content can do more to build your business and profits than just about any other resource or service available.

The numbers of ways in which you can use materials from Private Label Content to make money online are almost as varied and infinite as the Internet itself.

Following is a list of just 5 key ways that content can help build your traffic, subscribers, and customers starting today!…

1. Boost your search engine ranking and daily visitor count by posting keyword rich articles and content on your web-site. For example, if your business involves offering products and services related to fitness, posting fitness related articles and content will attract unlimited prospective customers on a regular basis!

2. Generate double or even triple the number of newsletter subscribers you do currently, simply by offering content in the form of "special reports" or manuals as bonuses for subscribing to your publication. People love freebies, so give them what they want and watch as your results increase!

3. Create an automated cashflow by using content to formulate multi-part email training courses with related web-site or affiliate links "sprinkled" throughout each course. Use an autoresponder service to automate the delivery of your training course (such as a 5 part training course delivered over a 5 day period).

Training courses can also serve as excellent bonus offers for your prospective newsletter subscribers.

4. One of the most important keys to a successful online business is not JUST having a list of mailing list or newsletter subscribers… It's about building a trusting relationship with your subscribers (ie, "cultivating" your list)…

By sending informative articles (content) to your list on a regular basis you will establish yourself as an expert on your topic of business, as well as gain the trust of your subscribers over time.

As a result, your subscribers will be EAGER to take advantage of your "paid" product and service offers. (Just make sure that you NEVER take advantage of the relationship you develop with your list by offering products or services of poor quality just to make a quick buck!)

If there is one "constant" in Internet marketing, it's this: A cultivated list of subscribers is as good as money in the bank. Write that down and never forget it!

5. Another excellent way to generate no cost traffic is by submitting ready-made articles to "content hungry" web-site and newsletter publishers with your "resource box" attached. A resource box is nothing more than a little 3-6 line "bio" about you and/or your web-site - including a link to your site (or even instructions on how to subscribe to your newsletter)…

When submitting or offering your article(s) for reprint purposes, just make sure to specify that each article is to be reprinted "as is" with your resource box attached.

…Even one article can go a LONG way towards generating no cost traffic and visitors for you. Just imagine your article being sent out to a newsletter subscriber base of 100,000 individuals - many of whom will be reading YOUR included resource box and clicking on your URL to learn more about what you have to offer!

Well there you have it, 5 sure ways to build your online business exponentially with the help of articles and content…

With the declining effectiveness of many of the online advertising methods that we've relied on in past years, content is only strengthening its position as the ultimate KEY to generating unlimited traffic, subscribers, and customers!

Below is link to the best Private Label Content websites I have ever seen.

http://www.xodomarketing.com

Your business isn’t growing. There are a number of reasons why it has happened.

Maybe it’s because you’ve lost your passion.
Maybe you’re overwhelmed.
Maybe you just don’t have enough time.
Maybe you’re disorganized.
Maybe your staff is inefficient (or maybe you are)
Maybe you don’t know how to grow your business to the next level (or maybe you don’t want to do what it takes)

Regardless of the reason why your business isn’t growing, it’s time to stop making excuses and do something about it. You worked REALLY hard to get to this point. You spent time, money, and a lot of energy to build your business. Certainly you’re not going to let it fritter away.

Here’s how to stop making excuses for why your business isn’t growing:

Step 1. Figure out why it isn’t growing. Perhaps your product line is stagnant. Perhaps you’re only reaching 10% of your eligible prospects. Perhaps your sales page isn’t converting or your advertising campaign isn’t reaching the right people. The first step to figuring out how to stop making excuses is to honestly examine why it isn’t growing. The reason may reside completely in you – perhaps business got too big too fast and you don’t have time to catch up let alone build your business. This leads us to the next step.

Step 2. Decide if you want your business to grow and if so, by how much? In short, if you do want your business to grow then set goals. If you’re making $50,000 in sales then maybe you want to set a goal of $75,000 in sales. If you have a customer base of 100 regular customers maybe you want to double it. Set reasonable and attainable goals.

Step 3. Analyze what is working to help you attain your goals and what isn’t working. For example, if you want to attain $75,000 in sales but you’re spending 50% of your time on administrative duties then your time isn’t being well spent.

Step 4. Make a plan to eliminate what isn’t working. Using the example in step 3 if you’re spending 50% of your time on administrative tasks then outsourcing some or all of those tasks will free up a significant amount of time. Time you could spend on selling and reaching your new goal.

Step 5. This is the best part. Create a reward for attaining your goals. Part of the motivation to attain a goal, beyond self fulfillment and feeling very proud, is giving yourself a little pat on the back. Some may pat themselves on the back with a two week vacation to Hawaii, others prefer a new pair of shoes or a week off to go camping with their children. Whatever the reward, including it in your plan may be the extra motivation you need to get beyond excuses and into action.
Entrepreneurs are goal oriented, action oriented people. However sometimes life gets a bit out of control and instead of action, excuses fill the void. Regain your entrepreneur spirit, eliminate the roadblocks and hurdles and set new goals. It’s the best way to stop making excuses about why your business isn’t growing and remember why you got into business in the first place.

By Jimmy D. Brown of “Small Reports Fortune”

……………………………

It’s all under your control.

If you sell information products and want to make more
money with them, there’s good news:

It’s all under your control.

That’s right, you can make more money with your
information products simply by doing something that you
have the power to do.

It’s not dependent upon anyone else. It’s up to you.

Let me explain …

While there are a lot of different aspects of selling
information products, there are really only two ways to make
more money with them …

Sell More
Refund Less

Really, it’s pretty much that simple.

In order to make more money with information products you
need to either SELL MORE or REFUND LESS.

Or, better still, do BOTH.

Now, in the many years I’ve been selling information
products, I’ve found there are three powerful tools that will
help you do just that.

You can use these three tools to SELL MORE by using them
on your classified ads, solo mailings, sales letters,
autoresponder messages and virtually any sales tool.

You can also use these three tools to REFUND LESS by
applying them to the information products you create.

Care to find out what they are?
Read on….

*** Three Powerful Tools ***
What makes these tools so powerful is a combination of
important benefits

* They don’t cost a penny to use.
* They work over and over again.
* They are under your control.

In fact, you already have them.

These three powerful tools are WAYS TO USE WORDS.

Tool #1. Education. When it comes to information products,
nothing comes close to the power and profitability of
educating your readers.

I’m talking the distance between the planet Pluto and the
computer screen you’re now staring at.

Not even remotely close.

Content is king. Nobody else gets to wear the crown or sit
on the throne. Content rules the land of information
products.

So, first things first, you gotta give your readers information
that educates them. You gotta teach them something.

Do this in your promotion tools (ezine articles, reports, sales
letters, etc.) and you’ll have readers thinking “This person
knows something … I better take a closer look.”

You’ll SELL MORE.

Educate customers in your information products and show
them how to produce results in their own lives and you’ll
make them happy, satisfied customers.

You’ll REFUND LESS.

Tool #2. Entertainment. To be completely honest, it’s not
enough to solely provide content. Even if it’s good content,
that won’t always get the job done.

Think of it this way: your high school civics teacher
provided you with (too much) content in a single 55-minute
class, but would you really buy anything from him?

Maybe a hall pass or a set of earplugs, but that’s about it. )

Nobody likes to read BORING content. We turn off boring
television programs, we fall asleep reading boring books and
we keep our credit cards tucked firmly inside our pockets
when we read boring sales letters, ezine articles, solo
mailings or special reports.

Make it fun. Make it entertaining. And you can do that by
using …

* Illustrations
* Funny stories
* Analogies
* Outrageous statements

I once wrote an article entitled “I’ll Swallow A Live
Grasshopper If This Doesn’t Boost Your Website Traffic”.

Do you think anyone read it?

Ask yourself this: would YOU like to read it?

We love to have a good time, and there’s no reason why you
shouldn’t apply that reasoning to your writing.

Keep readers interested as they consume your promotion
materials by entertaining them.

You’ll SELL MORE.

Help customers enjoy reading page after page of your
product by entertaining them.

You’ll REFUND LESS.

When you add entertainment to education, you’ll make more
money with information products …

… faster than you can say “ “LIVE GRASSHOPPER.” )

Tool #3. Emotion. Whether it’s outrage over an injustice,
excitement over a success or piqued interest over a
possibility, our emotions drive us.

Few decisions are based on intelligent analysis, but rather on
emotional response. Few actions are based on accurate data,
but rather on impulsive feelings.

We are emotional people. And there is no stronger proof of
that than to watch what we do and to listen to what we say.

Your job is to get us emotional. Fill us with hope.
Empower us. Give us courage. Motivate us. Issue a
challenge. Inspire. Get us to do something.

That’s what we really want. More than education, more than
entertainment – we want someone to compel us to do
something to make our lives better.

And the power and profits go to the ones who can do that.

Fill readers with hope and expectation with your marketing
materials.

You’ll SELL MORE.

Give your customers confidence and enthusiasm as they read
chapter after chapter of your information product.

You’ll REFUND LESS.

*** Conclusion ***

If you want to make more money with information products,
then you CAN do it. You’re in charge. It’s under your
control.

Education.
Entertainment.
Emotion.

Three powerful tools that lead to incredible profits.

But, only if you use them.

Some will read this article and discard it like they have done
with countless others.

And some will get busy.

I think you’ll be one of the few who will make more money.

Prove me right.

…………………….
Jimmy D. Brown is the author of "Small Reports Fortune" - if
you can write 7-15 page small reports, you can earn a living
online working just a few hours each week from your home.
Look for his EXCLUSIVE formula "Creating A Six-Figure Income
With Small Reports" at http://infoprofitshare.com

Starting a small business can be a hectic process, with a lot of work involved. Pulling everything together in order to make your small business successful takes dedication and planning. Some things that you need or want for your business can be put off, but there are other things that should be in place from day one. Here are a few things that are important to have in place before opening the doors of your small business.

1. Business Plan – A business plan can be like a map, to help you find the right direction to make your business a success. Business plans are also important when seeking funding for your business. Seek the assistance of a professional if you are not sure how to develop a plan properly.

2. Capital – There are very few cases where starting a business is free. Make sure you have enough funding, whether through savings, loans, or investors, to put your business plan into action. Generally, it takes some time for a business to begin to show a profit, so be certain that your fund will cover your expenses for an extended period.

3. Credit Line – Even if you feel you have plenty of money to get started and to sustain your business until it becomes profitable, having a line of credit in place is important. When unplanned expenses come up, you will always have a safety net. Additionally, maintaining a good credit record for your business can help in the future, should you need to obtain loans.

4. Location – Every business needs a physical presence somewhere. Your location might be a brick-and-mortar store or an Internet website. Be sure that there is some physical address that is associated with your business, for licensing purposes.

5. Licensing – Before advertising your business or opening the doors, make sure that you have obtained any licensing and permits that are necessary. You can be subject to fines and penalties if you are caught operating without proper permissions.

6. Insurance – Depending on the type of business you are starting, you may need a variety of insurance services. The most important thing is to be sure that you are protected in cases of loss, damage, or lawsuit. If your business will employ others, consider a health insurance plan for yourself and your employees.

7. Accounting System – Setting up a detailed accounting system is very important for a small business. This can help you to ensure that all bills are kept current and funds are distributed properly. It will also keep the necessary records for tax purposes. Tracking the income and expenses of your business is vital for your success.

The term "internship" brings to mind images of a young college student making copies, digging through filing cabinets, and sending faxes. While this is the case with some companies, there are many more things an intern can do. If you have an Internet marketing business, an intern can be a great asset.

There are lots of things you can hire an intern to do that will help you out and provide a learning experience for him at the same time. Here are ten projects that are great for Internet marketing interns ….

1. Writing articles - Every Internet marketer needs articles for one reason or another. You can place them on article submission sites, use them on your blog, include them in your newsletters, and do lots of other great things with them. Writing articles also allows your intern to brush up on research and writing skills.

2. Creating pages for Squidoo - Squidoo and similar sites are great for generating traffic to your website, but it might be hard to find the time to create a good page. This is a great project for your intern to do.

3. Finding reciprocal linking partners - Inbound links are a valuable commodity, and reciprocal linking can get you those links at no cost. But it does take some time to find webmasters of relevant sites who will link to you. Why not get your intern to do it?

4. Running pay-per-click campaigns - Pay-per-click advertising can be an Internet marketer's best friend, but keeping track of your campaigns can be very time consuming. Interns can do this for you, and they can learn a lot about what does and doesn't work in PPC in the process.

5. Search engine optimization - SEO is one of the most important considerations in online marketing. An intern who knows a fair amount about it can get hands-on experience by working on your site's search engine optimization.

6. Running email campaigns - From the nuts and bolts of setting up autoresponders to tracking results, there is much to be learned from an email campaign. Letting your intern work on one will benefit both of you.

7. Setting up shopping carts - A shopping cart is a key component of any Internet marketing site. Allowing your intern to set up shopping carts on new sites will free up your time.

8. Dealing with affiliates - Helping affiliates is great for Internet marketing interns. It teaches them about customer service while letting them see how affiliate marketing works from your business' standpoint.

9. Podcasting - Letting an intern work on your podcast will give you time to tend to other matters. It's also a great way for interns to learn about podcasting and online audio.

10. Promotion of special events - When you are planning a special event, it's always nice to have an extra hand. Your intern could handle the promotion aspect of it, freeing you up to do the planning.

By Bob Hamilton

So you are ready to take the step and open your own selling account on eBay. You are ready to make money on eBay. What are you waiting for? Do it now! You won't believe how easy it is to set up a seller's account and then to begin selling on eBay.

The eBay site is very easy to use when it comes to registering. If you know where to start the site will lead you step by step through the process. eBay wants the process to be pain free. After all, if you can make money on eBay you will come back to sell time and time again. The more successful sellers are on eBay the more successful eBay itself will be.

If you have already made some purchases on eBay then you are well on you way. Since you already have an account on eBay for buying you are almost ready to make money on eBay. With a few quick steps you will be ready to start selling.

All you need to do is to log in with your current account. Click on SELL on the toolbar that is located at the very top of the page. The next step toward the goal to make money on eBay is to click on CREATE A SELLER'S ACCOUNT.

If you have never registered and started using eBay before, then you will need to take all of the steps to open an eBay account. Once gain, eBay has taken the steps to make the process very easy to complete. Click on REGISTER link just below the toolbar. Next click on SELL. Finally click on CREATE A SELLER'S ACCOUNT. eBay will guide you step by step through the process. Once you complete the process you are ready to start taking the next steps to make money on eBay.

To Your eBay Success!

To read my free e-report go to http://www.onlineauctionsmadesimple.net/index4.htm

and http://www.openingadollarstore.com

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com

Top Related Posts Today

• Starting an eBay Business - Write A Business Plan


• How To Use eBay As A Home Business


• How to Successfully Make Money with Build a Niche Store

How to Make Money Through Blogs

Steps

1. Open a blog (see external links).


2. Open an account with an affiliate site (see external links).


3. Open an account with Google adsense (see external links).


4. Put affiliate and Google ads in your blog.


5. Start posting regularly to your blog.

Tips

• Try to make all your posts at least 100 words so they are full of useful or interesting information.


• After every postgo to pingoat and "ping" your blog to all the directories to get more people coming to see your little site.

Warnings

• DO NOT click on your own Google ads as this will get your account banned

Related wikiHows

• How to Dissuade Yourself from Becoming a Blogger


• How to Make a Livejournal Icon


• How to Create a Mailing List for Blogger


• How to Add myBlogTunes to Your Blog

Sources and Citations

• http://google.com/adsense

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Money Through Blogs. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Top related posts

Video and Text, Using Audio

It's hard to believe that just a few decades ago, the information presented on the Internet consisted of nothing but plain text. Eventually HTML came about as a way to format text, and then graphics were added. But even those innovations were nothing compared to what you can find on the World Wide Web today.

The Internet as we know it is still evolving, but it is full of pictures, sounds, and motion. Even the most inexperienced novice can design a MySpace page full of animation, funny videos, and his favorite songs. New technology is being developed continuously, and webmasters are often quick to adopt it.

But these fascinating new aspects of the Internet are not only for fun and games. They provide marketers with lots of new ways to inform and engage their visitors. No longer do we have to rely on the written word to get our point across sufficiently. We can also communicate with our site visitors through audio and video.

Why Use Audio?

Did you know that a large portion of the population retains information better when they hear it than when they read it? This is one of the many reasons that it pays to offer audio as an option for your site visitors. Here are some more:

* Audio can inject personality into your website in a way that text and graphics can't. There's just something about hearing someone's voice that makes site visitors feel welcome.

* Audio is convenient. Those who want or need to multitask can listen to audio while doing something else. They do not have to be right in front of the computer screen to use it. You can also make audio available for download to an iPod or MP3 player, so your visitors can take it with them wherever they go.

* Using audio can separate you from the competition. Many sites do not utilize audio, and if yours does, those who enjoy it will be likely to come to you instead of your competition.

Ways to Use Audio

There are lots of different ways that you can incorporate audio into your website. Here are a few to consider:

* Record a podcast. This is similar to blogging, only it is done in audio form. Users can subscribe to your podcast so that it is automatically downloaded to their feed readers or iPods.

* Do a streaming talk radio show. This is a great way to get targeted visitors to your website, and it allows you to interact with your audience by accepting calls or answering emails while you're on the air.

* Offer recordings of online conferences or presentations for download. This gives visitors an incentive to come to your site as well, and it may entice them to participate in future conferences.

* Record a message for site visitors. Tell them a little about yourself, suggest areas of the site to visit first, or just welcome them. This adds a unique personal touch.

Making Your Audio Accessible

There are lots of file formats that you can use when saving audio, but it is important to use popular ones so that your users will be able to listen to them. Some require special players that your users may not have installed, and even if they are free they might not go to the trouble of downloading them.

The most popular format for most types of recorded audio is MP3. It offers great file compression while preserving the quality of the audio. Virtually every computer has an application that can play MP3 files. The Windows operating system comes with Windows Media Player, which will play these and several other types of audio files.

Another benefit of the MP3 is its versatility. It can be easily converted for burning on a CD with most CD burning programs. Users can also put them on their iPods or just about any other type of portable music player.

If you plan to use streaming audio on your site, be sure to put it in a format that is widely used. RealAudio is one of the most popular applications for streaming audio, and most avid Internet users will have it installed on their computers before they ever come to your site. But those who are not as Internet-savvy may not have it, so it's a good idea to offer a downloadable alternative.

Why Use Video?

Online video's popularity has grown exponentially in a short time, thanks to video sharing sites such as YouTube. The increasing availability of high-speed Internet has also had a hand in making video so popular. Adding it to your website can greatly enhance your visitors' experience.

Live streaming video is a great tool for online tutors and others who can benefit from a high level of interaction with their visitors or customers. It makes it possible for you to communicate in real time, do live demonstrations, and answer questions with ease. For your audience, it's the next best thing to being there with you.

Recorded video can also be a tremendous asset to your website. It's much easier than you might think to make professional-looking videos to showcase your products and services. Your site visitors can watch these videos at their convenience, and if they like them they will often recommend them to friends and colleagues. For added exposure, you could make your videos available for embedding with YouTube or another video sharing service.

Ways to Use Video

Video is a very versatile medium, and it can be used in a number of ways. Here are some ideas:

* Make viral videos. These are usually entertaining clips that include a plug for your business and appeal to a broad audience. As a promotional method, viral video is not usually very targeted, but it can result in a huge amount of exposure at a relatively low cost.

* Hold online video conferences. These provide an unparalleled way to reach out to your target audience.

* Make how-to videos on topics relevant to your website's subject matter. Providing informative video content will generate buzz about your website, potentially resulting in an increase in traffic. It will also help you establish yourself as an expert.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Video Sharing Sites

YouTube has not been around all that long, but it quickly became one of the most popular sites on the Internet. The site makes it easy for anyone to upload videos to share with anyone with a computer who cares to watch them, and it provides viewers with a wealth of entertainment and education opportunities. Sharing your videos on YouTube and other sites definitely has some advantages.

YouTube's immense popularity can potentially result in lots of people viewing your videos. If they find videos they like, they can embed them onto their own sites or blogs. That will result in an even greater audience, and some of them may choose to embed your video on their sites as well. You can see why some marketers love the idea of video sharing!

There are, however, some disadvantages to putting your videos on sites such as YouTube as well. One of the biggest concerns of marketers is that video sharing doesn't require users to come to your site to view the videos. That means that while your videos may be wildly popular, they might result in very little traffic to your site. It's important to give viewers an incentive to visit your site once they are finished watching the video. Alternatively, you can change your videos' settings so that they can't be viewed on the YouTube site or embedded elsewhere, but that will limit your viewership.

Another problem with uploading your video to a video sharing site and then embedding it on your site is that it will bear the logo of the video site. In most cases the logo is very unobtrusive, but it can still seem rather unprofessional, particularly on technology-oriented sites.

Embedding Video from Your Own Server

Those who do not like the idea of uploading their videos to sites such as YouTube can upload them to their servers and embed them from there. This gives you more control over your videos. There are, however, some drawbacks to this approach that you should be aware of.

One problem with embedding video from your own server is that it will usually require visitors to have a browser plugin in order to view it. The type of plugin depends on the movie's file type, but they are usually free to download. The problem with that is that users often simply do not take the time to download plugins. They won't have the incentive to do so unless they are really interested in the content to be viewed or they feel that they may need the plugin again in the future.

It's also important to remember that video files are usually very large. Making them available directly from your server can take up valuable file storage space, and it can also drain your bandwidth. When you upload videos to a video sharing site and embed them from there, you use that site's storage space and bandwidth.

Whether you should upload video to a video sharing site and embed from there or keep it on your own server depends on several factors. If you don't mind having another website's name pasted on your videos and don't want to overtax your server, video sharing could be the best option. But if you want to ensure that users have to come to your site to see your videos and prefer not to provide free advertising for a video sharing site, hosting your own videos might be the best way to go.

Should You Use Flash on Your Site?

Macromedia Flash is a popular format for animated videos online. While it doesn't work well for live action video, it works very nicely for presentations and introductions. It can blend in seamlessly with the rest of your site. Audio can be added with ease, and file sizes are not quite as cumbersome as most video formats.

Flash can do a lot more than just show video. It has lots of interactive potential. Flash is often used in the creation of online video games. It is also possible to create an impressive animated intro with Flash that turns into a site menu. Web designers are often fond of Flash because provides a way for them to showcase their talents.

Flash does, however, have some disadvantages and limitations. These include the following:

* Flash can significantly slow down the loading of your web pages. This is especially true for users who have slower connections. If your users have to sit and wait for the page to load, they might give up and not come back.

* Flash intros may confuse your visitors. If your main page is nothing more than a Flash intro (also known as a splash page), users might not realize that they need to take further action to get to your content. It helps to have your page automatically forward once the animation is finished, but it's possible that it could be too late by then.

* Some people are just plain turned off by Flash. They may find it obtrusive or annoying, or they may have had bad experiences with it on other sites. Whatever their reasoning, they might avoid any site that uses Flash, even if it has exactly what they are looking for.

If you use Flash, it is important to balance it out with plenty of text so that search engines have something to index. It might also be a good idea to offer a non-Flash alternative for those who have trouble with it or don't like it. As long as your site is not completely based on Flash, using it can accomplish some good things.

The Don'ts of Audio and Video

Using audio and video on your site can greatly enhance your visitors' experience. It gives them alternative ways to receive information and makes your site more interesting. But it is important not to push these mediums on your visitors, because it may actually be a turnoff for some. Here are some things to look out for:

* Try to avoid using audio or video that automatically starts when a visitor arrives at your site. Most people want the power to choose when they watch video or listen to audio on the web, and if that is taken away, it could leave a bad taste in their mouths.

* If you're embedding videos, don't put too many on any one page. This can cause slow load times, and possibly even browser crashes, for users who do not have the fastest connections or the newest computers.

* Don't take a "one size fits all" approach. If you're streaming audio or video, offer options for those with slower connections alongside the standard options.

* Don't forget to seek input from your website's visitors. If you're considering audio or video but have not implemented them yet, consider doing a user survey to find out how they would like to see it used. If you are already utilizing audio and video, ask them if they feel you are using it in the best way possible. You're providing these things for the benefit of your users, so it's crucial to make sure that they are in fact benefiting from them.

It's important not to alienate anyone through your use of audio and video. The idea is to give your users more options, not to make things more complex or decrease usability. Keep in mind that there are still a large number of Internet users who are accessing the web through dial-up connections.

Why Bother With Text When You Can Use Audio and Video?

With all of the possibilities that audio and video have to offer, one might think that plain old text would be outdated. But even though these things add a great deal to the Internet, there still is, and probably always will be, a place for the written word.

The World Wide Web was founded on text. And while text is no longer the only thing you can find online, it is still what the Internet is based on. It's what the search engines use to determine whether a page is relevant for a given keyword, and it's what people want when they are seeking information that they can share easily.

Text is currently the only medium that allows for easy searching. This is not only important to the search engines, but also for the average user. This may change in the future, but currently you can't type in a search term and skip to each instance of it on an online video or audio recording. But if you're on a web page and need to find a specific word or words, you can simply use your browser's search function to go directly to it.

It's also important to consider that there are people who use text-only browsers to access the Internet. Those who are blind often use browsers that read the text on a page aloud, and if there is not sufficient text to describe what the page is about, they may seek information elsewhere. In addition to this, there are users who do not have sound cards or speakers, rendering audio useless and video usable but silent.

There are many things online that need to be presented as text. Doing them any other way just doesn't make sense. For example, you probably wouldn't want to access your bank account information as an audio file. And you might not benefit very much from your digital camera user guide being presented in video form, although videos showing specific picture taking and maintenance techniques might be helpful.

Text is still an important part of any web page. Audio and video can great assets to your website, but in most cases they shouldn't completely replace your text. Text is still favored by many Internet users, and it gives the search engines more to go on when they index your site.

Text Can Be Portable, Too

Online audio and video are becoming easier and easier to take wherever you go. They can be downloaded to watch later on your computer, or you can put them on portable audio and video players. But text doesn't have to be bound to the Internet or computer screen either.

When people find information that is valuable to them online, they often want to save a copy of it for later reference. They can bookmark the web page, but subsequent changes may move or eliminate the information they want. They can save the page in question to their hard drives, but few people do. Making it easy for your site visitors to take your words with them is good for business. Here are some ways to accomplish that:

* Offer printer-friendly versions of popular pages. Your site design may cause pages to print out poorly, especially if you use frames. Making it easy for users to print pages that look like they should will allow them to easily archive information for future reference.

* Consider putting certain information in PDF format. This is the file format that is often used for ebooks and brochures, and it provides easy readability. It prints out nicely if your users want a hard copy. And there are now portable ebook readers on the market that allow one to save his ebooks and other PDF files and take them with him wherever he goes.

* Provide options for mobile web users. A growing number of people access the Internet through cell phones or PDAs, and text messaging is very popular as well. While it's not practical for some webmasters to bother with this, it is worthwhile for some to set up mobile web pages or text alert systems. If your website offers up-to-date information such as news, weather, or account information, your users could benefit from mobile options.

The many recent innovations that utilize text indicate that it is still a medium that should not be ignored. While it may not have the potential for personality of audio or be as visually stimulating as video, it is easy to transfer and doesn't require any special software to use.

Audio and Video Should Complement Text, Not Replace It

One of the most important things to realize about audio and video is that at this point, they often don't translate into money as quickly as text can. Utilizing audio and video is more about making a name for yourself and building your brand than immediate monetary gratification. It helps generate traffic to your website and boosts your business's image.

This is another reason why text is so vitally important on any website. Audio and video can enhance a website or sales letter, and they can go a long way toward convincing a visitor to become a customer or client. But ultimately, it is usually text that seals the deal. At the very least, text is the most effective way to instruct visitors on how to order or sign up.

Audio, video and text can work together to make your website nice to look at and listen to, as well as highly functional. Each medium appeals to visitors in its own unique way. Taking advantage of the multimedia opportunities available online can boost your site's popularity while making it more useful.

Although online conferences are somewhat easier to plan than live, in-person events, they do require some thought and careful organization in order to go smoothly. There are technical [tag]aspects to think about, registration to be taken care of, and presenters to prepare for their presentations. And there is one more thing that is worth considering: should you have a moderator?

What Is a Moderator?

If you have participated in an online conference or conference call, you have probably seen or heard a moderator even if you didn't realize it at the time. The moderator is the person who introduces the speakers, but that is only a small portion of his duties. A moderator's function is to keep everything going smoothly.

The moderator may help with technical checks before the conference starts, making sure everyone is logged in and there are no audio or video problems. He can make sure that everyone has the notes they need and there is no undesirable background noise. He may also greet participants as they call or log in and tell them anything they need to know.

Once the conference has begun, the moderator does an introduction and then hands the reins over to the first speaker. If there are other speakers, he will usually introduce them as well. And once the speakers are finished, the moderator can maintain order during a question and answer session.

Do I Need a Moderator for a Small Conference?

It is up to the conference holder to determine whether a moderator should be used or not, but with large conferences with multiple speakers it is almost a necessity. Smaller conferences may or may not really need a moderator, but they can certainly benefit from having one. The moderator can smooth transitions between segments of the conference and assist participants with any technical difficulties they may have during the presentations.

If there is just one speaker, even at a small conference, having a moderator is probably a good idea. The speaker won't be able to attend to technical issues while speaking. If you have two or more speakers and are not expecting a large audience, however, a moderator might not be necessary. If both speakers can handle technical issues and one would like to take on the question and answer session, they may do fine on their own.

In most cases, a moderator is essential to keeping your conference on track and free of problems and distractions. If you don't have someone in your company who can serve as a moderator, you can hire someone you know or post an ad online. While it is possible to have a conference without a moderator, having one gives you the peace of mind of knowing that things will likely go much more smoothly.

Conference calls are a great way to communicate with outsourced employees, prospects, and customers from all around the world. Technology has made it possible to host conferences via telephone systems or to host conferences using web based software. Once you have your conference call recorded, turning it into a transcript is a straightforward and easy process. The transcripts can be used as systems or internal protocols. They can be used as marketing materials like a free report and they can be used as products to sell to customers who were unable to attend the conference or wish to purchase them as stand alone products.

Depending on your audio recording software you may have to configure a microphone or audio recording device to your computer. If you’re recording via telephone then there are tools you can purchase to record and save your conversation right from your phone. It’s a simple adaptor.

So whether you’re recording with audio acrobat or you’re using audacity or another web conferencing software the steps are simple.

Step one. Record your conference.

Step two. Save it as an MP3, WAV file, or Windows Media file. MP3 are generally the most common format so it may be the universally easiest file to save.

Step three. Once your file is saved, send it to your administrative assistant or hire a transcriptionist. Transcriptionist can be found via a variety of freelance websites. Your other option is to do it yourself. There are easy software programs for do it yourselfers. For example express scribe is a digital transcription software, which is free to download.

To really maximize your conference you can hire an editor or a writer to polish the transcription and make it flow smoothly so your reader receives a professional product.

When looking for a transcriptionist, ask to receive a sample transcription so you can make sure the format works for your purposes. Some transcriptionists offer the editing as part of their services and can even help with the writing if you’re looking to change your conference into an information product.

Sometimes one of the most difficult aspects of hosting an online conference is getting people to attend. You’ve found the right software, you’ve outlined your conference and even set up the graphics – it’s going to be a great conference. Now who is going to be there? Here are a few tips to get people flocking to your conference.

1. Email signature. Your email signature is more powerful than you might imagine. Think about all the people you email each and every day. If your conference is promoted in your email signature, you’re reaching a whole group of people who may benefit from your conference.

2. Email marketing campaign. Speaking of email…email marketing is extremely cost effective. Plan an email campaign to promote your conference to your opt in list. No opt in list? Rent a list of email addresses who might be interested in your conference. Start the campaign at least a month before the conference to really get the ball rolling.

3. Send reminders. Remind people a week before the conference, especially if there are passwords necessary to attend. Remind attendees again the night before or even the day of so they make time for the conference.

4. Ask for reservations. Make the conference limited to a number of people. This creates a sense of urgency and motivates people to sign up. It also creates a sense of responsibility because when people have a reservation they are more committed to the appointment. They may feel a sense of obligation to attend as well because they’ve reserved a coveted space on the guest list.

5. Focus on the benefits. When you’re promoting your conference tell people what is in it for them. They will learn______________ and it will help them because _________________.

6. Make it during a convenient time. While it is impossible to make your conference convenient for everyone around the world, for example 6pm in New York is 11pm in the UK. Additionally even people in the same time zone will have scheduling conflicts. Do your best to make your conference convenient and if you have several interested parties who cannot attend during the scheduled time consider offering transcripts of the conference, audio recordings of it, or schedule a second conference to make attending easier.

7. Offer it for free. Offering your conference for free has advantages. People feel less pressured to sign up and attend because they have no risk of attending. Their only cost is their time. Conversely, offering your conference at a price may imply value – we as a society tend to place a higher value on items that cost more. For example a watch that is free will be perceived as having less value than an equal watch that costs 1000 dollars.

Hosting a conference can have a tremendous effect on your business. In fact, as you host more and more conferences you can use the recordings of past conferences to promote future ones. You can use them to demonstrate the value of attending. Advertising, email signatures, and a marketing strategy specifically for your conference will add to your conference success.

Somewhere along the line you may have learned that people have various styles of learning.

When you as a business person are able to appeal to more than one method of learning you not only make it easier for your clients to benefit from your products, you also demonstrate a desire to communicate effectively with your audience. So how do people learn?

Visually.
Kinesthetic
Auditory.

Visually is easy to understand. These people generally learn by seeing things or reading them. They learn by reading or watching a tutorial. Diagrams and maps generally make sense to these people and they often respond in conversation with “I see” or “Do you see?” When they describe things they describe how they look.

Kinesthetic learners learn by immersing themselves into a system. They’re hands on people. These types of learners are generally able to take something apart and put it back together easily. If they’re learning a dance step they learn by walking through it. If they learn how to design a website, they learn by doing it. They’re hands on and will often describe things by feel or by process.

Auditor learners learn by hearing. These people generally retain things they’ve heard much better than things they’ve read or seen. These people will often say, “I hear what you’re saying.”

Now these are broad generalizations and many people learn in a combination of styles and when people are able to combine styles, say they can read a book and hear the book via audio then they are significantly more likely to retain the information. Or if they can participate in an online seminar and then have a recording of that seminar then they’ll retain that information much easier.

When you add an audio recording as a part of your product offerings you’re helping your customers retain the benefits of your information products and you’re demonstrating to them that you’re passionate about meeting their needs. In addition, audio recordings can be shared very easily and thus your awareness may grow simply from adding an audio version of your information product. Audio recordings really are a great technology!

You may have heard of ecommerce; it‘s a term often tossed around in our daily lives. Do you know exactly what it is? Simply put, ecommerce is the abbreviated term for Electronic Commerce - the transaction or exchange of goods or services via a digital network.

In the past ten years, billions upon billions of dollars have been generated through ecommerce. Not bad for a relatively new phenomenon, right? While the revenue generated is impressive, even more impressive is the way ecommerce has changed the face of business for both the business owner and the consumer.

Ecommerce has become such a significant and powerful aspect of our lives. The United States Census Bureau, Department of Commerce, issues a quarterly report that paints a clear picture of how important it is. The statistics are staggering and clearly indicate how powerful a force ecommerce is in our changing economy.

Issued for public release in November 2007, the Q3 2007 ecommerce report was 34.7 billion dollars. Yes, billion. Are people buying more or simply buying less through traditional means? A study done by the USC Annenberg Center for the Digital Future suggests people now spend less of their dollars in brick and mortar establishments than ever before.

In fact, people spend 65% less in traditional stores since the ecommerce boom began. That isn’t to say shopping habits have completely changed. The gap is shrinking, though, and doing so at a rapid pace. The future of retail will rely heavily on the traditional retail front partnering with online ventures. As the saying goes, if you can’t beat them, join them.

What does all this mean for you, the ever important consumer? It may mean more than you think. Ecommerce has a growth rate of 25% per year. Growth in any area of business generates greater choice and availability of both goods and services.

It creates a healthy level of competition to keep prices low. It allows merchants to offer a wider range of transaction options and incentives. Most importantly, it gives the consumer more freedom on how to spend their hard-earned cash.

In decades past, one would head to the local bookstore for reading material. Most booksellers were more than happy to special order a book that was not available. Ecommerce has allowed us to order a book from any location in the world and have it delivered to our doorstep days later. The entire practice of ecommerce has certainly indulged our desire for instant gratification and undoubtedly made our lives easier. Who would have thought in just minutes one could pay their mortgage, download a CD, book a vacation, order groceries for home delivery and purchase a gift - with only a few clicks of the mouse?

It isn’t all about the consumer though. Ecommerce has changed the face of business full circle. Millions of entrepreneurs are jumping on board and making their ideas and wares available to the word for relatively small start-up fees.

New industries have sprouted, some out of necessity and some from sheer genius. The Aberdeen Research Group predicts the technology of BI (Business Intelligence) will be one of the most sought-after technological solutions for 2008. What is BI technology, you may ask? It gives the retailer real time information that allows a quick reaction to consumer demand on the Internet to help create customer retention and loyalty. Without ecommerce specialty, niche industries would never have existed. The domino effect filters down to the manufactures, sales people and marketers.

Ecommerce is here to stay. It’s no longer a novelty. The natural progression has been exciting to watch and participate in. To us it may spell convenience, to the world the possibilities have become endless.

Having a teleconference provides a number of benefits, both to business owners and their customers or prospects. It gives them an interactive environment in which to discuss business matters and propositions, and it can be a great way to make sales. These types of conferences are also more accessible than traditional conferences because there is no travel required to attend.

But the fact that teleconferences can be attended from the comfort of one's own home doesn't mean that everyone who should or wants to be there will. People have busy schedules, and there will always be someone who, as much as she would like to, just can't call or log in at the time of the conference. We can compensate for this by making available audio recordings and transcripts of our teleconferences. Here are some reasons why you might want to consider providing recordings and transcripts:

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For conferences designed to sell or recruit, a recording or transcript can serve the same purpose as the conference. Even if someone couldn't be there, if he is interested enough to obtain a recording or transcript, chances are he is a qualified prospect. There is also a chance that he will be sold just by listening to or reading what he missed. If not, he may be intrigued enough to participate in a future teleconference.

* For conferences with business associates, a recording or transcript can keep those who couldn't attend in the loop. If the conference pertains to a project the person is working on, he can utilize the information from it to do his work. For those who were there, it gives them an easy reference to turn to if they need information given during the conference at a later date.

* Those who were not aware of your teleconference but find out about it at a later date can read the transcript or listen to the audio. This could pique their interest and give them an incentive to purchase from you or request more information.

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Posting transcripts on your website gives you more content, and another page to be indexed by the search engines. That means the potential for more visitors to your site. And if your transcript contains plenty of relevant keywords, the visitors will probably be interested in what you have to offer.

Teleconferences are great for those who are able to attend, but you don't have to leave those who couldn't make it or didn't know about it ahead of time out in the cold. Making transcripts and audio recordings of your teleconferences available on your website can increase traffic and extend the reach of the event. It gives your teleconference greater results with a minimal amount of effort.

Video conferencing has been around in various forms for decades. Once very expensive, complex, and out of reach for most businesses, video conferencing is now accessible to the average person. It now requires nothing more than a computer, some software, a webcam and a microphone.

What Is Video Conferencing Good For?

Video conferencing is a great asset for businesses large and small. Any business that has a need to communicate with people in other locations can benefit from it. It provides the capability to simulate face-to-face talk and collaborate on projects without requiring the time and expense of arranging an in-person meeting. It also eliminates the need for you or your participants to make and pay for travel arrangements.

Video conferences are also great for sales presentations. Prospects can get information about your products or services through audio and video, and they can also participate almost as if they were in the same room as you. They can see your products in action and ask questions. You can also give them the option to participate via webcam, allowing them another avenue of self-expression.

Educators and tutors can also benefit tremendously from video conferencing. It allows them to conduct classes or sessions with students who are miles away, or even on the other side of the world. It offers a high level of interactivity that recorded courses cannot.

How Do I Have a Video Conference?

If you have all of the equipment required to do a video conference, you'll just need to choose a video conference provider or get video conferencing software. You can find numerous options online.

There are some free video conferencing options, but these are usually supported by advertising. Do you really want some other company's ads displayed during your conference? The free software is best for those who are just giving video conferencing a try to see if it meets their needs, or for those using it for personal meetings.

Paid video conferencing options are available for a fraction of the price that a video conference once cost. Some providers charge a flat fee for unlimited monthly usage. There is usually a limit, however, on the number of participants at any given time. This is an important consideration if you anticipate having large conferences.

Video conferencing was once reserved for government agencies and large corporations. Now virtually anyone can hold or participate in a video conference. Small businesspeople that have partners, clients or prospects who are far away geographically can communicate with them and share video from their own offices or homes. The new technology that has enhanced video conferencing can save you lots of time and money by making face-to-face conference planning and travel unnecessary.

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