Now, updates come in the form of new versions..

But, this version does come with some pretty sweet features… One such feature was announced yesterday and has created a HUGE webmaster buzz on Youtube. If you haven’t seen the “content aware sneak peak” – even if your not a web developer or Photoshoper type person, you should STILL watch it. They’re about to give some amazing juice to the uneducated photoshoper…

But, that’s not what compelled me to write this post, although that in itself is pretty killer news… What impressed me the most was their launch website. It’s incredible! It’s a perfect (yes – a word I usually can’t use) example of how a launch should be done. Twitter integration and live communication, YES! Count down clock making everyone dying for it to finally be the day.. YES! BRILLIANT!

If you’ve been executing some form of online marketing for as long as I have, you know that’s not easy… But I have a few strategies that could help you in that regard…

#1. Buying Industry Magazines.

The other nite, I was at Safeway (A local grocery store) and picked up a copy of a novice computer magazine… It was relatively expensive, thick and loaded with newbie tips that I didn’t need to read, but what I saw sparked some SEO ideas, so I figured it was worth the investment. I think I see that completely differently than some. I can say that spending $16.99 on a brand new idea that could get me an avalanche of new website visitors is well worth the spend!

But, besides the SEO sparks and flames the magazine had other benefits. It gave me an insight to how the novice computer consumer sees the online marketing industry, the writing and blogging industry and a much more simplistic view. Such a refresher and really makes it easy to start writing to those folks on your sites.

FACT: The average person who will visit your site will have a grade 8 reading level.

#2. Your Internal View Of Others…

Huh? Yeah I know, it’s a weird thing to say, but stay with me here for a minute. One time I was super bored on the Vancouver SkyTrain (commuter train), on the way home. I was reviewing the salescopy for one of my ebooks and I thought to myself, what would my mother-in-law think of this copy?

Background: (She’s a senior who has no computer knowledge, and probably wouldn’t buy things online) but I know her well enough that I could just see what she would say in the back of my head, in fact nearly every answer she would give picking it apart.

I wrote down every objection she would have like wildfire, probably lighting my pen on fire right there! She gave me tons of ideas, and I didn’t even ACTUALLY ask her!!

#3. Cruel Comments From Your Friends

Hopefully, your friends like you! If they do, they won’t say anything mean or nasty about your website… They won’t be honest to your face, and if they’re not, they’re really no help to an honest feedback campaign, now are they?! BUT… print a copy of your website (or show them your screen) one day and ask them… “Get a load of this guy’s site…” OR  ”I’m thinking of investing in these guys..” and see what kind of feedback they provide then!

#4. Reading Reviews Of Similar Sites

There’s tools like Zing (some tool from the miracle whip manufacturers) and xmarks and a ton of other social tools like mcafee’s site advisor that let you see real world reviews of what other people think of related sites, they can be of use…  as well as “domain.com forum” in Google to see what others are saying about that domain…

#5. If Your Having An Off Day..

Ironically the way I started writing this post.. I saw myself looking at a landing page I just developed for a partnership deal I just signed, and I could see what a customer was thinking. It was a de-cafinated moment… A litteral mind-haze, but still! It was facinating and I realized I could easily figure out all these neat ways of getting back there.. But if you don’t feel yourself one day, go look at your website – see if you can jump out of your skin. Would you buy your own stuff? Would you subscribe? Why not!!

Cheers!
Daniel J Deyette

I’ve been freelancing now for about 2.5 years and I know myself that the *last* thing I would do is post what’s going on in my challenges in their accounts even if I didn’t mention a client name.. Just the thought of them reading something like that on my blog sends chills down my spine.

– Anyway –

I too suffered major skin problems when I was a kid… And this lesson Ryan speaks of is so paramount to all levels of business, copywriting and everything in between that it shakes the foundations of how you should write on your blog, website, twitter, facebook, fax campaigns, direct mail, print, tv, radio.. I can see it applying to everything!

See – If you did do that initial market research I’m always talking about, then you’d easily begin to see what challenges, pains, jealousy, frustration, anger, pride, fear or other emotions that you SHARE with your customers that you totally understand…

And as Ryan Explains… That – builds trust.

Trust is probably one of the hardest things to get.. Online or offline in a new relationship or when you first meet someone (we’re talking prospects & customers here..) and any extra tool in the toolbox is brilliant!!!!

Until Next Time!
Daniel J Deyette

The Click!

Yes, one mouse click and your gone, or another mouse click and your deeper into the website. Absolutely true and that completely simple. Beyond that, the same words that have been exciting, driving and creating demand since the 1400s still work today.

Tip! Whenever you ask visitors to click you loose 40 ~ 80% or more. Scrolling is a mindless activity that requires no thought, so always try and include as much as you can on one page as possible. Focus your efforts on what people want to hear. Ensure you’ve done enough research and competitive intelligence, look at existing samples.

So much data available today!

Use emotional words like provided free in my opt-in offer on the right! Anyway, more on all of this another time.