Promoting Your Website With Newsgroups

Did you know that there are over three-billion pages indexed by Google? Even more surprisingly, Google indexes do not even come close to encompassing the entire Internet. The bottom line here is that there is a lot of competition out there, so it’s wise to use a variety of methods to market your e-business. If you do, it is very possible to promote your website successfully. One of the techniques you can use is Newsgroups. Properly used, Newsgroups can represent an extremely powerful and important tool in your web-promotion armory.

What are Newsgroups?

Newsgroups are essentially Internet message boards where Newsgroup users come to discuss topics that are of mutual interest. Usually, each particular Newsgroup is dedicated to a single topic or subject matter. Content consists of messages posted by its participants. It is possible to find several active or ongoing discussions about a range of subjects within a single Newsgroup. These discussions are referred to as “Threads”. Any user can start a thread, post messages to an existing thread and comment or reply to the postings of others within the Newsgroup.

Newsgroups evolved by consolidating the old style electronic bulletin boards that existed on the internet when it first came into vogue. The resulting Newsgroups of today are simply a collection of these bulletin boards. Today, just those Usenet discussion forums or Newsgroups indexed by Google, comprise over 800 million messages. It is estimated that over ten-million people regularly participate in Newsgroups. Usually, Newsgroups are formed with a certain mission in mind, and its purpose is typically outlined in the Newsgroup’s Charter. Again, most Newsgroups focus upon a single subject. But, there can be many individual Newsgroups that share an independent focus upon the same topic. While some Newsgroups may be moderated, which means that somebody controls the postings, most are not.

Using Newsgroups to promote your website

There are many, many Newsgroups, so no matter what you’re promoting, you are very likely to find a Newsgroup that will be a good fit. Perform a search using a keyword related to your online business from the Newsgroup’s Search Page. The result will appear in inverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top. As an online business, you can benefit from the effective use of Newsgroups in a number of ways. For example; you can establish yourself as an expert in your field and discuss your online business.

People tend to prefer doing business with someone they regard as an expert. Make postings in these relevant Newsgroups on the topic you choose, and answer to the questions posted. After awhile, you will find that many people begin to regard you as an expert. Always sign your posting, using your name, and include your URL. This will encourage participants to visit your website. Remember, you can represent yourself as an “expert” in any almost any subject you choose. But you will need to offer reasonable answers to questions you may be asked. Most importantly, have fun and make friends. Incidentally, friends would rather make purchases from friends.

The idea is to make valuable contribution to the Newsgroup and in doing so, promote your online business. Ask questions that you feel may be useful to others and post responses to messages that are informative and thought-provoking. After awhile, you could build credibility among your fellow Newsgroup members and start seeing a steady flow of loyal customers.

Another useful technique is to use Newsgroups to conduct surveys. And, Newsgroups can be a great way to exchange marketing information. By asking questions in relevant Newsgroups you can find a way to figure out what people think about your website and your products. This can result in new customers.

You can also find Newsgroups that are dedicated solely to announcements and promotions. Use these to increase visitor interest in your website that can result in new customers. Promote your website by discussing its interesting features, functionality, products or services.

Newsgroup dos and dont's

Exercise care in what you post to Newsgroups. Prior to making your first post, read through the Newsgroup’s posting rules and perhaps some of the postings too. Some Newsgroup users can be very protective of their group, so never post non-relevant messages. This will be considered Spamming. If you give the other users the impression that you are spamming their Newsgroup, you are likely to be promptly censured.

Here are some basic Newsgroup guidelines:

When posting a response, do not deviate from the original topic.

Don’t post commercials, advertisements or press releases unless the Newsgroup specifically allows them.

Do not post the same message in multiple relevant Newsgroups (cross-posting). This may be considered spamming!

Quote only the portion of the message you intend to respond to, not the entire message.

Before posting a message, double-check spelling and grammar.

Do not post non-relevant messages. This may be considered spamming!

While posting a message, be specific, concise and intelligent in your subject line.

Include your signature with each posting. This is one of the ways you promote YOUR website!

Paid Blogging: Is This A Scam?

This is someone elses, it is always good to read another perspective


Paid Blogging: Is This A Scam?
By Daniel McGonagle

For those of you who are new, this is the time to start making money through blogging. Profiting from paid blogging is rewarding not only for bloggers, but for advertisers as well. The controversy with paid blogging is more of an issue of the trust a reader has in the blog they read. One of the great things about paid blogging is that the offers/opps give you some great writing prompts. Well there is no doubt in my mind that paid blogging is here to stay and it will definitely have the potential to create many future bloggers who are paid for their writing. Blogging has becoming a way for regular “Joes” to generate an income. Profiting from paid blogging is rewarding not only for bloggers, but for advertisers as well.

Blogging

A new form of online advertising has emerged in the form of paid blogging. The three most important websites associated with paid blogging are ReviewMe, PayPerPost and SponsoredReviews. Thus, while in the case of ReviewMe, advertisers select and contact bloggers, in case of PayPerPost, bloggers themselves make their offers to advertisers after selecting from the posted blogging opportunities on PayPerPost website. If they meet advertiser's conditions they are awarded blogging reviews. But if you're going to make a career outof blogging, you've got to earn money -- enough to live on -- doing it.

Here, paid blogging is a respected job and many rewrite 10-15 posts daily to make ends meet. Like it or not, paid blogging is here to stay.

Source: http:// ezinearticles.com/?Paid-Blogging:--Is-This-A-Scam?&id=574736