ADLANDS'
DIGEST
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4034 subscribers
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Bogdan
Fiedur, Publisher
mailto:
Bogdan@softfornet.com
Vol.
1, #68, Feb 13, 1999
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Topics in this issue:
Sponsor Message
Word from Publisher
================
C o n t i n u i n g D i s c u s s i o n (3)
==================================
1. Spam Saga
~ Viv Abbott <de@iol.ie>
~ Dan Adams <buynbart@bellsouth.sdf.com>
2. Site review high visitors low sales
~ Aaron Wildman <apse88@hotmail.com>
~ Liz Scott <loanlist@loanlist.com>
3. Follow up autoresponders
~ UK Jerry <ukjerry@paychecks-online.com>
N e w P o s t s (1)
=======================
1.) Paul Blustein THIN4life3@aol.com
~
Stats program needed
G u e s t A r t i c l e
=======================
The Most Effective Tool in Your Marketing Arsenal
By Brian Norris, Positioning Strategist
================Sponsor Message ========================
Classify 98 is an automated submission tool for Classified Ads. It quickly
submits your ad to over 300 Free Internet Classifieds Sites in just a few
minutes saving countless amounts of your valuable time!
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To download a FREE Working Demo Version of Submitwolf PRO and
Classify98 or to get more information on these amazing Internet marketing
tools
============ Word from publisher (2)=============
How is everybody?
You probably noticed new feature added to the digest.
Your digest is now more personal and your name if available
is printed at the top. Also your email address is indicated in
case you would like to unsubscribe and had doubts what
email address you've used.
I had to add this feature, due to few individuals, who insisted
to remove them from the list by giving me wrong email address.
They wouldn't give me their other email addresses in fear, that
I could take advantage of it.
If you are the one who had the problem, now you can easily
be removed from the list by just replying to this letter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To bring some data regarding spam, I just reprented this
paragraph from WebPromote Weekly - February 1999: Volume 1
* Email is Still the Killer App
A key marketing initiative for many is direct email -- but e-marketers
must maintain courtesy, professionalism and ethics as Claire Belilos
explains in her article today ("Professionalism, Ethics and Courtesy
on the Net"). A recent Yankee Group survey, indicates that there are
263 million individual e-mailboxes worldwide and according to
CyberAtlas, eMarketer recently concluded that 3.4 trillion email
messages were delivered last year. The report said that included 9.4
billion messages daily in the United States (drawing a comparison with
the US Postal Service, eMarketer indicated that 107 billion pieces of
first class mail were delivered in 1998). The group calculated that
7.3 billion messages are "commercial email messages," and offering a
number that would clearly frustrate Belilos, 96% are spam.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you think, you have interesting success story to tell, please send it
to digest as usual and indicate as such.
At the end of 1999 I will create web page and will invite everybody to
vote for the "Success Story Of The Year"
Best voted story will receive one FREE year of advertising
in the form of small button at the bottom of each Adland page.
Adland receives 240,000 page viewings and 24,000 unique
visitors per month and grows on average 20% each month.
To be eligible for the prize, this story has to be from your own
experience.
BF.
========C o n t i n u i n g D i s c u s s i o n (1.1)=========
From: Viv Abbott <de@iol.ie>
Subject : Re:Spam Saga
Good Morning, Dan!
I'm enjoying your Spam Discussion, especially Dan Adams's article (
buynbart@bellsouth.net ) this morning.
Yea, there's a crazy righteousness running around those days seeking whom
it can devour! This new puritanism is to be resisted, certainly, before it
engulfs us all.
I agree with you: a little spam can be positive, it's easy to click,
delete. REASONABLE, that surely should be the key. The Internet allows an
openness and worldwide accessibility that is truly breathtaking. It would
be a great pity if the spoilers were to limit this great social experiment.
Of course, we can argue that we are equally bombarded by spam on
television, radio, motorways etc. But I think email is different: for some
of us, download time is a factor; sending people unsolicited software and
attachments is unforgivable. I've had to contact my ISP to extricate my
mail from un-downloadable spam (I'm on a Mac).
Another thing: email is a highly personalized form of communication. It's
very speed and relentlessness can build up terrifying momentum. To ethical
netpreneurs, this is its strength. For scamsters, con-men, and
double-dealers, it's a different story.
Spam can be exploited as a most insidious and powerful tool for harassment.
Spam can be exploited by scamsters: an hourly drip, drip, drip ... of hype
can break down psychological resistance to the scamsters advantage.
Remember Pavlov's dogs: soon enough they salivated on signal - regardless
of whether the reward was given or not. So with spam, if you read it! Those
deviants have a most powerful tool at their fingertips.
Anti-Spam, equally, can be exploited as a tool for bullying and harassment
- I should know! I have a well documented case-study of all aspects of this
where SPAM was abused and then, with the deft sleight of hand (or perhaps,
of key-board! my scamster reported me to my ISP as a known spammer ! This
deviant had sent me an offer of refund of $3,000 (from the $6,000 he had
pocketed) with a tight deadline for my reply. This mean offer was nothing
more than an effort to entrap me into sending him a reply! Luckily, I had
enclosed his little offer, so my ISP had no trouble seeing his low little
game.
Spamsters and Scamsters are as thick as thieves. Caution is needed.
And what of the dreadful bombardment some Autoresponders, and 2nd
generation programmed Autoresponders can rain on the unwilling recipient,
when they omit 'unsubscribe' details? MLMs seem to be the major offenders
here. And why do these folk so often send page after page of unreadable
stuff? Many are so into their hype that they don't even bother to say what
their product is.
After all, email is a kind of hyper-communication whose full impact on the
individual has yet to be examined. So, I suppose the end of my reflection
is: badies will be badies regardless, but we must not let them succeed in
enslaving us and limiting our freedom!
Good luck to everyone!
Viv Abbott.
===================================================
Editor "LIFELINE" the Newsletter with a Euro Slant!
To subscribe: mailto:de@iol.ie?subj=SignMeUp!
===================================================
========C o n t i n u i n g D i s c u s s i o n (1.2)=========
From: Dan Adams <buynbart@bellsouth.sdf.com>
Subject: Thanks again
Hi Bogdan,
I really appreciate you running my commentary. It has proven to me what
a wonderful following of intelligent people you have receiving the
Adland Ezine. I've received a lot of nice comments about the article
and am doing my best to reply each and every one.
In response to L8r UK Jerry, I would just like to say I really do
understand the hardships that spam can place on those who pay by the
minute to get their email. But may I offer a solution that would allow
you to control it more and still get the great information that can be
found in some (so called) spam email.
Simply subscribe to one or more of the free emails like usa.net juno.com
or email.com, etc, and when you come online go there and download the
whole thing in one shot. Then you can browse through it offline at your
leisure. This would cut down on your expensive online time and still
allow you to view the offers and ideas that are flourishing on the net.
As I said in my commentary, there may be some truly junk email but there
are a lot of informative ones too.
Hope this idea helps you and others in your situation.
Best Wishes
Dan Adams
buynbart@bellsouth.net
========C o n t i n u i n g D i s c u s s i o n (1.3)=========
From: Bruce Ian Coy <minotaur@soltec.net>
Subject: Spamming
I've enjoyed your newsletter, including the discussion of spam.
Although I don't really mind spam myself, I can understand why some
people (and corporations) would object to those few(?) people who don't
have any sense of netiquette, or shame for that matter. For an example
of what I'm talking about, take a look at the page about "The Greatest
Generation", by Tom Brokaw, on the amazon.com site. In particular, look
at the third "reader comment". Jeff Bezos started out without much more
money than the rest of us have, plus a good idea. I think that it
shouldn't be too much for him to ask that people at least leave
appropriate comments in appropriate spots on his website. By the way,
the amazon.com associates program is a good way to add profitability to
any site.
Well, more later. I'll ask you to take a look at my site soon, for a
review, but at this point it's not quite ready.
Thanks again for all the free tips.
- Bruce Coy
--
"Shield of Three Lions"
http://www.3lions.com/
minotaur@soltec.net
========C o n t i n u i n g D i s c u s s i o n (2.1)=========
From: "Aaron Wildman" <apse88@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Site review high visitors low sales
Scannning my recent Adland digest I saw where the site
http://www.loanlist .com had been reviewed. So being the
curious type I
checked it out myself. I think both Terri and Barbara made valid points.
I definately agree that credit cards not being on a secure server could
be a major problem. People are very leary of the net and the horror
stories that are circulated. Two, being a direct marketer before adding
the internet to my arsenal, I firmly believe the importance of a good
direct marketing campaign is generally over looked by many here in
cyberspace.
The one thing the both Terri and Barbara left out though was offering
other options for payment. I have found that by offering my customers
the ability to write me a personal or business check over a secure
connection has increased my sales in the last month significantly. I
have not yet collected enough data to give you a numbers breakdown on
how much more yet. I do know that I get more emails a day from the check
server than credit cards. Why? simple 200 million Americans have a
checking account. Only 80 million have credit cards. Many of the same
people that visit her site are in the position to buy a house but either
do not own a credit card or have one that is maxed out. Many in America
are turning away from plastic due to the high interest rates etc. But,
EVERY ONE of those people has a CHECKING ACCOUNT.
I see many sites on the web everyday that do not accept checks and
wonder how many sales a day they are losing.
Much of the check acceptance on the net is simple to use, easy to
implement, many of the services provide validation, etc for their users.
The fees vary widely between them but they are much less than the set up
and monthly fees to accept credit cards. If anyone would like more
information on accepting checks please feel free to contact me.
Aaron Wildman
apse88@hotmail.com RE:check acceptance
========C o n t i n u i n g D i s c u s s i o n (2.2)=========
From: Liz Scott <loanlist@loanlist.com>
Subject: A HUGE Thank You
Dear Bogdan,
After requesting a review of my site, http://www.loanlist.com,
from your
subscribers, I am truly amazed, heartened and eternally grateful to all
those who took their precious time and energy to offer me excellent
constructive criticism and very useful promotional information.
In all the reviews I received - both directly, and through your newsletter
- there were two recurring suggestions: 1) Use testimonials; and 2)
Offer a money-back guarantee. I would like all those who took the time to
help me to know that I am taking their advice and will be implementing both
of these features on my site ASAP. Additionally, I will be taking
advantage of many of the promotional ideas suggested by your subscribers.
To a fault, I have always been the type of person to offer my uncompensated
help to those who ask, but I had no idea there were so many others out
there like me. A HUGE thank you to all of you! If I can ever be of
assistance to any of you, please feel free to contact me directly.
Liz Scott
American Mortgage Listings
http://www.loanlist.com
loanlist@loanlist.com
800-672-LEND
========C o n t i n u i n g D i s c u s s i o n (3.1)=========
From: UK Jerry <ukjerry@paychecks-online.com>
Subject: Follow up autoresponders
Hi.
Follow up autoresponders eh???
This could be a very interesting thread. Wonder where it will go????
Anyhow, the concept of those smartbot/aweber follow-up at set interval
autoresponders on the whole "WAS" a good one.
Now they are nothing more than a pain in the ass for me.
These are OK if the email addresses stored on them are by request only.
Fair play, If my personal address was on one it was because I wanted
information.
Now, I did find that those naughty autoresponders that I own, had their
addresses harvested, getting 50+ follow up autoresponder messages sent
to my own autoresponders just creates a mail-loop.
And to think I was under the impression my own domains autoresponders,
(dont forget I have unlimted yakkers on 2 domains), went walkies & signed
themselves up for things....LOL
Sanford does actually honoUr remove requests & his messages contain remove
options, but the majority of messages I have had come through from
these things DO NOT!!!
I have anywhere between 70-100 autoresponders on the go at anyone time.
With 2 different domain addresses, on a bad day, mail is a headache.
Yeah sure filters etc, but to filter something I have to download it 1st.
Downloading costs money!!!!
I worked it out once that if I was to stay connected 8 hrs a day 7 days a
week 52 weeks a year it would cost me the equivelent of US$$$ 28 GRAND.+
line rental+ hosting+ISP access... Could you afford that???? nah me
neither.
I have a member in AGDC who is from Estonia, he pays 25% of his monthly
wages for 1 hours access per day!!!! Hence the birth of the "Buddy" groups
I set up
for AGDC members <http://www.a-g-d-c.com><mailto:agdc1@a-g-d-c.com>
Be warned there are a hell of a lot of europeans,asians, africans,
austrialians chineese, japaneese,etc who (within a year or so will
outnumber USA netizens 2:1 minimum), That REFUSE to contact an
awber/smartbot email address.
How do I know, cos people tell me so....
Dont forget the WORLD Wide Web isnt like World series baseball
that stops on the N.USA continent.... Any country that has phones could get
involved. In a lot of cases USA business ethics don't work in other
countries/cultures, what USA considers following up, somewhere else is
considered HEAVY PRESSURED SELLING....
Also a lot of the follow up messages are sooooo false & insincere.
I much prefer to manually follow up so I can personalise my message.
Not just by putting the "Name" in the TO: field
If you want cheap autoresponders etc get a domain with unlimited ones
available.
If you haven't got a domain, why???, I paid $16 per month for 300mbs,
unlimited autoresponders etc etc etc until AGDC was concieved, now I pay
$199 for a year,
AND get the benefits of a great reseller program / online community too....
If your products/programs are USA only, then use aweber/smartbot etc.
If not, & you want a global interest, tread lightly......
Try this, have the same basic message on 2 separate autoresponders.
1 a follow-up yakker, the other a domain address...
Advertise them equally, see which gets the most international responses...
Be Lucky
L8r
UKJ
==============================================
AGDC...Heard of us???? you will do soon.......
mailto:agdc1@a-g-d-c.com?subject=sig
http://www.a-g-d-c.com
http://www.paychecks-online.com
======================N e w P o s t (1) ======================
From: Paul Blustein THIN4life3@aol.com
Subject: Stats program needed
Hi Bogden;
I have just recently subscribed to your Adlands' Digest and find it really
to be a very sincere and informative newsletter. I have subscribed to over 2
dozen or so in the last 6 months, and I can honestly say that I can only
rely on just your Digest, and 4 other newsletters that relate to website and
business building. I am really sorry to say that this is a terrible report
to make. I have been online and learning computers as well as starting a
business with a website since May 1998. I must thank you for great newsletter
that really gets down to the nitty gritty in explaining how to do this and that.
You can read so many newsletters that are out there but finding yours and a
very select few others that actually give good info are really hard to come
by, and I thank you for that.
I have used several good pointers that you have written about in the last
few weeks that have already helped me with my business and my website.
I do have one question, and hopefully you can help me with it. I am
currently on long term disability with Osteoarthritus and am pending a
hearing in front of an administrative law judge and am without funds to
do some of the things that I would really like to do. I was wondering whether
or not there is a tracking program like the one you have mentioned that is
free to use that has all of the features you spoke of in your most recent issue
of the Digest. I sure could use this, for it would really help me in making so many
determinations on trafficking at our website, who is where and who is not
visiting certain pages. This you all know is great info for anyone to have
in order to improve their chances at qualified website visiting. Once I can get
a few dollars, I will purchase the right tracking software program, but for
now I can only resort to what is out there for free. I hate that part of it, but
I have no other alternative for now.
I also have recently started my own newsletter that enhances weight loss
along with our products. Our newsletter, "PGBAMS Weight Loss Newsletter" is
published on Monday's and gives great tips, suggestions, what helps and what
hinders weight loss in our daily lives. We currently have only 121
subscribers and is growing weekly. You can sign up at our website at
<http://www.myfreeoffice.com/am300pgbams/index.html>
or you can send me an
email to us with subscribe in the subject box and since our newsletter is an
opt-in only, I can also send an invitation to anyone who would like to
subscribe and one can simply just reply to the invitation and they will
automatically be subscribed.
Bogden, I hope you can assist me on this, if you can't, I understand. Once
again, I look forward to the next issue to pick up on more really useful
idea's to use in our business. I will always refer people to the Adlands'
Digest because of it's great content. If you would ever consider doing
reciprocal advertising, I sure would appreciate it tremendously.
Warm wishes and good health always,
Paul Blustein
thin4life3@aol.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor Note.
I have started a page with list of different tools needed to run web site
here
http://www.adlandpro.com/trafficbuilders.asp
One of the sections there is called "Tracking Sites"
I'm myself using WebSideStoryTM at
http://www.hitbox.com/wc/world.html?W59707444
but I think
eXtreMe Tracking at http://www.extreme-dm.com/tracking/
could be even
better for what you are looking.
Try both. Also Linkexchange.com will give you tracking for each page if you
place their banner on your pages.
They have great stats and also they give you free promotion. Go to
http://www.linkexchange.com and join their
banner exchange program. All
these three site will give you great tools for tracking of your traffic.
I believe that eXtreMe Tracking will also give you stats on referring
sites.
You might also visit site which has lots of good resources for internet
business and maybe more tools like this
http://www.sitetoolbox.com/
I also thank you for your good words about Adland Digest, which gives me
more encouragement to work on it and provide useful info to people who want
it.
If you don't mind you can call me Bogdan ;-)
==================G u e s t A r t i c l e ===================
From: "Brian H. Norris" <passion@briannorris.com>
The Most Effective Tool in Your Marketing Arsenal
By Brian Norris, Positioning Strategist
Over the years, I've had the opportunity to work with hundreds of remarkable
individuals, assisting them in building their businesses and positioning
them as experts in their respective industries. And although there are
dozens of ways to market your business and increase your revenue, the single
most effective tool in your marketing arsenal is your own lead-generating,
wealth-enhancing, business-building newsletter!
Why?
Great newsletters get read and saved by decision-makers and potential
clients.
The more someone sees your name the more likely they are to hire you, buy
from you or refer you to friends and colleagues.
Great newsletters establish you as an expert and authority in your
industry.
Dollar for dollar, well-designed newsletters are the most economical way
to present a billion-dollar image.
The four most important questions you must answer before you begin with your
newsletter are:
1. What is your purpose or objective in publishing your newsletter?
The foremost editorial mission of any newsletter should be to edify the the
readers, current and prospective clients and contributing guest writers by
spotlighting their achievements and expertise in the best possible way. By
having a specific purpose, you never lose your bearings and you always
achieve a quality publication that your readers (and prospective clients)
want to read and keep for future reference. Also remember that people are
always hungry for legitimate information, especially on the Net. Respect
your readers/subscribers by refraining from going overboard with
self-promotion. Dynamic information creates loyalty, branding and
positioning.
2. Who is your targeted audience?
The more you know about your readers, the easier it is to write and design
the ideal publication. Before you write your first article or anecdote, you
need to know the average age of your readers, their profession(s), average
income, education, buying habits, specific needs and the challenges unique
to their industry. Knowing these golden nuggets determines the tone,
vocabulary level, medium used to distribute and overall design of your
publication.
3. What type of newsletter is best suited for your readers?
I strongly suggest a printed newsletter because paper publications have a
longer life span and create a stronger impression in your readers mind than
electronic newsletters. Also, unsolicited email newsletters may be viewed as
spamming and damage your reputation. They are also subject to quick delete
if the recipient is short on time or does not recognize the sender. If your
expertise is computers, Internet or technology, however, then you certainly
want to test e-newsletters. Look at the success of this one! Just be sure
you only send the online version to people who specifically opted in,
requested it or will unequivocally benefit from the information your send.
Another excellent alternative is a one-page fax newsletter. Faxes have an
air of immediacy, are cheaper to distribute than mailing and are considered
less evasive than unsolicited emails.
4. What's your budget?
Whether you go for a simple, black and white homespun feel or a slick,
four-color newsletter with custom graphics, you must be professional. If you
can't achieve this yourself or can't find copywriters and graphics designers
like me to assist you, don't do a newsletter. There are dozens of ways to
create an incredible newsletter without spending a fortune. Despite what
some people will tell you, you can use one or two colors and look better
than 99% of full-color pieces. Regardless of what you spend, always bear in
mind that your newsletter is an extension of you and your company. You
exemplify greatness. Don't accept anything less from your newsletter.
In addition to speaking, Brian Norris specializes in creating low-cost,
high-impact marketing and positioning tools for the new millennium. For more
information call him at 954-236-4834, email him at
newsletters@briannorris.com or visit www.briannorris.com.
=========================Joke of the Day================
Jokes provided by Tom Johnson.
To subsribe to his joke letter directly request it at
jokes@amoneymaker.com
put <jokes> in the subject line.
You know you are gettin old when..... Part 1 of 2
1. Everything hurts and what doesn't hurt doesn't work.
2. The gleam in your eyes is from the sun hitting your bi-focals.
3. You feel like the morning after and you haven't been anywhere.
4. Your little black book contains only names that end in M.D.
5. Your children begin to look middle aged.
6. You finally reach the top of the ladder and find it leaning against
the wrong wall.
7. Your mind makes contracts your body can't meet.
8. You look forward to a dull evening.
9. Your favorite part of the newspaper is "20 Years Ago Today."
10. You turn out the lights for economic rather than romantic reasons.
11. You sit in a rocking chair and can't get it going.
12. Your knees buckle, and your belt won't.
14. You're 17 around the neck, 42 around the waist, and 95 around the
golf course.
15. Your back goes out more than you do.
17. Your Pacemaker makes the garage door go up when you see a pretty
girl.
18. The little old gray haired lady you helped across the street is your
wife.
19. You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay there.
20. You have too much room in the house and not enough in the medicine
cabinet.
======================================================
Let's hear from you......
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