Have you ever wonder just how many articles and blogs are written each day? Honestly no one really knows. I have read that in recent studies some claim perhaps 50,000,000 a day. And I am not exactly sure where the line between blog and article cross or separate.

But the number is really not that important and the fact is the number is gigantic. But how many are being read and how many are having an impact? That too is impossible to measure in some ways, although there are tracking programs that can give you an idea if you were to type in a specific site. So to get a number of each site and the posts that are on it would never happen.

So what does this mean to article and/or blog writers? Well frankly the totality doesn’t matter. What should matter is whether you are being read.

Some may ask however, “if there are so many millions of things to read, doesn’t that affect whether my posts are being read?” Logically speaking, yes that is true. Practically speaking, you can’t worry about that, but, there is something you can do about it though.

“Really?”

Really, really! Regardless of if your writing is a fun hobby, a side job/project, or a job you can do things to help your cause. And it can be summed up in one word: Be Professional.

“I don’t work for a news organization” you say ? Or you may say “I am not qualified to be a professional”.

While in a technical sense this may be true that is not what being professional means in the bigger picture. Yes you may not have a degree in journalism or be an English major. That does not mean you can’t be a professional in your writing and blogging.

Now depending on how serious you are, you may give careful thought to taking writing and writing related education. But that is only part of being professional in your Internet writing and blogging. It is a collective effort and concept.

Being a professional Internet writer and blogger is a matter of doing all the things that are necessary to get your article or blog on line and presenting it in an inviting manner. Of course there are levels of marketing that are important also.

So ask yourself, how thorough am I in seeing my writing all the way through from writing, presentation, to marketing? Do I write the best article I can? Do I review the creativity level, the relevance, and the captivating power of your writing? Do I make an honest effort to use good grammar and proper spelling? Do I work at my craft?

Do I understand the options I have of where to place my writing? Do I know that there options? What do I know about the Internet and putting up a web site? How do you market a web site and/or your article? Where do you learn how?

Do I realize that being professional will make me standout, even among the millions of other writers ? What more can I do to be professional in my Internet writing and blogging?

Remember beyond improving as a writer, focus on consistency, being fresh and current, relevant, accurate, interesting, creative, detailed oriented, do the small things, and stay on top of the entire strategy. While it is perfectly okay and normal to write for your own expression and enjoyment, readers will respond if you do it for them also.

And honestly that is part of the challenge and fun of writing, knowing how to balance the two. You need to look at a potential audience as customers. Your writing is a product. It is a form of entertainment. True people read to gather information they ultimately read to enjoy the experience.

In order for them to enjoy your writing they need to know it exists. That means you need to know how to make that happen. Then they need to be lured in with a pleasing presentation. That can be on your site or another appropriate site. Last but not least the article needs to be well thought out and well written.

You know what? This may seem like a daunting list of boring and arduous tasks but it really doesn’t have to be that way. Being professional is more rewarding than many realize. And you can do it. You will be glad that you did to!

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

Remember the old song titles signs? The basic point was not to judge people solely on their appearance. Each verse gave a scenario to help drive home the point.

For example on verse is about a sign that says Help Wanted and that long hair freaky people need not apply for the job. And the fictitious verse continues by saying that a long hair gentleman tucked his long hair up into a hat and went in to apply for the job. He apparently gets hired and then he reveals his long hair, as if to suggest that the company would have not hired the same guy if he did not hide his hair.

There is naturally some truth that you can’t judge people by their looks. However at the same time the song fails to communicate another reality. You cannot deny that we are sending out a message about ourselves by how we present ourselves.

So whether we like it or not people are going to respond to the way we present ourselves to them. The same is true in our Internet business. Regardless of if we are relying on that business for our bread and butter or if it is just a hobby.

Take the making and selling of Arts and Crafts for instance. Clearly there are many people doing this full time but just as clearly as there are many doing this for a hobby. Regardless the question is, what do you want out of it?

Of course it is safe to assume you are looking to have fun. And that is fine. Even if that is the only thing you want out of it. It is likely though that if you have gone to the point of selling your items than you have moved beyond the fun only motive. After all, if it is purely for fun only why bother trying to sell your items?

That said by selling your items it may allow you to get more involved with your hobby or it may turn out to be a nice income. So why not analyze your approach to the whole project. Are you getting the most out of it?

Chances are that many of you could gain so much more just by polishing up your presentation. Yes be more professional. Which by the way, does not mean you have to be a full blown company. It simply means putting a vibe out there that you care about what you do and you are thorough with how you do it.

It means in your case that you will be attentive to what people want. You will try and accommodate orders and have them done when you say it will be done. You will also have no problems getting them their purchase in a timely and reasonable fashion.

It means you are not going to come across like you are doing them a favor and that is really a burden on you to sell them an item. It means you are going to answer questions as well as you possibly can. You will be honest with them also.

For example if you can’t do something for them you will unashamedly tell them you do not feel that you can deliver what they want. Or you could offer a possible compromise or alternative. Nevertheless you will be absolutely sure that you are going to get them something they will want and enjoy.

It goes without saying if you are honest and reliable you will not misrepresent yourself or anything you do. Your web site and web information should be easy to follow and up to date. I can’t tell you how shocked I am at the companies who don’t keep there web site current. And guess what? I don’t buy anything from them. For starters I wonder if that reflects their attitude on other things.

And so it goes with all of these things. Sure there are people who probably don’t care enough to be turned off but why take that chance? Why not separate yourself from the other companies that are lazy and sloppy about there work?

Now some wonder will this suck the fun out of doing it? Does it take away from my personality? If the answer is yes to either of these I would love to hear someone explain how. Be professional is not being robotic or deceptive. Deceptive as in looking the part. Because both of them are unprofessional.

In fact don’t bother putting out the right vibe if you truly are not going to finish the experience. Have some pride in your craft and in your field. The reality is as the rewards increase so will your fun!

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

If everybody was jumping off a bridge would you jump also? Remember your parents and other mature guardians teaching us that lesson?

Well would you jump? I hope not. But let me ask you this. Would you be aware of trend that led to people jumping off bridges at an unprecedented rate? Again I hope so. The point though is this.

When it comes to business and industry we should be aware of trends that catch on. Now not all trends are juts the whim of someone clever or creative. Often times it is an evolution of sorts. When it comes to the Internet these kind of trends are natural. Because as time moves forward there are still many applications transitioning over to the web world. And it is constantly being improved.

So when it comes to starting, managing, or building an Internet business we should notice valued trends. Yes all trends should be noticed. Upon noticing them we should determine what it is that makes it such a lightning rod development and, more importantly, is it going to last. The answer to that will likely be revealed in the practical use of such trends.

Let’s check out a couple. One area that continues to grow is that of E-commerce. In fact we discuss different aspects of e-commerce here at Bevyhost.com. We also are going to include the Auction Site sales in this article today.

Now as we have discussed and will continue to address in the future, there are various phases of commerce that need to be handled with responsible care. One of the key components is the product selection. Now in some cases if you specialize in a certain area of commerce than your product is kind of selected for you. For example if you are a jewelry or shoes Internet merchant than we don’t have to guess what you sell. However both of those are consistently strong items to sell via the Internet.

So if for those in specific niche product, it is also important to know the scope of your market and also you will want to know what the competition is doing to some degree

Often times in the Auction world though there is diversity. In addition this can be the case with a variety style E-tail site. But let’s look at a couple of “hot” items that are taking the web by storm. An item right up on the top or near the top of the list may surprise you.

Information sells people! Yes providing “how to”, or even more traditional information is an enormously successful seller on the Internet. Perhaps in the form of your own subscription web page or a down loadable e-book. Maybe you provide a software program or a digital recorded product. You could offer a newsletter or periodic reports. Any form is a viable product. Why?

• Low cost to develop .
• No shipping and handling.
• Immediate access for customer.
• Nothing to physically store or create a tangible inventory for.
• Available 24 hrs a day.
• Your sales are automatically tracked.
• And if you have no information to sell, it is not as hard as you think to find it.

According to an e-commerce tracker these were some trends to be aware of:

• Software, flowers, music, books, videos, made up 26% of Internet sales. Regardless of the numbers the point is these are “hot” items.
• Reservation type sales are big. Airlines, hotels, and car rentals make up 21% according to the report.
• Office type stuff like office supplies, computer hardware, consumer electronics is 16% of the Internet sales pie.
• Jewelry, home decorative, shoes, apparel are 13% of the market.
• Beauty, health, and food/beverage takes 8% of the lions share.
• Games, sporting goods and toys are a solid 7%.
• Appliances, furniture, gardening items, and tools make 3% of the market.

Again keep in mind the percentages are according to that source and I have no way of confirming the accuracy. But the general list is consistent with the majority of lists out there. These are the items leading the charge. You could use the numbers as general ranking of what is being demanded at present. Also keep in mind the pie is giant so even a few percent of Billions of dollars is a large market.

Remember, that you are not required to sell only items on this list. But you should know what the trends are. The fact is the Internet shopping pool is getting bigger virtually everyday. Yes more and more people are jumping into the mix. More and more people find it easier and more convenient to shop on-line.

This bodes well for everyone wanting to sell items as an e-tailer or an auctioneer (i.e eBay, Amazon etc). And if you have products that are in somewhat lesser demand?

Again let us stress that there is plenty of wiggle room here. For example note that musical instruments is not on the top list. But believe me they sell fairly well on-line. When you get down to it trend tracking is a layered process.

Yes indeed it is. You have the preliminary stage, which we began here for you, and that is taking a big picture look of what is going on. Then you need to examine closer the niche you are interested in. If you plan on covering a variety of items then you need to go into each specific product and see what the trends are for that product. You still with me?
You got homework to do people! Don’t just take a casual stroll through eBay or across e-tail pages. Research your ideas and the products you were thinking of selling. You can even research ideas or suggestions. And believe me there is a boundless amount of information out there to review.

You need to be systematic however. Concentrate on the various aspects. For example: (Not in any special order)

• Product ideas.
• Product launching.
• Product availability.
• Product delivery.
• Product shipping and receiving.
• Product popularity and demand.
• Product marketing.

Look you may have a career ahead of you or a supplemental income. But the on-line trends are telling you that the stock is up in e-tail and auctioning. Why not check it out?

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

And the world continues to go round and round. The amazing thing is that technology continues to bring the world closer and closer. The Internet is a prime example of that. Not to mention it is at the forefront of it all in many ways.

In some ways it has exceeded projected predictions. Some of the applications have enhanced more than the area or niche they were targeted at. The Social networks are a classic example of that.

Obviously the key role the social network sites were created to bring social connections to a different level than ever reached before. Of course, in the beginning many have seen it as a crafted teeny or pre teen outlet. An adolescent “web hookup” I some people’s eyes. Making the first and loudest noise was Myspace.

It wasn’t long before it grew from the “kid’s only Net playground” to a viable marketing and social network. Yeah you read correctly, a marketing tool, one worth looking at and learning from.

In the Close up series we are putting our focus on seeing examples of what people are doing with the ideas that we are interested in applying. Today’s example is Myspace. Remember we took a look at Facebook and Twitter in Part 1.

Now this is not to say you have to have a Myspace page, no, but it is a good idea to see what social networks have to offer and how you can use them. So let’s get on it!

In my opinion Myspace is an outstanding outlet for musicians. So as our first example let’s use a random musician and their web page. First up is http://www.myspace.com/katevoegele. Go ahead a pull that up.

Now, one really great thing about Myspace is that it has been around for quite a while now and the do it yourself lay out choices are a plenty. In fact there are sites that have been created to the customizing of Myspace sites. So when we pull up Kate Voegele’s Myspace page we are seeing her touch, or her people’s touch.

One common feature however on every Myspace page is the “Add to Friends”, and “Contact Me/Send Message” options. Now these are very important on a social site as you want to build up your network so many others will then have a chance to learn about you. For a musician like Kate that is paramount. And as a result she has been very successful in promoting her music through Myspace.

You will also see a place to view photos and videos which is very easy and beneficial to do. She also offers a music widget box. That is also a great tool for musicians to promote themselves and their songs. You can also use your widget to showcase other artist’s music that you enjoy.

Notice as you scroll down she features her shows and her own blog. Myspace also allows you to advertise links. You will see how she takes advantage of that and promotes her music and merchandise through banners. This is a valuable tool for you also. Whether you are a musician or have another business, be sure to feature your links and display your links or your affiliate links on your page. This of course works regardless of it is a Myspace page or another social network page.

Just to demonstrate that it is not all about music check out http://www.myspace.com/walmart_myspace. And then you have this example http://www.myspace.com/heinzketchupbottle. Both sites are examples of how a die hard following can lead to big things.

And then you have the official style pages like http://www.myspace.com/gibsonguitarcorp on the corporate level or http://www.myspace.com/appleipodsny on a store level. And then you have “small” businesses at http://www.myspace.com/laptopbaby. Or something like http://www.myspace.com/bobstarwebdesignsis another example.

In fact take a look at the variation of how they use Myspace for their marketing. I thought bobstart had a truly clever and eye appealing delivery, a nice use of flash and imagery. They also give you the adequate link to their main web site. The great thing is they have enough eye candy to deliver the message as well as the right mix of information. It is not too much and it’s not too little, very simple also. All of these are essential and very useful. They are words to live by.

Now with more emphasis on business you also have the social business network sites http://technorati.com/ and http://www.linkedin.com/. A simple example is http://technorati.com/people/BevyHost.

We can discuss some of the specific features of these sites in future articles.

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

So I’m sitting here humming the old Jackson 5 song “I’ll Be There” again. Seems that every time I think of today’s topic the tune comes to mind. What topic is that you ask? Today’s topic is Internet Consulting.

It’s kind of interesting because Internet consulting is closely related to freelancing. And yet there are differences also. But that is neither here nor there for the purpose of our discussion. And frankly if you are interested in starting a new Internet business you should become thoroughly familiar with the area you decide to pursue. Actually you should do research to decide what field to consider in the first place.

So assuming you have done that to some degree and you have determined you that Internet consulting is for you, and then you should keep reading. Practically speaking, if you are already in the consulting field this article will still be helpful to you.

Naturally Internet consultants benefit from maintaining an Internet presence and an Internet marketing campaign. And we have and will continue to discuss why and how this can be done on this web page. Today however we are going to take a look at how this is being done. As a result you can be motivated and inspired by the success of others.

The purpose of this exercise is not to advertise any specific company or their site but to see an example of some of the things we discuss in word. Yes seeing things does enhance our understanding. So let’s do it.

Without further ado take a look at http://www.wsiconsultants.com/. The Company cleverly calls themselves WSI or We Simplify the Internet. They also have a nice logo. A logo is always good, for if the people at first forget the name of your business, they will likely recall the image or logo.

On the top right of the Home Page on the opposite side of the company logo they provide a site map and a search bar, both of which are valuable and site service friendly for your visitors. Underneath the header is a really cool flash banner featuring their services.

Immediately below is a nice menu offering information on the “Company”, a “Client Showcase”, and a section highlighting their “Internet Consultants”. Under the option of “Our Company” is another menu with further options and informative options. They are:

• What’s New
• Our Approach
• Our Products
• Business Opportunities
• News Room
• Contact Us

All of these options are insightful and relevant. Obviously when you are deciding what to include on your page you should be as selective. They even offer another search tool below those options.

In a section next to the just mentioned menu is a showcase box directed at their consultants. It offers the visitor the option to locate and contact a WSI rep closest to them. This is common I many Internet fields for a site to be group oriented. These sites feature the designated service but also provide opportunity for individuals to offer their independent service in the context of a collective group of your professional peers.

Now checking out another example we go to http://www.spartaninternet.com/. This company site is more a direct site exclusively marketing their professional consulting services. On their home page you will see their logo and title at the top left. To the top right is a commercial slogan. A slogan is always a nice touch.

Below their header page is a tool bar allowing you to learn more about their “Consulting”, “Implementation”, “Experience”, “By the Industry”, “About Us”, and “Contact Us”. Notice again the relevant choices along with the “standard” options most sites should provide.

Beneath the menu tool bar is their banner ad and 3 inviting topics to explore:

1. Get return value on your web site
2. Create a web strategy for success
3. Generate real profits and reduce costs

All of which are common and vital themes in the Internet consulting field. Below and starting on the left is a further breakdown of their consultant offers.

• Website development
• E-commerce
• Web programming

Next to those choices in the 3 box section is a very good feature. They created what they call a performance index. It is an example of the types of things they have to offer regarding web development and performance. This is a spin of a necessary feature that you should provide. Yes, any resume or past references will show potential future clients what you are capable of.

At the bottom of the page you find contact and location information. This is also a user friendly option as some potential clients may prefer picking up over the phone or in person.

Note that both of these sites are purely promotional and a marketing site for their business. They are not using their site for promotion and as a way of earning income through ancillary methods such as affiliate or sponsorship ads. But that is always an option for your web site. Keep in mind though the manner in which you wish to present your company. And also the focus you wish to have on your primary business compared to side ventures.

So all you consultants out there waiting for someone to ask for your help, how are you getting the word out of your services and credentials?

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

No matter where you are at work or play, there is always that guy or girl who is doing things just a little different. And when they are asked what they are doing they often reply, “I’m doing my own thing”. Maybe you are one of them folks who like to do your own thing or “live to the beat of a different drummer” as they say.

Sometimes it is not so much that you are different as it is you have your own pace of doing things. Or you prefer answering to yourself. Or you work better doing what it is you do best. And there is a market for you.

That is because sometimes people just need what is called a mercenary or a hired gun. They just need someone to complete a specific task for them and that’s it. Over time the world of independent contracting was born. In some fields these contractors are called freelancers.

In the Internet world freelancers are most common in the writing, photography, graphics, design, and programming areas. But whatever the field is, the reality is that the freelancer is already doing it or pursuing it. The more pertinent question is how to promote your services and skills.

Part of what we discuss here is the promotion and application of Internet freelancers. But sometimes seeing is another way to grasp the tips, suggestions, and concepts. So the Close – up series is featuring some sites that are related to the various applications of Internet business. Today we are looking at the freelance world.

Keep in mind, as we look at the examples, we are not analyzing the business on the site but just getting a feel for presentation. We are not endorsing or advertising the company or implying you should not visit this site for their business. It is just an example of how to set up your site of a similar pursuit. And some of the examples we present also may be outlets to utilize for your own venture.

So off we go. Pull up a tab for http://www.ifreelance.com/. Like some Internet businesses, a freelance service is a service that uses the web for advertising and promotion. Ironically you can also use the Net to do your thing. This site is providing a place for people to find freelance services and to offer them.

The Home Page is like a directory. The logo is at the top to the left with the site title iFreelance. Across the top to the right is a tool bar menu where you can seek help and contacts as well as log in. Log in? Yes this site is a member site.

The site is broken into two main categories. Topics inviting “buyers” or people looking for freelance help or “providers” of freelance services. The left column has menu boxes for both and a third menu box for the member. Below that is the valuable search bar. And under that is a banner ad that leads you to an affiliate site. A benefit to your site and theirs.

Two sections in the center/right also feature people from the buyer and provider world. The left section showcases service providers and the right section is presenting jobs looking for providers to complete. They are there for members to bid on or express interest in. The bottom of the home page offers help to freelancers find freelance jobs.

There are other freelance sites set up as a directory that are helpful also. And if you are setting up a directory you should check a couple more out. But what if you want to set up your site to promote yourself?

Honestly the vast majority of freelance providers are offering their services via the directory. Probably because the buyer is trained to look there. Now that is not to say that you can’t set up a simple site that features you and your talents. It is just not going to be as easy to promote your service solely from that site. In fact if you click on some of the freelance providers bidding for jobs posted you will find the company behind the bid.

I randomly picked an example of a gentleman who offers freelance services for animation and music. His name is Dave Poler. His web page is found at http://www.davepoler.com/. Let’s go there for a sample of how he promotes himself and his freelance work from his own web site.

When you get to the first page you find a clever option. Since his work involves more complex work he has things to present that require a flash program. But Dave also knows that many people who search the web are not as up to date as he is. So he offers you the option of a Flash version of his site or an HTML version. Nice touch and one that should be considered if you like the bells and whistles. Remember not everybody can upload a heavy flash site.

The home page for the Flash version is very simple and artsy. He offers video files of his work. He also has a short menu of where you can read his bio, his discography, his live videos, and how to contact him. If you go to the HTML version you get a simple text giving you the same menu options of bio, discography, videos, and contact. And you can try and launch the showcase from there. But if you can’t upload it at least you can still find the pertinent information about Mr Poler and his work. He has quite an impressive resume by the way.

Now it is clear that Dave is not using his site for affiliate income. He does not provide any ads for other sites. This one reason I chose him. Not everybody is interested in the same approach. Dave has his music, his video, and his animation freelance work that he is focused on it appears. This may be your approach as a freelance provider.

Another random example is found at http://www.keynoteonline.com/. This site features the freelance services of Deborah. She has a nice eye catching and yet very simple web site telling us about her and her work. On the Home Page is a nice box that makes it look like we are looking at a page in a book. And if you read the 3 word description of what she does you get the image and it’s connection. She offers Typing, Proofreading, and Editing services.

Under the header words she has a smart little nugget to get you to read the entire site. She invites you to a contest or challenge of sorts. She tells you there is a typing error somewhere on her site and that you will receive $50 of free service if you correctly find it. Contests or offers are always good for a web site. And if you can find a creative way, like her idea, of doing it that is all the more power to you.

She provides a to the point About me page along with Past Projects, and a Contact Me page. She added another cool touch by giving you an Eye/Brain exercise page. It was informative and fun. At the bottom of each of her pages she reminds you that she has been successful at her job for 30 years. This is a good idea. She doesn’t make it look like she is bragging or impressing you but she is telling you she is confident and experienced.

Deborah also is not using her site for affiliate ads. And again she appears to be satisfied with keeping her freelance business as her #1 priority. Both her site and Dave’s I cannot imagine require a huge investment and cost either. Both sites have a subliminal correlation between the appearance of the site and their area of expertise. That is important and another reason why the Close – Up series can be helpful to all of us Internet entrepreneurial freelance tigers.

You know who you are. Freelance guns for hire ask yourself am I maximizing the directories and keeping a solid Internet presence?

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

You know the old saying “seeing is believing”? For better or for worse most of us need visual aides to help us comprehend the accumulation of facts and instructions. And realistically there is nothing wrong with that.

With this principle and reality in mind let us apply it to our ongoing review of Internet business. Let’s take a look at some actual examples of web sites that feature aspects of Internet business apps.

No better place to start then with the site you are presently visiting! The Bevyhost Web Master News site. In all practical purposes this site is a professional blog. Let’s do it!

First off, assuming that you are on the page featuring this article in its entirety, take a look at the top of the page. The set up is the same as the Home Page. In the top left you have the options to view the Home, Archives, and Sitemap.

• Home: is self explanatory. This brings you to the Home page of Bevyhost.
• Archives: also probably self explanatory to most. This will bring you to a page that breaks down the visitor’s option by category, articles by month/date, and a selection of most used or popular tags/keywords.
• Sitemap: Features a list or table of contents of posts

Back on our selected article page roll your eyes across the top to the right and you will see a Search bar featuring the Google search engine. Simply type in a topic of interest and it will direct you to pages on Bevyhost that reference that topic. It will also feature some Google ads that are relevant to that keyword or key phrase. This is a very helpful tool to feature on your blog or site.

Under the top “bar” you have a center section of your head section. Prominently featured to the left is the well designed recognizable logo. Every Internet business will benefit from a log that suits your name.

To the right side of the mid header section is a banner ad. We often discuss banner ads here at Bevyhost WebMaster News. A banner ad, is as you can see, a “billboard” style ad that invites people to click on to it for the expressed purpose to visit and read about what the ad is inviting you to see. It may feature another web page of an affiliate partner or another site of your own. It may even just be a shortcut to a specific page on the site it appears on. Many banners also have images within in them but do not have to have them to be effective.

Under the mid header section you have 4 rectangle boxes to choose from.

• Make Money Secrets: A click here and you are brought to a page that features articles designed to earning or increasing your income by way of Internet applications. Like advertising options,etc.
• Web Master Resources: This “box” gives you the option to click on articles or resources linked to 1- Affiliate Marketing 2 – Contest related posts 3 – Domain name Info 4 – On line Marketing articles 5 – Product and Service reviews 6 – Search Engine Optimization and 7- WebMaster Feeds
• Web Master Forum: Bevyhost’s very own forum where Internet, computer, and general topics are discussed in threads that can be fed by anyone who joins or viewed by anyone for their own enjoyment. We will discuss the Forum in a future article.
• The Directory: The Bevyhost directory is like a table of categories and set up like a standard directory overall.

As you take the time to digest the Bevyhost Web Master News page you will see many other goodies. Of course as you scan the right side of each page you will find a collection of notable banner ads. Each ad is featuring an affiliate and even offers you a space to feature your web page.

Also woven in among the pages are carefully placed Google adsense ads. Usually they are a one line tag text that offers a link for you to go to. Very much like a banner ad but simpler and less “in your face” by some peoples standards. On Bevyhost they are blue color and are underlined and let you know they are courtesy of and set up between you and Google.

The Bevyhost Web Master News site is also clever and a good example in other ways. It offers the viewer easy ways to keep up with what is going on by RSS feeds or email alerts. It also invites you to their Twitter site.

And that’s not all! On the bottom of the feature pages you will find 4 handy boxes.

• Making Money Resources: Inviting you to relevant articles designed to help you see the potential for income on the Net.
• Affiliate Resources: Delves into some computer/software topics related to affiliate marketing.
• Recent Comments: Features what some are replying. You can offer comments also, a feature you should have on your site.
• WebMaster Forum Feeds: Lists some of the feeds that are on the Web Master Forum feed page.

As you can see the Bevyhost page is well designed and very simple to follow. It has eye appeal and is helpful to pros and amateurs. It offers a bevy of options and thus is well named.

At the end of the day the point of this close up is to help you see the potential for your web page. You see the variety of what to offer and the simplicity you should seek. Now that doesn’t mean your site needs to be a carbon copy of this site, of course not. Take the concepts and the principles involved and mold it to your needs and desires.

If you follow this “template” or example of a professional blog you will be on your way to success!

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

“Dude, you got to try this place out. It was off the hook!” Who hasn’t uttered these words or the basic sentiment? When you did, you were doing some recruiting. Yeah the old word of mouth endorsement is in essence recruiting people to sign on to a place of business.

Of course the world of recruiting is also a bit more than talking people into going to a restaurant or using a certain service. It can be getting people to join the military or to join a member club. It can also be getting highly qualified people to join a company. The fact is: it is a career.

As we have discussed here many times, recruiting also has an Internet presence and the Internet is an integral part of the process. Ironically some recruiting is for Internet applications. For instance getting people to join a member dating site is quite popular. And that is of course something you can do from the comforts of your home.

Here in the Close up series we are taking a look at some web pages that are in an Internet arena and how they present their site to the public. Face it we can read about something and learn a great deal but it is always helpful to see a visual example now and again.

Now this is the part where I remind you that the examples chosen are totally random. We are not endorsing them and we are not telling you not to patronize them either. We are simply pointing out the features of their web page and how it may help you as a guide.

So here we go. While you are reading this article pull up http://www.recruitersnetwork.com/. You will find these types of web sites in many Internet business services. They are sites dedicated to the genre or the niche market in general. It is also a business of its own. This particular site is helpful to recruiters, people who may be interested in a recruiting career/job, and as an overall source of information.

As you first see the Home Page it is very businesslike, which is not a problem of course. Their logo and name are right at the top and to the right. They also have a tag line that gives you a “nutshell” of who and what they are. “The Association for Internet Recruiter” is their tag line. To the right of that they have a banner ad, always a good idea. A banner ad is usually part of an affiliate program. And it is usually more valuable right at the top of the page, meaning you can charge more or receive a higher pay per click compensation.

Under the header is a nice blue tool bar giving you the layout of the site and the choices of areas you can visit. Ironically one of the options is a membership. They are recruiting you. I believe it is free too. Along the left column is a nice menu including a newsletter option to sign up for and a forum. Forums are always a good option. It allows people to ask and discuss things with others and they feel a part of the “team”.

The center section is somewhat of a rehash of the top blue tool bar only with some more specific topics or options to choose from. Along a column on the right is a “must have” item. It is a site search bar. Beneath the search tool is an ad box with some relevant ad sense ads, very easy to set up and a beneficial option. Scrolling down the page you will find some more banner ads made up of affiliates and/or sponsors; always a good choice to offer relevant businesses to your genre or niche market.

Going back up to the blue tool bar at the top of the page: As you scan the cursor over the options you will be given more choices that are related to the “category”. Among them are articles to read and even a jobs section.

Now for examples of the recruiting of on line subscribers that is usually something that is done through an email campaign and/or a social network site. You will find mentions or invites on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace quite often. Keep your eyes open and don’t delete it. No you may not be interested in the site or service but check out the manner in which the recruiter does his pitch. If you are thinking of being that type of recruiter you may appreciate a tip or two. Hey and some of the sites pay up to $30 bucks for a new recruit! That is what my research has found. There may be higher commissions out there that I don’t know about. But I have seen anywhere from $5 to $30 for each new member or subscriber you deliver.

So there we have it, a couple of “see for yourself” tangible examples. The beauty of these type of examples is that not only is it a web guideline but it often offers information of how to get into the field and sometimes helps you to promote yourself in that field. Hey maybe that is your field of dreams!

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

When we read a book, who doesn’t like the pictures? Yes we live in a visual society and therefore we like to see examples of things after they have been explained to us or while they are being explained to us.

In the first article of “Close up” we examined a professional blog and the benefits of what it had to offer. Today we are going to look at another example. This time our web page is offering to help you get into and cash in on the affiliate market.

Now let me state up front that I randomly chose this site for an example and I am not endorsing it nor am I condemning it. I have no connection to it nor does Bevyhost in any way, shape, or form. So please do not put any extra meaning into the fact that we are using this other than an example of how one can feature the affiliate market.

Ironically this one caught my eye because it is an example of affiliate marketing and selling the concept of affiliate marketing at the same time.

Click another tab and pull up http://www.affiliatetips.com/. Yes it is a real web site. And again, we are just looking at it and its features for the purpose of this article.

At first glance we see a nice contrast of color mixed in with a white page. The top features their logo and their business name along with a couple tag ad lines; simple and positive message. Instantly you get the idea that they want you to get. They are telling you in a couple lines that this site is going to help you make money by using the right or best affiliate programs. They are also telling you it takes some work, “not magic”, but that you can do it. Notice they do not tell you it is easy or fast, because it isn’t that easy and fast.

The first paragraph under the logo is their mission or purpose statement basically, that’s always good to do. Unless it is painfully obvious what your site is for, you should tell people why they need to use your site.

In the box to the right of their opening paragraph is a list of affiliates or affiliate programs. Yes the site is stating it is going to guide you to the best affiliate sites and right out of the gate they give you a Top 10 list, Bada Boom! Naturally they provide the links for your convenience. Part of what they want is for you to use one of these as they will earn some cash for recommending them. Now note that does not mean that these people truly don’t believe that these programs are the best. They really may stand behind their claims.

On the column that occupies the space along the right side of the home page you will see a site search bar at the top. This is a must on any site. By typing in a keyword or phrase relevant to affiliate marketing it will direct you to the places on their site that cover that topic or include that keyword or phrase.

To make it even easier that column along the right side of the page provides a table of contents of sorts. The tables are broken into categories, articles, tools, and even spreadsheets.

Back up to the top but below the opening “what we offer” paragraph is a box showcasing some feature articles. Continue to scroll down and keep your eyes focused on the left side of the Home page you will see how they showcase more feature articles but they have broken down into levels of understanding for you. They have beginner and advanced articles. Adjacent to those choices are guides/reviews and the most recent articles.

Continuing down, still on the left side of the Home page you see another example of affiliate marketing. There you see a couple Google adsense ads. And f course, they are ads about affiliate marketing. I love it!

Now scroll back up a little bit and let’s look at the features below the Top 10 list, basically in what we call the center section of the Home Page. There they have provided you with a couple program tools. Tools that some will already know how to use and others will learn how to use. But it was clever to have them there for all levels of experience, for they are useful tools.

Under those toll boxes and still in the mid sections is a yellowish box. I thought this was another clever presentation. They created a feature of the month ad. If you missed the fact that they had this company listed as their #1 affiliate programs you likely will not miss this ad as the color contrast sticks out and the logo is prominently present. In this box or what many call a banner, you get a quick “motivational” pr persuasive reason to check this site out. Yeah you guessed it: that is affiliate marketing.

Scrolling down we see 2 boxes next to each other. These are there to help you use their site to the fullest and get a better education of the affiliate marketing business and its potential. As you can see they break it down into the 2 primary areas you use affiliates. If you are trying to cash in on sending traffic to another business or you are a business looking for traffic to be sent your way. Both are essential to the affiliate market.

The review list that is below the above mentioned boxes is very interesting. It is a review but it helps you get a picture of how affiliate marketing can be dissected and digested. It shows you the niche areas that are covered and maximized in the affiliate world. You have:

• Software
• Education
• Dating
• Mortgage
• Shopping
• Web Hosting

It also helps you to see the areas of how money is made. They score the quality of the programs, the base commissions, and the realistic expectations.

The section of 2 boxes below the review section offers you a couple ways for you to get involved with this site. And the bottom offers you more Google adsense ads. And the very bottom offers some of the standard choices mixed with site relevant options of :

• About us
• Advertise
• Add Program
• Contest
• Directory
• Disclaimer
• FAQ
• Job Opportunities
• Resources
• Privacy policy
• Marketing Tools
• Sitemap

So there is a prime example of how extensive you can get with an affiliate site. Look the driving force of this site is to get people to choose one of the featured programs they review and are discussing. They also hope many will check out the Google adsense ads. And they do appear to provide some useful info on their site.

So do you have a site or sites that you would like to get paid to send people? An area you believe in or are passionate for? A field you are knowledgeable of? Then your affiliate site can learn from this one.

Keep in mind of course this is just one example. Come back here on Bevyhost.com and we will feature some other examples that you can pick up some tips and understanding from. See you around!

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.

You’ve seen them and you’ve heard them. Some are better at it than others. Some are obnoxious and others are inviting. What are they?

They are Southern Rockhopper Penguins! LOL I had you there for a second. No I am talking about self promoters. You know what they say “everything starts at home”. You got to believe in yourself first, right?

Look we are not talking about becoming an ego maniac and self righteous sound horn. We are talking about building a network by creating an identity, getting some credentials and a reputation. In music it is a matter of working your “chops” and getting heard.

Today we are going to take a close up of a site that can help you do that. Yes we could just tell you to do it, and we have. But we are going to give you a visual prop to drive the point home. By taking a look at this outlet you can begin to see how you can use your own site to promote yourself and/or create a site to do that.

By viewing this example you will also see that there are outlets out there that you can join and accomplish this method of self promoting.

While you are reading this article pull up another tab and go to http://ezinearticles.com/benefits/. If you have been playing along with us here at Bevyhost you may recognize the idea of an e-zine. That is rhymes with cuisine or magazine.

Let me emphasize here that we are not endorsing or trashing this web site. We are using it as a simple example. It will show a style or type of self promotion you can utilize but it is just one example.

The top of the page has nice logo and the page is quite simple. White background, black font, and red borders. Some blue text lines snuck in here and there.

The left column of the page is your “table of contents” section. It is classically set up to help you narrow down your choices. The top box of choices is titled “E-zine articles for authors”. The next section below that is “For publishers” followed by “For everyone”. Each section has a few topics to digest.

Under these sections, still in the left column is a search bar. A must for every web page! The next section below offers some of the Google ads that are offered for various types of visitors or users and below that is a product being offered. Offering a product, a gift, a sample, is always a nice way to supplement your self promotion.

The entire middle and main section of this page we are looking at covers a plethora of reasons why you should and how you should promote yourself. Naturally it is accentuating the reasons you should use their site to do so.

For the purpose of this article we do not need to analyze the entire presentation. The point is that they went to a lot of effort to cover all relevant points and benefits they feel prudent.

The concept here is to put your talents and making your mark in action. This is not a blatant, “look at me” or “I’m great because” it is demonstrating your skills through written articles. You are “exposing” yourself! Hey you know what I mean.

If you were to click on any of the number of options on the right column you will see more information that is meant to help you use their site, which is an option if this site appeals to you. But the point again is very simple.

One way to use affiliate marketing to your advantage is to put out a series of articles showcasing you. By you being you and finding outlets to present you, you will have the opportunity to direct people to your site and your business.

Keep in mind if you are not a good writer, you always have the option of getting a good writer to help you out. And remember this is about presenting yourself in a practical way, a real life scenario so to speak. By you writing and expressing yourself in an area that you specialize in, people will get the sense of how you can help them and why whatever service or product you have on your site is worth going to! Yeah think about it.

		Subscribe to BevyHost via RSS Feed
		Follow BevyHost on Twitter

Copyright © 2009 BevyHost.com.