In my recent book “50 Biggest Website Mistakes” that I’ve just launched with Bret Ridgway, we talk about problems with website images one of them being website images being the wrong size and taking forever to load.

If you’ve run into that issue you’ll appreciate this video. If you’d like to find out more about the book visit http://50BiggestWebsiteMistakes.com

In this video I show you how to use Shrink-O-Matic which is a free application you can download obviously I receive no commission for promoting it I simple think it is a good application you’ll find useful.

Technorati Tags: Blogging, Blogs, Bret Ridgway, Human Interest, Technology/Internet, website mistake, website tip

After a lot of writing, many revisions, and lots of updates my book that I have with my good friend Bret Ridgway is FINALLY complete. Our book is the “50 Biggest Website Mistakes we see online business owners make”, this book is my first in this series and Bret’s second.

Bret has a book title 50 Biggest Marketing Mistakes. I thought that was such a great book that we discussed creating the follow up to it and with being a direct response webmaster and web geek and both of us being online marketers I figured this would be an easy task.

Talk about over estimating easy, trying to determine what should be included was way more difficult than I imagined, and once I really got writing that part came fairly easy. I think the biggest difficulty for Bret was improving my grammatical mistakes and adding polish to the segments, IMHO I think he did an awesome job.

We’ve gotten some good reviews so far from the book from people just getting started with a business online to some pretty savvy marketers, Bret and I cover some things we all know we should do and several things we just don’t even think about that many people leave money on the table because they’re not doing this techniques.

To find out more about the book just visit http://www.50biggestwebsitemistakes.com and pick up the first 7 mistakes that we talk about in the book. I’d love to hear your feedback!

Technorati Tags: Bret Ridgway, direct response webmaster, Frank Deardurff, online business owners, online marketers, web geek

I’m planning some new courses for this year. The newest one will be coming out very soon. I do have some updates that I’m getting ready for WordPressStrategies.com with the release of 2.9.1 as well as some more plugin reviews as well as some extra bonuses.

But what I’d really like to know is what should I do next? How can I help? Instead of me telling you what courses I have planned to release I’d like to know where you are stuck and what you would like to know next? Normally I would just ask you to comment below (and you still can if you like) but not everyone is comfortable public posting where they are having challenges so if you Click Here (opens in new window) you can let me know privately where you are stuck.

This will help me know how I can help you best by providing the training sessions or blog posts you want to see more of.

Thanks in advance to posting your challenge.

Technorati Tags: training

This has to be one of the most overlooked mistakes. And it’s not the fact that upsells are done wrong. The biggest mistake is that they’re not done at all.

First, let’s clarify what an “upsell” actually is. An upsell is an offer made at the time of ordering to make additional sales to that visitor.

Think of it like this… If you’ve ever gone to a fast food restaurant such as McDonalds and you place your order for a hamburger and a drink they always ask “Do you want fries with that?”

That’s the best example of an upsell. Think about it – even if you order their combo meal they ask “Would you like an apple pie with that?”

You should have a predetermined upsell item to offer for any of the key items you sell. By doing this, you’re making a suggestion of something that would normally go along with that item that is a no-brainer for them to add without thinking. So they add it.

Of course, by applying this strategy you can increase your sales time after time. In many cases sales have increased dramatically. In one case we offered an upsell and 75% of the buyers took it.

We were selling a $97 product (Affiliate Tool Generator) and upselling a bundled package for a total of $147 which is, of course, an increase of $50 per sale.

Just imagine if only 25% of 100 buyers took the upsell? Instead of making $9,700 you would make an additional $2,425 simply by
suggesting a related item to go along with what they are already buying. The key thing is to make it a related item. You obviously would not offer them steak sauce if they were ordering a fish sandwich.

Another mistake is offering too many items. I’ve seen several websites where you go from one upsell page to another upsell to yet another upsell. Some call this “Upsell Hell”.

This strategy causes major confusion.

Just imagine you go to place the order and you are presented with a page with the upsell with two buttons, “Yes take the offer” or “No, I just want the one item” and then you go to another page with another offer and so on.

After some point you either get to place your order, get confused about what you are ordering, or just get frustrated and leave. Obviously this is not a good thing to have happen on your order page.

So be sure to increase your order totals by adding the upsell strategy to your sales process. Just be sure you follow the guidelines above.

This is an just one of the mistakes from my book “50 Biggest Website Mistakes” check it out at http://50biggestwebsitemistakes.com

Technorati Tags: conversion, marketing tip, Sales, upsell, web strategy

Happy Holidays!!

I hope you aren’t getting too stressed out with everything going on this time of year!

My friend and colleague Valerie Dawson recently sent me two of her most popular products.

I liked them so much that I asked her if she would mind if I pass them along to you. Valerie agreed!

So I’m sending you these TWO gifts, they are really cool!

Here’s what they are:

Gift #1: “Setting New Resolutions That Stick!” Guidebook. This PDF guide shows you:

• The best ways to avoid the 15 common resolution mistakes
• How to stay motivated and on track to reach your goals
• Simple strategies to have the happiest, most prosperous year ever!

Gift #2: “Time Management Booster” MP3 Audio. This relaxing 21 minute program will help you to:

• Stop those time-wasters that seem to eat up your day
• Overcome “overwhelm” and get on top of your “to do” list
• Be a LOT more productive – and more profitable!

http://www.thedawsonmethod.com/frankssgifts/

With all the craziness going on in the economy, it often feels like some things are spinning out of our control.

It is very important to NOT focus on things that we have no control over and to put our energy and focus on those things that we DO have control over.

What do you still have control over?….

- Planning Your Future. Change what is not working by setting new goals to create better days ahead!

AND

- Your Time. Learn to spend your time wisely to accomplish more and have more fun!

You’re going to LOVE Valerie’s goal setting guide and time management audio!

But there is a catch! (however, it’s a good one!)

I want you to share these two gifts with your family, your friends, and your co-workers.

While you’re thinking of it now, just forward this email to everyone you can think of so you can “pay it forward” and share the gifts!

Here’s the page where you can claim your gifts!

http://www.thedawsonmethod.com/frankssgifts/

Wishing you JOY and HAPPINESS in the New Year!

Technorati Tags: gifts, holidays, New Year's Day, Valerie Dawson