How Does It Work?

By analyzing the keywords and phrases in the questions you ask, answer or surf, the system finds similar questions that need answering. Feedback is also taken from user actions on the “Suggested Questions” usage.

This new feature will be evolved and I believe will become a cornerstone advantage for Blurtit as the longer the learning the better the match. As always, feedback most welcome please.

A Demo Of “Suggested Questions”

Check out the new feature on Blurtit

Release your logo into the air as a bubble with Flogos. Thanks Tim for the link

Site: BackofTheNet.info
Communtiy: PES and FIFA (football games) on the Xbox & PS3 (players community)
Current montisation channel: Adsense
Size of community: >10k
Strengths: Active community; Links from xbox.com
Owners comment: “We get [>5k] unique visitors a day, most of them come for FIFA information, and the others are returning members. We have a custom built shoutbox (ajax + php) which gets most of our page hits as it’s where members go to chill out, chat, and arrange games & stuff.”

Ideas On Revenue Channel Growth

Ok, off the bat, this is a challenge. Gaming users want to play games not click ads, pay for upgrades, so we’re going to have to get pretty creative and try out lots of things. Key point here is try lots of new ideas, and trust the data you get from testing.

1. Increase The Community Size

Get more members, lots more. To give yourself the best chance you are going to need more users and traffic. Simplify the home page making a a sign up form with information why they should sign up and post sign up take them straight into the action. Also consider letting users get involved without signing up initially.

2. Build a Premium Feature

With enough loyal members a paid premium feature builds an instant revenue channel, and if that product is virtual you build it only once and sell it thousands of times, giving a huge gross profit (like software, drinks or wordpress themes)

Idea (i) – Paid Membership
By winning games all members earn virtual money, but to spend it on the site, (on cool stuff like virtual stadiums, fans bases, cups and medal cabinets etc), they need to become a paid member. This is same model as club penguin runs so effectively. There has to be real value to warrant the user wanting to spend their virtual money.

Idea (ii) – Gameplay Recording and Publishing App
Perhaps a stronger idea is to build a paid app to make recording and publishing goals (and other gameplay) super easy & and have these goals published on your site. This software would be expensive to build but may have application not only in football games but all types of console gaming and once you have built in once you can sell it again and again.

3. Simplify The Site

Streamline the site, take out anything unnecessary, make the design as professional as possible and benchmark it against the competition. Make the site clear and direct into the core proposition you are focusing on.

4. Chat Monitisation

Try monitising the chat system, Meebo is offering a simple way of doing this but I’ve haven’t tried it.

5. Content Library – Build The Adsense Revenue

Build a huge gaming library full of useful football gaming content and get your users to help you. Backofthenet has links from xbox.com so must have some level of search authority. Capitalise on this by building out an excellent resource which will gain traffic from search. This search traffic can then be monitised through adsense or what network or affiliate scheme works best. Blend the adsense ads, make the links the same colour as your normal links and put them in the navigation places for high CTR.

Trial, Error and Time…

To turn this site into a revenue machine is going to take lots of hard work, a splash of investment into new models, time to roll things out and building on ideas that work. In my view it can be done, but you’ve got to be in for the long haul. Good luck!

Su.pr home screen


I’ve used the service and it works really well. The benefits are:

- Post links direct to Twitter and Facebook status updates from Su.pr
- Get analytics data about these posts including optimum posting times for future posts
- The URL shortening service frames the page and put other popular content from your site alongside
- Get stumble opportunities from Tweets or Facebook updates
- SEO friendly and personal site URL shortening options (eg. http://yourdomain.com/a8kjk)

Unlike the Digg URL shortening where the benefit is only achieved if you get enough Diggs to reach the front page, Stumbleupon shorteners encourage stumbles, and a smaller number of stumbles equates to traffic from Stumbleupon.

The URL redirected page:

I’ve always been a fan of Stumbleupon although they are commonly forgotten as a social network. Su.pr should bring it back to the limelight. Using it for simple status updates on your blog via Twitter and Facebook will definately help the best content get more traffic, without any extra work.

No prizes for guessing from the following analytics graph when we really started to focus on the site:

So what changed at the end of 2008?

We made the site better for the users.

Making a site better for the users is a great way of making it better for search engines, and the multiple benefits are increased traffic, increased page views and happier users.

Breaking down the key improvements:

- Made it easier for users to ask and answer questions through simple interaction with the site

- Highlighted the best content making it easier to find using the data held in the web analytics

- Improved the design, redesigned the site to make it look cleaner and got rid of clutter

- Improved the navigation to give it greater depth

- Focused on the core proposition by retiring “feature creep” features and functions

It’s easy to get lost in the complex developement of site features rather than focusing on what it actually does. Simple is often better.

Step 1 – Collate the List

Collate the list, including screenshots or images as required. In the space tutorial we have the title, description, link URL and image data fields:

Step 2 – Work Out What Format is Required

Work out which type of HTML formatting you are going to use, in my example I’m using normal paragraph formatting plus <h5> for the titles giving the following HTML output for one entry:

<h5><a href='http://dinyctis.deviantart.com/art/Planet-Tutorial-3131869' target='_blank'>Planet with Solar Glow</a></h5>
<a href='http://dinyctis.deviantart.com/art/Planet-Tutorial-3131869' target='_blank'><img src='http://designreviver.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/planet1.jpg' /></a>
<br>Beginning with a simple rock for texture this design created a new world with clarity and great detail.


Step 3 – Use Excel to Format the List

Use Excel to code the HTML from the data fields using formulas. Use “&” symbol to add strings of text together to make links:

="<a href='"&B3&"'>"&A3&"</a>"

And continue to construct the image code in the same way:

=E3&"<img src='http://designreviver.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/"&D3&"' /></a><br>"

Then use the “if” statement to check if there is an image and output the correct code:

=IF(D3="","",G3)

Carry on to complete the rest of the HTML in the same way and use the final column to add all the code from the first entry together. At this stage make sure you haven’t made any errors by testing the HTML by copying the output cell at the end. If you are unsure of this step download the example spreadsheet and look at the formulas in columns E to K.

Step 4 – Copy The Formulas Throughout

Copy all the formulas down from all formula columns from the top line throughout the list so each line with data now has formulas.

Step 5 – Copy & Paste Into Wordpress

Copy the final column and paste this directly into the correct part of your post, make sure the HTML tab is selected in the Wordpress editor.

Save the post, preview and check out the results. Normally a bit of editing back and forward to ensures you have the result you want.

Changing the List Type

Once you’ve got the hang of using the “if” statements  and adding text strings together with “&” you can build custom spreadsheets for different post types. For example in my 122 Marketing Tips post I produced a bullet pointed list with many sections using this spreadsheet.

Downloads

Space_Image_Top_List_Post_Example.xls

Bulletpoint_Top_List_Example.xls

Why save time and use the spreadsheets above to make your top lists.

Happy listing!

The list has a definite online slant (I don’t have much experience in offline). Many channels are low cost or free just requiring time to get them going.

Please Help: Do have channels and ideas to add to the list? Please contribute your ideas in the comments at the bottom of this post

Search Marketing

• Paid Search or PPC – Google Adwords, Yahoo Search Marketing, plus lots more smaller players
• Search Engine Optimization – The best advertising channel for many businesses
• Local Search – Free local listing on Google Maps

Blogging

• Blogging – Showcase your products or expertise through your blog. Works great for service based business in which information can be given away
• RSS – Feed out your blog content direct to RSS subscribers
• Link Bait Content – Generate buzz and links through content
• Guest Posting – Guest post on authority blogs
• Paid Blog Posts – Reviewme

Social Networking Sites

• Stumbleupon – Paid and free models
• Twitter – Follow and connect with prospective customers and keep in touch with existing
• Facebook Ads – Demographic and geotarget ads can work for DM
• MySpace Ads
• Facebook Profiles/Pages – Apps / fans pages / personal profiles
• Mass Social News Sites – A story on digg or reddit may bring your site down!
• Niche Social News Sites – Eg Sphinn for SEO
• In Social Apps Ads – Socialmedia.com, fbx
• Forum Signature – Advertise in your forum signature

Email

• Blanket Mass Email – This is spam, so don’t do it.
• Email database – buy/rent – Send your message to an opt in bought database
• Email Shot Sponsorship – Sponsor a targeted website’s email shot
• Email Newsletter – A regular reason to stay in touch with your customers
• Application Emails – You can add marketing messages to other automated type emails you are sending out
• Targeted Sales Email – The better researched and targeted your email (recipient and email copy) the better
• Personal Email Footer – Add marketing messages at the bottom of your emails

Content Promotion

• Podcasts and itunes
• Online Videos – Start a channel and publish on YouTube
• Articles – Submit articles to ezinearticles & other article sites
• Teleseminars
• Free eBooks – build a targeted database by giving something away
• Question and Answer Websites – Yahoo Answers, Blurtit, Answerbag, WikiAnswers

Online Other

• Web Directories – Dmoz and Yahoo
• Widgets & Toolbars
• Virtual worlds, Secondlife – Would love to hear if this has worked for anyone
• Text Ads
• ISP level advertising – NebuAds
• Behavioral Targeting
• Spyware / Adware
• In Game Ads
• Gamevitorials – Make a Flash game for your brand

Mobile

• Mobile Search
• Mobile Ad networks
• Bluetooth Push
• Mobile Apps – iPhone and Android Apps
• SMS

Viral

• Viral – Google ‘will it blend’ for an example
• Viral Seeding – Paid version seeding the above
• Viral Loop – Gold dust, if the application spreads itself like Hotmail

Online Display

• Banner Ads – Remember to try the ad exchanges for low CPM’s
• Video Ads – Embedded ads in videos
• Popups / Popunders
• In Line Ads – Kontera, Vibrant Media
• Contextual Text/Banner Networks – Google Adsense
• Blog Ad Networks – BuySellAds, Federated Media
• Niche Banner Ads – Eg w00tmedia.net for cult websites

Online Marketplaces

• eBay – Sell anything on eBay
• Amazon Marketplace
• Supplier Portals – Wholesale/Import/Export Portals
• Service marketplaces – Get projects from elance & guru
• Classified Ads – Free ads on Craiglist, Gumtree & Google Base
• Niche Online Storefronts – eg Dreamstime for Images

Online Networking

• Linkedin – Build a network and Inmail rocks
• Niche Online Communities – For example econsultancy
• IM – Instant Messengers – Build your contact lists MSN, Gtalk, Skype

Distribution Channels

• Wholesalers
• Exporters
• Retailers

Online PR

• Local and Industry Directories
• Profile Page Promotion – From Wikipedia to Flickr
• Blog Reviews – Get your products reviewed by top bloggers to generate buzz

Offline PR

• Entering Business Competitions
• Corporate Events
• Interviews and quotes in Publications
• Writing for Publications – With a bio of course!
• Publicity Stunts
• Celeb Endorsements

Partnership Marketing

• Online Affiliate Programs
• Joint Ventures

Networking

• Corporate Entertainment
• Personal Networking – Build a great black book & keep in touch
• Tradeshow / Seminars – Go to events, places & seminars your clients are going to be & rub shoulders

Tradeshows

• Speaking engagements
• Stands
• Tradeshow Sponsorship
• Run Your Own Seminar

Promotional Material

• Flyers
• Branded Items
• Catalogues and Brochures
• Business Cards
• Stickers
• Promotional Gifts

Signage

• Vehicle Lettering & Car Stickers
• On Site Billboards – Construction industry standard
• Store Front Signs
• Walking Sandwich Boards – Also pointer sign holders

Cinema

• In Film Product Placement
• Pre Roll Ads

Television

• TV Ads
• Program Sponsorship
• Product Placement

Radio

• Radio Ads

Radio

• Program Sponsorship
• Product Placement

Outdoor Display

• Road side billboards
• Underground or Subways
• Buses and Vehicles – Regional target via routes
• Restrooms Billboards

Sponsorship

• Team Sponsorship
• Awards Sponsorship
• Bursary Sponsorship

Direct Marketing

• Directory Enquiries SMS Sponsorship
• SMS List Marketing
• Telesales Cold Calling
• Mailshots
• Personal handout
• Door to Door Cold Calling

Print

• Magazine Ads
• Newspaper Ads
• Publication Product Placement

Directories

• Yellow Pages – Plus other large directories
• Trade Directories

Doing Business Well

• Word of Mouth – If your product is awesome it will spread
• Referrals – Ok, so it’s the same as the above