in certain instances, it is possible to use blogging as a way to gain traffic to your site. Just read on to find out how:

1. Make friends with other bloggers- ask other bloggers to review your website, in exchange for a link of course. Blogging is a community thing and the more you participate in this community, the more successful you will be at generating traffic. 
2. Make use of Technorati- Technorati allows you to ‘claim’ your blog which can be great for social networking and gaining traffic. 
3. Add your Link to any posts- make your link like a signature. Anytime you make a post (relevant to your website of course), add a link at the end. Many people will read the comments, the forums, and the discussions for additional information. If a link is included, they will click on it. 
4. Write something controversial- there’s nothing like controversy to get the traffic flowing in. Write something controversial and then ask for comments, questions and concerns about what you have said. This will help to get the cyber conversation going and ensure traffic to your site.
5. Blog on and away from your site- there are several different ways to use blogging as a way to generate traffic. Many people choose to blog on a different website such as HubPages and then link to their website. This works. However, another good way is to include a Blog section on your website. People who are interested in your website content may subscribe to your blogs which means even more hits and traffic generation to your sites. 
6. Don’t forget about SEO- blogging is, essentially, SEO article writing. It is much less informal and much more fun- however, it still follows the same rules surrounding content, links and keywording. So make sure you re-read the above tips on “Article Marketing” and “SEO Marketing” when writing your blogs. 
7. Yahoo Answers- whenever someone types a question into a search engine, Yahoo Answers usually comes up. Check out Yahoo Answers and see what questions have been asked in your niche category. Then, answer them and include a link. This is a great way to gain free publicity and market yourself as an expert. Another good resource is Wiki Answer. 
8. Keep informed with the world- one of the best ways to generate traffic through blogging is to write something that is new to the web world. Watch the news, subscribe to updates and keep your ears open for stories that are related to your website’s product or service. 
9. Include blog interviews- interviewing someone in the field of choice is a great way to gain traffic to your blog. Sure, it may not be an interview with Brad and Angelina, but a well known figure in your niche market will get the traffic you want. Interviews are unique and they are informative. They make great blog material.   

25 Article Marketing Traffic Generation Tips

One of the best ways to get your niche audience to your site is to target them in article marketing. Article marketing is a revolutionary way to use your words to generate traffic. Essentially you (or hired content writers) can write about a topic directed at your site and include a bio and a link to your website. Article marketers will submit articles to article directories. When someone uses Google, Yahoo or any other search engine, often these articles will pop up and they will click on them. 

What this means is that only those interested in the material in the articles are reading the content. They will also be more interested to click through to the link (your page) and continue to read, as long as you write and target your articles properly. Article marketing, when properly exercised can multiple your traffic in a matter of days! 

1. Write something actually worth reading- perhaps you have not browsed through the net recently, but, unfortunately there is a lot of hogwash out there. Many people attempt to use article marketing and simply write about anything and everything. Not a good idea. Write something entertaining, write something informative and write something worth reading.
2. Use keywords- keywords are searched words- words that will get your article noticed on search engines. Make your keywords specific and use them about 2-5% in each article. Any more than this and your article could begin to sound like an advertisement, or you could be, gasp, black listed.
3. Beware of black listing- article marketing directories are well aware of the power of keywording and that is why they have technology to ensure that marketers are not simply sending them… well... crap. If you use too many keywords then you could be banned from the article directory and your articles not accepted. This is a complete and total waste of time so follow the rules of the directory and don’t try any sneaky stuff!
4. Don’t advertise, inform- the main point of your article is to direct your prospects to your website; however, you want to do this by proving that you actually know what you are talking about and have something informative to say. No one wants to be caught in an article-advertising trap. We get enough advertisements on radio and television, thank you very much. 
5. Don’t re-write- it’s tempting to simply type in your keyword and rewrite similar articles. Don’t do this. First of all, it’s illegal. Second of all, you are not providing your prospects with anything new, and thus, your website will not be much help to them. 
6. Prove you are an expert- you need to prove this with your words and with your bio line. After the article, you will most likely have a chance to explain ‘about the author.’ Demonstrate your knowledge by providing background information.
7. Beware of jargon- if you are writing an article about a new medical breakthrough, then it may make sense to use medical terms and diction that any regular Joe would consider to be written in Greek. Not a good idea; although you want to attract a certain group of  people, regular Joes will be reading your material too. Sure, you want to sound smart, but you also want to be understood.   
8. Be different- Write something that has never been said before; take a different approach to an old idea; make people read to the end. This is what generates traffic.
9. Look to help- most of us can write; however, not many can write well. And, in the article marketing business, you need to ensure that your articles are written well. If they are not, then you can kiss your success with article marketing goodbye. There are so many SEO, web content writing and web marketing companies out there that have the credentials and the experience to make all the difference in the web world. 
10. Use a sociable voice- make friends with your audience reading the articles by speaking like them. Colloquial language is okay in certain situations; as long as you are not offending anyone. 
11. Don’t save the link for last- the link is your clincher- it’s what makes your prospect actually click on your website. It is the traffic generator. So, link placement is vital. Read the rules of the article directory to determine the number of links allowed and then, if allowed, place the link throughout the article, not just at the end. Many people will not actually make it to the end of the article, especially if the content is less-than-thrilling. So catch them before they can click away
12. Use real-life situations- Make your writing relatable. Think like your audience when writing the articles and you will have a better chance convincing them to continue to click through to your website. 
13. Make them laugh- reading something that is humorous on the web is a welcoming change. If you can add humor to your articles, go for it! This is one of the best ways to gain respect from your readers and convince your prospect to click to your site.  
14. Choose point of view carefully- If you want to relate to your audience, it’s best to use first person point of view. If you are offering advice, second person point of view is often a wise choice. Third person point of view can seem a little too impersonal and academic; however, it certain articles, this actually works well.
15. Choose your title wisely- it’s all in the title. You need to make sure your title uses the keywords you have chosen and is specific enough to be noticed by search engines. For example: “Carpet Cleaners” is not a good title even if your website is all about carpet cleaners. Instead try “The Top Five Reasons to Use Carpet Cleaners” which gives your article an angle and an informative spin.
16. Make friends with bold subheading- many people will simply skim through an article looking for the most important parts. So give them what they want by bolding the important parts and using bolded subheadings to split up the article. 
17. Uncover the power of lists and bullets- numbered lists and bulletlists are an immediate eye-catching device. As mentioned above, most people will simply scan the article for useful information. This usually comes in the form of bulleted and numbered lists. They can attract viewers and also make your content easier to read and therefore more interesting. 
18. Add a picture, if you can- if you are able to add a picture to your article then do so. However, in many instances this is not actually allowed. Make sure the picture relates back to the article information. For example, if you are discussing the best massages for your massage therapy website, a picture of a woman getting a foot massage is a great visual addition.
19. Mix up your paragraph sizes- short and long paragraphs grab reader’s attention. No one wants to look down an article and see 5 perfectly shaped paragraphs- talk about boring! This isn’t English grammar class after all. You don’t have to use the standard 5- paragraph format anymore. 
20. Shine through- let your voice and your personality shine through the pages. Speak like you are talking. Be funny, be creative and be witty. Let that voice out and paste it all over the pages of your content. 
21. Stay away from swear words- don’t try to be cool. Don’t try to be pretentious. Don’t try to be bold. Swear words look just as stupid on the screen as they sound coming out of people’s mouths. They are offensive; they are crude; and they are not suitable for articles. Prove your point with other terms that are not swear words- use the thesaurus if you have to. There are plenty of other words out there!
22. Always, always, always proofread- there is nothing worse than reading through an article that has grammatical and spelling errors, unless, of course, you are the one writing it. So take the extra time and actually re-read your work. This does not mean simply pressing the spell check button. It means reading it, top to bottom and catching all of those hidden errors. 
23. Remain up to date- one of the most important things to remember when it comes to content is that it is all relative on the date and year. If you are talking about Y2K, most people will click awayafter all, that was nearly ten years ago. Stay up to date on the political and current event trends. 
24. Use ‘Top Ten’ Article Lists- “Top” lists are great for articles because the reader knows exactly what they are getting. Top Ten Hottest Baby Celebrities, Top Five Worst Pick up Lines, Top 100 Best Songs Ever- all of these will reel in the reader and make them want to learn more. 
25. Use ‘Benefits of’, ‘Pros and Cons’ and other article marketing gold mines- there are other great article ideas other than just “top lists.” You can also list the benefits of a product, the pros and cons to a certain person, place or thing, to a list of the biggest “no’s” in that industry. All of these are easy for readers to follow and set up in an informative way.    

10 Social Media Traffic Generation Tips

The Internet is a social place. Although everything is done in the virtual world, the place is swarming with social networks, social media sites and social opportunities to target your niche market and network with the right prospects.

So why not take advantage of the social nature of the net by using social media as a way to generate traffic and target your niche. Below we have listed some of the top tips in the subject of social media traffic. 

1. Get Noticed: go in with a bang by launching your new site, or new content on social bookmarking sites. Many social bookmarking sites, such as Digg, Reddit and Netscape are read on a daily basis and a perfect place to start your traffic generation debut.
2. Take advantage of free ads: GumTree is a great place to get your new website noticed. Gum Tree is a free advertisement space where you can make an ad for your website, for free! It doesn’t get any better than that!
3. Get Accounted: start creating as many social networking accounts as possible. Social networking is a great way to get your product or service noticed. Set up a MySpace Page, a Facebook Page, a Yahoo Page and much more. Ask your friends to add your page as “fans” and watch your traffic jam up.
4. Use StumbleUpon- Submit your site to Stumble Upon and then get your friends to stumble on it as well.
5. Create a Yahoo Group- join or create a Yahoo group in your area of interest. Most likely others in that group will be interested in knowing about your website and checking out what you have to offer. 
6. Tweet with Twitter- Tweet Tweet, you have mail. Twitter is a new social media revolution that combines text messages with the Internet. It may seem a little confronting, but it’s a great way to advertise your website. Get a following and send them a tweet. 
7. Contribute to Forums- one of the best ways to use social media in your favor is to make a brief contribution to Forums in your topic of interest. Include a link to your website after offering incredibly advice. However, make sure you use sparingly- don’t spam. 
8. Search for relevant sites- there are literally social networking sites for everyone and everything. For baby boomers, for music lovers, for avid photographers, for video gamers, for George Lucas fans, for Twilight lovers, and for every single other fetish in the world. Take advantage of this by joining social networking sites that relate to your website. This is where your prospects will be. 
9. Show you care- by participating in other social media outlets, you are showing to others that you are genuinely interested in the subject. The more comments you share, the more you will be respected and revered as an active member in your niche market community. 
10. Add the “tell a friend” function- on your website, add the ‘tell a friend’ function. This is a simple little button that allows people to easily connect to your website and inform others about it. In the cyber world, word of click is just as important as word of mouth. So make the most of this with social media.   

10 SEO Traffic Generation Tips

SEO, or search engine optimization is the be-all-end-all of traffic generation. The two go hand in hand. This is because, in order to gain traffic to your site your articles, your advertisements and your website must all be search engine optimized. So, when it comes to SEO, make sure you target everything and anything around this incredibly important concept.

Essentially, there are three basic elements to SEO- keywording, linking and content. Consider keywording, linking and content the three musketeers to successful SEO. To get you started, we’ve offered the top ten tips to SEO. Keep these in mind for all your copy and content to ensure the maximum traffic generation results.

1. Choose good keywording phrases- instead of shaping words around articles, shape articles around words. Target your content around keywors or ideas. In order to find an angle for your article,consider using Google Adwords to see which keywords are most likely searched. Then, write an article around these key phrases and terms. This may seem like an odd concept, but as soon as your brain gets used to it, the writing will flow naturally.
2. Use keywords throughout your website, marketing and advertisement- use keywords in your title, your subheadings and in your links. If you can, even use your keyword in your URL.
3. Link away- it is okay to link to other sites. In fact, it’s a good idea, especially if these sites are highly respected and informative. Sites with .edu and .gov are often the best because they represent a highly regarded source.
4. Link to your heart’s content- Links do not have to just be certain words. You can also make title links and anything else you want links. People are automatically drawn to links, so switch it up and make your content stand out.
5. Use your anchor text in links- Make sure your link text features your keyword phrase. Links stand out on websites and most people will click through, especially if your keyword phrase is directed towards their interest.
6. Always add new content- are you constantly updating and adding new content to your website? Well you need to be to ensure SEO success! This cannot be stressed enough. Content is what will make or break your site so make sure your content is entertaining, up to date and informative.
7. Be Bold- make use of Bold HTML tags and other HTML tags to make your website stand out. Bold is beautiful.
8. Use Alt Imaging- a picture is worth a thousand words, especially on the net. Putting alt attributes on your images can allow you to place relevant text around your image, better for search engine indexing. Keep in mind that images are searched just as much as content is.
9. Include a site map- a site map is a great way to navigate through your site and can also be submitted to Google with XML site map. Site maps help search engine robots find every page on your website in just two clicks. What this means is better search engine results for all your web pages. Make sure you link all pages properly for the best SEO results.
10. Follow the rules- SEO has a set of particular rules. You need to understand the legality of SEO so you don’t get banned from search engines. So how do you do this? You research. You study. You learn. Take some time and go through the basics of SEO on the main search engines. Understanding the do’s and don’ts of SEO is critical when it comes to generating traffic. After all, you SEO strategy can either make, or break your website.