I Really Like Using Artisteer!
I use both WordPress and Drupal quite a bit for websites I build. I love these content management systems, (CMS), because #1…they’re free. And #2…they have so much support. There are tons of “plugins” for WordPress and “modules” for Drupal.
Something else I love about them is if you don’t like the way your blog or website looks, you simply change the “theme”. There are a lot of free themes available or you can purchase custom made themes. While I like the ability to use the free themes that are available, I also had a desire at times to “create my own” website look. Unfortunately, I knew absolutely NOTHING about themeing for WordPress or Drupal, and didn’t really have a desire to learn. Well…I had the desire, I just didn’t want to take the time to learn it.
So then a “web designer” friend turned me on to Artisteer. He had been using it to create themes for some sites he was working on and was really impressed with it. The first time I used it I was hooked! It makes it SOOOO easy to create my own themes!
It’s really cool because you have so much control over the theme. Color schemes, blocks and image placements, menu’s, sheet layout’s, sidebar placements and on and on! For those of us who wanted a custom theme but didn’t want to learn CSS, it’s a dream come true!
I will say that the software has felt a little cumbersome at times. Part of that is just the sheer amount of options that are available to you. It can be a bit overwhelming. But the more you use it, the easier it all becomes.
After saying all this, I have to admit that the theme that I’m using for chrishoyt.com was NOT created with Artisteer. I was using this theme before I purchased Artisteer and I really like it for this blog. But…when it comes time for a change, I’ll no doubt be using this software.
Give it a test drive. There is a demo you can watch on the site and you can actually download and use the software but I believe it puts a watermark on the themes until you actually purchase the software. It gives you a chance to try it and see if you like it.
Let me know what you think.
Choosing The Right Domain Name For Your Blog Or Business
When I first started out in internet marketing, I didn’t know the first thing about “domain names”. All I knew is that I wanted “chrishoyt.com”! (Which thankfully was available).
In the years that followed, I learned so much more about domain names and why it’s important to pick the “right” one.
I’ve bought many a domain name over the last few years. Some of those have been pretty good and some were not so good. I’m at the point now where I put a lot more research into my names before I make a purchase. When I’m researching a domain name for a niche, I want one that as soon as it’s indexed, will rank pretty high in Google for at least one or two decent keyword phrases. Now I’m positioned to move to the top of the heap with the least amount of effort.
What does it mean to get a “good” domain name? “Who cares” you ask? There are various reasons for picking the right domain, but one of the most important in my opinion, is the free web traffic that you can pick up if you’ve done your research.
I created a guide that I’d like to give away to my visitors. Please visit this page, provide your name and email address and click the submit button. The guide is nothing fancy, but hopefully it will help people who may not already have a domain name. And if you do have a name, you can always pick up a 2nd, 3rd or more for future websites.
If you download this little document and have questions, please don’t hesitate to use the contact button. I tend to write something like this and I’m blind to the obvious things I might have forgotten to include. (I really need a proofreader!)
I do plan to follow this up with several more documents that will take you through the steps of getting a domain name, making sure it’s available, registering it and then actually setting your website up with a web host. Who knows where it will go from there. So…even if you have a domain name, go ahead and download this guide anyway so I can include you on my list for future documents I put out. I hope to do these over the next few weeks. If you’re just getting into business…these might be really beneficial for you.
Let me know if there are questions and I’ll be happy to try and help you.
Wishing you much success!!!
Chris
Learning PPC With Jonathan Budd – PPC Mastery
If you haven’t already signed up for the PPC Mastery 8 week Intensive, I recommend you hurry and do so! The class will be shutting down soon and won’t re-open until Jonathan Budd and Mark Hoverson decide to do it again, (if they do it again?)
Not sure about Jonathan & Mark? Are they real guys or just people that hide behind their computers and push worthless training courses? This video might give you a little insight into who these guys are and their sincerity in helping others become successful in the network marketing industry.
If your business needs a boost, there is still time to enroll.
Best of luck!
PPC Mastery Course Is Open
This course is now open and ready for you to sign up. If you’re interested in cutting edge training to obtain leads & customers using Pay Per Click advertising, visit the web page and check it out.
The signup for training is only open for 7 days and there are some “early bird” bonuses for those who sign up quick. So if signing up for this class is on your list of things to do…don’t delay!
Expand Your FHTM or Other Network Marketing Biz With PPC
Dollar for dollar, Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising is one of the best “paid” ways to get new customers & leads. Doesn’t matter what business you’re in.
PPC can also max out your credit card or bank account in a hurry if you don’t know what you’re doing!
Google Adwords or one of the other PPC channels, (MSN Adcenter & Yahoo Search Marketing), can get you almost “instant” exposure to all kinds of excellent, targeted leads, but they are not toys to be played around with. I’ve used Google Adwords for a couple of years and have had success, but only because I knew what I was doing. You really have to watch your ROI when you’re using these tools or you can end up blowing a lot of cash for nothing.
I can offer advice if you have specific questions about PPC. I’m happy to do that. And someday I’d like to write a guide on how to use PPC advertising. But to be honest, PPC advertising is “ever changing”…literally, and I simply don’t have the time to be constantly monitoring the changes that are going on, (I feel like I have to read up & re-learn everything each time I go in to create a new campaign!)
I received an email this morning from Jonathan Budd…a heavy hitter in the network marketing. He has created a PPC training course geared “specifically” for the network marketing industry and is about to re-open this course to a limited few, (this is the second time this course has been offered and I understand it was a huge hit the first time).
Visit this site…watch the video and learn more! I wish you much success!
Chris
So Just What Is The Trump Network?
While not a huge fan of MLM’s, I am intrigued by them. I recently found a website that ranks network marketing companies by how they have been performing recently. Looks like they use website traffic statistics to determine whether an MLM is on gaining or losing popularity. One of those companies that has seen a large gain recently is, “The Trump Network”.
So when you see the name, “Trump” in something…you gotta look a little further, right? This is a man who pretty much has it all, so it’s easy to wonder “why” he would have created a network marketing company? But…who am I to question his motives?
The Trump Network promotes health, wellness & weight loss products. Best I can tell from the website, it looks like at this time, it’s about $48 to join which gets you the “Marketer Kit”. I honestly don’t have a lot of details on the compensation plan as it appears you’ve got to request additional information to find out exactly how everything works. Their website doesn’t provide a ton of details.
If you’re thinking this is a “Trump network scam”, I wouldn’t be quite so hasty to jump to that conclusion. Think about it…this is Donald Trump. His name, face and videos of him speaking to everyone are plastered all over the website. I find it hard to believe that someone of his status would be perpetrating some kind of scam? You may not agree with how network marketing works, but I don’t think I’d call this a pyramid scam.
Like any network marketing company, they recommend you start out by telling your family and friends about it. I don’t know about you but I absolutely “hate” the thought of doing that! You’re out here calling on people you haven’t talked to in years, and as soon as they hear you utter the words “opportunity”, they start thinking…”old Bob has gone and got mixed up in some crazy pyramid scheme”! At that point…they don’t even want to hear what you have to say.
Well wouldn’t you much rather promote a product to people that are actually interested in what you are selling? Wouldn’t that make life much easier? And lets face it…you may have a huge family and tons of friends…but you’re eventually going to run out of people to sell to. These are reasons why I recommend you promote your network marketing via the internet. And thats easier said than done if you’re not an internet wiz. There is a science to promoting your business on the web. There are lots of ways to advertise…sometimes that advertising costs money but many times it’s free! Thats what I’m talking about!
If having the “entire world” as your list of prospects sounds exciting, (and it should), then you absolutely must get your business on the web. The best and easiest way to do this is typically NOT what your company recommends. They aren’t in the internet business. No the best and easiest way is to go with someone who has already put together a complete “internet system” that makes it a snap to get on the web and start getting leads quickly! If you’re like most people, you don’t have months to wait around on the leads and income to start rolling in. You need something to happen fast! A proven internet business guru with proven strategies will take the frustration out of the web and will likely be the best investment you can make at this point.
Best of luck to you and if you ever have questions that I can help with, don’t be afraid to ask!
Network Marketing Leads & How To Get Them
If you’ve looked around my blog any, you are probably aware that I wrote some articles about FHTM that gained a lot of attention over the last year or two. At the time, I wasn’t really trying to generate traffic with the articles, but I soon found out just how important these articles were to my blog.
While I’m not a huge fan of MLM’s & Network Marketing companies in general but I know there are a lot of people out there are. What I am skilled at is generating traffic to websites. If your skeptical about that claim, just do a Google search of “fhtm” or “fortune hi tech marketing” and see where this blog ranks, (at time of writing…#2 behind the FHTM company itself). What does that mean? Lots of web traffic and potential leads.
I personally think that if you’re going to succeed in an MLM these days, you MUST be establishing your presence on the web. Sure…you can probably get some leads and sign-ups from your circle of friends…but you are going to be very limited here, right? There are millions and millions of people searching the internet right now, for what you have to offer. YOU can connect with that person or you can procrastinate and let someone else give that potential lead what they’re looking for. What are you going to do?
So I’m going to start offering some internet markeing & traffic generating tips on this blog. Why would I do this you ask? With each article I write, my blog is generating new visitors. New visitors = more money in the way of advertising and affiliate offers that may be purchased via my blog. So yes…I have something to gain by all this, “provided” I give you what you’re looking for. It’s a “win – win” in my book.
So…be looking for tips on creating a blog or website, how to target specific keywords to generate “targeted” web visitors, (you know…the kind that actually want to buy or sign up for what you have to offer).
And I’m intrigued by the world of network marketing and MLM’s. I find myself fascinated by the marketing & promotion that these companies do. I’ve seen some absolutely rabid fans for particular MLM’s and I intend to dig a little deeper and find out why that is. So I’m going to do some research and start profiling some different MLM’s to see what is really at their core.
So bookmark this site and visit when you can. If you have questions, there is a “Contact” link at the top of this page. Let me know what you’re interested in and I’ll try to help. I can’t make any guarantee’s on how quickly I can respond, but I’ll do my best.
Best of luck!
Chris
