Beyond The Basics

OK, lets assume that you now have your website up and running. 

Here are a few other tools that I love, that you might find useful in your internet journey, the first one I wouldn't be without! It may be too soon for you to invest in the others, but being aware of their existance might make searching for the right tools easier when the time comes.

(a) Roboform ($US29.95) - How many times do you enter Login details and passwords while you are online? You use it to access your emails, your bank, your forums, and if you had signed up for everything on this page, you would have registered at Paypal, GoDaddy, HostGator, XSitePro, Cheat Sheet....... Trust me, if you are getting more involved in the internet, and with internet marketing, you will be accumulating logins, IDs and passwords like never before. Painful, yes? The $30 I invested in Roboform means that I don't have to remember these details. As soon as a log in page appears on my screen, Roboform delivers the information for me.  You provide the data once, and Roboform will prompt you to save it and bingo! its there for the next time you log in. I would have to use Roboform 20 times a day - at least.

And if you are like me, you don't like to trust such data to a computer storage device. With Roboform you are able to print out a list of your login details - just in case.  (I live in constant fear of a computer crash and losing date. I am the backup queen!)

(b) Aweber ($US19/month) - If internet marketing is your aim, then you will learn that the key to success is to build a 'list'. That is a collection of names and email details for people who have subscribed (usually free) to get more information from you.  This is called 'opting in' and you will have probably 'opted in' yourself.  This is often done by filling in a small box on someone's website, with the usual reward of a free newsletter or ebook, or bonus of some sort.

From time to time thereafter you will get emails from the owners of that website. Because you filled in that form, and then confirmed it by responding to an email before receiving your 'gift', you have given permission to received further communication. You have been added to that advertiser's 'list'.

You can set up a simple 'opt in' box in XSitePro, but you must have an account with an Auto-responder.  The best, by miles, is Aweber.

Aweber keeps track of all your sign-ups and then gives you the ability to email them all as one group, with news of new products, or to send them a newsletter.  Their statistics measure how many emails were sent, how many were opened, and how many clicked on a url contained in the message.  It will also detail any 'opt outs', this feature being compulsory on the bottom of any emails.  Ethical marketing.

So when you have decided to build your own list, and why let any visitors to your site slip through your fingers? - sign up for an Aweber autoresponder account.

Mmmm, let me see, what else is there....

Clickbank ($US49.95) - If you have created a downloadable product that you would like to sell online, then its easiest if you sign up with an organization like Clickbank.  They will handle the financial transaction advise you of it.  It is up to you to delivery the product, either via a link on a Thank You page you have set up, or manually.  If you are planning to sell squillions, consider using DLGuard (see below) as well to automate the whole process, otherwise Clickbank works fine. 

A bonus with Clickbank is that you can also get others to sell your product on your behalf, for a commission (here is the essence of Affiliate Marketing), usually at least 50%.  Again, Clickbank handles the transactions, including the commission payments.  How good would it be to have 10 or 100 people out selling your product for you, and you still get to keep 50% of the sale price?

NOTE:  If you are looking for products to sell, you can sign up as a reseller at Clickbank for FREE. Browse the offerings til you find something that interests you and then build a website around it - you can sell a product (via a link to the owners website), without having to create it yourself.  Remember, no charge unless you are putting your own product up for sale.

DLGuard ($UD127) - OK, now we're getting serious.  If you have created an information product, whether it be a training course, e-book, software - anything downloadable - then you have to ensure its security from hackers. "DL Guard" stands for "Download Guard", and is a fantastic product that will work with Clickbank to deliver your product for you, once payment advice has been received.  This is a great system that will also delivery a lot of stats on who is buying, and who has downloaded etc.

DLGuard will also be your best resource if you were considering setting up a membership site. It will manage your members, fee payments etc, without any need for you to do anything more than set up the project.  DLGuard will automatically manage the membership side for you. Magic!

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