Here is an article that I wrote recently for my ezine. I thought my blog readers would enjoy it…

Top Services for Your Internet Business in 2009
by Debbie Ducker

It is no secret that the changes that have occured with services for your Internet business in just the past 5-10 years have been phenomenal. Those of us that were starting out back in the early to mid 90’s didn’t have that many choices and those that we did have were unbelievabley expensive. Honestly I look back now and don’t know how any one had a chance to get started back then.

Not only do you now have more services than ever to increase your business the old, but still effective, ones have been greatly improved on as well. Improvments such as more cost effective, more features to make your business easier to run, more user friendly so that even the average person with minimal skills can learn to set them up and use them to help increase their bottom line, etc.

Here is a list of the top services for your Internet business in 2009 and why they are beneficial and at times crucial to your success on line.

1. Reliable Web Hosting – Hosting is a server where you will upload your web site and all the files pertaining to it from the page and image files to your products your are selling. And while it may seem like it goes without saying you need a reliable host, you would be surprised how many trying to get a Internet business going will go with a free hosting account thinking it will suffice and that there is no need for a professional service in this area. Unfortunately they will learn the hard way through lost profits that this is the most important part of your business on line. It simply cannot be skimped on.

2. An Efficient Autoresponder System – This is exactly what it sounds like, a computer program or software / script that automatically answers email messages sent to it.  In business they are used as e-mail marketing tools, to immediately provide information to their prospective customers and then follow-up with them at preset time intervals. Or even as the method of delivering your product after a customer purchase. If you are selling any kind of product or even giving it away for viral purposes, this is a vital tool you cannot do without for your business.

3. A Full Proof Prospecting System – This in theory may sound just like the autoresponder, however the leads drawn from this source are different because they fill out your form and expect to be contacted by you. They are wanting to hear from you personally on what you are trying to sell. They know up front they are actually requesting personal interaction with you. Most times it will be expected by phone, but can certainly be done via email as well. This type of system is usally set up via a personalized information capture page, containing a autoresponder form, which will send one message to them letting them know you got their information and then also sends you a copy of what they filled in on the form. You take it from there conversing with them personally, by giving them information, answering their questions, etc. This is proven to be way more efficient because it brings that much needed personal human touch to marketing.

4. A Quality Web Conference Room – To those not familiar with this, it is simply a live chat type software, using  voice over Internet Protacol (VoIP), that allows you to invite people into the room and talk privately with them over the Internet without interuption. While certainly optional to the success of your business it doesn’t take much explaining to see how valuable this can be for you in being able to reach those vital to your services or products at the touch of a button any where in the world. The possibilities are endless from business meetings with your employees to live demonstrations to your customers or even just a feed back and question session for those wanting to learn more about what you offer.

5. Video Productions – If you are looking for a way to break out of the old ways of lead capture and list building, and give your efforts a massive kick, this is the answer. With today’s advances in video production and play back it is easier than ever to have a video on your web site. It will not only give your site a 21st century look and feel it will give you an oportunity to connect in a very personal way with your visitors. Almost as good as greeting them live when they walk into a brick and mortar business. Again while this may be optional, it is highly recommended that you look into the benefits of this top 2009 service for your business web site.

6. Web Site Monitor Software – This again is just what it sounds like, software that will let you know when your web site is not running properly. No web site owner should be without it. It is crucial to your bottomline and should be considered top on your list. With it you will know within seconds of your site going down and can take the measures to get it back up much faster than if you try to discover this on your own.

Take advantage of some or all of the above services for your Internet business in 2009 and watch your bottomline increase exponentially.

Sincerely, Debbie Ducker

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This article can be used for free content on your web site as long as you keep the links within the article and About Author info with it.

In this first post for writing I am going to share an article with you that was published in the Sept/Oct 2008 issue of Canada’s Business Magazine for Women “MomPreneur”… Enjoy and let me know what you think.

Are You Under Estimating the Power Of Blog Marketing?
by Debbie Ducker

Are you leaving huge amounts of generated traffic behind by not utilizing the power of blog marketing? IMHO… Yes!

You have heard all the buzz but is having your own blog really all it is cracked up to be?

Look at some of the, often un-noticed, benefits below and decide for yourself if you could be generating tons more traffic to your sites on-line by having a marketing blog.

Blogs Are Good for ANY Niche – This one may seem obvious, and not much un-noticed, except for the fact that people really do not get it. The power of a blog can help you get traffic to even the most unheard of niches. I don’t care if you are into how to paint a turtle’s toe nails or the finite creating of ant hills! Blogs can help you reach out to any and all that are interested in the same things you are. It will amaze you what your blog will get found on in your particular niche. Do a blog set up right, carry through with some simple constant content creation and add it to the blog on a regular basis and the traffic will come, I guarantee it.

Blogs Create Instant Traffic – Another benefit that seems obvious. However, again, you may not realize just how much instant traffic you can get with your blog. Working with various blog and ping directories can create 100’s of hits just from one blog post. Think what you can get daily with a few good quality keyword rich posts based on the topic / niche of your blog!

Blogs Are Ready-Made Web sites – the blog software used to run the blog makes it extremely easy for those that don’t know HTML to have a complete web site. Once set up, in addition to easy posting of your content, you can also add entire web pages containing whatever you want to put on them… Contact forms, Refer a friend scripts, resources related to the topic of your blog and so on… With minimal if any HTML knowledge needed.

Blogs Create Communities – A community where everyone is interested in the same topic and goals related to that topic. (Provided the blog owner has done a good job of keeping the blog focused on one topic.) Don’t under estimate what this can do for your business. Meeting the right connections at the right time can sky rocket your success.

Blogs Reflect You – Sure you can put up a blog and auto-feed it with content from other people. But the real beauty of having your own blog is it gives you an outlet to let people get to know who YOU are. You can write about anything you like and let the world know what knowledge you contain. Many get lost in the blog marketing concept and forget to just be themselves. If you see something great that day put it on your blog. Ideally it will be about your niche since that is what you are passionate about. But there are no “set in cement” rules about what you post on your blog.

One of my favorite quotes or snippets of information if you will, that I have ran onto during my research of blogging is this ” Weblog owners in the original traditions truly knew how to bring a feast of discussion to the tables of all who stopped by.”

A weblog originally pointed the way to other articles, sources, and resources (some quite obscure) on the Internet. Even more than this, it brought unity to several of these sources and even resolved arguments based upon them. Everything from politics to world hunger was up for discussion with their many facets and differences in opinion worldwide. (Anyone that had a teenager in the mid to late nineties witnessed this first hand.)

Never forget how diverse and even versatile a blog can be and always try to make it reflect you!

However a word of warning for those strictly trying to utilize blog marketing, while keeping it fun never let it stray too much from your focus either, that is your niche. This is the one thing that will define your blog and keep a quality community of people interested in what you have to say.

Sincerely, Debbie Ducker

http://www.duckerpromotion.com

Grab my free report “Beginners Guide to Online Marketing” it is free:

http://bgomsp.duckerpromotion.com

This article can be used for free content on your web site as long as you keep the links within the article and About Author info with it.

My first entry for cooking will be a recipe of mine I made recently. Pumpkin Apple Butter. We enjoy it spread on cinnamon graham crackers for a healthy snack and also on whole wheat toast for breakfast. I make this from apples from our orchard and pumpkin we have grown and frozen for winter. But you can use store bought fresh pumpkin if needed. (Freezing it is not necessary). It won’t work with canned pumpkin that I know of. Possibly if you add some water or apple juice to moisten it a little. If any one wants to experiment with that please let all interested know your results in the comments section. (See below the recipe on how we prepare and freeze our pumpkin.)

Ok so here are the ingredients:

– 4 cups of fresh cooked pumpkin (or frozen if you have put it up previously)
– 1-2 fresh apples either chopped finely or shredded
– 2 cups of light brown sugar (packed while measuring) Some may want it a little sweeter and can add about a 1/2 to a cup more.
– 2-3 teaspoons of cinnamon (to your own taste)

Mix this all together and cook down until apples are good and soft and the mixture thickens slightly. Going for a apple butter consistency, but you don’t want it too thick or dry. I cook mine, at a low simmer, for about an hour to an hour and a half .  Stir often. This will make 4-6 half pint jars depending on if you added more sugar and how many apples and their size.  This can be packed and canned in jars but because it is pumpkin  it will need to be pressure canned for sealing or you can also freeze it in freezer containers.

Use this simple method to easily freeze fresh pumpkin:

Cut the pumpkin in half dividing top and bottom halves, scrape out the seeds. Turn each half cut side down on a large cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Cook at 325 degrees oven for 45 minutes. Remove (turning over if possible to let the steam escape) and let stand until completely cool. Scrape the cooked pumpkin into large bowl and measure in 2-4 cup measurements and freeze. You can use freezer bags or containers either one.

My most recent service has been that of creating short but sweet squeeze pages for clients that need a unique and frame friendly page for using with the various free advertising found on line. Below you will find some samples I have finished recently and also a way to order one yourself if you like.

It can be custom designed from the URL of your choice and will be your’s to keep and use from now on for any advertising you want to use it for in the future. We charge a one time fee of $50.00 for this custom designed splash page. 

This low cost deal gets you a Quality designed splash page or lead capture / squeeze page if you have your own autoresponder service for adding the form to it. (We will do that too.) It also includes a complete graphics package with, a 468×60 pixel advertising banner, a 350×350 pixel advertising large banner and a 125×125 size as well. All images come complete with both the ready to use .jpg or .gif files and the editable .psd or .psp files.

If you are interested in this service you can send your payment of $50.00 via PayPal to:

payments@duckerpromotion.com

Put Squeeze Page in the Subject and the URL in Comments.

Here are a few I have done recently:

http://direct-deposit.windon-vending.com

http://mallpros-winven.shoppers-paradice.com

http://national-online.winven.windon-vending.com

On the last one above I also compiled and created the Christmas Around the World ebook you see featured on the site. (A separate charge of $100.00 applies to this.)

So again…

If you are interested in the squeeze page creation service you can send your payment of $50.00 via PayPal to:

payments@duckerpromotion.com

Or if you have any questions at all I may also be reached by email by Clicking Here.

Sincerely, Debbie Ducker