Karen Scharf Articles
Boost Email Deliverability With a Static IP Address - Click To Read Article
Until a few years ago, the IP address of the sending email server wasn't all that important. But, with the onslaught of spam, all that has changed.
Opt-in or Double Opt-in – Setting Up Your Email List - Click To Read Article
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you about the tight economy and how small businesses are currently under a financial strain. We’re all feeling the pressure to generate new revenue and improve our overall ROI. The financial news can certainly seem bleak and depressing right about now.
Choosing a Web Analytics Program For Your Business - Click To Read Article
Web analytics play a major role in the optimization of your online presence; however, if you’re like most small business owners, you probably have only a vague understanding of analytics. You might have heard of web site analytics, maybe even attended a class or a seminar about analytics. But the options probably seemed overwhelming and technical and a bit too complicated.
Your Email Marketing Strategy in Review - Click To Read Article
Can you believe it’s November already? I’m not really sure how that happened, but it happened nonetheless.
And while I’m always sad to see the Summer go, I love this time of year because it’s a great time to start preparing your 2010 marketing plan. But before you do that, you’ll need to evaluate which of your 2009 marketing strategies worked and which were not effective. Since email marketing is one of the best marketing strategies for increasing your online presence, you should be constantly evaluating it and making any and all improvements.
Improve Your Email ROI with These Four Easy Techniques - Click To Read Article
According to the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) small businesses enjoy a $43.52 return on every dollar spent in email marketing. That's the strongest ROI-yielding direct marketing tactic, and it's a result that even small businesses on a small business budget certainly can't ignore.
Increase Blog Subscribers in 7 Easy Steps - Click To Read Article
Now that you have gone live with your blog, what’s next? How will you know if it is successful; how will you know if you are delivering the content your readers, your prospects and your clients are after? You will definitely want to monitor your pageviews, traffic, clickthroughs, search engine rankings and other overall indicators of website success. Your number of blog subscribers, however, may be the most accurate and reliable measurement you have for determining the success of your blog.
Four Easy Twitter Tools to Supplement Your Marketing - Click To Read Article
The great thing about Twitter is that it helps create a conversation with your clients and prospects and joint venture partners and other interested parties in a quick and fast-paced manner. Thanks to the 140-character limit, you've got to get to the point and move on very quickly.
Measuring Your Social Media ROI - Click To Read Article
If you’ve added social media to your marketing mix, you’re probably asking yourself, “Is it worth all the time and effort involved?” That might seem like a difficult question to answer at first, but there are definite steps you can take to measure the return on your social media investments.
Improve Your Email Marketing with these Non-Technical Changes - Click To Read Article
It's true that email marketing can get pretty technical. We've got HTML coding, and multi-part MIME messages, and cross browser compatibility, and designing for preview panes, and blacklists and blocklists and SPF records… It's enough to make non-techie marketers throw up their hands and give up on the thought of ever improving their email performance.
Create a Site Map For Better Traffic - Click To Read Article
I think every website should have a site map since it does help in traffic generation. As the term suggests a site map is a map of the web site and can be a simple list of links or a more complex representation. The type of site map you’ll need depends on the type of website you have.
Your 5 Day Marketing Plan - Click To Read Article
Unfortunately, since many small business owners don't consider marketing as a core business activity (what a shame), it's often the task that gets set aside when time is crunched. But by taking just a few minutes to plan ahead, your future marketing activities can go much smoother.
Write Effective PPC Ads - Keep These 6 Tips in Mind - Click To Read Article
Google's recent changes to AdWords make it easier for novices to get started with pay per click advertising. But if you've never created a PPC ad before, the task can seem a little intimidating.
Why Won't My Site Show Up in Google? - Click To Read Article
We often get inquiries from prospective clients who would like us to build them a new website. They believe that their current website must be “bad” because it's not listed in the search engines. They're convinced that a new website will automatically ensure a top ten Google rank.
Why Do-Not-Reply@DomainName.com Is a Terrible Idea - Click To Read Article
The problem with sending email from a non-existent address is that, eventually, it will trigger spam filters. You see, when your readers have a question or a comment, they are going to reply to your email message, no matter what your sending address says. And those messages are going to bounce.
Who's Drinking All Your Link Juice? - Click To Read Article
You might have heard the term "link juice" before in the discussion of search engine optimization and traffic generation. Link juice is actually a loosely defined term, but it generally refers to the combination of link relevance, page importance and anchor text.
What To Do When You Just Can't Concentrate - Click To Read Article
My email in-box is jam packed, I have several calls from sales people that I haven't returned yet, my desk is a mess, and I'm finding it very hard to concentrate. What in the world is going on here!
Was Your Marketing Raised On Family Farms? - Click To Read Article
I really enjoy cooking and baking - so if you have any good and unique recipes, do send them my way. But I don't want to talk to you about cooking today; rather, I want to talk to you about a marketing lesson I was reminded of when I went to prepare dinner the other evening.
Use a Grid System For Better Converting Pages - Click To Read Article
I recently began working with my new interior designer (my house is stuck in the '90s!) and in trying to decide what type of furniture to buy, we've been laying out the room design on a grid. It dawned on me that this is the same process I use when designing a new web page.
Use Customer Testimonials to Increase Web Sales - Click To Read Article
I've got to warn you – you're about to read about the pot calling the kettle black. That's because with each and every coaching client I have, I always discuss the creation of a testimonial capturing system. And yet I am woefully inept at using testimonials myself. Because I have non-disclosure agreements with most of my clients, I'm often hesitant to ask for testimonials. But I'm leaving a huge opportunity on the table.
Transactional Email Messages - Get Yours in Shape This Year - Click To Read Article
How are you doing on your New Year's resolution? Let me guess, it includes shedding a few pounds, getting more exercise, making healthy eating choices, etc. Here's another thing that needs to get into better shape: your transactional email messages program.
Top 5 Reasons Your Search Engine Rankings Dropped - Click To Read Article
Don't get too comfortable with that cushy search engine position you've been experiencing. Chances are, your rankings will go through quite a few fluctuations over time. A minor move up or down is nothing to get alarmed over.
They'll No Longer Pay For Botched Surgeries - Click To Read Article
So what does this have to do with your business? Unfortunately, everything. You see, workmanship and service is so poor today, it's almost become the norm. It's become expected.
These 7 Tweaks Doubled The Conversion Rate - Click To Read Article
If your landing page is clunky or confusing or just plain ugly, you might be losing out on many valuable prospects. I've recently implemented a few simple changes to a client's landing page that resulted in double the conversions.
There Is No Such Thing as a Duplicate Content Penalty - Click To Read Article
First, I want you to understand that I am NOT giving you license to steal other people’s content. There ARE repercussions to using duplicate content, but it is not a penalty per se.
Tell Them Why They Should Buy - Click To Read Article
A billboard caught my attention. It was a cut-away shot of a new minivan - the one with the pop-up table in the back. The billboard showed the interior of the van with four captain's chairs encircling the pop-up table with a headline that said "Your Table Is Served".
Take Advantage of Eye Tracking Tests - Click To Read Article
Sure, eye tracking studies designed specifically for your web site could cost you tens of thousands of dollars. So, until you’re ready to spend that kind of money, you might want to take advantage of data garnered from studies of other websites.
The 3 Easiest Ways to Boost Your Search Engine Rankings - Click To Read Article
One of the easiest and most effective ways to improve your search engine rankings is to create unique, keyword rich title tags for each of your pages. Be sure your keyword is as close to the beginning of the tag as possible.
Stop Working So Hard! - Click To Read Article
You're working too hard and you're not making enough money.
I know that seems like a brash statement, but I've worked with enough small business owners to presume that it's probably true for you. The problem is, you're not taking advantage of one of your most important assets.
Some Article Marketing Tips to Get You Started - Click To Read Article
I am a huge proponent of article marketing. And while it's true that article marketing is great for driving traffic, you can still utilize it even if you don't have your website up and running yet. By distributing your articles off-line, you'll begin to make a name for yourself in your local community or your specific niche.
So I Got Mad and Threw It Away! - Click To Read Article
Your clients and prospects have very short attention spans. They want what they want and they want it now. If you make them a promise (like offering a particular article on the cover of your magazine) you need to deliver on that promise quickly, or you risk losing their attention.
Setting Realistic Optimization Expectations - Click To Read Article
Often times we're approached by entrepreneurs at the end of their financial ropes, and they ask us to perform a search engine optimization miracle in the hopes of saving their drowning business. So, let's set the record straight on what SEO can and can not do for you.
Save Money With Geo-Targeting - Click To Read Article
If you're a local business on a tight budget, you can save money on your advertising budget by targeting only specific locations with your AdWords campaigns.
Ready to Start Your Own Search Engine Optimization? - Click To Read Article
Many small businesses also have small budgets, and often don't want to spend the time or money on search engine optimization techniques. Unfortunately, the "if you build it, they will come" philosophy doesn't work too well on the web.
Quick Traffic Tips You Can Implement Today - Click To Read Article
I know that search engine marketing might see like some kind of magic or voodoo; and the truth is, there definitely is some science behind it. You can spend hours and hours doing the research and designing an effective search strategy and crafting the various tactics to put the whole thing into place. But the truth is, there are some very quick and easy steps that even a non-techie entrepreneur can implement within only a few minutes.
Never Used AdWords? Here's Some Good News - Click To Read Article
If you haven't used pay per click advertising to drive traffic to your web site, now might be a good time to get started. Google has recently announced several changes that (I believe) will make it easier for a novice to learn the AdWords ropes.
Maximize Your Site Traffic by Honestly Answering These 4 Questions - Click To Read Article
Sure, you might be getting tons of traffic, but what are your visitors doing once they land on your website? Lots of traffic doesn't necessarily mean lots of subscribers, lots of leads or lots of sales. If you don't take a very objective look at each of the pages on your site, you might be flushing your valuable traffic-building efforts down the drain.
Mid-Year Email Marketing Review - Click To Read Article
Here we are, it's June already and the year is half way over. The time couldn't be better to take an objective look at your email marketing campaign and assess any changes or fixes that need to be made.
What kinds of things should you look for? Here are a few pointers to get you started:
Marketing Mindset When Times are Tough - Click To Read Article
When the economy gets tough, an ironic thing happens... people stop marketing their business and services. I call it ironic because now is the best time to ramp up your marketing, not cut back on it.
Landing Page Tips for Better Results - Click To Read Article
Whether you're driving traffic through organic search, pay per click, affiliate marketing, direct mail, email campaigns, social media, whatever, your landing page will make or break your conversions. Follow these few simple tips to create a landing page that produces results.
Landing Page Tests to Produce Better Qualified Leads - Click To Read Article
I have a client who is a realtor (we'll call him Don), and as you can imagine, with the state of the U.S. economy, his business has been less than stellar. Before the downturn in the real estate market, we had created an on-line lead generation program that had been working quite well. But lately, he had been feeling as if his business was in serious trouble, his agents hadn't been getting enough good leads, and it was time for an intervention.
Landing Page Optimization Tips - Click To Read Article
When we hear the words Landing Page we generally think of PPC campaigns or some other form of internet advertising. But I like to use landing pages for all of my off-line advertising also. However, you’re using it, a landing page is a web page, typically hidden from the site’s menu bar and other navigation – meaning the only way you can get to the page is to type the URL directly into the browser.
Increase Landing Page Conversion By Testing These 5 Elements - Click To Read Article
Are you satisfied with the conversion rate on your landing page? I hope the answer to that question - no matter what your conversion rate - is an emphatic "No!" Because no matter what your conversion rate is, there's always the chance that it can be better.
Improve Your Own Conversions With These Simple Steps - Click To Read Article
I was recently hired to critique a web site and suggest changes that could improve conversion rates. There were several backbone upgrades that I recommended, but what I want to focus on now are the front-end problems that might also be plaguing your own site.
How to Start Split-Testing Your Web Pages - Click To Read Article
In working with a friend recently, it soon became apparent that we each had different ideas on what would work best for his integrated marketing campaign.
How To Yield a 7 Percent Sales Increase With An Incredibly Easy Redesign - Click To Read Article
I have some very interesting split test results that I think will really surprise you. Here's the story of a major retailer who increased sales over 7% by going against conventional wisdom.
How to Market in a Bad Economy - Click To Read Article
You're worried about the financial health of your small business. You think about slashing your prices to stimulate your sales. You assume you need to cut back on your marketing activities to save on expenses.
How To Optimize Your Web Site For Ask - Click To Read Article
While Ask's share of the search market is comparatively small, it offers some great features that are sure to catch on. Consider grabbing a good ranking now before the word gets out and a tidal wave of webmasters start clamoring for top spots.
How To Plan Your E-Mail Resend - Click To Read Article
You crafted a great email campaign, with a compelling subject line, the perfect mix of html and text, dynamic supporting graphics. Your headline is persuasive, your offer is unbeatable, your product is top-notch...
How To Introduce Yourself in a Way That Will Grow Your Business - Click To Read Article
I don't know about you but I just love summertime! It's a time for outdoor barbecues and pool parties and meeting lots of fun new people.
And meeting all these new people provides a terrific opportunity for growing your small business. If you think of the six degrees of separation (have you ever played the Kevin Bacon game?) almost every one you'll ever need to grow your small business is represented right there at that summertime barbecue. And you thought you were only going for the burgers!
How to Get Listed in Yahoo and Google - Click To Read Article
Most site owners will optimize their web site for one search engine, either Google or Yahoo, and assume they have to forgo the possibility of being listed in the other search engine.
How To Design Your Email Messages For Mobile Devices - Click To Read Article
According to a 2007 study, 64% of key decision makers are reading your email messages on their Blackberries or PDAs. It is important to grab their attention.
How To Fast Track Your Article Marketing Program: Deadly Sins For An HTML Resource Box - Click To Read Article
Despite the general ease of article marketing, there are several "fatal" mistakes you can make that will make all your efforts nothing but wasted time. One of the biggest mistakes is "messing up" your author's resource box. Brad McGovern, Marketing Manager of Article Marketer, offers advice regarding crafting your perfect author resource box.
How to Create an Abundant Flow of Perfect Customers - Click To Read Article
What is the greatest weapon a small business can have in its marketing arsenal? Most marketing experts and small business owners alike agree that the single most cost effective and efficient way to grow any business is with referrals.
Getting Ready To Hire Your First Assistant - Click To Read Article
There comes a time in every entrepreneur's life when they realize they just can't do it alone. They realize they're maxed out - either on time or ability - and there's no way their business will grow until they start delegating some tasks.
Finding Clients in a Down Economy - Click To Read Article
I don't want to get into a discussion of whether or not the economic sky is falling, whether the "recession" is real or imagined, whether it's your "thinking" that is keeping your business from growing. The fact is, many of the small business owners that I've spoken to recently are having a hard time finding new clients at the present.
Engage Readers To Increase Open Rates - Click To Read Article
Email remains one of the most cost-effective marketing media we have at our disposal. But getting your messages into your readers' in-boxes and getting your subscribers to actually read those messages continues to be a struggle.
Email Marketing - Optimize Your Sending Schedule - Click To Read Article
As an email marketer, you probably spend considerable time testing and optimizing your email content, your email layout and design, the calls to action within your email message.
But do you ever stop to consider *when* you're hitting the send button? I'm not referring to the best time of day or the best day of the week to send your message - although that is an important component to consider. When I'm referring to is your email campaign schedule.
Email Marketing and the High Price of Irrelevance - Click To Read Article
A huge buzzward in email marketing lately is relevance. When you're not sending relevant messages that your readers care about, you see your unsubscribe rate increase, your spam complaint rate increase, your open rate decrease, and your ROI plummet.
Email Marketing Tests to Get You Started - Click To Read Article
If you’re utilizing email marketing, you should be utilizing email testing. But it can seem complex and costly, and many small business owners aren’t quite sure where to start. If you’d like to use email testing, but aren’t sure where to start, here are 4 of the easiest tests to get you going:
Do-It-Yourself SEO: Be Careful With Your Keywords - Click To Read Article
If you're trying to optimize your own website - and I strongly believe that all entrepreneurs and website owners should at least be familiar with optimization techniques - then there's a great possibility you've been researching and studying and reviewing all the information you can get.
Developing an Effective Email Marketing Strategy - Click To Read Article
Email marketing is an excellent tool for growing your customer base, growing your brand and growing your sales. But just like any tool, it's most effective when it's used within a plan. If you started off in email marketing without a clear-cut strategy, here are 4 ways to get back on track by the end of the week.
Business Planning - It's The Second Quarter, Do You Know Where Your Business Is? - Click To Read Article
Can you believe the first quarter of the year is almost over?! When you look at your business, the amount of money you've earned, the number of new clients you've added, are you 25% to where you want to be for the year? If not, why not? And what do you plan to do about it?
Can Your Web Site Pass The Ecommerce Test? - Click To Read Article
Want to improve the conversion rate of your e-commerce website? Make sure you can answer "Yes" to the eight questions below.
Choosing a Split-Testing Platform That is Right For You - Click To Read Article
I often talk about the importance of split testing your web pages to ensure that you're earning as much as you possibly can from your website. Split testing can be as simple as running a page for a few weeks, then replacing it with a new page and seeing which one converts better.
Best Practices For Your Email Newsletter - Click To Read Article
Email newsletters are relatively easy and inexpensive to produce, but that doesn't mean they're fool-proof. You'll need to deal with CAN-Spam laws, delivery problems, rendering issues, etc.
8 Steps to Getting Your Web Site Crawled - Click To Read Article
In order to analyze the content on your web site and figure out which pages to display (and in which order) for certain search terms, the search engines (SEs) use a program called a web crawler.
6 Steps For Managing Your Search Marketing Campaign - Click To Read Article
Your search marketing campaign is not a set it and forget it effort. To be effective, pay per click search marketing requires continual attention. Here are a few things you should be doing on a regular basis.
8 Copywriting Tips the Pros Use - Click To Read Article
I would highly suggest you add at least one proven sales letter to your marketing arsenal. To get started today, just follow these simple, proven steps that the pros use.
A Shared IP Address Isn't Always So Bad - Click To Read Article
If you have any interest in email marketing, you've probably heard me extol the virtues of using a dedicated IP address for sending your mass communications. The rationale is that if you're using a shared IP address, you're basically at the mercy of every other marketer who is also using that IP address.
5 Ways to Get Unstuck in Your Marketing - Part 1 - Click To Read Article
Most of our small business activities involve right-brained thinking. We run numbers, we analyze, we crunch data, and we do all the "stuff" that we do as the technicians of our business.
17 Tips For Email Subject Lines That Grab Attention - Click To Read Article
Just like a headline for an advertisement, your subject line's only job is to get the email message opened. But how can you possibly stand out from the crowd in that jam-packed inbox?
5 Adwords Mistakes That Literally Flush Money Down The Toilet - Click To Read Article
Google AdWords offers an excellent, cost effective option. Cost effective, that is, if you do it right. Steer clear of these 5 common first timer mistakes.
12 Tips To Get The Most ROI From Your PPC - Click To Read Article
Pay Per Click campaigns are not set it and forget projects. Without advanced planning and continued monitoring, they can become extremely unprofitable.
5 Incredibly Easy Ways to Add Fresh Content to Your Web Site - Click To Read Article
You probably know by now that your web site needs to be updated on a regular basis. Updating your site is vital because search engines love fresh content. Here are five incredibly easy ways to add fresh content to your web site. Some of these ideas take a bit longer than others but neither are difficult.
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Purpose of Value Propositions
