Manage subscriptions
You can follow the discussion on From Ebay Link Building to Ebay Traffic Generation: Let the Auction Begin without having to leave a comment. Cool, huh? Just enter your email address in the form here below and you’re all set.
Top 6 Best Sellers
Search Traffic Cafe
Must Read Resources
Killer Recent Entries
- Blog Audit Friday: This Is How the Strong Become Stronger 11
- Lead Conversion Strategies - The Missing Puzzle To YOUR Success 25
- How to Drive Traffic To a New Blog Through a Commenting Tribe 40
- 9 Distractions that Kill Your Blogging, and Why I Hate Shopping Malls 26
- From Ebay Link Building to Ebay Traffic Generation: Let the Auction Begin 23
- Blog Audit Friday: Hail to Video Marketing Queen 54
- Blog vs Website Faceoff: 8 Simple Reasons for Why Blogs Kick Ass 61
- Make Money Blogging: a Dollar Saved Is a Dollar Made 40
- Why Google PageRank Could Be a Thing of the Past 47
- Why Plugins Can’t Help You to Rank Better and What You Can Do About It 52
Connect With Ana
LIKE My Traffic Cafe Fan Page!
You Can Also Find Me At:
I am a wife to a great husband of 13 years (here ya go, now I have to make changes to this sentence once a year), a mother to a beautiful and, no doubt, genius little girl, and a successful internet entrepreneur. I also devoted my life to Jesus Christ many years ago, and He remains my true priority, focus, and hope.
{ 5903 comments }
← Previous Comments
Very nice, Ana. I’m going to look into the commenting Tribe and see if I can find some like-minded individuals to connect with. This is an idea that is so obvious and yet it would *never* have occurred to me.
Thanks much for the info you provide. Peace!
-JG
This is a great audit and it really highlights many things bloggers don’t know about and wouldn’t know enough to ask about. All of these areas are great opportunities for improvement!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Tia - you can’t improve if you don’t know what to improve on.
This series definitely uncovers many things most bloggers have no idea exist; that’s partially why I love doing it.
Ana
Hi Ana,
Another great post with a lot of tools to read about. I use to use TweetAdder and I thought it was a great software. Now I find targeted interest through http://www.twellow.com and manually follow people. Also I use justunfollow.com to cut down on my follow list. I will definately read more about twitter and how to use it to attract traffic.
Sherman
Hey Ana,
Great content here. I’ve been looking for other ways to market my and my team’s blogs. I’ve used those same ping sites and they have helped a great deal in my Alexa Rating.
One plugin that I use for Twitter is called Tweet Old Post which have also been helpful in getting traffic. I will definitely check out those blog communities you mentioned here. Thanks for sharing so much valuable information!
Sherman
Boy do I love Friday’s at the Hoffman House:).
I simply get a kick (and another in the ass for me) out of reading your Audits. Not because you so kindly thrash a blog and try to better it with your ultra-constructive criticism, but also because I gasp at the thought of all the things I’m lacking and doing wrong.
This series just rocks!
And in this particular post, I discovered a ton of new goodies. I didn’t know about http://validator.w3.org/ - so of course I went running to see my structure. And I am officially petrified at the thought of fixing it up!
I also just installed the Smush.it plugin that you recommended - I only have 436 more pics to smush lol! I’m thinking SMUSH THIS right now lol!
I’m still using Disqus which in turn makes me a F#$%@ a no follow and no good for links - still waiting to switch over to ComLuv once my new blog design is done - any day now hopefully.
Let’s not even talk about my lack of SEO and keyword search. So…I re-downloaded your Search Engine Domination report! Looks like I’ve got homework to do!
Anyhow, all that to say: I think Robert may be on the verge of tears right now at the thought of the amount of work he has to do, but I’m sure he’ll be smiling like there’s no tomorrow once he’s taken and applied your absolutely awesome advice here. Actually, he’s probably smiling as well now at the thought of free advice from a Pro.
I’ll be looking forward to seeing the changes he makes on his blog and hearing from him as to how they positively affect it (in due time). I have no doubt that Robert’s blog will soon kick some serious SEO ass and achieve the goals he has in place for it.
I can see that he’s on the right track already with his interesting content and the amount of comments that exist on many posts. Nice
!
Ana - when people turn to you for help or an audit such as this, they know by now what to expect - NO BS or sugar coating but the hard truth! And I for one admire that. I know my blog can be greatly enhanced for I lack a considerable amount of the things you pointed out. But I wouldn’t want someone to simply tell me it’s good as it is. It’s all about learning and improving.
After all, no site is perfect and you’re only trying to reinforce and optimize the professionalism, level, appearance and traffic.
Excellent audit as usual Tzarina
. Always nice to come here and take away such useful information. Thank you!
Best of luck to you Robert.
Cheers
I should just post your comments as guest posts, Ingrid.
I LOVE when you stop by and tell me like it is - how great I am, how much you love my blog, etc. No wonder I look forward to each visit!
I didn’t know you are redesigning your blog; I bet you’ll knock it out of the park like you always do.
I am not a big fan of checking out my blog on validator.W3 - I always find a bunch of HTML errors that need to be fixed. I ended up just outsourcing that part altogether; no reason to pretend I could fix it all on my own.
Sugar coating…
I wish I had it in me! So does my husband.
There are times when sugar coating is great, but never in business, you are so right, Ingrid.
I sometimes get tired of the sweet “Great post!” comments and just wish people weren’t so afraid to truly speak their minds.
I know you are not afraid to and that’s one of the reasons I love your blog so much, Ingrid.
Anyhoo… Have a great day and see ya around!
Ana
Hey Ana,
I assure that my tooting of your blog is genuinely meant and well deserved
.
I have no patience for brown nosing - I’m good at it lol but it’s just not my style. At least not when it relates to my blog writing or comments. In general, I’m polite and respectful cause it’s just the way people should be.
I prefer to tell it the way I see it and although my sarcasm conveniently gets in the way, I’m usually quite diplomatic in my everyday speech.
I don’t do the drive-by “great post” kind of thing. I’d actually rather not comment at all if I have nothing else to say. No matter how good the post is.
Yes, I am indeed redesigning my blog. But for obvious “CSS and friends” reasons I hired a Pro to do it for me using Headway. I actually designed the current one myself except for one little thing and plan to keep the style and feel rather similar with the new one. You can imagine all the emails and requests I had. But again, I work a lot with website companies so I kinda know the process.
Your husband may wish for the sugar coating just as much as my father can wish for the absence of my sarcasm hehe
.
Thanks for your super reply and again for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
All the best
PS - Feel free to use any one of my comments as a guest post haha
I agree with a lot of what is said. Blogs are great as they allow you to post new content to your site which brings in NEW customers. Having said that, blogs need fresh and interesting content, this can be tricky if; A) The market is boring, or B) The employees are not very creative. What’s more, blogging takes up valuable time, so if you are already time poor then a blog may not be a high priority whilst the company is in it’s infancy.
Ana:
This was another great audit. I am confident Robert will take away from this everything he needs to build a better blog. When people come to you, they want the bare knuckles raw truth and that is why your service with this is so precious. Sugar coating never helps anyone, ever. I know with your tips he is going to get it all squared away and see the rewards of making changes!
Thanks, Lisa - I hope Robert feels the same way.
How’s your day going so far?
Ana, this is my first major reading of a particular blog post. I signed up for your feeds a few weeks ago but haven’t had time to do major reading. And I have to say that I will be paying a lot more attention from now on. Such great advice. And I have so much to think about now! I’m going to have to go back and read your other audits, for sure!
One of my goals for this new year is to make my blog the best it can be. I’ve had it up for just over a year now and it has gotten better with time but I know that it is not where I want it to be yet. This audit has definitely given me food for thought. Thanks!
That’s a spectacular goal to have, Danielle - I think I am going to add it to my list as well.
Thanks for subscribing, but even more so, thanks for actually finding the time to read. I know we are overwhelmed and bombarded with information from all sides, but it’s still very important to find time to educate ourselves and continue finding ways to improve our businesses.
I am glad my blog audits will help you get closer to your goal of improving your blog!
Ana
Direct sales has been my life Mavis and you are 100% spot on.
“Its easier to keep the old, then to keep recruiting the new” is the most valuable marketing cliche` there is.
1. Bring them in; traffic generation.
2-infinity. The personal touch is absolutely essential! and you have hit on some key ways to do this.
This is an article that should be passed around to not only those in the business, but those running said business.
Hi Dennis,
That’s great! You do have a lot of experience in the direct sales industry then. Glad to see that you and I are on the same page here
Personal touch makes all the difference. Even big companies send their regular customers greetings cards and small gifts to keep the relationship going. People want to feel appreciated and it’s important connect with them at the emotional level.
Great to see you here and thanks for your input.
All the best,
Mavis
Ana,
Ana,
Another great audit.
Configuring All In One is easy. It looks like it just has not been done.
Not having your title and description done has caused the noindex.
Need to add the home page title and description - this is a great time to tell exactly what your blog is about using your keywords.
The rest should already be configured for you….but you can look to see…
Make sure Canonical URL’s and Rewrite Title Boxes are ticked. Now make sure No index for Categories, Archives, Tag Archives, Capitalize Category Titles are ticked.
Save changes. Now when ever you post be sure to scroll down to the bottom of your dashboard and write the title and description you want the search engines to read.
Thanks so much, Sheila - great to have you step up and fill in the blanks!
Robert, if you have any questions on All in One SEO pack, Sheila is your gal.
Ana
Thanks for your great post. It shows that I am partially on track, but still need to do some homework – space to improve.
I hope for my improvement.Just keep up your good work!
Standing still is never good for business, Seph; glad I prompted you to move forward, even if it’s a tiny step.
Have a great weekend.
Ana
Hi Ana,
This post really inspires me to use Social media, which i have no success at all at it, or maybe because i am never serious at it.
Thanks for sharing.
Kimi.
Thanks for this awesome share, must admit the picture is hilarious.
I totally agree when you say we are the only ones who can make a change, that’s so true and it’s one of the biggest problems when we take no action!
Hope to see you around Mavis
Hi Fernado,
You’re welcome. Funny picture isn’t it?
I’m glad you agree that if we don’t take any action, nothing will happen. We need to make things happen in order to get what we want.
I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment.
All the best,
Mavis
Hi Mavis,
thanks for putting this fireworks of advice together. Calling people and building relationships is highly important - to me it’s one of the most important means of increasing conversion. If we fail in following up (and following through) with people, even a flood of fresh leads won’t help us.
Take care
Oliver
You’re welcome, Oliver. So true and yet many network marketers miss this important component. Networking is all about connecting with people.
I appreciate your comment.
All the best,
Mavis
Mavis - Great job with this article. I might go as far to say that lead conversion is more important that traffic generation. I loved the tip to use a free online webinar service like Frebinar to build trust and increase conversions. Offering discounts and bonuses is also a great strategy that I myself have used and it definitely works. I think the best thing you can do to increase your lead conversion is to do everything in moderation and don’t over do it. Give value first and you will have a hard time not converting your leads into sales.
Hi Jason,
Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words. You need both to build a successful business. To increase your lead conversions, you need to keep driving massive traffic - it’s an ongoing process. And yes, the money is in the conversion process
You make a very good point there - don’t overdo things. You don’t want to come across as pushy and desperate for sales and new members in your team. That will not get you far.
Thanks once again for adding value to this discussion.
All the best,
Mavis
Wow! this is something worth my time. This is a great post Miss Ana. I definitely like the idea of creating your own group and setting it up like clockwork. This will give my blog a much needed boost in social proof.
Hi Ana, my first time in your neck of the woods and needless to say, I’m really, really impressed. I hate to admit it, but I had no idea these types of ‘tribes’ existed. The concept makes a ton of sense and I only wish I’d known about this sooner. I look back on this last year of blogging and realize that I basically wasted my first 6 months because I simply didn’t understand networking. And although I’ve gotten much, much better, this article reminds me I’ve got a long ways to go.
Thanks for the read!
Hello Marcus,
Each one of us commit mistakes in the past, but I believe it’s not a waste of time because it’s always been a learning process. What’s important is that you learn something from those experiences. As to joining a tribe, you can add it to your “to do list” and I’m sure it can help you bring more traffic to your site.
All the best,
Ana
Hi Mavis,
That was a truly powerful post. I think it’s awesome that with determination, hard-work and practical methods, you’ve been able to create the business you want. And more importantly, do it and stay home with your babies.
I have two of my own, so I get where you are coming from.
Your statement “What people REALLY want is a solution to their problem and YOU are the deciding factor between a sale (conversion) or a lost lead” really hit home. That is your end game… to provide a solution! Awesome.
Thanks for sharing this great article.
Hi Michele,
Thank you very much for your encouraging words. I know, that’s the best part about the network marketing business model, you get to do what you want, when you want with whom you want. I love watching my babies grow whilst building my business and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
So true, it’s all about our prospects not us - we are there to help them get what they want. Many marketers make the mistake of putting their needs first rather than their prospects’. It’s about giving before receiving. That’s the formula for success.
Best wishes to you and your lovely babies!
Mavis
Hi Mavis,
This indeed was a powerful post. This industry is about building relationships and showing EMPATHY towards your prospect.
You having a better chance in sponsoring someone by trying to find out what they problems are and how showing how you both can solve their problem versus just sending them emails via autoresponders without talking with them.
Thanks for sharing this valuable information!
Take Care
Sherman
Hi Sherman,
Thanks for your kind words. You’re so right. As network marketers, our goal should be to identify people’s problems and provide solutions. So, we need to talk to people to find out what they are struggling with before we can give them a “healing balm”
I appreciate your comment.
All the best,
Mavis
Wow Mavis… what a wonderful post. You’ve really hit the nail on the head.
When I started on line… there was a lot of Hype going on and any old Guru could send out an e-mail and collect a bundle.
I think the days of “Hype” are over because folks have caught on and have become much more sophisticated in their buying habits. They want to buy from folks who are transparent, folks they like and trust (which has been earned.) Apparently, you’ve not left a stone unturned.
As you have point out so effectively, without building a relationship with your followers, you really don’t have any more to offer than the millions that are doing the same thing you are. Definitely something to keep in mind. Thanks!
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words. Tell me about it, many people have been lied to about how easy it is to make a fortune online.
Yes, things have changed now, you have to be transparent and get people to know you if you want to earn their trust and respect.
I’m glad that you agree with me on this one
Thanks again for your input.
All the best,
Mavis
Mavis,
I enjoyed reading your article post. My blogsite (one of the many) at http://thebestpublishers.com is VERY new. It is an article submission site, so right now I am in the process of encouraging new authors to write on whatever. Since it is an article submission site, it covers many categories. Currently, to keep fresh content, I (and a small few freelancers) are doing the posting. Any suggestions to attract quality guest writers? I need them first. Without quality content, there’s no reason to stop by in the first place…nothing TO convert!
Bryan Hollis Twitter @brphollis
Oh, wow, Ana…one more hit
I have never heard of tribes but it seems like a really, really great idea.
This is going to the top of my to-do list and if I may use this comment to ask (feel free to edit or delete) - is anyone interested in “tribing” with me…we could start from here and try this tactics now
Thanks for this info, this is why I love following you on Twiter (that’s how I saw this post).
Hello Brankica,
Let me thank you first for following me on twitter. I truly appreciate that. About joining a tribe, you can definitely try that and see how it can help you.
Have a great day,
Ana
Hey Ana,
As you know I have been with your tribe from the very beginning, could say I was part of the founding members, and I have obtained so much knowledge from you and everyone else in the tribe. I was one of the few that had very little traffic to my site and just like your blog, I have watched mine morph into many great things. I am so grateful for being part of the tribe and look forward to many more fun and exciting times as we all grow and help each other out.
Hello Ana,
It’s really humbling how each one of us starts from nothing. It’s a nice feeling knowing that we were able to achieve something in a matter of months by helping and supporting each other. I am also grateful to each one of you.
All the best,
Ana
Hi Ana Like Andreas I keep coming back because I always learn something new on each visit
I have started to unsubscribe from those who don’t add value to concentrate on those who do and you certainly do that in spades
So as always thank you for offering the best of reasons to keep coming back, having read last weeks Friday blog audit I am already working on a raft of changes
Thanks for sharing Tony
Hello Tony,
Wow thanks for the compliment. I’m glad that you appreciate my blogs and you find them informative. Just keep on coming back because I have more to offer.
Glad you came by,
Ana
Where I never heard the term tribe before, I do know there are many such groups out there; for tweeting and social sharing also.
Someone above left an interesting remark. lets say a blog in the group rarely writes commentable posts, I really wouldn’t wanna feel like i had to; it would most likely be rap anyway.
Hello Tribe,
The good thing in a tribe is that commenting is not done by force. Once you join a tribe, you have to understand that you are a part of a community that help and support each other through commenting so this is purely voluntary. It is your responsibility as a member of a tribe and we always make sure that every member truly understand that because its for the benefit of everyone.
Thanks for dropping by,
Ana
Hi Susanna, Anna - Cant believe I haven’t read this yet. Funny, I can tell that one fine day I will be in trouble… I’ve always liked Susanna’s header! I love the thorough comb through although I have to throw my hat off to you Susanna for having the guts!! (LOL). Ana is like one of those incredibly sweet friends who all of a sudden puts on her professor coat, tapes on her mustache and switches on a super analytical personality! I applaud you for taking the leap. My problem with most of the technical aspects is that I am a bit of a technophobe, but I am sure you’ll figure it out Susanna.
While I’m here, Ana, a while back you had mentioned you had the name of an outsourcing person who helped you with your errors. I know I have tons and really have no idea how to fix them and would rather spend my time doing other things. Would you mind shooting me an email when you have time please.
good job girls. See you arou nd the blogosphere.
You put a smile in my face with your comment Jayne. I can’t imagine myself a professor as you have described.
About the email, I’ll find time to do that.
Thanks for coming,
Ana
Google ranks a page according to the number and quality of links leading to that page. For example, if your page has 100 quality links leading to it, it will rank higher than another page that has only 20 links pointing at it. Quality links come from pages that are themselves “important” (Google’s own terminology).
I agree, Seph - quality links from relevant web pages are the biggest Google ranking factor at present.
Ana
So, it is surely that to convert the traffic is not an easy task. It needs a good strategy to get a good conversion rate. Thanks for the tips that you list here, it open some idea for me.
Hi Dana,
It’s all about implementing proven to work strategies to increase your conversion rate.
I appreciate your comment and I’m glad you found my tips helpful.
All the best,
Mavis
Hi Dwayne,
I agree. Network marketing is about building relationships and interacting with others. You can’t achieve this without making a contact and connecting with people.
Thanks for your comment.
All the best,
Mavis
So few internet marketers it seems call their leads, they think internet means automation and no relationship, I strongly disagree but I agree with what you are saying here. Webinars are key and you can record them and use them as bonuses later on
Hi Ray,
You’re right. People want to hide behind their computers and expect to create success in their business. It doesn’t work that way.
Thanks for your comment.
All the best,
Mavis
Awesome Guest Post Mavis. These are awesome strategies to get more leads.
I think connecting with your readers is best way to get more leads.
Thanks for Sharing! Keep up the good work Mavis.
Hi Dev,
Thanks for your kind words. The good thing about these strategies is that they be can be implemented easily.
I appreciate your comment.
All the best,
Mavis
← Previous Comments
Comments on this entry are closed.
{ 384 trackbacks }