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Blitz Ezine # 184 October 14, 2002
Increasing Sales by increasing prices - Newbie web design guide Finding Products

Note: This is an archived issue. Some links and/or content may be outdated

The Blitz-Promotions News Letter.
Issue no. 184, Oct. 14, 2002

************ In This Issue **************
Comments
Food for thought
Articles
The Classifieds
Next Issues
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Blitz Comments
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Search engine changes

Some big changes have recently occurred in the search engines - primarily Yahoo and Google.

Basically Yahoo has changed from their category format to listings that are almost identical to Google. Google also did a major reindexing and changed the way they list sites at the beginning / 1st week of Oct. In their neverending quest for more bucks we also think that Yahoo will be incorporating another search engines results in their listings (either Inktomi or Fast All the Web), but we'll just have to wait and see.

Some notes -

1. Changes always cause more changes and it usually takes a few months for things to get back in a steady rhythm. So a large change occurs in reindexing, then smaller changes (tweakers), then back to a stable index.

2. We're still in the process of dissecting the Yahoo / Google change but after comparing about 500 keywords it is almost identical to the Google results - so if you were considering paying for Yahoo, I would say my advice would be to wait a bit. I think Yahoo will be changing more this year and may even import some of the listings from Inktomi before they're through.

3. Yahoo now includes more of Overtures listings so if you pay for clicks you may find that you are getting a lot more traffic.

4. One of the most distinct Google changes (they will also change again next month but I think they will keep this one), is the idea of freshness... ie sites that change frequently are more useful and relevant. So change pages that you are getting traffic from a Google Keyword a couple of times a month - weekly would be better. This could be something simple like - this months tips, or this weeks news etc.

5. Don't panic - these things change all the time, sites that are relevant will always rise to the top.

If you have questions please don't hesitate to send us a note.

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Food for thought
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Change is not only likely, it's inevitable.
Barbara Sher

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Increasing Sales - part 2
Increasing your prices
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I know you will think I'm crazy :o) but this actually works. I know, because this past Summer that is what we did. The hardest part of most of our promotion programs was getting people to actually 'do' the work. We created a program in which we did the work... and charged more for it (about three times the largest product we had before the new one). It is worth it because we do all the work, make the changes on the page, help them get links etc.

I figured that I would sell one or so a month.... well we've been pleasantly surprises and sold an average of three a month.

You can adapt this to fit your business. Instead of selling one product, group several products together and call it a kit. If you offer services, group some of them together. If you have a shop that sells hard goods, think of some ways that you can make your customer's life easier. Maybe you could start a birthday club - they give you a list of names, you send them a list of products, and then send the gifts a week before the birthday arrives. Convenience sells.

Try it out. If it doesn't work for you then you can always get rid of it.

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Newbie Guide Part 4
Finding your first product.
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If you missed out on the first three lessons - you can find them at the links below.

http://www.blitzpromotions.com/blitz181.htm - Part 1
http://www.blitzpromotions.com/blitz182.htm - Part 2
http://www.blitzpromotions.com/blitz183.htm - Part 3

Now comes the fun part. So what did you learn from your research last week. Did you notice something missing. So how can you tell what people are buying.

1. When you visited forums did you notice questions or people looking for something over and over again.
2. Find a list of magazines that have to do with your target group or niche. One place to find a listing of trade magazines is to check out the url below.

http://www.ipl.org/div/serials/

Be broad when searching and list as many magazines as you can. I searched for 'fishing' and found seven magazines along, they also had links to websites so I visited and bookmarked those.

Now go to the following link and search again -

http://www.publist.com/

You'll have to register for this one - but registration is free.

Any new magazine ideas jot them down.

Now take a trip to the library with your list in hand. Ask to check out or look at the magazines and ask for several months worth of issues. Most magazines have a classified section near the back. Take a few hours and make a note of:

Similarities with what folks are selling.
Any hot topics.
What ads are appearing over and over.
Get the subscription cards from several of the magazines on your list and subscribe to them.

This week continue to visit those forums.