posted by Randy Roedl on Sep 15

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Let me state right off, that I\’m not a marketing \’guru\’. In fact, I\’m not sure what a \’guru\’ is other than it sounds like a large hairy beast. Come to think of it, I guess I am a \’guru\’.

But back to the issue, when you first go on the web and begin checking out some sites, possibly some affiliate programs, most will state \’we have an automated marketing system that will do 99.5% of the work for you\’. Really? Then what do you need me for? Hmmm. What usually happens is you\’ll start marketing the same site that 10,000 other people are marketing on the Click or Hit Exchanges, Safelists, FFA Blasters, Auto-surf site, email-blasters, etc. etc.

From what I have experienced it seems that many people who have had some level of success with these types of programs, have created their own system or way of marketing the program that works great, but usually by the time you get around to using it again another 10,000 or so people are using it and it\’s power is diluted.

Another key factor is that many of the people who are successful have massive lists that they can market to which sort of guarantee\’s some degree of success. I am not knocking them in fact they have usually spent a good bit of time and money building these in-house lists.

The point is many of the programs make it seem as simple as breathing to be a success at Internet Marketing and they tend to fail to mention the talent, hard work, determination, and all the other factors that make someone successful at Internet Marketing. I wish it might be that easy, so then maybe I could be a \’guru\’.

About the Author

Bill works in the Healthcare field and has been involved in World wide web businesses for many years.
Earn Lifetime Residual Income

posted by Randy Roedl on Sep 14

IE or Firefox?, The real answer is both. Like D. Sanders stated when ask, Football or Baseball, He stated Both. You should\’nt have to pick just one because both have their benefits. You will find that Firefox is a must to edit or write post in your wordpress blogs. There are some problems with IE opening up the editor in wordpress sometimes.\r\n\r\nFirefox also has a big selection of plug-in\’s and other features. Try Scridefire when you get a chance. It will make your life a lot easier. Have fun.\r\n\r\n

posted by Randy Roedl on Sep 14

Wow — you finally have your website finished! Now comes the flurry of activities for getting it noticed on the Internet. You\’ll be submitting to the search engines. You might be blogging. You might be submitting to the directories. And you may be promoting through articles, amongst other things. World wide web marketing is a lot of work that involves patience and persistence. The results are not always seen immediately.

But there\’s one method of Internet marketing that is often overlooked and your SEO expert might not tell you about it. Chances are, you may see immediate traffic by using this strategy. Why is it overlooked? It might be because this marketing method is not directly related to the Internet.

The method is marketing your site offline. The old, tried and true offline marketing strategies can often deliver many targeted visitors to your website in a short amount of time, particularly if you are announcing your URL to people with whom you already do business. The beauty of offline marketing is that it is easy. You do not have to spend hours and hours finding link partners, writing articles or submitting your URL.

The most basic form of offline marketing is to include your URL on your business cards, on your letterhead, on your fax forms, and on your printed fliers. If you use any printed business forms, including sales receipts or estimates, be sure to include your website address.

If you give press releases, be sure to include your business URL in the contact information. That way, people who are reading your press release can easily find your on the web presence to learn more about your expertise, services and products. If these readers have taken the time to look at your website because of the press release, you are attracting a highly targeted and responsive audience.

Promotional gifts such as coffee mugs, calendars, t-shirts, hats, key chains or other items, are an excellent form of offline World wide web marketing. If someone is drinking coffee from your promotional mug every day, he is going to be seeing your URL each single sip! If you mail Christmas or holiday cards to your clientele, be sure to include your web address.

You may have a customer list that is responsive to catalogs or newsletters that you periodically mail. Announce your URL in your mailing, along with a special promotion code or number that will give your loyal subscribers discounts for on the internet sales.

If you have an ad in the yellow pages of your local phone directory, be sure to include your website address with your company information. Other forms of printed advertising, such as magazines or newspaper ads, should also include the web address. Of course, if you advertise with billboards, there is another opportunity for offline website announcements.

Provided that your domain name is one that people can remember, include it in your television or radio ads. Long and complicated domain names do not work too well in this method of offline advertising.

Do you affix labels or tags to your products? Or require your employees to wear uniforms? This is another opportunity to add your URL to your offline signage. Add the URL to all printed labels and uniform logos. If you drive a company vehicle or have a fleet of automobiles, you might want to include the company\’s URL in your automobile signage. The possibilities for announcing your site offline are endless.

Wherever your company name is printed or announced in the \”physical world,\” be sure to include your URL. Since many of these offline methods involve customers or clients who have a working relationship with your business, this might be your most targeted and responsive Internet audience.

People like to learn more about your company by browsing your website. By marketing offline, you will attract people who are already interested in your company and what you have to offer. This is an invaluable component to Internet marketing.

About the Author

Urbain Beck is a freelance writer serving various on the web and offline media. Some of Urbain\’s writing can be found at the marketing and earning on the World wide web blog.

posted by Randy Roedl on Sep 7

I know this is short notice, but my friend (and world class copywriter) Daniel Levis is conducting a special teleseminar today (in just a few hours) where he is going to share a little known way to grow YOUR list 4 to 7 times faster… without having to attract a single additional visitor to your web site?

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And that’s actually just one of the profit boosting secrets you’ll discover on this power packed free teleseminar.

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Click here now to register!

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Daniel is also giving away a complete 5 step strategy for supercharging the selling power of your ENTIRE web presence that he says ANYBODY can use to instantly start growing your lists up to 7 TIMES FASTER!

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If you want your web site to begin making more sales…

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generating more traffic…

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capturing more HIGH QUALITY leads…

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and bringing in more customers like clockwork while you goof off and enjoy the profits…

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– YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EVENT! –

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Everything you need to prepare for this exciting training is available at this link:

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Click here now to register! (It’s FREE…)

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Go ahead, the whole thing is completely FREE!

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See you on the call…

P.S. - I’m not sure yet if he is going to make the recording available yet or not, so you need to do whatever it takes to make it onto the call live.

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Click here now to register!

\nTags:copywriter copywriting Daniel Levis Email Conversion Landing Page Conversion List Building On the web marketing teleseminar Teleseminarscopywriter, copywriting, Daniel Levis, Email Conversion, Landing Page Conversion, List Building, Online Marketing, teleseminar, Teleseminars

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posted by Randy Roedl on Sep 7

After my earlier post on the results I’ve received from using high quality “action shots” on websites, I’ve had a few readers email me and ask me how to get good quality photographs to use on their websites.

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My answer is easy. All of the pictures used on my website (and many of my client’s sites) are all taken by the same person. (The ONLY person I trust for my sites pictures.)

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Mary Mazzullo from www.SeminarPhotography.com.

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In fact Mary has taken the pictures that just about EVERY top marketer or speaker I know uses on their websites.

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As the “Conversion Doctor” I have ample test data that supports the fact that using high quality photo’s can dramatically increase the conversion rates of most websites.

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In fact just ONE of the poses Mary took for me has improved the opt-in rate of the page it’s on by over 37%!

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But… The flip side is also true. Poor quality pictures can actually injured conversion rates.

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Your visitors will judge the trustworthiness and professionalism of your website and company, by the quality of the images that appear on your site.

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So it’s critical to make sure that you only use top quality pictures.

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The good news is… (more…)

\nTags:Building Trust Landing Page Conversion marketing Multivariate Testing Offline Marketing On the web Marketing Split Testing success and Mindset Testing and Tracking Web Usability Website DesignBuilding Trust, Landing Page Conversion, Marketing, Multivariate Testing, Offline Marketing, On the internet Marketing, Split Testing, Success and Mindset, Testing and Tracking, Web Usability, Website Design

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posted by Randy Roedl on Sep 7

After sharing the results of my “Point at Your Opt-in Box” test, one of my blog readers, Jay Jennings (from sonictoolkit.com) asked a great question…

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Jay asked…

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“I’d like to see the test results of splitting between a guy pointing, and a woman pointing. My hunch is the woman would win out, even if she’s not the “owner” of the site.”

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Well… It just so happens that I have actually tested this exact thing several times in several markets. And what I’ve found is this… (more…)

\nTags:attractive woman b2b markets Building Trust internet marketing jay jennings Landing Page Conversion Marketing Multivariate Testing Online Marketing Online Merchandising on the internet business Online Conversion Split Testing Testing and Tracking Web Analytics Website Designattractive woman, b2b markets, Building Trust, internet marketing, jay jennings, Landing Page Conversion, Marketing, Multivariate Testing, Online Marketing, On the internet Merchandising, on the internet business, On the internet Conversion, Split Testing, Testing and Tracking, Web Analytics, Website Design

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posted by Randy Roedl on Sep 7

It always amazes me when web designers try and hide the primary call to action on a page or make it “blend in” with the overall design.

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Time and time again my test results have shown that the bigger, bolder and more obvious you make your primary call to action, the higher your conversion rates will be.

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Larger buttons, high contrast borders around buttons, arrows pointing at your calls to action… These are all ways to draw more attention to the action you want visitors to take.

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Well… Here are the results of yet another test that illustrates this principle.

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The following test was conducted on one of my coaching clients forced opt-in pages.

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In this test we wanted to see if using a large “action shot” picture of the client pointing at the opt-in box, would help boost conversion rates.

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In the control version we used his standard opt-in box area, with no image.

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In the test version we used a pic similar to the one below.
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(To protect the client’s Niche I’m not showing the actual test version. This is just an example from one of my own squeeze pages.)

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Here are the results:
\n (more…)

\nTags:Landing Page Conversion Multivariate Testing On the internet marketing Split Testing Testing and Tracking Website DesignLanding Page Conversion, Multivariate Testing, On the web Marketing, Split Testing, Testing and Tracking, Website Design

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posted by Randy Roedl on Sep 7

Sorry about the short notice on this but I just found out about this call myself.

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In just a couple hours (3:00 PM Central) my friend JP Maroney is conducting a special FREE call that you should definitely attend.

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Why?

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Because, every entrepreneur — every business — feels
\nstuck at one time or another.

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When growth is sluggish, cash-flow sucks and
\nprofits are down.

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It’s a natural part of the Entrepreneurial
\nlife-cycle.

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The good news: Miracle growth is not only
\npossible - it can be downright simple!

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In fact…

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You’ll find out exactly how to create the
\nkind of growth you want in your business when
\nyou attend this red-hot “Business Breakthrough
\nTeleWebCast” presented by my colleague –
\nbusines growth strategist and best-selling
\nauthor, JP Maroney.

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>>> http://web-site-evaluations.com/rec/jpcall.htm

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It happens TODAY at 3:00 Central –

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But, be warned…

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This jam-packed session is like nothing you’ve
\never experienced.

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You’ll learn JP’s unorthodox, take-it-to-the-bank
\nstrategies, tactics, and secrets for creating the
\nexplosive business growth you’ve always hoped
\nfor… but not yet grasped.

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Register Here:
\n>>> http://web-site-evaluations.com/rec/jpcall.htm

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When You Attend You Will Learn JP’s…

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*** “UBA Spotlighting Secret”… Find at
\nleast 3-5 instant profit centers that can be
\nexpanded, exploded, and exploited to ignite
\nimmediate growth in sales and profits.

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*** 4-Step Competition-Crushing Strategy…
\neliminates your competition from the playing
\nfield… even if you’re in a crowded industry.

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*** Zero-Dollar Lead Generation & Sales
\nSystems… You’ll love these little-known secrets
\nfor getting big-bang marketing results without an
\nadvance outlay of cash.

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*** 17 Cash Flow Catalysts… If you’re hard-
\npressed to bring in bankable cash right now, then
\nyou can immediately put these into play to boost
\nyour bank account balance.

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*** 5 Destructive Entrepreneurial Habits…
\nYou’ll be surprised to discover what’s keeping
\nyou from achieving your goals - reaching your
\npotential in business - and getting everything
\nyou deserve you’re your enterprise… even if
\nyou’ve almost given up hope of ever finding a
\nsolution.

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Register Here:
\n>>> http://web-site-evaluations.com/rec/jpcall.htm

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This life-changing, business-revolutionizing
\nevent happens TODAY Wednesday, August 1st at 3:00 Central…

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… make sure you get registered now — and
\nblock the day and time on your calendar.

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Register Here:
\n>>> http://web-site-evaluations.com/rec/jpcall.htm

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See you on the call…

Eric Graham

\nTags:business growth entrepreneurial life hot business JP Maroney Offline marketing Online Marketing success and Mindsetbusiness growth, entrepreneurial life, hot business, JP Maroney, Offline Marketing, Online Marketing, Success and Mindset

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posted by Randy Roedl on Sep 7

In Part I of \”Best Internet Marketing Strategies\”, I described some basic guidelines for creating an effective Internet marketing strategy for product and service based business models. In this column, I would like to analyze on the internet affiliate marketing and how one can compete in the sea of affiliate arbitrageurs.

What is on the internet affiliate marketing? On the web affiliate marketing, for the purpose of this writing, describes the act of marketing a product or service that is owned by someone else for the sole purpose of making a commission or some other satisfying equal benefit.

Generally talking, most successful affiliate strategies employ arbitrage as a model for monetary gain. That is purchasing one resource that can be immediately resold for a profit. You probably have come across some on the internet models such as these:

? Affiliate Networks- ClickBank or Commission Junction ? Lead Generation Networks- home, auto, medical, mortgage, etc. (www.insureme.com) ? Advertising Networks- Google\’s Adsense or Yahoo!\’s Advertising

Similar Strategies, Worlds Apart On the internet affiliate marketing strategies are very similar to traditional product and service strategies in that the basic fundamental marketing concepts apply. One still must consider variables such as: 1. Budget 2. Regionality of market 3. Target audience 4. Core competencies 5. Website (functionality, ease of use, and conversion friendliness)

The context however differs in that the \”action\” takes place on the affiliate or partnering Website. Therefore, the above variables must be invariably in sync with the value proposition of your affiliate and communicate joint benefits. The Website objective on the other hand, is to seamlessly transfer prospective buyers from the partnering site to the affiliate in a way that maximizes conversion behavior. In contrast, traditional on the internet strategies typically aim at keeping the visitor on the page and thus making the content sticky.

Benefits of Online Affiliate Marketing One of the major benefits affiliate marketing is lowered risk. Risk in this marketing model is shifted to the affiliate whom assumes risk for ultimately creating and maintaining the sale.

Another equally attractive benefit is that partnering site is exempt from carrying any Inventory and only must focus on on the internet marketing efforts.

Lastly, online affiliate marketing can be lucrative when successfully executed. For some Websites, this is the only source of revenue, which can even surpass the sites primary objective.

\”Work from home and earn $1000\’s while you sleep!\” Its simple money, so why doesn\’t everyone do it? Unfortunately, the Web is full of too many get rich quick programs that promise huge returns in exchange for little effort. You know…the American way! But in the sea of affiliates there do lie opportunities for those who are willing to work form them. However, affiliate marketing is not for everyone. Just like any other strategy, it requires a great deal of thought and resources to market successfully. If you\’re looking for the get swift riches, it\’s a die-hard game that\’s played best by the ones who wrote the book.

Affiliate strategies can also be difficult to execute given the amount of affiliates competing against one another. In addition, this increased competition inflates marketing costs associated to the advertising vehicles used to promote the affiliate. For example, if you plan on advertising via pay-per-click, keyword costs can be very high for generic terms thus pushing affiliates to purchase keywords that carry less competition. When many affiliates go to purchase the same keywords, this in effect inflates the keyword market. Worst of all, more money for the affiliating site means that keyword costs will continue to rise.

So how can I compete? If your going to compete in the affiliate world, there are two key factors that will equal success: 1. Quantity of quality targeted traffic that provides ROI 2. Solid on the internet objective in persuading visitors to click on your affiliate sites

The first factor relates to how relevant your audience perceives your value proposition in relation to what they are seeking. Quantity refers to the amount of targeted visitors you can attract that works to your ROI model. The most successful affiliate marketers can calculate their ROI attributed to their online marketing efforts on the micro level. Moreover, if the ROI is determined to be positive, the game swiftly turns into numbers.

The second factor relates to how well your Website can persuade visitors to click on affiliate links, which in turn means commissions. However, without executing the first key factor successfully, all the traffic in the world to your affiliate will not translate into the desired outcome. Here are some things to think about when optimizing your website for your affiliate strategy:

1. Website communicates similar value proposition of the affiliating site 2. Website clearly directs traffic off site to the affiliate 3. Advertisements and marketing efforts are in sync with the website objective 4. Website is resource oriented and not \”spammy\” 5. Website look and feel is in keeping with competitor sites

Summary Finding the ultimate online affiliate strategy can be challenging. After all, if it were easy, not only would everyone be doing it, they also would be making tons of money. I advocate that you first begin by examining the affiliate\’s chosen business model before diving in with both feet. What is their value proposition? How can you make use of that proposition, yet still be one-of-a-kind in the market place? (If your not, who would want to do business with you?) As I said earlier, affiliate marketing is not for everyone. However, you your strategy is solid, you might find yourself writing the book for others to follow.

About the Author

Christian Del Monte: creator of iBlogMarketing Internet Marketing Blog and Director of Operations for TMA E-Marketing has a B.S. degree in Marketing from Minnesota State University, Mankato. In addition, Christian has over 10 years in personal sales experience and has directed the operatio

posted by Randy Roedl on Sep 7

One of my favorite “business models” is selling subscriptions. Some people call this “continuity”.

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The real beauty of this is that you sell something to someone one time, and then you keep getting paid over and over… until they decide to stop the subscription.

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Sorta the way your cable company works. Think about it, they got you to sign up and you just keep paying every single month.

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Now wouldn’t it be sweet if you were on the OTHER side of that transaction, and you were the one collecting the checks every month?

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Well, the REALLY cool thing is that on the Internet it’s EASY to create a business that does EXACTLY that. Just think if you had 100, or 200, or even 1000 people paying you AUTOMATICALLY month after month. That’s a beautiful thing.

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Of course, this isn’t a new idea… but in the last few years there are a couple of guys who have really PERFECTED this business. You can read more about them here:

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Convert once, get paid over and over…

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This stuff will COMPLETELY change your business.
\nDon’t miss it. If you look at the biggest, most successful businesses online (I am talking businesses that actually make massive profits), a huge percentage are really “membership” sites.

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But don’t get me wrong - this is also a model that is perfect for small one and two-person businesses. Check it out now:

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Convert once, get paid over and over…

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Best regards,
\nEric

P.S. If I had to start all over, this is probably the ONE business model I would go after. This stuff is that cool.

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Convert once, get paid over and over…

\nTags:affiliate Conversion business models continuity copywriting Landing Page Conversion marketing membership sites On the internet Marketing Product CreationAffiliate Conversion, business models, continuity, copywriting, Landing Page Conversion, Marketing, membership sites, On the web Marketing, Product Creation

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