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How About Adding a Slider to Your Website or Blog? - DailyBlogTips

How About Adding a Slider to Your Website or Blog? - DailyBlogTips


How About Adding a Slider to Your Website or Blog?

Posted: 15 Jan 2016 04:03 AM PST

As you probably know, having great content is not enough to make your website or blog popular. You also need to have a modern and engaging design if you want to capture the attention of your visitors and convert them into regular visitors.

One of the most used design features these days is the image slider. It’s a great addition to any website because it allows you to display awesome images to your visitors with an interactive element, as the images rotate automatically or upon the click of your visitors.

If you are a WP user and want to display the content on your website in the best possible way, all you have to do is to install a WordPress slider plugin. Just select the info you want to display and that is it!

Here are some of the features you will have access to:

– Responsive design
– Custom CSS support
– 38 layer effects
– 26 transition effects for Slider
– Navigation buttons and styles
– Video slide support
– Dailymotion, Instagram and Flickr embed
– Social sharing buttons layer
– Parallax effect
– Carousel effect
– Post slides
– Autoplay
– Layers (text, image and media embed)
– Hotspot layer
– Filmstrip support
– Right-click protection
– Timer bar
– Watermarks
– Slide duplication

WordPress Slider WD plugin is responsive and is sure to display your content at its best across all kind of devices. The slider is rich with numerous layer and transition effects, as well as enables you to display your slides using Carousel and Parallax effects. Fimstrip feature is another great way to show off your slides. Use text, image and media embedded layers to make your slides more functional and interactive, and give your visitors additional info adding hotspot layer to the slides. Image watermarking and right-click protection features will protect your images from illegal downloading and use.With CSS support feature you can add to the slider styling elements.

As you can see, with Slider WD plugin you will be able to completely customize any of its aspects, making sure that the slides behave exactly as you need them to. In fact you can create as many slides as you want and display them using the features that it provides.

A cool aspect about the Slider WD Pro plugin is that you can integrate it as a WordPress widget on the sidebars of your website, which is just a matter of dragging and dropping it into your theme. The Pro version also supports video slides and enables you to embed images from Dailymotion, Instagram and Flickr.
You'll be able to add post slides to the slider, which will help your visitors to see the most successful and most read posts on your website up front, without spending too much time on finding them. If you want to enhance the reach of your posts and spread a word about your website social sharing buttons are there to help.

If you are not using a slider on your site yet, give it a try. To see all its features in action I encourage you to check the slider demo. It will certainly enhance the overall design of your website and provide a great user experience for your visitors.

Wanna learn how to make more money with your website? Check the Online Profits training program!


How to Sell Your Product In the Thousands

Posted: 14 Jan 2016 06:12 PM PST

If you stop to observe people who create products majority of their success trajectories share a similar symptomatic curve. A first product launch, most of the time, ends up to become an utter failure and disappointment.

Niche research, skills, extraordinary craftsmanship in the creation phase… Somehow, all of these fail to fight frustration, which seems inevitable after rearranging the dots to no success.

And after losing our wits struggling with a similar story arc for the launch of our first product, my partner and I decided to dig deeper into what makes a successful product launch.

The article ahead is a very actionable list of methods we used in order to generate leads for our upcoming fitness program. Whereas our first product was completed almost a year ago and had dozens of sales initially, this one, which is still in production, has already a strong list of leads stretching into the thousands.

What we did falls into the intermediate area of marketing tactics, and is something that you can successfully copy and paste.

Abandon the "build it and they will come mentality"

The average online entrepreneur is an optimistic fella. But coupled with ignorance on how a product launch should go, this is a dangerous starting point.

Most of the time, when a first product launch goes to waste, two things tend to happen- a lot of time, energy and money are being thrown away; and there comes this crippling fear of doing it again.

We've been in the same position. Not fun.

However, as much as I'd like to point to luck, circumstances and raise my shoulders, it's easy to realize that the "build it and they will come" mentality is what ruins the show.

Tim Ferriss, the New York Times bestselling author once confessed that this most popular book collected dust for a whole year before he approached with the right marketing. During this year, the book that is now worth millions was worth less than pennies.

And that is how you should look at your product as well. Without the right amplification methods, you can create the cure for cancer, place it on the nicest of web pages, and still be surprised how quiet things can become after the launch.

Know this- though any product can be sold into the thousands, not a single one can be sold without proper marketing.

So let's start…

Refine your online identity

Selling a fitness product is next to impossible if your online profile speaks internet marketing. For that purpose I'm already shooting pictures where I stand around with dumbbells sprayed with lotion.

But it gets more elaborate than this.

Selling a product is much easier when you have a stronger and clearly defined online identity. People connect easier, and they tend to trust you more judging by association. It simply makes sense for them.

But aside from putting pictures that fall in line with your product (look at Pat Flynn with his microphone pic for the podcast), you should rearrange your about page or change the intro on your YouTube channel.

Even tweaking your social profiles (including who you follow and what you post) makes a huge difference.

Finally, try to slightly shift your content creation efforts, creating something that once again falls in line with your upcoming product.

The mail list

You might be skeptical about the role of e-mail when it comes to selling a product in numbers far beyond count. But it outranks other methods nine ways to Sunday.

However though, there is a delicate way to execute it.
We prefer creating two separate lists. And here is why.

The remind list

The purpose of the remind list is to remind people when your product is ready to sell. This increases conversions. But there is a small tweak attached, which helped us to quickly grow the list into the thousands.

The giveaway opt-in

If you have a number of articles where traffic circulates daily, or a bunch of YouTube videos for that matter, you should only place an opt-in box saying:

We are creating X, which is cool because of Y. Leave your e-mail address and you may get it for free or at least 50% off once it comes out.

This alone generated 2000 e-mail subscribers which are basically interested and highly reliable leads.

Once the workout program comes out, we simply send the e-mail to those that won a free access, and the pitch e-mail to those that won a 50% discount.

giveaway-popup

The giveaway pop-up

Basically, this is the same method as the one above, but can prove to be far more effective since the pop-up interrupts attention and forces interaction.

Use words like discount, FREE (with capital letters), and a bargain… Also, frame the wording so that it doesn't create any attachments at all.

Instead of "You will hear from us", use something like "We will send one e-mail letting you know".

The best thing with pop-ups and opt-in forms though- you can A/B test them and refine every aspect of the text, design or placement.

Using someone else's product to generate leads

By and large, this is my favorite tactic for generating leads. And the core of it is easy to replicate.

Simply find a product that is even vaguely familiar to your own, and write a review about it, or film a YouTube video.

Managing to rank high with it, you will bring in decent traffic. Then, simply include the opt-in box, or the pop-up described above, and you end up with a stream of free leads.

To illustrate this, here is how we took a popular fitness product from Beachbody, and used it to generate leads. The extensive Cize review that we created for Lifestyle Updated is a perfect example.

The teaching list

Contrary to the "remind list", this one requires more effort. But the payoff is substantially larger as well.

For the purpose of this list you will create an automated sequence of e-mails that teaches the visitor something for free. Ideally, these free bits should be minimal aspects of your paid program.

If you are selling a course about finding a job, the e-mail sequence can include tips on structuring your CV.

The importance of this list is twofold…

First, you refine leads over time- people unsubscribe, and what is left is a more interested and more targeted audience.

Second, and slightly more important- those who end up interacting with your e-mails, are far more likely to buy once the product sales pitch arrives.

The squeeze page

Like I said though, albeit the creative constraints of this tactic are loose, putting it in place requires effort.

Whereas getting e-mail addresses for the previous one was an easy task, here it gets substantially harder.

Having a squeeze page rectifies that.

The squeeze page has the sole purpose of collecting e-mails. It too, can become the subject of A/B testing. Here is one that we made for our first product.

As you can notice, in exchange for the e-mail address, there has to be something of value being offered. And you can get creative here- a pdf checklist, an e-book, a video series, VIP content, or even a demo of your product.

The real problem here though, is traffic. Initially you will want to experiment with Facebook ads, but it can cost quite a bit if you don't really know your target demographic. For that purpose, Bing ads are far cheaper, and they will help you refine your ad copy and ad structure.

Then, once a person gets on board, the automation process starts by sending the first e-mail. But something else needs to take place even before that.

The thank you page hidden feature

This is a simple page to which the visitor is redirected once he leaves his e-mail address. The design is simple (you might want to include your pic so people start to build the relationship right away), and it basically allows you to say "thanks for getting in".

It is also wise to prepare the visitor for what is about to come.

Example- "you will receive an e-mail with your (goodies) few minutes from now, and another one every Monday".

That way the subscriber is more likely to interact with your e-mails once you send them.

However, the most neglected feature of the thank you page is the share option. And here is how to use it in order to triple or quadruple your subscriber base.

Somewhere on the thank you page you will make sure to place two or three share buttons. Asking your new subscribers to spread the word by clicking. In exchange, throw in some bonuses. For example- if we stick to the "get yourself hired" course, and say we offered a free "structure your CV checklist", this bonus gift could be something in the lines of "a printable checklist", or a template of some sort.

To wrap this up, these methods though seemingly easy require their fair share of work. The alternative though, is building your product with care and passion, only to wait for sales until the cows come home. Remember, any product can sell in the thousands, but not without proper marketing. The methods described above go a long way in making your product be seen by thousands of people.

Slavko Desik is an online entrepreneur who started as an affiliate marketer, only to find the product creating process much more fulfilling and rewarding. He loves to create all types of products while learning more about how to sell them.

Wanna learn how to make more money with your website? Check the Online Profits training program!


Is WordPress the Safest Blogging Platform? - DailyBlogTips

Is WordPress the Safest Blogging Platform? - DailyBlogTips


Is WordPress the Safest Blogging Platform?

Posted: 13 Jan 2016 02:47 AM PST

Whenever I need to learn more about how to improve my own blogs, Daily Blog Tips is where I turn. The website constantly turns me to new tools and ideas that I can utilize immediately and effectively, thanks to the quality of the posts. You will want to check out this recent post on an interesting idea generator.

If you are reading this blog, then you are more than likely using WordPress. That is to say nothing about this blog or its audience so much as to say that WordPress dominates the market to such an extent that most people aren't even aware of other blogging platforms, except perhaps Blogger and Tumblr.

Yet is WordPress safe? Every year hundreds of thousands of websites are compromised or shut down by malicious users, and that says a lot about the state of internet security in today's day and age. How safe can one be with another blogging platform while still creating something people will see?

A lot of that depends on you. WordPress is most certainly the most customizable mainstream blogging platform. You are free to make a lot of changes, but you are also free to make mistakes. There are some things you should know about regarding general blog protection and WordPress safety.

Are Other Platforms Any Better?

To answer the question briefly, not particularly. WordPress has more than three quarters of the market and with a little searching and work can obtain all of the safety feature more expensive platforms have. Some would find it worth it to pay for the services of Squarespace or Svbtle, but extra features do not mean extra security. In fact, there isn't really any well-known blogging platform that beats an upgraded WordPress in terms of security.

That doesn't mean WordPress is safe. What it means is that you need to do your research. There may be exceptions to this rule, and relative security does not mean actual security. Other platforms, such as Tumblr, that are more protected against some types of attacks are so restrictive that one could argue they aren't usable blogging platforms at all. If you're using WordPress already, you might as well stick with it.

Virtual Private Networks

No matter what blog platform you are using, you are vulnerable while you are using a public network unprotected. Your blog will be tied to an account online and likely an email address to go along with it. Both of these accounts (and any other online account that you use online) are at risk because the login information can be intercepted by an amateur malicious user with a sniffer program on a public network. Once a cybercriminal has that information, no good password or security program can stop them.

The only way to protect yourself on a public network is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which is a service that will connect your device to an offsite secure server using an encrypted connection. This connection keeps cybercriminals (and anyone else) out, allowing you to blog privately from any network you want. You will also be able to access any research materials and websites you want as your IP address will be masked, getting around regional restrictions.

The main thing to concern yourself with is getting the right VPN for the job. You need to look for speed, a large number of servers and strong security measures (like military-grade encryption). It's recommended you read some reviews to find the best VPN for any blogging platform.

Plugin Usage

A lot of what makes WordPress great all-around is the plugin support it offers. Enterprising individuals and businesses have developed a vast array of plugins for WordPress websites ranging from security tools to eCommerce solutions to small widgets. If it can be programmed, it is probably out there, and some website is using it.

This isn't necessarily a good thing, and you need to pay attention. Every plugin you install fundamentally changes the functionality of your website or blog. Combined with the popularity of WordPress, this leads to a few things:

-Malicious users develop plugins that are malware in disguise, sometimes with a timed release so that you don't immediately become suspicious.

-Cybercriminals develop plugins that work and are fine, but also contain a backdoor that allows them access into more sensitive information. Alternatively the plugin might collect information (on you or your readers) secretly and send it back to the creator.

-Established and popular plugins are neglected, and malicious users find security holes to exploit to get into your blog.

There are absolutely safe plugins that you should use, but you need to put safety first. If a plugin isn't updating itself, then you should probably replace it. If you don't hear much about a plugin, wait a while and let other people try first. Read reviews and ask people questions. The internet is scary, but it just as often is happy to help. If you use plugins, WordPress is less safe than other platforms unless you are careful.

Proper Management

In what you may see as a trend from the previous two sections, you need to know that this makes proper management of your blog a vital thing for you to keep up with. Regular chores might not be as fun as creating content, but WordPress isn't automatic. It won't be safe unless you are regularly doing these things (some directly blog related, some not):

-You need to equip your computer with the latest security suite. The free anti-virus that came with your computer just isn't enough when you have more than a few of your own files on the line. If your computer is breached, then your blog can easily be compromised through it.

-You need to take some time every month to do a manual review of all blog related files and systems. This includes going through your blog's pages to see if there is anything out of place and scouring through your computer to make sure no one (or thing) is tampering with it.

-You need to be involved with your blog's community. Not only will you gain valuable information about how to improve your blog or website, but you will get a heads up if there is a potential security issue with your blog.

-You need to ask yourself if you can keep up with these habits regularly, as they make up a great part of how WordPress can be the safest blogging platform. You should note that with any blog you may have to deal with maintenance, unless you are willing to spend a lot of money.

Conclusion

WordPress is a changing platform and malicious users are always finding new ways to make life difficult for you. WordPress cannot respond immediately to every threat that comes its way and may take several days to respond to a particularly nasty threat. This results in a tumultuous safety landscape.

Nonetheless, we still believe that WordPress can be made into the safest platform through its adaptability and common acceptance. Other platforms are usually too restrictive to be usable or so open that they are indefensible, making WordPress the default choice, especially given the other advantages it provides for your website.

Do you have any thoughts on WordPress' safety? Has your own decision on the matter been questioned or reinforced? Do you have any security tips that you might want to share with readers? Do you have any stories regarding a cyberattack? Please leave a comment below and join the conversation.

Wanna learn how to make more money with your website? Check the Online Profits training program!