I find it interesting to watch focus groups. Guy Kawasaki moderated a panel discussion for the Revenue Bootcamp called Will anyone pay for anything? This is a group of teens and twenty-somethings and they were asked questions mostly about what they use online, with computers, or cell phones. While most internet marketers will find it interesting, you really must watch it if you target this age group.
Free was definitely the price point of choice. Here are a few observations that I recall from watching:
- All members of the panel loved GMail.
- Google is a trusted brand.
- They don’t click on ads unless made to. When clicked, they don’t buy.
- Several had hand-me-down cell phones.
- While all used it, most would not pay for Facebook.
- Not all used Twitter.
- They will pay for online services if their friends are there too and if there aren’t free options.
It is important to note that this was a small focus group and it would be a stretch to apply these conclusions to teens and early twenty-somethings universally. However, these are important insights. Free and good, will attract them. It is hard to get them to pay beyond that. I think that Guy got a little frustrated in that he didn’t find much they were willing to pay for! You remember the lean years as a student, don’t you?
A couple weeks ago I laid out some steps I am taking with my on-line business. The first one was to update the look and feel of this website. I am happy to announce that the major work is done! I used the DynaBlue WordPress theme designed by WebDesignLessons.com. I must say that I am really pleased with this theme. Here are some of my favorite features:
- Google Adsense integration
- Ready for Twitter
- Nice graphics for RSS and Twitter
- Configurable ads in sidebar and header
- Contact form
- Featured post carousel
- Big text
- My daughter said it looks professional!
One upgrade I wanted to accomplish was to add polish to my email opt-in form. I always felt that the standard forms from Aweber didn’t look too good. I really liked Lynn Terry’s form, so I started poking around the SSWT forum looking for clues. Well, she pointed me to where she got the graphic! (I didn’t intend on picking the same color that she did, but blue is what matched the new theme.)
I want to share with you where I got the custom email opt-in form. It is part of a great offer containing 120 Squeeze Page Designs. When you follow this link, you will have the opportunity to get 2 free squeeze page templates. One is an email opt-in form and the other is an optimized squeeze page. Here’s where it gets good. For only $37 you can have the full 120 Squeeze Page Templates. You could not even get the email opt-in form completed by a web designer for that price! I think it is a great deal. (Of course, I bought it!) It is so important to have a good, Web 2.0, look to your web pages in order to increase opt-in rates. This package will definitely help you with that!
All in all, I am glad that this step toward building on-line income is complete. It is time to move on to step 2 – launching my first affiliate marketing site. I’ll keep you updated along the way.
Posted on : 07-04-2009 | By : Mike | In : Free Stuff, Twitter
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Joel Comm is offering two chapters from his book Twitter Power
for free! Best of all, these are the chapters you need to get started on Twitter. Here’s what’s included:
- Foreword
- Introduction
- Chapter 3: Getting Started the Right Way on Twitter
- Chapter 4: Building a Following on Twitter
Just click here to enjoy this great FREE offer. Even better, you don’t need to provide any information to get this.
Also, once you are on Twitter (or if you are already there), follow me at http://twitter.com/mikesmind.
Anthony Robbins (Foreword). Wiley 2009, Hardcover, 248 pages, $8.98
