Affiliate Marketing

I had always thought that this little venture was more trouble than it was worth. I put up a few links on my website and thought no more about it. Last week, I got two checks in the mail. Not lotto sized checks by any means, but checks that I was not expecting, nonetheless. So today I decided to spend a little bit of time securing a few more links and updating some that I had already. It took about 30 minutes total, so no big deal. I even put a note in my Outlook Calendar to spend a few minutes every Monday morning updating these links.
My point is this: Why not start a small affiliate marketing program on your website/blog/email marketing? Here are a few steps to get you started:

1. Find a few sites that specialize in links. I'm using Linkshare and Amazon and have included their links on my blog and website (hint, hint...click now and begin shopping). These two are quite user friendly and they do send checks.
2. Do not believe the hype all over the web that you will get rich quick from starting an affiliate program. Remember, gentle reader, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is...
3. Choose links from businesses that you have used in the past or that have upstanding reputations in their field. Don't send your valuable customers to a scam site or worse yet, give them a virus! This is another reason that I like Linkshare, all of their links come from legitimate businesses most of which I have heard of!
4. Set aside time each week to update and refresh your links and check your accounts. I am up nuts early in the morning so that I can spend time on this sort of thing before I start with client projects.
5. Don't have time for this type of project? That's OK....Your Virtual Assistant can likely handle that for you, quickly and efficiently. Don't have a VA? Why not? (Shameless Plug of the Day!)

Ah, Procrastination.....

So, I'm not a natural procrastinator. It's not really in my nature. But I gave a 10 minute blurb at a networking group I belong to and realized that I do more for my clients' Online Presence than I do for my own. Why is my own presence less important than my customer's? Why procrastinate with my own stuff when I never do that with theirs?
It has been more than two weeks since my last blog and my facebook account is negligible at best. I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of their format. Still a bit too social and giggly for me. About 70% of my clients have reached out to me through online networking, maintaining that presence should be a #1 priority for me. So, gentle reader, I have decided that I will schedule time on the ole' Outlook Calendar to spend time everyday on my stuff. Are you finding that you work harder for your customers than you do for yourself? Try scheduling "Me Time" and stick with the regime. I even color-code it so that it feels like a real project, which it is. Of course, if you find yourself not having the time, you can always hire a VA to help you in that department....I hear they put your needs ahead of their own, anyway......

How Clean is Your Store? Part 1

What is your customer's/potential customer's first impression of your business? If you have a "bricks and mortar" storefront or office, it must be clean and tidy and staffed with friendly, smiling faces. This much we all know and strive to do. The big question, gentle reader, is this: What does your virtual store look like?

Is your website clean and articulate?
Free from typos and grammatical errors? If you are unsure, you can always hire a VA to double check that for ya (had to get a plug in there!)
Is it easy to navigate and find information?
Does your Home Page make your customers want to know more? I have heard it said (by the all knowing Google) that you have about 10 seconds to make a lasting impression with that Home Page or surfers just surf on.
Do you have a linked blog? Is it also crisp, free from errors and exciting to read? Does the content warrant a subscription?

Here's the deal. I am convinced that it is the smallest revisions and changes that can make all the difference in the world. The smallest shifts can be the tipping point to success. Stay tuned and we'll discuss Online Presence Management on a weekly basis. Let's do every Monday, huh? We'll navigate our way through this together.