Would you like to send your commercial emails to people you do not know, but are expecting to receive such mail from you? That does not sound right. How can this be?

It is simple, if you know what is really going on. Everybody who is on these lists, also known as safe lists, knows that they will be receiving mail from other members. This is possible because that is one of the conditions of their safe list membership.

And those who join these lists are willing to agree to this condition because they themselves would want to send out their own commercial emails to the others on the list.

The result: everyone is sending emails to each other but no one is reading them!

It gets worse when some savvy members sign up for the membership using a free or less-frequently-used account to store the useless emails they will never bother to open and read.

Having said that, it is always wiser to start your own mailing list and build it with opt-in subscribers, no matter how tempting safe lists can be or how many members there are in a safe list.

Using Free Reports to Build Your List. Aside from pre-selling your products and affiliated offers, the other purpose of your free viral report should be to build your mailing list.

This is because if you are unable to pre-sell, let alone sell, the products and services featured in your free report, the last ditch effort should be to collect leads. In short, if you cannot convert the reader into a ready buyer, you should then attempt to convert him or her into your subscriber.

In that manner, you can still follow up with your reader on future offers and have a chance at converting him or her into your customer, preferably lifetime.

You can do so by offering a lifetime update to your report or a unique notification list your reader will be interested in subscribing to, which leads to having him or her subscribed to your mailing list.

One of the few success factors in viral marketing of your free report is quality. If your readers find your information worth sharing, and you encourage them to do so by giving them the right to give your report away for free, you will be able to have your name, status and links within the report passed around without any effort on your part simply because others are willing to do so for you!

Recently, forum marketing has been touted as a kind of free, organic, viral marketing. But because so many viral marketers go into forums with the intention of marketing products or other services, their actions and attitude unwittingly causes the exact opposite of the desired effect.

Forums aren’t marketplaces but when used that way, the viral marketers’ actions become offensive and will only inspire the wrath of fellow members and marketers, not to mention moderators who can close them from the site with the click of a button.

In order to be effective, this kind of marketing carries a certain degree of commitment, responsibility and respect. The first requirement is to take a personal interest in the main topic of the forums. Not only does that mean be apart of the forum regularly, but it also means developing a good relationship with both other members and the moderators, as well as taking an active interest in helping other people. Of course, it also means abiding by and all rules that exist. By doing that, one can develop a reputation and, since it is human nature to work with a trusted colleague, business will naturally develop from this.

This type of viral marketing has already suffered some abuse and because of this, many forums have recently developed stringent rules designed to protect their members from abusive or overly-aggressive viral marketers. One forum grants .sig files only after a member has created 100 valid posts and another has disallowed ads in sig files altogether.

Viral Marketers must respect that the purpose of a forum is to be a wedsite to exchange ideas on a given topic. It is not there to advertise products or services. By staying on the topic and posting questions and answers, a marketer’s reputation will grow and this creates the potential for sales naturally.

In order to be successful using forums to do viral marketing there are some things that are required.

Do Your Homework: Prior to joining any forum, you must do some research.As a viral marketer becomes a regular member, they will hopefully develop a good reputation and without saying a word about their promotion, those who are interested in their product will approach them.

The game kicks off in about one hour and we have already seen some of the high-priced ads. Here are my comments on how the big guys do it.

#1. Pepsi. Pepsi has an outside-the-box ad. The ad is done by two deaf guys trying to find out where Bob's house is. It is done completely in sign with sub-titles. This is a first. We will see if this is labeled "offensive" even if the National Association of the Deaf approved it.

#2. Budweiser. A perennial mainstay. Wouldn’t be a Super Bowl without Bud and all of their commercials.

#3. Miller Lite. Bud's main competition that seems to always be poking fun at Bud.

#4. GoDaddy. GoDaddy is always controversial which gets them the most publicity. You may see racier ads at their web site.

#5. P&G. Proctor and Gamble will air its first ever Super Bowl commercial featuring Tide.

#6. Vitoria's Secret. Marketing lingerie with hot chicks to guys makes sense to me.

There are more and I will post another article after the game.

Some comments in general.

Sex, humor, and music still sell. Well, it sells to a primarily male audience.

More companies are linking their TV ads to their web site.

Companies can get away with more on their web site. FCC rules don’t apply.

If it worked before, use it again.

Stars give credibility (to an extent).

Market to your audience (in this case, mainly males).

This is the only show that people actually wait in anticipation for the commercials.

Pepsi has coined a new term – different abilities – as opposed to disabled or challenged.

30 seconds cost almost three million, but these ads will be all over the Internet forever for free. Some ads are already at YouTube before the game started.

Marketing to 90 million people would be considered by most to be the greatest opportunity to get your product noticed. We will see who makes it big with the best Super Bowl ads.

OK. It is almost game time. I've got my sandwich, chips and dip, cold beer, and some cashews. I will be cheering for the New York Football Giants since I love an underdog.

Use the power of Super Bowl advertising to get some ideas on how to market your web site. Hopefully, for a lot less than 3 million dollars for ½ minute.

We’ve all heard it, the famous phrase, ‘content is king’. Well if content is king then how the heck can we go about increasing the number of content we are able to utilize. I mean we’ve all been there, feverishly writing article after article to use for submissions and posting to our sites and the more we write the less enthusiastic we start to become about create a successful online business. So, how can we get around the one thing that all internet marketers hate doing?

PLR Content To The Rescue

If you haven’t heard about PLR(private label rights) content then it’s basically this – content that you can take and use as your own to submit to article directories, on your site, in an email series or any other method where content necessary.

In Search Of PLR Content

So where is it? Where can you go to find a whole bunch content to use as your own? Well, there are many services out there that offer quality content that members are free to use in which ever way they deem appropriate. Of course the option of taking content from the many article directories out there is possible, however there is one thing that limits this method and that is the fact you are required to add in the author box that comes attached to the article you are wanting to use.

This means their link will also have to appear on your page, intern sucking out Google Page Rank that would normally filter through to the other pages on your site. The other disadvantage is the fact that hundreds if not thousands of other marketers out there would be doing the exact same thing. Having the same page on your site as thousands of other people makes it incredibly hard to rank in the search engines.

So What’s The Other Option?

The other option would be to pay for your PLR content. There are many services that offer content to their members. This usually means you’ll have to share the content with a limited amount of people. Only members will have access to the content, however there are some things you need to look out for.

Firstly how many people will have access to the same content as you? If the service you are looking at requires you to share their content with a thousand other members, then what’s the point? You may as well go out and grab content from article directories.

Secondly work out how much you’ll be paying per article. If a membership costs $100 and in that member ship you’re going to have access to two hundred articles that would mean the cost per article is going to be $0.50. Therefore a membership that offered 400 articles would make the cost per article half of that.

Maximize your marketing and sales with some auto responder Improvements. Try some of these marketing promotional pieces, the tryed and tested 2 step mailing process. Guaranteed to boost you profits.

1. Collect vital customer satisfaction information by publishing a survey to send via auto responder to those who sign up on your site in exchange for a free eBook, software or trial period at your membership site. This type of information will help you understand their needs, likes & dislikes better.

2. Publish free reports to send via your auto responder. The reports should be related to your business or web site & contain info, ads and links to your sites. People love getting freebies.

3. Instead of publishing all of your customer testimonials or endorsements on your website, publish only a few there. And set up an auto responder form that invites visitors to receive a complete list via your. Give them a power-packed list; it's more effective to include all of them.


4. Instead of answering each customer question that is e-mailed to you, publish "Frequently Ask Questions" and make them available via auto responder to those who sign up. To save time and support headaches.


Mix and match. Change your auto responder strategy to change your auto responder results! Also top sales pros confirm that it often takes seven or more communications or sales messages before prospective customers make a purchase. They also confirm that it’s generally easier to sell to a referral, because someone they know gave positive testimonial about their products or services.

What would happen if you combined both of these powerful ideas? A nifty and thrifty two-step. Try this two-step tip:

1. Publish a price list of all the products and services that you offer in an insert, direct marketing package and / or .pdf to be made available via auto responder. You could also include order forms, product descriptions, and other sales material. Then send to the people in #1 above with monthly updates, announcements of new sales and products / services, and a request for referrals.

2. Collect leads with your auto responder. Ask for mailing addresses and telephone numbers, too, for additional ways to follow up with each person. When you download the e-mail digest of everyone's e-mail addresses and other information from those who requested additional information from your auto responder, follow up multiple ways. Send postcards. Call. Mail sales letters and other promotional pieces.

So why not improve your closing ratio and reach out even farther at the same time?

If you want to be successful than you need to take time to find out the secrets to earning money online. This is something that a lot of people do not do and then they end up struggling to make any money at all with their home business. They actually lose money because they begin to believe all of the hype and start chasing that elusive thing to get them over the top. Here are the things that you have to do if you want to make online profits with your. One: You have to educate yourself. Learn everything you can about your internet business. Don't try and learn everything at one time. Instead, learn them one at a time and when you are comfortable with that advertising method than you can move onto another. This may be the most important thing you read so go back and read it again. To make money online with affiliate programs you have to become good at advertising and promotion. Two: Take action every day. It doesn't matter how much you do on your internet business every day as long as you do something. You will never make the online profits that you want to if you do not take action. This is where a lot of people mess up. They assume that it will be easy to make money online without too much work on their part. Not true at all, if you don't work you won't find success. Work smart and work hard. Three: No matter what you decide to do online have patience because it will take time to build your business. Understand that if you are promoting your affiliate business correctly and you are working at it everyday you will make money! Think about that for a minute. There are kids, senior citizens, and everyone in between making money with affiliate marketing. This is not by accident either as many of them do basically what we have just listed here.

1. Attend trade shows and seminars that are related to your specific industry. Pass out business cards or brochures about your business.

2. Swap articles with other e-zines publishers. You could get your articles published more often if in exchange you publish their articles.

3. Ask people to link to your site's content. Some people may not want to link to your home page but might want to link to your content.

4. Convert your web site into an ebook. You could offer your ebook as a free bonus for your product or another business' product.

5. Create ebooks for other web sites or businesses. You could create them for no charge in exchange for an ad or mention of your web site inside.

6. Team-up with eight to ten other sites to promote the same web site. Just include everyone's products on the web site you are all promoting.

7. Give free e-mail consultations to your customers. When you e-mail them back your advice include a small ad for a back end product your selling.

8. Encourage your customers or visitors to e-mail you questions about your product or web site. Just include your sig file with your reply.

9. Give out free web space on your server. Many of your visitors may want to publish their own web site. Just require that they publish your banner ad.

10. Design web sites for other businesses for free. Just require them to publish your banner or text ad somewhere on their home page.

It seems counterintuitive that winter is the best time of the year to buy a new boat or personal watercraft. But those who wait until late spring or summer to make their purchase often are disappointed to learn that the new vessel they want is sold out.

According to Bryan Seti, national marketing manager for Yamaha Motor Corp., this is because when it comes to buying a new boat or personal watercraft, shopping early gets the best deals.

"This past year, we sold out of our best-selling WaveRunners [personal watercrafts] before the July 4 weekend and our most affordable WaveRunner, the VX110, was nearly sold out in June," Seti said. "It's harder for consumers to find a deal when supply is that low."

Seti says that buying a boat or personal watercraft at a winter boat show will guarantee that you find the boat you want because dealers are motivated to sell.

"Our dealers are receiving their 2006 orders now and those units take up a lot of space at the dealership," said Seti. "Dealers tend to get motivated when they see a crowded sales floor."

The nautical experts at www.BestofBoating.com offer the following tips to help you get prepared for a winter boat show:

* Plan your attack. Research boats and personal watercrafts before the show and map out the exhibits you want to visit. By preparing in advance, there's less chance of being distracted.

* Take a day off. Plan your visit for a weekday, when shows are less crowded. This makes it easier to inspect boats and talk with manufacturers' representatives and dealers.

* Stay focused. If you're seriously shopping at the show, you may not want to bring the kids. Your full attention is needed when closing a deal.

* Think on your feet. Wear comfortable shoes that are easy to remove so you can climb aboard the exhibits. Your feet will thank you at the end of the day.

Every marina has different rules for what must be done by boat owners in the face of an approaching hurricane. In the wake of Katrina and Wilma, states are beginning to pass laws requiring boat owners to prepare their boats in certain ways. In light of all this information, some of it conflicting, what are the most important things a boat owner must know to protect themselves and their boat during a hurricane?

There are two basic rules that most experts agree offer the most important advice. First, plan ahead for what you will do when a hurricane approaches. That means checking your contract with your marina to see what they require and checking with your state for any additional regulations. You should also check with your boat insurance company to see if they have regulations that may affect your coverage. Conduct a dry run during the off-season to be sure you fully understand how much time is necessary to move or prepare your boat.

Second, under no circumstances is it safe to attempt to ride out a hurricane in your boat. There is a persistent myth that being on a boat in open water is safer than being on land during a hurricane, but the facts do not bear it out. Hurricane winds and tides can carry boats far inland or even sink them. Your boat is not worth risking your life.

Moving your boat is always the best way to prevent damage if at all possible. However, this requires arranging for inland storage space well ahead of time. Also, many boat owners are not aware that drawbridges are often locked down before a hurricane to facilitate the evacuation of people from low-lying areas. This increases the importance of moving your boat as soon as a hurricane watch is issued for your area.

Some areas have flotilla plans in place in order to move the maximum number of boats in the shortest time. Your local emergency management office will issue flotilla information in advance of a hurricane. If you are planning on joining a flotilla, be sure that your boat is properly maintained and fueled.

If moving your boat is not a possibility there are some simple things you can do to minimize damage. Remove all portable items from your boat such as electronics, antennas, dinghies, sun shades, oars or any other item that may blow around and cause damage. Be sure that any remaining items are securely lashed down. Obtain rope and other supplies to secure your boat well in advance as these items may be in short supply before a storm.

Boat owners say high gas prices won't sink their plans this summer. However, according to a new survey, higher prices will have them easing off the throttle more often.

Like other motorists, boat enthusiasts are caught in the wake of high fuel prices-especially those who pay a premium to gas up at marinas. But many boat owners indicate they are willing to "pay to play," saying gas prices would have to nearly double before they change their lifestyle.

The survey, conducted by The Brandware Group, Inc. for Nationwide Mutual Insurance, indicated that two-thirds of boat owners reported high fuel prices would not cause them to use their boats less often. In fact, boat owners are willing to pay about $2.70 more per gallon for fuel before they will consider docking their boats.

"When talking with our customers about boating we learned that while they're concerned about rising fuel prices, the passion they have for their boats overrides those concerns," said Greg Blanchard, Nationwide's vice president of Specialty Products.

The survey also showed boat owners intended to be on the water just as often as last summer-about 20 times-but expect to run their engines about 25 minutes less per trip. The sailors surveyed said they spend 28 percent of their total leisure time on the water.

Experts say that with high fuel costs putting a strain on boat owners' wallets, boat owners should make sure they have the right protection against the unexpected so they don't get hit with burdensome repair or replacement costs.

"Protecting your investments by making sure they are insured to value is an important step in protecting your lifestyle," said Blanchard. "The money crunch really hits home if something happens and you don't have adequate insurance to repair or replace your baby."

According to the survey, one in five power boat owners and one in three bass boat owners do not have insurance on their boat. Of those with insurance, about 35 percent don't have liability coverage. About 40 percent of power boat owners and 53 percent of bass boat owners don't have collision coverage. About one in five power boat owners and a quarter of all bass boat owners would rather take their chances than pay to fully insure their boats.

The story of boats is as old as the human civilization. There`s reference of a boat Noah's ark in the Bible. Noah's ark was the boat built by the Biblical character Noah to save his family and animals from the Flood. Gondolas were the traditionally used boats in Venice.

Today, a boat is considered as one of the major tools of watercraft. A boat is a small vessel for traveling on water. It comprises of one or more buoyancy structures called hulls, and some system of propulsion such as a screw, oars, paddles, a setting pole, a sail, paddlewheels or a water jet.

The front of a boat is called the bow or prow and the rear of the boat is called the stern. The right side is starboard and the left side is port. The boat toilet is called the Ñheads`.

A boat with a housing compartment is called a houseboat or barge. A pontoon boat is a flat-bottomed boat that serves as a dock or as a floating structure to support a bridge. The pontoon boat is also known as a party boat. It is constructed of round tubes (called sponsons) that are attached to the outside, bottom edge of a large flat deck. It has a safety railing that surrounds the deck from all sides. The helm station is placed either in the middle of the deck or off to one side. Pontoon boats may be furnished with lawn furniture, and some deluxe pontoon boats may have upholstered seating, a dinette table, a roof, a cooler, and maybe even a head (toilet).

A recreational boat is used for water sporting activities or other recreational purposes.

Boat Maintenance:

People fond of water sports or water adventures keep their own boats. Taking good care of one`s boat is very important. Good care and maintenance enhances the life of a boat and saves a lot of money also.

The following are some boat care tips:

Õ The boat engine should be flushed each time after it`s used in salt water.
Õ The underneath of the boat should be washed to prevent salt buildup.
Õ The entire boat should be washed using soap and water, after every single use.
Õ A non-skid cleaner should be used to scrub the deck.
Õ The boat should be completely dried after washing.
Õ The boat should be covered properly with a boat cover.
Õ The boat should be waxed every few months to protect the finish from stains and UV damage.
Õ Boat parts and accessories should be checked regularly, and defective parts should be replaced.

A boat cover is a very important accessory. When your boat is not in use, a cover will keep it protected from harsh weather and wearing. People use various boat covers and boat tops to protect their boats. Custom boat covers, bimini tops and canvas boat covers are some quite commonly used covers.