The SitePoint Tribune #407 Copyright (c) 2008
July 31st, 2008 PLEASE FORWARD
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News, Rants and Case Studies for Web Design Professionals
by Brendon Sinclair
Read the HTML version of this newsletter, with graphics, at:
http://www.sitepoint.com/newsletter/viewissue.php?id=2&issue=407
INTRODUCTION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This week, in all my browsing around the Marketplace and Forums,
I've been running into a fundamental aspect of business at every
turn. Everything I see reinforces one fact just about the
biggest concern in any sort of web business is how to sell what
we offer, and how to sell more of what we offer.
Whether we deal in products, or consultancy services, or clicks
on ads, or lead generation, the question is always the same. And
the basic solution is also the same.
In a nutshell, we have to be noticed. What they don't
notice, they don't buy! This is the principle that's
the foundation of our marketing efforts, is part and parcel of
good business practice, and lies behind all we do to succeed.
So in this issue, I offer some advice on applying lateral
thinking to help you attract notice and make a quick, quick buck
in the SitePoint Marketplace. I found some attention-grabbing
pricing wisdom under the microscope this week in the Forums,
which you can use to boost your sales even more. Finally, in
case you're already flagging at the sound of these
ambitious topics, I'm even going to convince you that not
knowing anything about marketing is a big advantage when it
comes to exploring strategies!
Happy Reading!
Brendon Sinclair
mailto:tribune@sitepoint.com
SPONSOR'S MESSAGE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
* Find Out How to Create Profitable Content Websites *
The Website Revenue Maximizer Kit will show you how to:
* Increase your page views
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* Chain ad networks for the highest CPM rates
* Use affiliate networks for maximum profit
* Pick the best affiliate networks, forum software, traffic analysis tools
http://www.sitepoint.com/kits/revenue1/
IN THIS ISSUE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- Introduction
- ositive Affirmation, Increased Business & and Bonus Karma!
- Marketplace Moments: Stand Out, Sell Fast, and Make a Quick Buck
- From the Forums: Two Marketing Secrets for Success
- Tips & Tricks: Short 'n' Snappy!
- Latest Tutorials
- Hot Discussions
- New Blogs
EDITOR'S PERSPECTIVE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
POSITIVE AFFIRMATION, INCREASED BUSINESS AND BONUS KARMA!
If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times:
ensure you treat both clients and people referring you business
well and reward them for their support. This is a fundamental
aspect of building a business, and not enough businesspeople
recognize it.
And that's not all. Providing this same level of
appreciation to suppliers is also a very worthwhile strategy.
It's just a plain nice thing to do and it's to
your business advantage, as well. It seems to me that everyone
understands the importance of expressing appreciation, but very
few of us actually get around to acting upon it.
Business, like life, is about relationships. Express your
appreciation for a job well done; you'll not only get
bonus karma points, but I guarantee that your business will
improve.
It's not rocket science; it's probably something you
first picked up in kindergarten. People like to deal with people
they like. People like people who like them. Positive
affirmation in business, which is simply a way of saying
"I like you," need demand no more of you than a kind
word, a thank-you card, or a bunch of flowers.
That's not to say that you'll automatically
guarantee yourself increased business opportunities down the
track, because of course it doesn't always work out that
way. Just most of the time. But positive affirmation is its own
reward the worst thing that can happen is you'll
spend $30 on flowers, chocolates, and a card and make someone
feel great!
MARKETPLACE MOMENTS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
STAND OUT, SELL FAST, AND MAKE A QUICK BUCK
I've been looking through the Marketplace [1]for
inspiration, and I'm struggling. Nothing's jumping
out; it's all so boring!
Being boring or rather, having a listing that
doesn't stand out from the crowd is not the way to
attract potential bidders. The whole point of a Marketplace
listing is to get noticed. The idea is to have as many people as
possible see your great offer and pique their interest, so that
you make enough money to retire to your own island next
week.
So, how to snag the attention of the passing bidder? What are
most visitors looking for? Well, put yourself in their shoes and
anticipate what you'd want in their place. I know that when
I browse in the Marketplace, I'm after a bargain.
So, one fantastic way to grab attention and have bidders feel
like they have a chance at a terrific bargain is some
super-quick auctions.
Forget about joining the ranks of the auctions that drag on and
on, while visitors lose interest 30 days, 15 days, even
4-day auctions. Run a 24-hour, no-reserve
auction that'll attract attention and get bids from
people who understand they may well pick up a great bargain.
It's there for a limited time, it suggests excitement,
it's a chance at a bargain now!
[1] <http://marketplace.sitepoint.com/>
FROM THE FORUMS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
TWO MARKETING SECRETS FOR SUCCESS
I noticed this week that an old pricing topic [1] in the forums
has just been reactivated by Googly.
There's an excellent reason for its reactivation the
topic's evergreen relevance to running a business. The
thread is concerned with an age-old question that's
familiar to retailers online and off, from product sites to
telemarketers to supermarkets. The discussion focuses on the
effectiveness of tailoring your pricing as a strategy to attract
the attention of your prospect.
For example, is $4.99 better than $5? What about $495 compared
to $500?
There are a few people on the thread who claim that this
familiar pricing trick doesn't affect them. Just like
there's any number of people out there who say marketing
doesn't have any impact on them. Whether or not this is
true, there's also the proof of the pudding and
these pricing strategies are used because they work.
In fact, research shows [2] they work to boost sales by 15%.
But as always in business, look at what people do and not what
they say they'll do. They're often two completely
different things.
I'm good at marketing because I know I have no idea how to
market things. That's the secret don't be
persuaded by your own assumptions and preconceived ideas of what
should work, based on what influences or fails to influence you.
Because I know I have no idea, I test and measure, test and
measure. Then I implement what works. It doesn't matter
what marketing or advertising strategies work on you, or fail to
work on you. You're not your own market.
Here are the two basic marketing tips that will serve you in
good stead:
- Don't implement what you think will work, because that
would quite possibly be completely ineffective.
- Don't listen to what others tell you will
work what they say they'll do and what they'll
actually do are usually completely different things.
[1] <http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=243072>
[2] <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7522426.stm>
SPONSOR'S MESSAGE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
* How Do You Take On More Projects With Limited Resources? *
The answer is "outsourcing". Dave Hecker (SitePoint Blogger) is not
only an outsourcing guru, he's the author of our latest book...
** Outsourcing Web Projects: 6 Steps to a Smarter Business **
What a better way to kick off 2007 - with the goal of scaling your
business! Learn how draft effective RFPs, get the best rates from
your partners and deliver projects on-time and on-budget using
outsourced resources.
Download a free preview at:
http://www.sitepoint.com/books/outsourcing1pdf/
TIPS & TRICKS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SHORT 'N' SNAPPY!
12 Seconds TV [1] video has arrived on the
block it's currently an invitation-only way to
record and share short video updates.
What I love the most is the fact that the video can only be 12
seconds long! That's a great way to focus your video
efforts on being short, sharp, and punchy.
If you use this service, you'll almost certainly make much
better videos. Less is more in this endeavor as much as
any!
Cuil.com [2] is a new search engine just released by a few
ex-Google top brass it claims to have "more pages on
the Web than anyone else three times as many as Google and
ten times as many as Microsoft."
The site has been generating a heap of buzz (probably due to the
founders' histories with Google) but I can't see
anything that's so compelling that it will even make a
blip on Google's screen.
There's a lesson in this for even the smallest business:
you have to have a very significant and relevant difference to
your main competitors if you are to succeed.
[1] <http://12seconds.tv>
[2] <http://www.cuil.com/>
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That's all for this issue thanks for reading!
I'll see you next week.
Brendon Sinclair
mailto:tribune@sitepoint.com
Editor, SitePoint Tribune
LATEST TUTORIALS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Ultimate Web Site Valuation Guide
by Clinton Lee
Do you have a web business sitting on the shelf? Would you like
to sell it, but feel unsure of its worth? In this article,
Clinton uncovers the mysteries of web site valuation, debunks
some myths, and provides insight (and a useful tool) to help you
succeed in the site flipping industry!
http://www.sitepoint.com/article/1659
10 Tips for Being a Greener Web Designer
by Matthew Magain
In the immortal words of Kermit, it's not easy being green--but
there are ways you can do your bit for the environment. Here,
Matt offers ten commonsense ways to reduce your carbon footprint
... and your energy bill.
http://www.sitepoint.com/article/1657
HOT DISCUSSIONS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To beta? or not to beta?
<http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=561826>
An ethics question
<http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=562184>
10 Tips for Being a Greener Web Designer
<http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=561590>
Learning graphic design
<http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=557845>
GIF Animated Banner Creation ?
<http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=557456>
NEW BLOGS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
News & Trends Blog: INDUSTRY NEWS FOR WEB PROFESSIONALS
W3C Releases Mobile Web Best Practices (3 comments)
http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2008/07/30/w3c-releases-mobile-web-best-practices/
Microsoft's Answer to PageRank: BrowseRank (8 comments)
http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2008/07/29/microsofts-answer-to-pagerank-browserank/
Did Facebook Flub their Redesign? (1 comment)
http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2008/07/29/did-the-facebook-flub-their-redesign/
4 Ways to Beat Google at Search (17 comments)
http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2008/07/29/4-ways-to-beat-google-at-search/
Hasbro Sues Facebook App Scrabulous (7 comments)
http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2008/07/25/hasbro-sues-facebook-app-scrabulous/
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When Design Worlds Collide 
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