I was surprised to get a Google Alert this evening stating that I had made Red Hot Copy’s 50 Coolest Marketers list. This is quite an honor for me to be recognized along with many of friends and several marketers I look up too. Thanks Lorrie for the honor of being on your 2009 list!
If you are unsure of what a Google alert is let me explain. This is a service that Google is working on it is currently still in beta but you can visit the url http://www.google.com/alerts.
When you get there you’ll see a form, simply enter the search term you are wanting “alerted” about the type of results you want for that search term such as news, blogs, videos, etc. I usually select comprehensive to include all types. select a couple other options as well as how you want it delivered either as a feed or sent to an email address I prefer to have mine sent to an email so that any new Alerts hit my in box. I have several set up for things I want to keep up on but I also have an alert set up for my name. If you don’t have one set up I’d suggest at least creating an alert for your name.
It’s pretty interesting to see how quick I receive an alert after I make a blog post. It’s also really cool when you get an alert like I got today.
I think the the “50 Coolest” list thing is a pretty cool idea. If you are reading this leave me a comment about a Blog you think is cool when I get the results i’ll post them in my own 50 coolest list! so go ahead leave your nominee in the comments below.
It’s not some promotion for a website dating service just a quick tutorial on how to add todays date on your webpage.
When creating a sales letter web page we like to include today’s date it creates the thought that the page is fresh and new and is proven to help conversion.
It is really an easy technique to implement.
I use a javascript include to do this, the main reason is to keep the code cleaner for the search engines to spider without having to sort through javascript code.
Anyway to get started just right click on your mouse (mac users ctrl + click) on the link below and download this file to your computer and then upload to your web site.
On your webpage insert the following code where you want the date to appear. (note if you have uploaded the script to a differnet location than where the page is you will need to be sure to check the path to the script and put that in the source path (src=”") below.
<script src="date.js"></script>
Another good place to use a similar script is in the footer where you always want the current year for your copyright.
Right click and save this file and follow the similar steps above.
I see this mistake quite a bit or maybe I don’t! So many times I see order buttons and form submit buttons that don’t appear to be buttons.
Many web designers will make great looking graphical buttons to “match” the design of the rest of the site. While these buttons might look nice they aren’t always effective.
There has been a lot of debate about the fact whether graphical buttons are as effective as regular “HTML” style buttons. I suggest you test on what’s best for your market but I’ll make the comment I’ve made time after time if it looks like a button, acts like a button it must be a button.
Why would you want to chance the possibility of lost sales by “hoping” the website visitors realize that the graphic button you have in place is perceived is a button. This goes the same for your opt-in form buttons, you should be consistent with the buttons so the visitor knows what is and isn’t a button.
There are a few things you can do to “enhance” the regular “HTML” button to increase you can see an example of some these effects by visiting http://www.50biggestwebsitemistakes.com. You can see that I’ve increased the size of the button and text as well as adding a red border around the button to help draw attention to the button. This increases action to the button.
Just as is true with many components of marketing copy is king even on something as small as a button. By default the text on a HTML button says simply “submit” which really doesn’t say much. You want to change the text or copy on the button to have some sort of instruction or action so that there is no question what is going to happen when they push the button.
Some examples of Copy to use on an order button would be “Click Here To Order Now”; “Order Now for Only $29.95″; A few examples for the opt-in button would be “Claim Your Report Today!” or “Get A Free Chapter!”.
By applying several of these strategies just with the button it’s self you will be surprised how much you will improve conversion of opt-ins and orders. Of course be sure that you test everything and monitor by using your stats programs.
“If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it.” Lord Kelvin
It is Thanksgiving evening, November 26th 2009 and is my yearly tradition to reflect on the past year.
My goal for this year was to simplify, organize and try to get some of my projects done. I did make some progress on those goals. But old habits are hard to break. Still working on a few of the goals and I am closer on completing my first book.
This post covers many of my thoughts on that thought process [ Click Here To Read ].
I do want to take this time and share what I’m thankful for.
First and foremost I’m thankful for my wife who is there for me day after day to support and console me on life’s challenges and successes. I’m thankful for two healthy daughters and this year I’ve been blessed by two grandchildren, Logan my 5 month old grandson by my oldest daughter Kellianne and her husband Kyle, and Amy my 3 week old grand daughter by my youngest daughter Jessica and her husband Dustin. Pictures can be seen on ThatOneGrandpa.com (Yes, if you hadn’t guessed I’m a proud grandpa.)
Next i’m thankful for my business partner Zachary McCullough who puts up with my sanity and our Office Assistant Sue Thompson who helps keeps things in order and moving forward.
I’m thankful for my Accountability Partner Val Dawson who checks in on a weekly to hold me accountable to move forward and see real progress. I’m thankful for my internet friends and business partners and Armand Morin’s AM2 Group for their leadership and direction. I’m thankful for my weekly mastermind meetings with Bret Ridgway and Bryan Hane who help brainstorm ideas and give feedback on projects in progress.
I’m thankful that I live in a country where I can Worship in the church of my choosing, and have the opportunity to own and operate a business. I’m also thankful that we are able to openly express our opinions and freely discuss what is on our minds.
And I’m definitely thankful for those of you who take the time to follow my blog, read and buy my products and training course, and those of you who take the time to give me feedback, suggestions and ideas.
I’d love to hear from you about what you are thankful for and hear about your success for this past year.
Thanks so much and I hope you have a great holiday season.
I was surprised to get a Google Alert this evening stating that I had made Red Hot Copy’s 50 Coolest Marketers list. This is quite an honor for me to be recognized along with many of friends and several marketers I look up too. Thanks Lorrie for the honor of being on your 2009 list!
