Templates Vs Keywords

Ok, I know I've rambled on about the importance of keywords in other posts, but this time it's different, I promise!

I've noticed a disturbing trend lately of webmasters somehow thinking that flashy graphics are more important than words on a website. WRONG!! It doesn't matter how pretty your website looks, if no one sees it (yes, I've said that before). It's going to be your WORDS (specifically your unique, keyword rich content) that will bring the search engines, and their searchers, a' callin'...

Case in point: there is a popular script that many people are using right now to build their website that comes with only one default template. I've read site owners who are using it complain that everyone's website looks the same and they can't get sign ups because of it, so they scramble to change the look of it in hopes that their new graphics will attract more traffic.

The problem is that the template itself doesn't attract traffic...the words do. Search engines can't actually "see" what your website looks like! So then there were all these webmasters with now great looking sites who were still getting no visitors because the wording in the default template was the same and they were getting hit by duplicate content penalties left and right. Sure, they LOOKED different, but as far as the SE's were concerned they still all seemed the same, so they got buried.

My approach is the exact opposite. I use the default template with just a different logo, but I completely change the wording throughout the entire site. I make sure it is SEO'd for maximum effect with my keywords and that it gets indexed for the written content without any dupe penalties.

The result? While everyone else was complaining, I was getting 20 sign ups an hour when I first launched it. Even now, after things have died down, I'm still getting around 100 UV's a day of highly targeted traffic from the SE's looking for what I have to offer, and that adds up to $$$!

Conclusion: Don't get hung up about how your site looks to others (unless its REALLY ugly! lol). Instead, concentrate on writing good quality, original, content with keywords and phrases that people actually search for (always do proper keyword research first!). Good luck!

Turn Links Into Cash URL Shortener

I know a lot of my readers use a url shortener, like tinyurl, when posting their long affiliate urls or hard-to-remember links around the internet, especially when space is limited for posting, like on Twitter, so I thought I'd write about an alternative where you can make a little extra money for using this service instead.

The site motto is Turn Links Into Cash at Turnlinks.com and it works like this: Sign up for free and create a shortened url by inputing the one you want to change and simply click "convert my link!". You will then be given a very short, easy to remember link to post anywhere you would normally put your referral links, such as on blogs and forums, and it won't look like an affiliate post!

Now, here's the best part: Besides the obvious url shortener advantage, you also make extra money for promoting your own links!! Each link page displays a small banner or linking code from an advertiser at the very top and that revenue is shared among everyone promoting those ads pages. So, you are still promoting your own stuff, but there will be an ad at the top-frame that you get paid for having there!

You can learn more about it on the Turn Links info page. To your success!!

Cpalead Adult Gateway Widget - Adultaccessnow.com

Well, it's finally here! The Cpalead adult gateway widget at adultaccessnow.com is set to be the biggest thing to hit the industry in years! It's still in beta and I was approved as one of the first to test it out, so I'm still "looking under the hood", but it appears to be exactly like the set up at CPALead.com with the only difference being the dashboard colors and the surveys themselves.

I'll keep you posted on how well I do in the future, but right now there's not really enough offers to give it a fair assessment. I'm letting you know about it now because if you apply early you can be among the first to try something truly revolutionary online!!

Cpalead Wordpress Plugin

For my first post of the year I'd thought I'd clear up 2 technical questions that I get asked quite frequently about using Cpalead with blogs. The question usually goes something like this: How do I insert the cpalead gateway code in my Blogspot or Wordpress blog?". The answers are unique for each platform.

For WP, you can download and install the Cpalead Wordpress Plugin to give you full control over which posts have the gateway and which ones do not. You simply upload it to your plugins folder and then activate it in your Wordpress dashboard. Then go to settings and fill in the fields with the title of your post and paste in your code and click create. That's all there is to it! You can choose specific posts or entire categories using this plugin!

Another way with WP, if you just want the gateway to appear in ALL your posts without specifying anything is to add the code to your theme's "single.php" file. That will work for MOST themes, but a few will have a different file name for posts, so you may have to dig around to get the correct one for the theme you are using. The easiest solution is just to stick with the Cpalead Wordpress plugin though.

If you intend to use Blogspot/Blogger instead, then it's a bit trickier. One simple method is to add an html/text widget and just insert your code there, but that will put the gate way on your entire blog, which not everyone wants to do. You can also paste your code directly into your new post in "edit html" mode at the end. While that does work, it also presents an interesting problem if you have 2 or more posts back-to-back with a gateway, as they will pop up at the same time and crash. The solution is to have no more than 1 protected post showing on the homepage at one time or to use a homepage entry that leads to that post.

I've created Cpalead Blogspot sites where I only show one post on the main page and from there I link to individual blogposts. How do you do that, you ask? Easy! You just use the edit timestamp feature to make sure that post is always your latest one. It works great for anyone trying to give their blog a more static and less "bloggy" presentation, such as when you are building a downloading or ebook store site where you always want your direct product links to show on your homepage at all times.

That's it for now. I hope everyone has a happy and prosperous year!!

Seasons Greeting Home Earners!

I just want to shout out a warm Seasons Greetings to all my readers and others who earn a living working from home! Cpalead paid everyone early this month, so we all have money for Christmas! My check was over $500 this time, so I'm going out to buy some presents for my family (yes, I'm cutting it a bit late! lol)

I'll be away visiting my friends for a few days, so I wish everyone all the best for a happy holiday and I'll write again in the new year!

Take care!

Looking For Website Promoters

You'll notice that my blogpost title today looks like a classified ad copy. That's because I'm currently looking for website promoters to help ease my workload during this busy season. My online "empire" is expanding at a rate far exceeding what I can possibly do myself and I'm hiring a few outsource workers to lighten the load.

I will provide all training, but you must be competent and reliable. I tried outsourcing my work before, but it was a disaster due to unreliable workers who just didn't complete the tasks assigned to them and it took more time for me to fix their mistakes than what I saved from them doing it for me in the first place!

Long term placement will be given to anyone who excels at what they do and there is potential to earn as much as $300 a DAY, if you are willing to work at it. This does NOT involve signing up for anything, as I'm not looking for referrals or affiliates. You will be working for me directly.

If interested, contact me at: "info(at)adegreeofsuccess(dot)com" and let me know your strong points. Thanks!

Affiliate Degree Earnings Proof

It occured to me that I used to post a lot about the Instant Degrees affiliate program back when I started with them over 2 years ago, but I've never posted any of their payment proof. I remember that my best month with them was around $800-1000 in commissions earned (over $3000 in sales), but this month is a much smaller $184.50. Still, almost $200 ain't too shabby for 1 month on just one network, right?

This affiliate degree earnings check posted here was received a few days ago for what I made last month (they pay monthly) and these kinds of online degree programs work best if you have sites with traffic in the late teens to early 30's age demographic, although it can work for anyone looking for a career boost.

Have a great week earning money online everyone!

WorkFor3Dollars Payment Proof

Well, it's Tuesday and that's payday for the WorkFor3Dollars (WF3D) list builder program, so I thought I'd continue with my earnings posts and show theirs for today. They don't pay by paper check, so I had to show my Alertpay screenshot for this one.

My WorkFor3Dollars payment proof is only $3.12 USD because the cashout is at only 3 bucks, so it never gets very high, and this is from an account under my main one. Still, it's an easy way to make a few dollars and they do payout on time, like clockwork. Even when the admin was away on vacation in the summer a few months ago he still made sure everyone got paid!

Since this program works best by members helping to promote each other, here are a few affiliate links to join under, and rather than ask you to join me, I simply ask you to pick someone else from my team and we can all help each other to succeed!

Links to learn more:

http://workfor3dollars.com/earn
http://workfor3dollars.com/readmore

As always, to your success!!

If At First You Don't Succeed...

The old saying "If at first you don't succeed, then try again" is even more true when trying to earn a living online. There are literally so many opportunities to make money on the internet that it can sometimes feel quite overwhelming! I know when I first started years ago that it felt like my head was spinning just figuring it all out.

Much of the learning process involves simple trial and error. However, that can get expensive if you start investing a lot of time and money into things that just don't seem to be working out for you. My general rule is that if I don't see a positive return within 3-4 months, then I abandon that project. I know some people will get on my case about that one, saying that it can take YEARS for something to pay off, and while thats true, there is also a saying along the lines of "you can always get more money, but you can't buy more time".

In other words, my time on Earth is limited, and there ARE ways to get more income that don't involve the long wait. So, keep trying, but don't waste too much precious time on something that clearly isn't working for you. Everyone is good at something, so it's a matter of finding out what works for YOU personally. Just because someone else claims to make $1000 a month selling affiliate products does not mean that it will come easy for you. Perhaps your strength is in promoting an idea, or writing content, or running a forum online, or any one of a number of things...try and you'll succeed at SOMETHING eventually!!

As a final note, this all applies to anyone trying to get accepted into a prestigious CPA network like CPALead as well, since they reject more applications than they accept, now that so many people are trying to get in. I can't stress this enough: It IS worth the effort!! I'm making more with them every month and the latest affiliate who joined under me is already up to $37 earned so far today, which is awesome for a newbie!

Even I got rejected the first time I applied, but that was because my site was down at the time they checked it (bad hosting and I moved the site right after that). Almost always when someone gets denied it's simply due to lack of information on the form. Put down as much as you can about your internet marketing experience and qualifications (like a job application), and make sure there are no mistakes (Jacqueline, if you're reading this: you put your email addy where your website url is supposed to go, so there was no site to see!). Everyone can simply apply again...there's no shame in making mistakes, but don't give up!

If at first you don't succeed...you know what to do!! :)

Cpalead Payment Proof

As promised, here is my Cpalead payment proof in the form of a scan of my latest check for $441.72 USD (as referenced in my monthy online earnings post). The vast majority of this comes from just a couple of main sites that I have their survey offers on right now, but I'm launching a few new ones, so I expect to hit $1k a month early in the new year.

Cpalead is an easy way to make money online without selling anything because it's CPA lead (cost per action) based and not through any sales commissions payout structure. Therefore, you don't have the usual concerns about sale ratios and conversion rates. All you have to do is give your website visitors something for free and you get paid! If you don't have a product to offer as a freebie already, then simply get a cheap PLR item or anything with reseller or giveaway rights and use that.

It's really easy to do and, as always, anyone who signs up under my own Cpalead affiliate page can email me at any time to get mentoring at no charge until you are earning on your own each month. You can't lose with that deal!

You WILL succeed if you try!!