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New Radiance Updates
May 2002
DOES YOUR WEBSITE EARN ITS KEEP?
Originally, I had planned to write an article called "Do You
Need a Website?" The "bottom line" of the article would have
answered "Yes" -- because a website allows you to:
-- demonstrate your work
-- advertise your events
-- sell without a physical store
-- automatically collect prospect information
-- inform and instruct
-- show testimonials
-- create a client community
-- and so much more, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Websites offer a lot of space to explain what we do, how we
do it, and the benefits to be gained by using our product or
service.
So, yes, most of us need a website to stay competitive, to
appear credible, and to explain our (non-mainstream) businesses.
Websites, however, cost money to write, design and host. Many
search engines now charge annual fees to register. You have to
pay to renew your domain name every year. These are
marketing expenses that are a part of doing business in this
millennium, but a website, like any other marketing tool you use,
has got to earn its keep.
You know you "should" have a website. How do you make sure
it does its job of (a) attracting new business and (b) keeping
current clients from leaving?
How does your business, or mine, make itself known among the
millions and millions of sites on the world wide web? Word of
mouth works to some degree; building an email mailing list
helps; having your articles published in other peoples' ezines
works quite well, too. But the main method is still having a
top 20 placement in the search engines.
Did you know there are over one million websites for "coaches"
and many, many thousands for "psychics?" It's tough to appear
in the top 1,000 on these lists, never mind on page 1 or 2.
How much time and attention should we realistically spend on
making our website a useful and profitable marketing tool?
A "passive" website that serves as an online brochure is not likely
to reap many repeat visitors, but it can be a helpful aid for
prospective clients to learn what your business is all about.
It offers a "safe" way for individuals to "check the goods before
they buy."
On the other hand, people are more likely to return to your site
if you post new content periodically. The more familiar they are
with your product or service, the more likely they are to buy
from you or take a chance on using your service.
How do you get prospects to visit your site in the first place?
1. One key way is to always include your domain name on your
marketing materials -- business cards, brochures, flyers,
promotional items -- and in your display advertising.
2. Another way is to make sure your web pages are written
with search engines in mind. Suppose your website centers
around an intuitive counseling practice. You'll want to make
sure the words "psychic" and "intuitive counselor" are
mentioned a few times in the text on your home page.
"Readings," "psychic readings," and "phone
readings" are
other likely keywords that people will use to search for you.
3. Make sure the title of your website includes the keywords
that visitors are likely to search for. For example: "(your name)
-- the intuitive counselor the psychics use" or "the psychic who
specializes in phone readings." Once you figure out the words
folks are likely to use to search for you, you can tweak your
website to gain a higher listing in the search engines.
4. You can boost traffic to your site by exchanging links with
other websites. The more links you have coming INTO your site,
the better you look to the search engines. Make it reciprocal
with other websites whose themes fit with yours and everyone
gains traffic.
5. A fifth way of making people aware of your website is an
e-mail newsletter. This is a topic I'll be covering in detail
soon. I enjoy researching and writing the material for "New
Radiance Updates" and I'll pass along some of the best ezine
tips and resources I've found so far.
If you're serious about getting a bigger "bang for your buck"
from your website, there are many excellent tools to help you.
I've recently explored some of Dr. Ken Evoy's web promotion
materials and I can give positive reviews for the two items
I've previewed so far. (Ken Evoy is a medical doctor from Canada
who has become one of the top experts on internet marketing.)
Of course, his "Make Your Site Sell" is one of the most respected
e-books in the field. I haven't got very far into it yet, but what
I've read is very helpful.
I got waylaid, instead, by another of his web marketing tools
called "Site Build It." This is an all-in-one program that helps
you (a) choose the best concept for your website, (b) pick a
domain name that ranks high in the search engines,
(c) brainstorm keywords, (d) register with search engines, and
(e) find affiliate programs that tie in with your theme, for
extra income.
It also registers your new domain, hosts your website, and
provides templates so you can make your own site yourself
-- easily.
What really got my attention was that it does all this for about
the same annual fee that I pay right now just for hosting the
New Radiance website.
So far, I've been playing with the "core concept" and "profitable
keyword brainstorming," and it's been totally fun. What I really
like about Dr. Evoy's approach is -- his system makes you first
look at what you're passionate about, then helps you see if
there's a business need for it, and then points you to ways you
can make money on the web doing something you enjoy.
Soon, Site Build It will be offering a "mailout module" so you
can add an opt-in ezine to your website marketing, plus
e-commerce and affiliate management programs. It is my
understanding that these will be priced separately when they're
introduced -- sometime in the next month or so -- but will be
offered free for the first year to current Site Build It users.
To learn more, please visit http://sitesell.com/newradiance.html
NEW RADIANCE NEWS
The 2002-03 Metaphysical & Holistic Florida Directory
is available by credit card online at www.amazon.com
The link below will take you directly to the order page:
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0964570262/newradianceresou
For a list of bookstores where you can purchase the Directory,
please visit www.newradiance.com
To order the 192-page book by mail, just send your check for
$12.84 (includes sales tax and shipping) to New Radiance,
PO Box 86674, St. Petersburg, FL 33738.
Find respected body, mind, spirit professionals, Florida's
metaphysical bookstores, spiritual centers, and holistic/
alternative publications -- plus two mini-books "Living Your
Real Life: How to Discover Your Life Purpose" and
"Wellness from Within."
MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES IN FLORIDA
1. AlternativeCalendar.com is a web-based resource which
focuses on those who offer and participate in holistic events.
The site has recently expanded to include four Florida
regional calendars. To list and search for local events that
nourish the spirit, mind and body, please visit
www.alternativecalendar.com
2. Natural Health Expos is presenting the "Sacred Circle
Natural Health and Well-Being Expo" in Clearwater, FL
October 5 - 6. For information about exhibiting, visit
www.naturalhealthexpos.com or
call
(727) 848-3097.
DIRECTORY ADVERTISER UPDATES
1. Evolutionary Products has a new mailing address and phone
number: 1667 N. Magnolia Ave., Tucson, AZ 85712-1403.
Tel: (520) 323-1190. Evolutionary Products provides marketing
resources and services for the New Age/metaphysical and holistic
marketplace.
If you have a book you would like to promote at the June 22-24
International New Age Trade Show in Denver, call Evolutionary
Products at (800) 777-4751 for info about their affordable
representation program or visit their website:
www.evolutionaryproducts.com
2. Lindsay Mainland, M.S. has relocated to St. Petersburg, FL.
Lindsay is a teacher and consultant who specializes
in helping groups heal negative or stressful situations. She
offers customized seminars for your church, school, association
or business. For more information, call (727) 545-9790.
OODLES OF INFO FOR AUTHORS
1. Promote your book with postcards. Go to
www.amazingmail.com,
type your sales message,
upload your cover image and mailing list and they handle the
rest -- they assemble your text and graphics, print the cards
and mail them for you.
2. Get your books reviewed in the major publications read by
librarians and bookstore owners:
-- Publishers Weekly - 245 W. 17th Street, New York, NY 10011.
Tel: (212) 463-6758; www.publishersweekly.com
They review galleys prior to publication and only review self-
published authors with a 2000 plus first printing and distribution
already arranged.
-- Library Journal - Book Review Editor, 245 W. 17th Street,
New York, NY 10011. Tel: (888) 800-5473;
www.libraryjournal.com
-- Kirkus Reviews - Adult Fiction: Anne Larson; Non-fiction:
Chuck Shelton, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003.
Tel: (646) 654-4602; www.kirkusreviews.com
They prefer galleys prior to publication, and do not review
self-help or self-published books.
-- ALA Booklist - Brad Hooper, Adult Books Editor, 50 E. Huron
Street, Chicago, IL 60611. Tel: (800) 545-2433;
www.ala.org/booklist. (American
Library Association)
Call for submission forms; guidelines are on the websites.
3. Find out who is selling your books online.
Visit www.addall.com/
to get a list showing bookstore
names, price comparisons and ship times.
4. Post news releases online - free - at:
-- www.prweb.com and
-- www.solonews.com
5. To understand the relationship between authors and
publishers, learn proven ways to promote your books and
find out how to sell your books on the internet look at
John Kremer's 700-page book, "1001 Ways to Market Your Books."
I got my copy at Amazon.com. Click on the link below:
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0912411481/newradianceresou
Thanks to Dan Poynter's newsletter "Publishing Poynters" for
these tips. If you're an author or self-publisher, his website is
full of helpful information: www.parapublishing.com
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Marketing refresher course with examples you can copy and use:
www.marketingwithamission.com
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New Radiance Updates is a free service sponsored by the
New Radiance Metaphysical & Holistic Florida Directory.
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