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Blitz
Ezine # 234 Feb 2nd, 2004
Easy PPC Campaign Setup -Tracking your campaign
Note:
This is an archived issue. Some links and/or content
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The Blitz-Promotions News Letter
Issue no. 234, Feb. 2nd, 2004
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4-12
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Blitz Comments
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We
hope that everyone had a wonderful January... don't
forget your sweetheart in a couple of weeks!
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In this Issue
+++++++++++++++++
-
Pay per click campaigns Continues
- Search engine news.
- Staying motivated.
- Staying focused in 2004.
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Food for thought
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Success
is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm
Sir Winston Churchill.
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Pay per click campaigns
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If you missed the first 3 steps you can find them by
clicking here..
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Step 4 - Track your campaign
Log
in to your Overture account -
Click
Conversion counter - you'll come to a page that gives
you options for what you want to track - sales, sales
leads, newsletter sign up etc.
We
want to track sales so we highlight the circle next
to sales and then click sign up. You will then be presented
with the terms and conditions - click "I Accept".
You
will then get a snippet of code and instructions via
email - or you can get the snippet and instructions
from the page.
Different
carts use different methods for inserting the code -
so just follow the instructions which are detailed and
easy to follow.
Log
into Google -
Click
Conversion Tracking.
Again
the instructions are relatively easy - start with the
basics.
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Step
5 - optimize and tweak.
Now you just have to tweak and optimize -
Terms
that bring in sales make sure to adjust your budget
for that term.
--------------------
Example:
The term promotion converts 5% of the clicks. The cost
for the bids are:
Position
1 - $2.50
Position 2 - $2.49
Position 3 - $1.50
Position 4 - $1.49
Position 5 - $0.50.
Your
average profit for each sale is $50.00.
So
100 clicks would cost you -
Position
1 - $2.50 x 100 = $250.00
Position 2 - $2.49 x 100 = $249.00
Position 3 - $1.50 x 100 = $150.00
Position 4 - $1.49 x 100 = $149.00
Position 5 - $0.50. x 100 = $50.00
5
sales from the clicks (5% of 100) would yield you $250.00.
So I would then bid on position 3 - probably up to $2.00
click.
If
a term gets no sales after $x.xx spent then remove the
term from your list.
X
here would be 5-10% of your average weekly spend. Take
the money that you save from removing the term and bid
on some new ones.
One
other note: We've found that bidding on keywords from
content sites will cause your conversion rate to drop
- so we never include them.
+++++++++++++++++
Search Engine and Business News
+++++++++++++++++
When
will Yahoo start using it's own engine to produce results
(instead of Google). They've said during the first quarter.
My opinion is that it will probably be after Google
does it's IPO (after all Yahoo owns 5% of Google).
More
IPO news on Google at the link below.
http://www.iht.com/articles/126853.html
MSN
gets a tool bar - not to be outdone by Yahoo or Google
- MSN launches a tool bar. Details
-->
Get
it (the toolbar that is :o))
Latest
update on Google: The latest update is codenamed "Austin".
We're still getting the skinny on this one so more details
in the next issue.
+++++++++++++++++
Quick fixes
Stay Motivated
+++++++++++++++++
The
Top Six Ways to Stay Motivated
Chris Widener
I
receive many emails from people that basically ask the
same question: How can I keep myself motivated long
term? This seems to be quite a common dilemma for many
people so I want to address it because it can be done!
Here are my tips for staying motivated:
Get
motivated every day.
Zig Ziglar was once confronted about being a “motivational
speaker.” The guy said to him, “You guys come and get
people hyped up and then you leave and the motivation
goes away. It doesn’t last, and then you have to get
motivated again.” Zig reminded the gentleman that baths
are the same way but we think it is a good idea to take
a bath every day! It is true that motivation doesn’t
last. We have to renew it each and every day. That is
okay. It doesn’t make motivation a bad thing. We simply
have to realize that if we want to stay motivated over
the long term, it is something we will have to apply
to ourselves each and every day.
Have
a vision for your life.
The root word of motivation is “motive.” The definition
of motive is, “A reason to act.” This is the cognitive
or rational side of motivation. It is your vision. You
have to have a vision that is big enough to motivate
you. If you are making $50,000 a year, it isn’t going
to motivate you to set your goal at $52,000 a year.
You just won’t get motivated for that because the reward
isn’t enough. Maybe $70,000 a year would work for you.
Set out a vision and a strategy for getting there. Have
a plan and work the plan.
Fuel
your passion.
Much of motivation is emotional. I don’t know quite
how it works but I do know THAT it works. Emotion is
a powerful force in getting us going. Passion is an
emotion, so fuel your passion. “Well, I like to work
on logic,” you may say. Great, now work on your passion.
Set
yourself on a course to have a consuming desire for
your goal, whatever it is. Do whatever you can to feel
the emotion and use it to your advantage!
Work
hard enough to get results.
You can build on your motivation by getting results.
The harder you work, the more results you will get and
the more results you get, the more you will be motivated
to get more. These things all build on one another.
If you want to lose weight, then lose the first few
pounds. When the belt moves to the next notch you will
get fired up to get it to the notch beyond that!
Put
good materials into your mind.
I can’t say this enough – listen to tapes. I still listen
to tapes regularly. I buy tape clubs from other speakers
and I learn and grow. Their successes motivate me to
get my own successes! Read
good books. Read books that teach you new ideas
and skills. Read books that tell the stories of successful
people. Buy them, read them, and get motivated! Buy
great music and listen to it. I just did a spinning
class at the club today. Whenever a good song came on
I was actually able to get motivated to ride faster!
It gets you going and motivates you!
Ride
the momentum when it comes.
Sometimes you will just be clicking and sometimes you
won’t. That is okay. It is the cycle of life. When you
aren’t clicking, plug away. When you are clicking, pour
it on because momentum will help you get larger gains
in a shorter period of time with less energy. That is
the Momentum Equation! When you are feeling good about
how your work is going, ride the momentum and get as
much out of it as you can!
These
are the top six ways to stay motivated:
Get motivated every day.
Have a vision for your life.
Fuel your passion.
Work hard enough to get results.
Put good materials into your mind.
Ride the momentum when it comes.
These
are simple principles, that when you put them to work
regularly, will change your life by keeping you motivated
all the time! Get going!
Chris
Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the
President of Made for Success and Extraordinary Leaders,
two companies helping individuals and organizations
turn their potential into performance, succeed in every
area of their lives and achieve their dreams.
http://www.madeforsuccess.com
http://www.extraordinaryleaders.com.
Copyright 2004 Made for Success. Used by permission.
All rights reserved worldwide.
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Guest Articles
+++++++++++++++++
Congratulations,
it's your New Baby Business
© 2004 Michael Wagner
+++++++++++++++++
If you are the average small or home business owner,
chances are that you just do not know where to start.
"Wait
a minute", you say, "My new business has everything
I need to get the ball rolling".
~~~~~Or Does It??~~~~~
A majority of small businesses today are bringing new
people into their organization, with the concept that,
they have a FREE Business and will never have to invest
anything! Or that your sponsor will be doing all the
work for you.
~~~~~Does this sound oh-to-familiar?~~~~~
If
you are a parent, you will be able to relate with this
rather easily, I ask you these few questions: ·If you
were a brand new parent, would you invest in your newborn?
·Would you rely on someone else to raise your child?
·Would you beg for freebies or hand-me-downs?
~~~~~Of
Course Not~~~~~
Are
you getting the picture here? Your business is that
child! Your new business needs a parent! ·It needs someone
to nurture it, and raise it. ·It needs attention, and
care. ·It needs dedication. ·It needs a knowledgeable
parent! It just gets me so upset, to see the majority
of entrepreneurs who have the FREE opportunity to have
their own successful business, but yet refuse to learn
how to run their business. The internet is loaded with
information to assist you, the small business owner,
with that task.
There is the SBA (Small Business Association), the libraries,
and thousands of other resources. It goes back to the
age-old saying, "You Can Lead A Horse To Water, But
You Can't Make It Drink!" For your business to be successful,
it requires you to invest both time and money! It takes
time to set it up, to promote and most important of
all it takes the dedication of your willingness to learn!
The best investment you will ever make is to invest
in yourself! There is not a soul out there that is going
to work harder for you then yourself, this I can promise
you! Without the proper knowledge, support and tools
your business will fail! KNOWLEDGE+SUPPORT+TOOLS = SUCCESS
So,
unless you are a Copy write superstar, or have many
years of experience in advertising and marketing, you
best invest in that newborn, and learn everything you
can, if you want your new baby business to grow into
a full time income generating machine!
+++++++++++++++++
Michael
Wagner is dedicated to helping home businesses become
more successful by providing the knowledge support and
tools needed. Get his FREE 30 DAYS TO SUCCESS mini-course.
Learn the keys to running a successful home business.
Send a blank email to mailto:profitoasis@getresponse.com
+++++++++++++++++
Links you can use -
+++++++++++++++++
A
nice annual website maintenance checklist -
http://www.popinteractive.com/webinsights/031231.htm
If
you're interested in following the adventures of the
rovers on Mars - use the link below.
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html
+++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++
Fun and Games
+++++++++++++++++
Learn
how to make movies -
http://www.windowsmoviemakers.net/
Don't
Try to Do More in 2004
Copyright © 2004 Michael Hudson, Ph.D.
Everyday Leadership Network
http://www.EverydayLeader.com
The
holidays are quickly fading into memory and the New
Year is now in full swing. No doubt you have returned
to your disheveled workspace and your daily routine.
Perhaps
you've even tackled that resolution you made about getting
organized and cleaning off your desk. But wait. Did
you do it again this year? Did you create the list?
You know the list I mean. That list you created in the
midst of your year-end/new year clean-up effort. The
list that includes all those things that you intended
to get done in 2003 but did not, AND all those things
you are firmly committed to for 2004. The list that
has the nice check boxes and the specific deadlines
for completion for every item. Yes, that list.
Don't
get me wrong. Creating the list was a very good idea
and merits a round of applause. You invested your time
wisely and assembled all the carryover items in one
place, while defining a clear plan for the year ahead.
But you can not afford to stop there. Realize that when
you created the list you implicitly committed yourself
to do more in 2004.
Think
about it. Not only are you committing to do the things
you planned for 2004, but you are also carrying over
all of the things you did not finish last year. And
chances are, if you are like most people, the list is
already too long to be accomplished in a single year,
and we are not even half-way through the first month!
But that is not inherently bad.
There
is great value in setting ambitious goals that will
stretch you and make you grow. Here is the problem:
There are likely to be many things on your list that
simply do not belong. Here's why. Some of the items
you carried over from last year would merit your effort--if
that effort had been given last year. Now they are merely
things you feel obligated to do because they are on
your list. But in the context of what really matters
in 2004, they do not justify any additional effort.
Other
items on the list are no longer relevant. Allocating
your time and energy to them will at best make you feel
good because you followed through and will at worst
make you look bad because it took you so long to get
them done. If you were to abandon them completely and
never touch them again, almost no one would notice (and
you would rest better because they would be out of your
sight and your mind!). You get the point.
A
list of carryover to do items and new to do items for
the year ahead is an important first step that many
of us take each year as part of our fresh start. But
if we stop there and begin to tackle all of the items
on the list, we doom ourselves to repeat the process
again in 12 months. Here's a better solution for the
everyday leader.
1.
If you have not already done so, create your composite
list. Include everything that you planned to do in 2003
that was not completed, along with all the things you
plan to do in 2004.
2.
Examine your list carefully and rate each item either:
Urgent--it needs to be completed within the next 60
days; Not-Urgent--it needs to be completed within the
next 9-12 months; Not-Yours--it needs to be completed
but not by you; or Not-Important--it does not really
need to be done at all.
3. Delete all of the items you ranked Not-Important
from the list--only a fool would allocate energy to
doing things that are not important!
4.
Create two lists from the remaining items: YOUR LIST:
Includes all of the Urgent and Not-Urgent items from
step 2 sorted by their Urgent/Not-Urgent ratings; and
THEIR LIST: Includes all of the Not-Yours items from
step 2.
NOTE:
If you are self-employed or do not have direct reports,
you may find this step a bit awkward at first. But chances
are there are items on your list that you cannot and
should not do, and they need to be passed along to those
who can and should do them.
5.
Review THEIR LIST and assign the tasks to the relevant
people, i.e., the people who are going to be responsible
for their accomplishment. You might assign some items
to your administrative assistant, others to your direct
reports, and others to vendors and suppliers with whom
you can outsource the task. The objective is to develop
a clear alignment of responsibilities for these items
so that you can monitor their completion rather than
doing them yourself.
6.
Review YOUR LIST and prioritize the items in terms of
when they need to be completed; keep the ratings in
place for Urgent versus Not-Urgent, as you will use
them again in steps 7 & 8.
7.
Using YOUR PRIORITIZED LIST and your calendar, schedule
appointments with yourself to work on all of the Not-Urgent
items on the list so that they will be completed at
least 3-4 weeks prior to their due date. Let nothing
interfere with these appointments with yourself and
commit to getting these things done in advance so they
do not become urgent items like the others on the list.
8.
Review the urgent items on YOUR PRIORITIZED LIST to:
Eliminate the ones you can, i.e. the ones that will
not have an adverse impact if they are never completed.
This will not be an easy task, but there are probably
some things on the list that can be dropped, so take
them off. Be brutally honest here and eliminate as many
of the items as you can. Defer those that are not really
urgent.
There
are often items on your list that seem urgent because
you have been wanting to get them done for a long time
and have not, but they really are not all that urgent.
Defer these items by re-rating them as Not- Urgent and
scheduling them at a future date. Delegate anything
and everything that can be passed along to someone who
can do it at least 75 percent as well as you can. Even
if you have no direct reports, there are ways to move
items to others for completion.
Outsourcing
to temps or vendors and passing opportunity oriented
items on to up and coming colleagues are two quick strategies
that work. Be sure to add these items to THEIR FINAL
LIST as they are now items that you have moved into
the Not-Yours category.
9. At this point you have two lists: YOUR FINAL PRIORITIZED
LIST which includes the urgent items that you are going
to do in the next 60 days and the not-urgent items that
you have scheduled throughout the year, and THEIR FINAL
LIST which includes the items you have passed along
to others and are now merely monitoring. Combine these
to create YOUR 2004 TO DO LIST by adding THEIR FINAL
LIST as an item on YOUR FINAL PRIORITIZED LIST.
10.
Focus your energies in 2004 on completing the things
on YOUR 2004 TO DO LIST, adding items as appropriate
using the ratings screen from step 2 to determine what
to add and what not to add and being very assertive
about not putting things on your list that can be done
equally well by someone else. There you have it.
A
simple 10-step process for making sense of that lengthy
list that emerged during your yearend/new year clean-up
process. If you do this effectively, your productivity
will improve significantly during the year ahead as
your stress level is reduced by working on things before
they are due. Best of all, when the end of the year
rolls around, there will be fewer carryover items for
next year's list!
Michael Hudson, Ph.D., known as The Everyday Leadership
Authority(tm), is the founder and principal of the Everyday
Leadership Network--an organization devoted to developing
leaders of growing businesses, non-profits, and government
agencies. Visit http://www.EverydayLeader.com
for information about Michael's keynotes, seminars,
and workshops, and to sign up for his bi-weekly ezine,
The Everyday Leader!
+++++++++++++++++
Reviews
+++++++++++++++++
We
got a Game Cube for Christmas this year. We also got
several games for it - after all it is no fun just to
look at a blank screen or the pretty blue box. Some
games we've enjoyed include - Mario Cart, and Zelda.
Both of these are tons of fun, in fact Haley and I spent
the entire weekend having a blast.
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Classified Ads
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Make
sure to visit our sponsors.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Want
your ad in this spot for $25.00 for 12 issues. Send
me a note and I'll send you the details. Email
Us.
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Useful links to our site
+++++++++++++++++
Find
more useful promotion and design articles here -
http://www.blitzpromotions.com/articleindex.htm
Check
out our archives for issues you may have missed.
http://www.blitzpromotions.com/ezinearchives.htm
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Next Issues
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March - Taxes and building your business.
April - Buying traffic
May - Increasing visitors to sales.
June - Increasing your profits - decreasing your overhead.
July - Increasing your average sale.
August - Getting ready for the holidays.
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Final Thoughts
+++++++++++++++++
Next
month we'll be talking about taxes, till then have a
great month.
Tim
and Lisa Hamblin
Tisa Enterprises
PO Box 221
Hazard KY 41702
http://www.blitzpromotions.com
http://www.crochetnmore.com
http://www.webpageplanner.com
http://www.ineedlinks.com
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