Using Twitter As A Research Tool
Twitter can also be a great research tool. You can use the search at http://search.twitter.com to find the latest tweets on any topic you wish.
This can be a great way to keep track of new things happening on any topic. Each search has a feed that you can add to your favorite feed reader and automatically see all the new things happening on Twitter for that topic.
Lets say I wanted to know what is said about me. I could go to Twitter Search and get all of the latest tweets directly into my Google reader by just searching my name, then clicking the feed link.
Click where it says feed for this query. Then you can grab the url and add it to your feed reader.
You should be following your name, any product names you have to keep track of what is being said. Yes if someone replies using @MyTwitterID it will show on my Twitter time line but if someone just uses my name Chris Stirling in a tweet it won’t show up unless I am following them.
Always nice to know when someone is saying something good and even more important to know if it is bad.
Now lets apply this tool to blogging. Isn’t one of the hardest things to come up with topics that are of interest to your audience. You can get ideas and questions just from following the latest tweets on your topic.
Writers block usually disappears for me once I have a topic and this can be a great way to generate those ideas.
Tweet Later is another tool that will allow you to monitor your keywords but it will email you the results on a schedule that you set. The easiest way to describe it is as Google Alerts for Twitter. (By the way Google Alerts is something else you should be using.)
Now Tweet Later can do a lot more like auto following, allow you to schedule tweets for when you are away and send automatic welcome message for new followers too. But our topic is research and knowing what is happening in your niche makes staying current easier.
Depending on how you like information delivered either of these tools can be very helpful for keeping abreast of what is new on Twitter for your topic.
You can use these for…
- Topics you blog about
- Products you own
- Your own name and business name
- Anything else you may need or want to track including your competition
Discover The Power Of Twitter With My Twitter Video Tutorials
I’m tired of these people!
You know, I’m getting tired of people running around saying how “easy” online marketing is, particularly long term.
Sure, it’s “EASY” to buy some traffic, write some articles, bookmark your web pages and buy some links to your site, but that’s only the beginning…
You see, there’s little point in doing all this work when your engine breaks down a few months later. It’s like building a sports car from scratch but not putting enough oil and petrol in the damn thing…
…sooner or later you’re going to dry up and slow down, UNLESS:
You “KNOW” how to maintain a solid relationship with your list you’re building today.
You “KNOW” how to create more and more products for the same people.
You “KNOW” how to keep your traffic flowing for years on end, despite the competition.
You “KNOW” how to stop measly competitors from stealing your PPC ads and driving your costs up.
You “KNOW” how to form really powerful Joint Ventures with bigger names in your industry.
…and all of the numerous other tasks and skills involved in this game.
Sure, you can fight on though and to be honest, if you’re a hard worker and dedicated to learning new stuff all the time, and don’t mind shuffling your business around to keep your competition and your customers on their toes, then you CAN make a good business from your niche sites.
Or maybe you want to get your head down and start planning the creation of something super duper big, a novel idea, a new piece of software or technology, a new concept…and just hope it takes off…
…or if you’re looking for something with a more secure future and something that just takes a little common sense and a plan of action, you can try this:
Click Here –> Project Archimede
Now, just like any other online business model, it will take some work and a little bit of cash, but this has to be one of the most “smartest” ways to invest your time and money for near guaranteed profits at the end of it…and the best part is, you don’t have to rely on all the noise and nonsense that surrounds the more “traditional” businesses I’ve just mentioned either.
Furthermore, this model allows you to let OTHER people worry about the long term woes of running a business online, whilst you take the cash and move onto your next exciting new project.
Here’s the link to my full review of Project Archimede where I cover the good, the bad and the ways it will work for you:
Click Here –> Project Archimede Reviewed
P.S. Most folks get bored with their chosen websites and mini businesses online, so they let them go stale. You can not only take advantage of this, but you can also escape the need to ever worry about being in their same shoes again!
What Is Twitter?
Lets start with a definition from Wikipedia.
“Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users’ updates (known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.”
Watch this video for Twitter to be explained in plain English
Now a bit of a disclaimer here. There are hundreds of manuals about Twitter and how best to use it and no one agrees on what is best. Here I am looking only at how you can use this to improve and leverage your blogging efforts.
Twitter can be used for much more than that but that is not our topic here.
So we have the Wikipedia definition and here is my take on it and what a blogger needs to know and use.
Twitter is a micro blog platform. You are limited to 140 characters per post. This forces you to be concise and keep each tweet (Twitter post) to just one topic.
The key to effectively using Twitter is to understand that it is a conversation between people. It is about sharing information. It is not a sales platform although some will disagree with that. I am not saying that you can’t use it to sell but you need to do it the right way.
If all you are planning to use Twitter just as a platform to send out your links forget it now. Just like a blog you need to supply valuable information and build your reputation as a valuable resource.
Do that and when you occasionally recommend something people will be interested. Just send links and very few will continue to follow you.
It works like any type of networking. It is most valuable when you are sorting information about your niche for others. Just like a blog if you find valuable resources from others and let people know about what is valuable to your readers on your blog or followers on Twitter.
Just like off line networking you don’t go to the local Chamber meeting and introduce your business. You talk to people there and ask about theirs. Have an idea that can help them – share it. Do that and you develop relationships that will help your business not because you pitched your business but because you became a valuable resource that others will recommend.
Twitter works the same way.
Twitter can also be very powerful in keeping in touch with what is new in your marketplace. Some of the tools can allow you to follow any topic easily.
Discover The Power Of Twitter With My Twitter Video Tutorials
Twitter Gave Me A Griffin Reader Dock For My iPhone/iTouch
There is a lot people out there telling you there is money to be made from Twitter. They say all you need is a targeted list of Twitter followers and creative tweets to send your followers to links that make you commissions.
Well since I have over 2400 Twitter followers I decided to give this a test.
Here is the test:
Affiliate Classroom 2.0 is launching this week and as a reward to their affiliates they have put together a list of prizes they will give their affiliates for a set number of leads they generate. I figured this was a simple test – I will send out a tweet to the Affiliate Classroom 2.0 landing page and see how many people sign up for the free information they are giving away (by the way the free reports and video case studies are better than reports I have paid for but that is for a different post).
Day 1 I sent out a tweet that read:
Message to my newsletter subscribers: “go download this report” – http://budurl.com/wb7m“
I then “tweeted” out the same message in the morning of day 2.
I did not promote that offer any other place other than those 2 tweets on Twitter.
The result – in 2 days I received 262 clicks on my affiliate link (about 10% of my twitter followers) and 60 leads or 23% of those that landed on the Affiliate Classroom 2.0 page.
Why did this work?
Well there are a couple of reasons.
First: my list of followers on Twitter are targeted to people interested in making money online and/or working from home.
Second: the Affiliate Classroom 2.0 program fits what my Twitter followers are looking for – information to help them make money online.
Third: the Affiliate Classroom 2.0 landing page and free offer was very strong and tested to convert well (hey these guys know what they are doing)
Fourth: My followers know I have a reputation of only recommending high quality offers or products so there is a built in trust factor.
Fifth: the message sent out on Twitter was worded as if I was sharing information that only my follower or subscribers were privy to.
Finally: I don’t spam my Twitter account with offers every day. Most of my tweets are information based such as links to articles on making money from home, or online. I put in personal tweets to let my followers get to know me. So when I send a tweet for a solid offer my followers take action.
This was just a small test of the power of Twitter, but it is proof that when done right your Twitter account can generate income for you.
Are you on Twitter Yet? If so Follow me http://www.twitter.com/stirls (I’ll follow you back – I promise)
Want to learn how to set up and run your Twitter account the right way? Check out Twitter Video Tutorials
Affiliate Classroom 2.0 Review
Anik Singal, the creator of Affiliate Classroom is a well known internet marketing guru, and has created 
some stand out products in his time. The first thing I want to say is that Affiiate Classroom 2.0 is no exception, and truly is the next generation of online learning!
This comprehensive e-learning suite includes not only course work, but the tools, support and community and expertise that can actually get people from dreaming of running a fully profitable online business to actually doing it.
I went through Affiliate Classroom 2.0 myself recently as I was granted early access so that I could review the product, and below I have listed the key benefits for you.
(What I do want to say is that if you are new or even intermediate at affiliate marketing then this course is definitely a must have. If you are already an experienced affiliate (earning over $3000 a month) then this course may not be for you.)
If you are in a hurry == > here’s the link to Affiliate Classroom 2.0
What Is Affiliate Classroom 2.0?
Affiliate Classroom 2.0 is the next generation of online training from Lurn, Inc.
This comprehensive e-learning suite includes not only coursework – but the tools, community, support and added edge that entrepreneurs need to make it from “I want to start my own online business” to “I own my own, profitable online business.”
What Makes Affiliate Classroom 2.0 Different from Everything Else Out There?
1. The Affiliate Resume / Affiliate Certification
2. An Insane Number of Courses
3. More Supportive Content Than You Can Shake a Stick at
4. Fully Integrated Tools
5. A Community Built for Serious Networking
Let’s take a closer look at each of these parts of the Affiliate Classroom 2.0 program
If you are in a hurry == > here’s the link to Affiliate Classroom 2.0
1. Affiliate Certification:
Since they started certifying Affiliate Managers in 2007, Affiliate Managers, Networks and everyone else in the industry has been asking us: Can you certify Affiliates?
They now they can say: Yes!
Affiliate Classroom students receive a “Class” ranking. This tells them, us, YOU and everyone else they are in touch with what level affiliate they are using a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the cream of the crop Super Affiliates.)
They use a combination of testing and real-world action to certify affiliates and give them a class ranking. As students complete coursework and meet milestones, they move their way up the rankings. A Status Bar at the top of every page within AC2 reminds the students of their Class ranking and encourages them to increase it.
2: An Insane Number of Training Courses:
AC2 is loaded with great training materials that show students exactly how to setup their website, generate traffic and drive buying customers to merchants/advertisers in return for top commissions.
Here are the just 60 COURSES inside their training center:
- Is Affiliate Marketing Right for You?
- Affiliate Marketing: What It Is and How It Works
- Monetization: Earning Commissions, CPA, and Other
- Legal & Ethical Issues in the Affiliate Industry
- Email Ethics and Spam Legislation
- Getting Started: Infrastructure, Tools, and Budgeting
- Finding Products
- Merchants & Networks
- Business Entities & Tax Considerations
- Affiliate Business Models
- Paid Search (PPC) Affiliate Business Model
- Natural Search (SEO) Affiliate Business Model
- Email (Opt-In) Affiliate Business Model
- Content Affiliate Business Model
- Comparison/Direct Sales Affiliate Business Model
- Community/Membership Affiliate Business Model
- Blog Business Models
- Niche Research & Selection
- Niche Research Tools: Free & Paid
- Finding Products that Fit Your Niche
- Finding & Evaluating Merchants
- Working with CPA Networks
- Working with ClickBank & Similar Networks
- Choosing a Domain Name
- Affiliate websites: Building a Basic website in HTML
- FTP, CPanel, and File Management
- Website Content & Copywriting Basics
- Copywriting – Articles & Blog Posts
- SEO Basics
- Traffic Basics: Types of Traffic
- Traffic Basics: Keywords & How They Affect Traffic
- Traffic Basics: Metrics & Stats
- Free Traffic: Basic Models and Overview of Methods
- Free Traffic: Natural Search
- Free Traffic: Blogs and RSS
- Free Traffic: Opt-in and Email
- Paid Traffic: Paid Search (PPC)
- Paid Traffic: Ezine Advertising
- SEO: Overview of Best Practices
- SEO: Keyword Research – Basic Methods
- SEO: On Page Factors
- SEO: Off Page Factors
- SEO: Link Building
- Content Marketing: Article Marketing
- Blog Marketing: Overview of Best Practices
- Blog Directories
- Theyb 2.0 Marketing: Overview of Best Practices
- Social Bookmarking: Why and How
- Viral Marketing: Video
- Email: Autoresponders
- Email: Incentivized Lists and “Squeeze” Pages
- Paid Search: Principles and Best Practices
- Paid Search: Keywords, Bidding, and URLs
- Paid Search: Campaigns and Quality Score Issues
- Paid Search: Landing Pages and Theybsites
- Paid Search: Testing and Optimizing
- Paid Search: Intro to AdWords
- Paid Search: AdWords Campaign Setup
- Monetization: Choosing Affiliate Offers
- Monetization: Negotiating Commissions with
- Managers/Merchants
3: More Supportive Content Than You Can Shake a Stick At
Not only is AC2 loaded with courses, they’ve also added a ton of great supportive materials. Just take a look at this list – taken directly from the Training tab from AC2.
- Training Home
- Private Tutoring
- Articles
- Bonus Content
- Case Studies
- Checklists
- Downloadable
- Guides
- Interviews
- Presentations
- Tip Sheets
- Glossary
- Milestone Questions
- Search Content
Students can find everything from articles and case studies on a wide variety of affiliate marketing tools and techniques – to printable tip sheets and audio and video presentations that help reinforce the lessons in each of the courses.
Students can search the entire database of content by keyword – and – they can view lists of related content with each piece with the convenient list of “See Also”materials.
4: Fully Integrated Tools
As if coursework, training and a ton of supportive content weren’t enough – they’re also filling AC2 with a great suite of tools such as:
- Google Match Type Tool
- Key Phrase Multiplier
- Long Tail Keyword Generator
- Adwords Ad Writing Tool
- Keyword List Cleaner
- Geo Keyword Generator
- PPC ROI Calculator
- Type Generator
- Tiny URL
- Page Rank
- Traffic Tracker
- Datalocker
- SBS
Students can put their training to work using our keyword tools, URL tracking tools, a traffic-tracking tool that is easy to implement and understand, and a
Datalocker where they can keep track of passwords, links and other files.
PLUS – Paid students have access to a fully functional, hosting-included theybsite builder. So there are no excuses – students can become affiliates right away!
If you are in a hurry == > here’s the link to Affiliate Classroom 2.0
5: A Community Built for Serious Networking
The AC2 Community is more than just a forum… of course they have a forum…
But, they also have a way for students to build their professional, affiliate profiles. Along with their Class rankings, they track their:
- Websites
- Niches per site
- Promotional methods per site
They’re working to help them build their resume – to use when applying for program and negotiating higher commission rates – AND when finding other affiliates to partner with.
Students can find one another and create profitable “friendships” with other affiliates in the same niche or using similar promotional methods.
They can communicate with each other in the forum – and one-on-one through the internal messaging system.
Affiliate Classroom 2.0 Summary:
All in all I am very impressed with the Affiliate Classroom program and those that join I am positive that it will become part of your daily schedule…
If you’re looking to start not only an online business, but most importantly own a profitable and successful online business then this is worth a look…
If you want to learn more == > here’s the link to Affiliate Classroom 2.0
