-•- UltimateBizSource.com Newsletter - Issue 172 -•-
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Site Of Interest
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The site of interest this week is http://www.refer-it.com/. A good
portion of our readers specialize in affiliate marketing, so this 
recommendation should be a pretty popular choice. Launched all the
way back in December of 1997, Refer-it.com is one of the leading 
search engines for revenue-sharing programs. Refer-it's database 
includes descriptions and ratings of 6684 affiliate programs such
as Amazon.com, CarPrices.com, and Match.com. This site isn't the 
place to look if you're trying to find the "business opportunity"
of the moment, or if you're looking for something that requires 
little or no work. Refer-it.com is the type of site you should go
to if you're looking to find programs that will reward you if you
actually do a little work. In all honesty, I think this site can
best be used as a jumping off point, but you shouldn't take their
reviews or advice too seriously. If you're looking to include an
amazing complimentary product to what you already sell, you might
be able to find it here, but you should always do real research 
at the affiliate site to get the final details. I'm not sure how 
often Refer-It updates its existing links and descriptions, but 
it does seem to be pretty good at getting new sites listed fast. 
After searching through this site again recently, I was actually
pretty shocked to see some big name sites listed. A good number 
of the sites I saw listed were sites I visit on a normal basis, 
and I didn't have a clue they offered affiliate programs. One of
the best examples is Ebay, did you know they will pay you up to 
five dollars if you refer a new buyer? I didn't, until I visited
refer-it.com that is.

 
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Featured Guest Article
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A Half-Hearted" Effort 

Every once in awhile, I sit down at the computer to write an 
article or copy for an ad, and nothing happens.  A dozen or so, 
false starts later, I finally decide on a topic, but the words 
just won't come.  Only a paragraph or two gets written, and it's 
time to call it a day.  Later, looking at what was done, I 
usually highlight it, and hit the "delete" key. 

Other times, the words flow as if from a "magic spring" and 
before I know it, the article or ad is complete, but far too 
long.  I try to keep articles around 700 words, as ones much 
longer seem to drag, and quickly loose the readers interest. 
Effective ads should be four to six lines with 65 characters per 
line. 

Then comes the painful task of trying to shorten it.  But, you 
may think, everything is important, and you can't cut a word. 
But, you must, and will usually wind up with something that at 
least makes sense. 

Many people who write copy, advertising their product, have the 
same problem. They feel they have to give every last detail about 
their offer in their ad.  Nothing could be further from the 
truth. 

You should try to give as much information as possible in the 
fewest number of words.  I know this is difficult, but the fact 
is that most people simply won't spend the time reading a long 
ad.  Don't worry about the length at first.  You should get all 
the important points down first, and then try to shorten it. 

Do this for five or six ads.  Then have someone, preferably 
someone who is not familiar with your product or service, read 
them.  If you have six ads, have them rate them on a scale of one 
to six, with one being the best in their judgment.  Try to get 
others to do the same type of rating.  Be sure not to share the 
ratings by the other people who did this, until after the current 
readers rating is complete. 

There may be a wide difference in the ratings, but some pattern 
should show up.  Take the highest scoring ad, and run with it. 
If it draws business, leave it alone.  Don't feel you have to 
tweak the ad every time is published. 

Better yet, move along to the second highest rated ad, and start 
using that one.  Smart entrepreneurs may run several ads in the
same publication for the same product or service.  Since they 
construct their ads properly, people may not even realize they 
are from the same person. 

It is highly important to track which ads are generating 
business.  One of the easiest ways is to automatically insert a 
subject in the email they will send you. The following address 
will automatically insert the subject "Freead" as the subject 
when someone clicks on the following address: 
mailto:bob@adv-marketing.com?Subject=Freead

A simple way to start collecting this information is to set up 
separate folders in your email package. You can then, through the 
use of filters, automatically put each response in a folder 
depending on its "subject".  If you don't have software that can 
do this, you really should get it. You can download a free copy 
at: http://adv-marketing.com/business/frtest.htm - Click on 
"Freebies". 

Eudora is probably one of the best email clients you can get. 
While it does take a little time to discover all its features, it 
is a very desirable package for someone in business. 

Once you determine which ads are pulling, stay with them.  A 
common mistake some people make is to constantly change their 
ads, because they feel they are getting stale.  Don't forget, it 
takes 5 to 7 exposures to an ad before someone may respond.  If 
you are constantly changing your ads, you are basically starting 
over each time. 

If you are finding it to be a "struggle" to work your business, 
the worst thing you can do is to give a "half-hearted" effort". 
You won't really be giving it, or your clients the attention they 
need.  Many times, the best thing to do is to take a break.  Take 
a few days or a week off.  It will pay dividends as when you 
resume, you will have a renewed enthusiasm. 

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Did you know that subscribers to Bob Osgoodby's Free Ezine the
"Tip of the Day" get a Free Ad for their Business at his Web
Site? Great Business and Computer Tips - Monday thru Friday.
Instructions on how to place your ad are in the Newsletter.
Subscribe at: http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2.htm


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What Are They Thinking
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Is it really that hard to read the instructions? I recently read 
a post to a message board from someone livid that Google had the 
nerve to terminate her AdSense account, but it was her own fault.
You know all those long terms of service documents, the type that
most people don't read? Those things are actually there for good 
reason. In the AdSense terms of service, it clearly states that 
the owners of website should not click the AdSense links for any
reason, but of course this person did. Ok, it might not make any
sense to the person that was terminated, and they might have had
good reason to click the links, but if you don't follow the terms
set forth by the company that's paying you, don't complain when 
you get terminated. It really amazes me how many people simply do
not bother to read instructions, no matter how obvious the might
be. I can't tell you how often I've had affiliates ask me to put
them in another downline because "they signed up under the wrong
affiliate". Well, our signup pages always say that you can't be 
moved under any circumstances, and they always show the name of 
the referrer. How much more clear can it be? Here's who brought
you to the page, this is your referrer, we won't change you to a
new referrer once you sign up. Do people think we put all these 
warnings on our websites for the heck of it? When a company goes
through the trouble to put something on their website, or writes
up a document that is five to ten pages long, they don't do it 
because they like writing. 

 
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