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NWC1.blogspot.com Moving to WordPress

We will be moving to Wordpress very soon to be located on our main website http://www.nationwideclassifieds.com We feel wordpress is a better platform and will enhance our blog by allowing clients to easily access both the blog and ordering from the same server.

Blog will be located at http://www.nationwideclassifieds.com/blog. Will inform when transfer is complete.

Cogwise Software Hits a High Note!

Cogwise Software designs new site recognized by AdAge.com

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- If the web's Long Tail can unite a Dokken fan with a tattered 1983 set list, why can't it provide a local sponsor for a hair-metal-tribute-band tour?

Sponsor Pitch, currently in closed beta but set for public release in the first quarter of 2009, hopes to feature an assortment of properties that extend far beyond music.

A new web platform called Sponsor Pitch aims to make the process of linking brands with properties open, easy and cheap enough to accommodate partnerships of every size, so everyone from Dokken to doppelgangers such as Rokken can find funding.

Music sponsorships make up a large but not overwhelming proportion of the opportunities available through Sponsor Pitch, which is in closed beta and set for public release in the first quarter of 2009. Founder Kris Mathis said by the official launch he hopes to feature an assortment of properties that extend far beyond music.

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Free Internet Marketing Tool

Hubspots free Internet Marketing Tool

Did you complete a HubSpot Website Grader report and were unhappy with your score? Our free Internet Marketing Kit gives you the tips and tricks you need to improve your score so you can optimize your website to get found by more visitors and convert higher percentages of them to leads and paying customers.

The Internet Marketing Kit contains the following valuable information:
Video Webinar - "5 Tips to Turn your Website into a Marketing Machine"
Whitepaper - "5 Tips to Turn your Website into a Marketing Machine"

Try our Free Internet Marketing Kit

HubSpot, the inventor of Website Grader, offers a free kit of marketing tips about how to improve your website so you can get found by more prospects and convert more of them to leads and paying customers.

After you complete your grader you can download the kit for free.

Free SEO Tool Website Grader

http://website.grader.com

Grade Your Website

Website Grader is a free seo tool that measures the marketing effectiveness of a website. It provides a score that incorporates things like website traffic, SEO, social popularity and other technical factors. It also provides some basic advice on how the website can be improved from a marketing perspective.

This is a great tool for new website and beginners. This will show you all the things you can do to improve traffic immediately. It's not really about the grade so much, but what you are doing wrong with your website, blog, etc. Even shows you ways to get started immediately and for free using some of the tools described in our Business Listings post

http://website.grader.com

AAN CAN Alternative Weeklies Added to Database

Purchase Advertising

Tired of using high-priced, ineffective advertising media? There is an alternative! Showcase your business, service or opportunity with the AAN Classified Advertising Network. What is AAN CAN? AAN CAN is a classified advertising network of alternative newsweeklies in more than 100 US markets. We reach more than 17 million young, active, educated, and affluent readers*:

68% are 18-49 years old
68% attended or graduated from college
25% more likely to be heavy Internet users than the general public
21% more likely to be in Professional/ Technical fields than the general public
28% more likely to purchase a new vehicle in the next 12 months than the general public

If this is a market you need to reach, AAN CAN is your most cost-effective way of doing it.
*Source: 123-newspaper, 71-market 2007 Media Audit study.

Reno News & Review Added to Database

Purchase Advertising

"The Biggest Little City in the World" has a new voice. Since 1995, the Reno News & Review has built a reputation around its provocative, honest coverage of Reno news and events. More than just big casinos, Reno is a community that is active and diverse, and the News & Review provides a newspaper that covers what readers are interested in most. The News & Review believes that the community of Reno wants more than the daily paper can give. Our readers are intelligent and inquisitive, and they want in-depth coverage of what is happening in their community. They want the truth, and we give it to them. We have built a trust with our readers, and because of that, they come back to our paper again and again.


Not just about news, the News & Review also has the most comprehensive calendar in town. We cover everything from casino entertainment to local coffeehouses. We are the source for news and entertainment information among educated young adults. In fact, about 65% of the News & Review's readers fall between the ages of 18-49 years old.

International Musician Magazine Added to Database

Purchase Advertising

International Musician Magazine - monthly

The readers of the International Musician are professional musicians working in all genres of music. They play in clubs and in symphonies. They go on tour and they record. They run the gamut from classical to country and from polka to punk.

Our readers, your audience.
53% are full-time professional musicians
37% are music educators
79% are college graduates or greater
45% are age 37 to 55
Average household income is $85,000
68% say the value of their instruments is more than $7,000
76% have been playing for over 30 years
47% have been members of the AFM for over 30 years
59% are freelance/club musicians
40% are symphonic musicians
10% are recording/session musicians
17% are theater/touring musicians
56% have made a recording in the last 12 months

Distribution.
The International Musician is distributed monthly to more than 100,000 members and subscribers as well as to music schools (both through individual subscriptions and library copies). In addition, it's available at many musician showcases, conferences, and trade shows:NAMM Trade ShowsSxSW Music ConferenceNEMO Music ShowcaseLatin Alternative Music ConferenceCanadian Music WeekNxNE Music ConferenceInt'l Association of Jazz EducatorsToronto Music ExpoCMJ Music MarathonBerklee College Summer ProgramRecording Studios

Free Business Listings / Internet Marketing

Business Listings are an excellent way to get your business noticed. There are thousands to choose from, but I have compiled a list of the top sites which every business should be listed on. These directories are direct ways to drive traffic to your website. They require alot of signing up and profile editing, but you won't be sorry once you have completed your listing. Here are the top directories that allow you to enter a business listing without a fee.

www.switchboard.com/
www.bizhwy.com/
www.zipcode2business.com/
www.evliving.com/business
www.superpages.com/

https://ssl.search.live.com/listings/BusinessSearch.aspx

Beyond listing your business you should also consider joining the top Internet Networking sites.

http://www.linkedin.com/
http://www.delicious.com/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/

How to Be Useful on Twitter

Have you ever stopped to ponder what value you are creating for your followers on Twitter?

I’ve written numerous times about the benefits of Twitter to me - what I get out of it - but perhaps a more pertinent question for Twitter users to be asking is not what THEY get OUT of Twitter - but what THEY put INTO Twitter.

Don’t get me wrong - Twitter is a medium which can significantly benefit YOU and enhance your live in many ways - however when you talk to most successful Twitter users you find that they’ve discovered one thing:

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5 Ways I Benefit from Twitter

“Why do you use Twitter? How does Twitter Benefit You?”

I’ve been asked these questions so many times since starting TwiTip that I thought I’d write a post answering it. I hope that it’s helpful for those of you just starting out with Twitter (or considering getting involved).

Twitter has changed the way that I use the web and connect with others online in many ways. Those of you who’ve traveled with me on my Twitter journey since the beginning know that I started out very skeptical of the medium.

It always seemed like a waste of time - however once I started using it I immediately began to see its potential and some tangible benefits to me. Let me try to break some of them down:

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e-Paper Technology Videos

The future is upon us!

Twitter Grader

Twitter tool to check your Twitter Grade.

http://twitter.grader.com/

@nationwideclass current grade:

Free Custom Twitter Backgrounds

Here are some custom backgrounds you can use for Twitter.
I built these myself using GIMP.
Please credit or follow http://www.twitter.com/nationwideclass
To save, simply right mouse and give the image a name.
Then you can upload on Twitter using the design tool. Happy Tweets!

Sunburst


Sunburst highlight Twitter


Sunburst Extreme

Sunburst Extreme w/Curved Edge

Sunburst Extreme Wave

Sunburst Extreme Purple

Sunburst Extreme Gray

Sunburst Extreme Clouds

Animated Avatars/Image on Twitter

Want to stick out in the crowd of avatars on Twitter?

Want to catch people's eye as they are scrolling down their tweets, or looking at other people's Followers? Then give an animated avatar a try!

The trick is, however, to find the line between eye-catching and annoyingly distracting. I've seen web cam video used as well as screen recordings. Slide show videos would work as well.

My first attempt was annoyingly distracting, and a Follower asked me to tone it down a bit - which I did. Some people will simply stop following, but that doesn't bother me. I love looking at other people's animations - it's like looking through a virtual window to their soul!

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What is Twitter?

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service, that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.

Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. The sender can restrict delivery to those in his or her circle of friends (delivery to everyone being the default). Users can receive updates via the Twitter website, SMS, RSS, email or through an application such as Tweetie, TwitterFon, Twitterrific, Feedalizr or Facebook.

For SMS, four gateway numbers are currently available: short codes for the United States, Canada, and India, as well as a United Kingdom-based number for international use. Several third parties offer posting and receiving updates via email. Twitter had by one measure over 3 million accounts and by another, well over 5 million visitors in September 2008 which was a fivefold increase in a month.

Follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/nationwideclass


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What is Social Networking?

Social Networking - perhaps you've heard of it before, but are not quite sure what it means.

Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in schools or in the workplace, it is most popular online. This is because unlike most high schools, colleges, or workplaces, the internet is filled with millions of individuals who are looking to meet other internet users to develop friendships and business relationships, too.

When it comes to online social networking, websites are commonly used. These websites are known as social sites. Social networking websites function like an online community of internet users. Depending on the website in question, many of these online community members share a common interest such as hobbies, religion, or politics. Once you are granted access to a social networking website you can begin to socialize. This socialization may include reading the profile pages of other members and possibly even contacting them.

The friends that you can make are just one of the many benefits to social networking online. Another one of those benefits includes diversity because the internet gives individuals from all around the world access to social networking sites. This means that although you are in the United States, you could develop an online friendship with someone in Denmark. Not only will you make new friends, but you just might learn a thing or two about new cultures or new languages and learning is always a good thing.

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Staying Ahead of the Competition

Staying ahead of the competition can be an on-going struggle. While it is not healthy for a company to focus too much time and attention on the competition, it is important to stay abreast of what your competition is doing. When evaluating the competition, assess the industry giants and companies closest to your space. But be sure that you don’t exclude the small companies in your assessments. Sometimes a small competitor can have innovative ideas or marketing concepts, but may lack the capital to really benefit from the concept. This may present you with an opportunity.

When evaluating the competition pay attention to the following:

1. Pricing
Evaluate your competitor’s pricing scheme and price structure. What is the price point of your competitor’s products or services? Are your products better or inferior? Do the product differences justify any cost difference?

2. Meta Tags / Search Engine Optimization
Evaluate your competitor’s website. View the meta data of competing websites. Look at their Alexa ranking, and review who links to their website. Are there links you are missing that might be beneficial to your website?

3. Search Rankings
Perform generic searches in the major search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN) for critical phrases. Determine how the competition stacks up in the search listings. Do any of your competitors “own” important rankings. Consider your search engine strategy and how you can better compete in the search engines.

4. Specials / Marketing Campaigns
Access your competitor’s special offers and any marketing campaigns. Determine how they are defining themselves. Evaluate any niche marketing — perhaps they have located an untapped market that might be ripe for you as well.

5. Advertising
Where do your competitors spend their advertising dollars? Watch for trends — an increase in spending may mean that a competitor has seen a significant return on investment, and it may represent a channel that you should also consider advertising in.

6. Evaluate Links
Determine who is linking to your competitor’s websites. By using the special Google search feature “links: domainname.com” you can see the indexed web pages that link to a specific domain. Are you missing any important link opportunities?

7. Evaluate USP
Evaluate your competitors USP (Unique Selling Propositions). This will give you an idea of how a company sees themselves, and what they feel their strengths are. How does their unique selling proposition differ from yours. Are there areas within your company that need work so you can compete more effectively?

8. Industry Authority Assessments
How do industry authorities view the competition? Are they considered industry leaders, or is the space wide open with an undefined leader? Understanding how you stack up compared to your competitors will help you assess your strengths weaknesses, and define your business.
Knowing your competition is an important aspect to your business, but it should not be the sole factor that dictates your decisions. Educate yourself about your competitors so you can make informed decisions and compete effectively.

Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com audio recording and editing software.

Times of India ePaper

The Times on a Click <-- view actual ePaper

The nation's leading media conglomerate with 45 dailies and periodicals in 3 languages and 108 editions from 9 centres and a combined readership of over 40 million. In fact The Times of India Group accounts for 30% of the measured ad spend in the country. We include in our stable The Times of India, among the top 2 English broadsheets worldwide; and The Economic Times among the top 3 English business dailies worldwide. The Times of India Group gives the highest reach among Indian decision makers, intelligentsia and the elite. The Group also has a range of 9 Business2Business publications from The Economic Times catering to industry segments as diverse as machinery and polymers. In addition its 16 Special Interest offerings are targeted at groups of consumers ranging from photography to education to annuals on beauty, fashion etc.

Established over 160 years ago, this group has entered the mainstream of Indian life in every possible way. A dynamic group, it has entered the 21st century as a complete media house, with a turnover that is the highest in the country It's new ventures include Times International Media Marketing with the role of attracting International business to India through a developmental approach. International Media Representation represents select mainline and business publications worldwide. With a network of over 50 offices across the country and a field force of 1000 the coverage of India is most comprehensive and perhaps unparalleled.

When infotainment became the buzz word Times Entertainment , Times New Media, Times Music and Radio Mirchi entered this lineage. Times Retail with Planet M outlets staging merchandise from music to designer watches, books & cafes. An offshoot of its highly rated Economic Times Intelligence Group is timesofmoney.com, a bank solutions that empowers Indians & Non Resident Indians to make the best financial decisions.

The Times Group has created a galaxy of stars of different genres from Femina Miss Worlds and Femina Miss Universes all by products of Femina Miss India contests; and played hosts to a galaxy of stars at the Filmfare Awards. Also saluted the best & the brightest at The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence or the Brand Equity Quiz. It has touched the lives of its readers & consumers through Exhibitions & Fairs - a spectrum from Times Utsav Consumer fairs to Education Events.

India's first portal site, a venture of Times Internet, http://www.indiatimes.com/, includes over 55 websites and almost one billion page views a month. http://www.timesofindia.com/ is the fifth most visited print news and media site from the US.

Asia Pacific's first electronic newspaper, http://epaper.timesofindia.com/ offers a viable advertising option, carrying the same benefits of the physical coupled with interactivity which offers instantaneous communication options unlike anything ever seen before. Your career counselor, advisor, influencer and guide anytime anywhere. The first Indian education portal for all education needs is here. This portal will cater to the ever-expanding student community and learning experience.

The philanthropic arm of the group, the Times Foundation, offers Non Government Organisations , institutions & others all over India, a platform to converge and address the country's developmental needs.

As a publishing house, it has not only sought to bring news but to portray the country's changing social scene. Through its incisive editorials, The Times of India Group has effectively moulded public opinion and is indeed an accurate barometer of the nation today.

Its publications are printed using state-of-the art technology at the country's most modern printing presses, offerings not only comparable to black and white but superior quality colour printing as well... the best in the world.

The Times of India Group is the only media house to give advertisers maximum value for their money and minimum wastage. The range of publications, each with its own specific target audience, helps advertising managers plan the ideal media mix, optimising the advertising budget.

E-paper is Finally Upon Us!

After many years of promise and a few false starts last week Fujitsu announces it has created the 'first' colour non volatile e-paper. Philips and HP have also been developing similar products for a number of years.

But if we are to finally believe the hype, what are the implications for the creative industry as a whole...

Firstly, what is e-paper?

It is a film substrate that's flexible enough to allow the 'paper' to be distorted but stable enough to ensure the image remains true - even when pressed (unlike LCD panels).

The e-paper does not require any light source and 'remembers' the image displayed on it - so reducing the amount of power required to keep an image displayed. Essentially once an image is 'written' to the e-paper it can remain there without using power. This has the advantage therefore of requiring much lower power in operation and only needs to be powered when the image changes.

The commercial release for this is due somewhere in the 12 months up until March 2007 - so we could be seeing requirements for e-paper by the middle of 2006!

The immediate applications for this are pretty obvious;

POS material for in-store promotions - instantly updating prices or simply changing 'campaigns' at the click of a mouse (with all the creative work done first of course!).
Airports, train stations and even planes and trains themselves could soon be adorned with e-paper.
Perhaps even outdoor poster sites will be controlled from a central workstation - updating the posters electronically instead of 'pasting' them up.
Even 'fly posting' might simply become a form of 'cyber crime' where legitimate posters are overwritten by a 'hacker'...
In any event, clearly the above would have implications for the wider creative community - the immediacy of updating the image might be seen similarly to content management systems for websites - where clients can update the image without reference to the originating designers...with all the advantages and disadvantages that brings.

The implications for the printing industry are also pretty obvious.

So, what other applications could e-paper be used for?

We have recently seen what the introduction of new technology has meant for the print industry with the 'death of print' in the face of the internet. But we now recognise that whilst there is certainly a readjustment in the face of market conditions, there has been little substitute for quality print in the hand and on the move.

But is this about to change?

Could we see 'newspapers' being uploaded as you pass a newsstand onto your single rolled up 'e-paper', perhaps having been paid for using your mobile phone?

How about a library of books in one 'ebook' that simply refreshes the pages of text with another book from a local 'chip' or downloaded from the internet - after all, Google are scanning millions of books now to make them available as part of their search engine. eBooks have also been talked about for many years, and Sony launched their 'electronic book' in 2004, but it is not the same.

As someone once said - 'the possibilities are infinite', no doubt we'll just have to wait and see.

SEO Defined

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via "natural" ("organic" or "algorithmic") search results. Usually, the earlier a site is presented in the search results, or the higher it "ranks," the more searchers will visit that site. SEO can also target different kinds of search, including image search, local search, and industry-specific vertical search engines.

As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work and what people search for. Optimizing a website primarily involves editing its content and HTML coding to both increase its relevance to specific keywords and to remove barriers to the indexing activities of search engines.

The acronym "SEO" can also refer to "search engine optimizers," a term adopted by an industry of consultants who carry out optimization projects on behalf of clients, and by employees who perform SEO services in-house. Search engine optimizers may offer SEO as a stand-alone service or as a part of a broader marketing campaign. Because effective SEO may require changes to the HTML source code of a site, SEO tactics may be incorporated into web site development and design. The term "search engine friendly" may be used to describe web site designs, menus, content management systems and shopping carts that are easy to optimize.

Another class of techniques, known as black hat SEO or Spamdexing, use methods such as link farms and keyword stuffing that degrade both the relevance of search results and the user-experience of search engines. Search engines look for sites that employ these techniques in order to remove them from their indices.

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Kindle - Amazon's Wireless Reading Device

Product Overview

Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper. Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.

Wireless connectivity enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.

Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.

More than 190,000 books available, including more than 105 of 112 current New York Times® Best Sellers. New York Times® Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise.
Free book samples. Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.

Top U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; top magazines including TIME, Atlantic Monthly, and Forbes—all auto-delivered wirelessly.
Top international newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland; Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times—all auto-delivered wirelessly.

More than 1000 top blogs from the worlds of business, technology, sports, entertainment, and politics, including BoingBoing, Slashdot, TechCrunch, ESPN's Bill Simmons, The Onion, Michelle Malkin, and The Huffington Post—all updated wirelessly throughout the day.

Lighter and thinner than a typical paperback; weighs only 10.3 ounces.

Holds over 200 titles.

Long battery life. Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day. Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Fully recharges in 2 hours.

Unlike WiFi, Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot.

No monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments—we take care of the wireless delivery so you can simply click, buy, and read. Includes free wireless access to the planet's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org.

Email your Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG) to Kindle for easy on-the-go viewing.

Included in the box: Kindle wireless reader, Book cover, Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable.

Read Full Review and Purchase

The Future of epaper

Thirty-five years in the making, electronic paper is now closer than ever to changing the way we read, write, and study — a revolution so profound that some see it as second only to the invention of the printing press in the 15th century. Made of flexible material, requiring ultra-low power consumption, cheap to manufacture, and—most important—easy and convenient to read, e-papers of the future are just around the corner, with the promise to hold libraries on a chip and replace most printed newspapers before the end of the next decade. This article will cover the history, technology, and future of what will be the second paper revolution.

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Writing Effective Ad Copy

Writing Effective Ad Copy
By Amrit Hallan

Advertising copy is all about selling. Whether you are selling a product, a service, a tourist destination, or an event, the sole purpose of an advertising copy is to spread the word in order to generate business. The "business" need not always be money. The right result is the nirvana of a good advertising copy. Advertising copy can also be used to establish a brand, but then again, in the long run, brands help generate long-term business gains.

I think advertising copy is one of the trickiest writing jobs available. In a few seconds, you have to grab the attention of a reader who is bombarded with scores of ads every day. Then you have to put your point across in as few words as you can manage, and then stimulate the reader enough to act on your words.

So what makes a killer advertising copy? There is no scientific or statistical formula as such. Anything can click at a particular time. Every advertising copywriter has his or her own style, but if you follow some fundamental rules in the beginning, you can keep defining your own way of writing advertising copy.

SET THE OBJECTIVE
This is the beginning. You can never write convincing copy unless you know what it needs to achieve. A better understanding of the objective helps you coalesce your thoughts and focus your skill. It's just like charting a roadmap to a destination before embarking on a long journey.

BEGIN WITH HEADLINES AND SUBHEADINGS
Headlines and subheadings contain words those are most critical to your message. So choose them carefully. Only an interesting headline makes one read further, so consider it the most vital part of your assignment. Your most important words should appear there. Your headline should give the reader a fair idea of what the remaining copy comprises. If you can, prompt the reader to perform the desired action in the headline itself.

On the other hand, the headline doesn't always have to make sense. You can write an attention-grabbing headline just to make people react. Or to confuse them so that they are forced to think about it. For instance, you can ask a question such as:

"Haven't you always wanted this?"
"What have I always wanted?" the reader will think, and read further.

BE SPECIFIC
Coincidentally, while I'm writing this article, my brother-in-law has sent me a link to a website so that I can tell him whether the website is offering a genuine business opportunity or not. I'm going through their "online presentation." I have read four pages. I still don't know what business opportunity they are talking about. All I can make out after four pages is that there was this couple who was very poor but once they got involved with this business opportunity they started earning $35,000 per month in a span of a few months. They have a dream home. They have an assortment of dream cars, and their expensive boat is lying somewhere. What business they do? I have no idea. I can know this only after I purchase their business kit. I've told my brother-in-law to give this "once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity" a skip for the time being.

WRITE IN THE LANGUAGE OF YOUR AUDIENCE
Like the HSBC tagline says, "The world's local bank," you have to adopt the local nuances while writing your advertising copy for a region-based audience. It doesn't mean learning a new language from scratch with every consecutive copywriting assignment. You just have to stick to those words and phrases that a population is comfortable with. Nobody has time to learn words in order to understand the benefits of the product or service you are trying to promote.

USE WORDS THAT ARE STRONG BUT STRAIGHTFORWARD
Words and phrases like "money," "immediate benefit," "save $150," "protect your child," "find love now," and "lose weight in two weeks" sell like hot cakes. They may sound clichéd to you, but if you notice, they promise you a tangible result. They give a clear picture of what your copy intends to convey. Avoid ambiguities and jargon.

PROVIDE A SOLUTION
We all need immediate solutions, to be frank. If I want to improve the way I live or earn my living, I want to know in simple words whether your product or service can help me achieve that or not, and how fast and at what cost it can be done.

TOUCH YOUR AUDIENCE EMOTIONALLY (I don't mean to say youemotionally blackmail them into buying your product) Advertising copy is about strumming the emotional strings of your audience. Whether you like it or not, emotions rule the world. Great wars and revolutions are unleashed under the aegis of emotions. Use them, rightfully.

BE CREDIBLE
Don't promise the stars if you are selling the candles. Do not make exaggerated claims. Believe me, they do nothing but put off the reader. Sound sincere, be frank, do not patronize your readers unnecessarily and tell exactly what your product or service does for the consumer.

ADDRESS THE PERSON
Talk directly to the person. Use as much "you, your" as you can and use "us, we, I" as little as you can. The reader is not interested in knowing what all your product or service can do. He or she wants to know what all your product or service can do for him or her. Focus on the reader, not on your product.

Copyright ©2003 Amrit Hallan

Amrit Hallan is a freelance copywriter, copy editor and a writer. He also optimizes web page content for higher search engine ranking. For copywriting and copy editing services, visit: http://www.amrithallan.com. Read his weekly essays and articles by subscribing to amritscolumn-subscribe@topica.com.

The Merge to Internet Marketing

The explosion of social marketing and Internet marketing is upon us all. If you are in the advertising business, you either get on board and offer your clients new and exciting ways to market their products, or get left behind in the times. There are now thousands of ways to market products via the Internet. Search Engine Optimization is now vital to anyone looking to attract viewers to their website. SEO is the key to getting your website on the first few pages of the search engines. Pay Per Click advertising is a must for any new business. Google AdWords is one tool to take a look at when it comes to pay per click. Other search engines like Yahoo, MSN and even YouTube are also now offering pay per click advertising. Social marketing is now also a great way to promote a website. There are endless social marketing sites now, but the top few are leading the way to huge streams of networked communities that share their personal and business information in a real time environment. Sites like Myspace, Facebook, Twitter and Friendster are showing the world that we can, and do communicate online in virtual communities. That is a powerful thing my friends...

Peace leads the way!
Brian Hanson

Privacy Policy for http://nwc1.blogspot.com/
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At http://nwc1.blogspot.com/, we recognize that privacy of your personal information is important. Here is information on what types of personal information we receive and collect when you use visit http://nwc1.blogspot.com/, and how we safeguard your information. We never sell your personal information to third parties.

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We also use third party advertisements on http://nwc1.blogspot.com/ to support our site. Some of these advertisers may use technology such as cookies and web beacons when they advertise on our site, which will also send these advertisers (such as Google through the Google AdSense program) information including your IP address, your ISP , the browser you used to visit our site, and in some cases, whether you have Flash installed. This is generally used for geotargeting purposes (showing New York real estate ads to someone in New York, for example) or showing certain ads based on specific sites visited (such as showing cooking ads to someone who frequents cooking sites).

You can chose to disable or selectively turn off our cookies or third-party cookies in your browser settings, or by managing preferences in programs such as Norton Internet Security. However, this can affect how you are able to interact with our site as well as other websites. This could include the inability to login to services or programs, such as logging into forums or accounts.