Selling Expired Domains Enriched With Traffic

Expired domain traffic is the current flavor and a favorite buzzword for almost every other domain trader. An expired domain with a considerable amount of expired traffic is an added bonus to your domain-trading endeavor. Traffic associated with an expired domain could be the lifeline of that domain, and when you use it properly and in a systematic manner, you can reap a rich harvest and hefty profits by selling the domain along with its traffic. Expired domain traffic is a visual indicator for the commercial success of a web site; more the traffic means more business, more visitors and a large number of incoming links.

One of the prominent goals of a webmaster who is holding an expired domain based web site is to enhance and develop meaningful traffic to the web site. Traffic to a web site also means an added value to the site and people looking to buy web portals or expired domains need plenty of traffic and inbound links. If you feel that you have an expired domain with plenty of traffic, then you can try to sell it off to make some handsome profits. Here are some golden tips and suggestions that will help you understand how you can sell your expired domains studded with traffic:

Once you understand the real principles of expired domain traffic and inbound links, it becomes very easy to start a selling process by finding good customers. There are actually two ways of dealing with your domain:

a) Sell the entire set of expired traffic to an interested web master for a decent price. You can even demand very high price for your domain, when the domain in question has plenty of traffic and inbound links. Webmasters always need highly quality links and traffic and not just any ordinary traffic generated out of casual and cross visits.

b) Another costly, but lucrative alternative would be to develop a web site on the expired domain and sell it to the highest bidder. Experienced domain traders make it a habit to flip their domains into a big money-spinner by transforming them to a paying web portal. Though a long drawn flipping process, this is a profitable venture with a decent probability of earning plenty of money.

c) If you have an expired domain that had an active listing on popular search directories lime Yahoo or DMOZ, you can expect to earn a large amount of money. These search engines charge a subscription joining fees, while you may need to pay a hefty amount of almost $199 to list your portal in their engine. These domains can fetch an extraordinary sum because of their premium value.

d) Yet another innovative program is to introduce your expired domain to a highly profitable affiliate or PPC program, earn some money and later show to prospective buyer that it is making some amount of money. Affiliate marketing provides you an opportunity to have a system of blind linking. A number of domain traders use this unique system to add value (in terms of expired traffic) to their domains. Trading multiple expired web domains is still more profitable and lucrative, when you enter into a mutual business partnership with a single PPC search engine. Pooling of your expired domains will help you streamline or guide your business in a profitable way.

Before selling off your domains, you will need to ensure that the type and quality of expired traffic and inbound links. A genuine organic type of expired domain traffic coming to your site is probably the best type of traffic, and a domain with such a type of traffic could provide you unlimited internet riches.

Top Secrets to Earn Money From Your Expired Domains

Do you like to be the part of the rich brigade that rakes in millions in online profits month after month or year after year? Would you like to be that smart entrepreneur who sells his or her expired domains for hundreds or thousands of dollars? With advanced techniques and methods designed for selling expired domains, anyone can find high quality domains and resell them for premium rates to interested buyers. Invaluable domains expire everyday and with those thousands of domains expiring, the time is just ripe for you to plunge into expired domain trading business and make decent online income. Expired domains also offer you a lifetime opportunity to create a big pool of expired domain gains.

Almost all newbie expired domain traders find it very tough to sell their stock domain names because of perceived lack of skill and knowledge required for such activities. Here are some of the basic secrets and methods that will enable you to earn an online income from an inventory of expired domain names. These simple options are really effective and lucrative, and help you make your presence felt in a highly competitive industry.

eBay is the place! eBay is perhaps the most famous business name known to almost every other person in the world. It is an exciting place where you can host your expired domains for reselling to other parties. In fact, it is the biggest online auction house in the world where you can sell your domains at very high prices. There are a number of methods to sell your expired domains on e Bay. Here are some of the simple tips to sell your expired domains on this wonderful site:

a) Remember that this site is an auction house and people love buying products and services at very cheap and affordable prices.

b) At the outset, you may wish to start slow and fix a low price for your domains. People tend to bargain for their products.

c) Sellers tend to be on a safer side and fix a respective reserve price for their expired domains.

d) You may need to provide a brief description of your domains, their positive points, benefits and advantages. People tend to gauge the scope of a product or service by reading through the descriptions provide with the item. If possible list your item on a premium and bold slot.

Selling in expired domain auctioning sites is a nice idea and people love to sell their expired domain names. A number of auctioning and reselling sites like Afternic and Sedo can sell your expired domains on a fixed commission basis. Including an appraisal report along with your expired domain may add additional value to the domain.

Smart and seasoned expired domain traders sell their domains in most unlikely places like a big business house or a corporate body. If the expired domain has a branding ability and distinctive presence attached to it, you may sell your domains for a very high price. You may need to negotiate and bargain in a hard way to sell your domains. However, remember that the expired domain that you are planning to sell must have some quality and substance with additional parameters of salability and flipping ability.

10 Tips for Home-Based Businesses

Starting a home-based business is never easy. From advertising to zoning, there is always something that will require your attention. Here are ten tips to keep you focused on your quest to make your home-based business a success.

1. Set a schedule and stick to it.
The allure of working from home is powerful -- but so is the appeal of spending more time with your family or of taking a nap in the middle of the day. Setting and maintaining a schedule for your workday is critical.

2. Set up a dedicated office area.
You can't run a business from your kitchen table. A successful business requires a fully equipped home office. If you have an extra bedroom, consider converting it into office space. If you do not have an extra room in your home, try setting up a partition to create an office area.

3. Be professional.
One of the perks of running a business from home is having the option of working in your pajamas, but your customers should not be able to tell that you just rolled out of bed. Maintain normal office hours and a professional demeanor when answering your phone or dealing with customers.

4. Advertise.
Just because you build it doesn't necessarily mean they will come. To succeed, you will need to advertise your new business. Advertising and marketing don't have to be expensive, but they have to be done.

5. Familiarize yourself with the applicable tax laws.
You are about to enter a whole new world of taxation. To avoid ending up frazzled on April 15th, take the time now to discuss your options with your accountant or with another qualified professional who can advise you about your tax situation.

6. Check with your zoning commission.
Make sure there are no zoning laws that will prevent you from running your business from your home.

7. Formulate a business plan.
Where do you want your business to be in six months? How about in five years? Many small business owners mistakenly think that a business plan is only necessary if they are going to have investors. But businesses of all sizes can use a business plan as a roadmap to success.

8. Get on the Web.
The Internet is the single best way for a home-based businesses to reach out to prospective customers. Even if your business isn't "e-" anything, you need a Web site that can function as an online brochure for your company.

9. Do your research.
You may think that your idea for your home-based business is unique. But unless you do some market research, you won't know whether or not your market is already saturated. Market research can help you find a special angle for your product or service, giving you an edge over your competitors.

10. Don't get discouraged.
Many businesses fail simply because their owners became discouraged after a disappointing trial period. You will have to show grit and determination to make your business succeed. Hang in there and do all that you can to make your business the success you know it can be.

Also read "10 Steps to Running a Successful Home-Based Business" and "Top 10 Mistakes Home-Based Business Owners Make."

Offline Advertising for Online Businesses

Internet marketing has become so successful that many web marketers neglect other marketing opportunities. Offline channels can boost your online traffic and business. Used effectively, traditional advertising vehicles remind customers to visit your site. Even better, promoting your website offline can drive new clientele to your web business. Below are ideas every marketer should consider

• URL Return Address

Include your domain address on the bottom line of your return address on all company mailings.

• URL on Packaging

Retails should include their URL on packaging. Existing customers who purchase through retail may not realize that your business has an online presence. If you ship products, invest in labeling that will include the company URL.

• Business Cards

Insert a business card that details the web address in all product shipments. A coupon or discount code toward web-based purchases further increases the likelihood customers will visit the site. Nothing drives customers online better than discount!

• Presentations/Handouts

Include the web address on each page of a presentation or conference handout. As the presentation is passed on, the company brand and web address will be reinforced.

• Promotional Materials

Promotional materials and giveaways are still an effective method of advertising. Promotional items have a long shelf life and may bring in traffic over time. In addition to your logo and company name, and be sure to brand your promotional item with your web address.

• Vehicles Display

The address of your web site prominently on all company vehicles. The text should be readable from a distance, so be sure to use a font that is easy to read and well-proportioned.

• Help Wanted

Include your URL in any employment ads.

• Uniforms

Include the company's web address on any branded clothing or uniforms worn by staff or employees. This reinforces your online presence.

Internet marketing is becoming more competitive. It is not enough anymore to simply advertise online, you must be creative to attract traffic to your website

Home-Based Businesses & Web Apps: We've Only Just Begun

The cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) model can go a long way to level the playing field for small businesses, which are getting their hands on useful applications for their growing companies minus the headaches and high cost of ownership. And by small businesses, remember that includes home-based businesses, too.

In its just-out report, "2008-09: U.S. Home Based Business Market Overview -- Impact of Economy: Changing Dynamics, Opportunities & Challenges," AMI says online software services aimed at home-based businesses (HBBs) represent a fertile field for SaaS providers: "SaaS applications such as accounting/finance applications, online data storage/backup and contact management will continue to gain traction. Other SaaS applications, such as project management, payroll, time, travel/expense management and Web conferencing/document sharing, are gaining popularity."

I've written about such applications here on SmallBizResource; so has sister site bMighty -- most recently accounting apps like Outright and IAC-EZ, and data backup app Egnyte. But while the cloud is clearly in our view, AMI says SaaS is still in its infancy, with 15% market penetration and 13% planned penetration.

Assuming in-search-of-new-revenue-streams software vendors are paying attention, I think it's safe to say more Web-based goodies will be raining down on us.

"Today's economic reality is driving businesses of all sizes to seek the most cost-effective and easy ways to use and manage IT solutions. This is especially true for HBBs that have bare-bones or no IT support. SaaS offerings fit the bill as HBBs look for solutions that are both appropriate to their needs and do not require significant upfront financial investment," according to Sau Lam, the AMI-Partners senior analyst who wrote the report, in an statement.

AMI, which surveyed 529 primary business decision makers or owners of PC-owning HBBs, defines its respondents as "income-generating entities operated from the home" on either a part-time or full-time basis. The category doesn't include telecommuters, those with formal work-at-home arrangements with their employers, or after-hours work done at home. As for a quick composite of an HBB -- 16.8 million in total, according to AMI:

• 58% are sole proprietors
  
• nearly three-quarters work full-time
  
• more than two-third of them are male
  
• the majority of their businesses are in retail (23%), professional business services (20%), and "other" services like tourism, childcare, and hospitality (27%)
  
• the average revenue is $108,000, through the majority of respondents (32%) say that figure falls in the $25,000 to $49,999 range.

One finding that stood out to me: Despite all the talk about the growing number of displaced workers who are launching their own businesses, a mere 5% of survey takers said that's why they started an HBB. The top five reasons before that one:

• Entrepreneurial mindset/freedom to run one's own business: 30%
  
• Work-life balance - more control over person/family time: 19%
  
• Greater financial opportunity: 16%
  
• Passionate about new business/data: 12%
  
• Greater independence from corporate bureaucracy: 12%

Be On Guard When Online

The Defense Department reported that in the last six months they have spent more than $100 million responding to cyber attacks and repairing the damage caused by intrusions to the military’s networks.
Air Force General Kevin P. Chilton, the commander of the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), speaking at the inaugural Cyberspace Symposium on April 7th in Omaha, Nebraska, stressed the importance of the cyberspace domain to the nearly 1, 500 attendees.

USSTRATCOM is responsible for space operations, information warfare, missile defense, and strategic deterrence. The command ensures U.S. freedom of action in both space and cyberspace.

Chilton, a former test pilot and astronaut, said that the Defense Department sees more than a million suspicious “hits" a day.

“These are pings where someone is coming in and trying to open something or access information from someone within our military networks,” Chilton told the American Forces Press Service. “This could be everything from some curious citizens, to people who maybe are trying to hack for sport, to people who are trying to collect information.”

Chilton said that USSTRATCOM is concerned about “data mining,” which is where hackers use computers to sift through enormous quantities of data to glean information. Chilton called this the new form of espionage.

“In the past, to get that information you would hire someone to break in with a flashlight in their teeth and go through the drawer and photograph the files,” Chilton said. “Now all this information is stored on discs or on computers. Spies don’t have to leave a computer terminal in their own countries to try to get this information.”

During my tenure as the administrative officer of a Defense Department command in Philadelphia I was for a time responsible for computer security along with all other security programs. Thankfully, I had some very bright and technologically proficient people on my team. They knew our systems, understood computer security, and they recognized the threats to our command.

But Defense Department systems are not the only ones at risk. Hackers routinely penetrate businesses large and small and steal data for fun and profit, as I’ve noted here in this column before.

As small business owners generally lack the technology and the technical ability of the Defense Department’s cyber cops, what can a small business do?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers a hand via their OnGuardOnline program. The FTC and a partnership that includes cyber security experts, online marketers, consumer advocates, and federal officials began the program in 2005.

The web site, www.onguardonline.gov, offers practical tips, articles, videos, interactive activities, games, and free, downloadable material that will help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.

OnGuardOnline offers solid advice on such topics as:

• How to recognize Internet scams
  
• How to shop and conduct business securely online
  
• How to avoid hackers and viruses
  
• How to deal with spam, spyware, and phishing

You can visit www.onguardonline.gov/topics/computer-security.aspx to learn about seven vital security practices:

1. Protect your personal information. It’s valuable.
   
2. Know who you’re dealing with.
   
3. Use security software that updates automatically.
   
4. Keep your operating system and web browser up-to-date and learn about their security features
   
5. Keep your passwords safe, secure and strong.
   
6. Back up important files.
   
7. Learn what to do in an “e – mergency."

If you suspect Internet fraud you can register a complaint using a form at www.ftc.gov. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database utilized by law enforcement officials in the U.S. and overseas.

Small business owners, like Air Force generals, should be concerned about the wide range of computer attacks, and they should take steps to prevent them.

The Secret to Making More Money with Less Effort

Did you know there's an easy way to double or triple your output of new products and marketing materials with WAY less effort?

Most small business owners I meet are either killing themselves trying to constantly put together new marketing materials for products and services they already sell. Or they're so overwhelmed by the idea of having to come up with anything new to say they don't do hardly any marketing at all. They certainly aren't regularly launching new products and services.

But you should be doing all of the above. And it doesn't have to be that hard.

The secret is to follow something very similar to the recycler's creed of reduce, reuse, recycle. Only I'm not talking about being a green business (though that's important too).

I'm talking about creating more with less by using my Reuse, Repurpose, and Reduce philosophy. Let me explain.

• #1 Reuse

A while back I put on a one-day copywriting workshop. To promote it, I created a long-form sales letter for my Website, a few postcard mailers, and a flier complete with registration section. Then I started doing live seminars and teleseminars on the topic.

At one of my live events, someone commented with surprise that the copy on my flier was almost the same as the copy on the Website (minus about 8 pages of content!).

Well of course it was. Both the Website and the flier were promoting the same event. I didn't need to write all new promo text if what I already had made sense and resonated with my ideal prospect.

In fact, if I had written all new text it might have been confusing to prospects. Because if they'd read the flier, then gone to the Webpage and found completely different info, they might have thought they were in the wrong place.

You can and should reuse key parts of your copy so your message is consistent. People often have to see your same message as many as 8 times before they even notice it-and another 8 times before they decide to take action. The last thing you want to do is change it all the time.

So write your longest promo piece first. And in your initial rough drafts at least, be sure to include every detail, point or argument you can think of. Then use this as the basis for all your other marketing materials

You might tweak parts and pieces a little to be more effective in a new format, or test a different headline. But the core message can, and should, stay the same.

• #2 Repurpose

Finding ways to turn one thing into many is one of my specialties. And it's something every small business owner should be doing because it's the next best thing to cloning yourself. All it requires is a little forethought and preparation.

Here are a few examples:

Next time you do a speaking engagement capture your talk on a digital recorder (I use the Olympus DS2). Then turn the recording into an audio product you can give away or sell on your Website.

Have transcripts created from the audio and you've got another product you can sell.

Take articles you write for your newsletter and submit them to online article databases to drive traffic to your site. Or post them to your Website or blog.

Then pull together a bunch of articles, transcripts or blog posts you've written on one topic, add a table of contents and a little formatting, and Voila! You've got another free report or e-book to give away or sell.

The list goes on.

• #3 Reduce

If you're a busy small business owner (is there any other kind?), you don't have the time or energy to constantly implement new things. You probably also don't have a lot of extra time to spending learning your way around new technology. So you have to get as much done as possible without doing a ton of extra work.

The key to making this happen is outsourcing everything possible. No matter the size of your business, if you're doing anything online I can't recommend hiring an experienced Virtual Assistant (VA) highly enough!

They can help you create products, do online marketing and pr, manage your social networking, build and post to a blot, and generally run the online side of your business (among other things).

When you have articles ready for online submission, need an e-book formatted, or have an audio you'd like to sell, your job is done. Because you can send your materials to your VA and let them do the time consuming grunt work.

Use these three "R" rules in your own business every day, and you'll amazing how much more you can accomplish in way less time!

Combining An Affiliate Program And Website To Make Money Online From An Internet Home Based Business

Almost everyone who works with an internet home based business has an idea about affiliate programs and websites. They have the idea that just having an affiliate program and a website will allow them to make residual income. It is a little more complicated than that, though. Both an affiliate program and a website can be combined to make residual income, but there are some things a person must do to ensure they can make the most money online out of this combination.
Many people have heard that adding affiliate programs to their website can help them to make money online and earn residual income. That is true, but if a person goes about it the wrong way they may not see anything come of it. To make affiliate programs and websites work together they have to go together. There are a couple reasons for this. First of all, the people visiting the website already have an interest in the types of products being sold there, so they would be more likely to be interested in an affiliate program that is related to the other products. Second, if a customer sees an affiliate program that is not tied in at all to the rest of the website they may see it as unprofessional. They may even believe that this home based business is not for real or a scam. They definitely are not going to click through to learn about the affiliate program or its products. So, it is essential to find an affiliate program that works with the existing product line.

Placement of the affiliate ads is also important. They should not be placed where they will compete or interfere with the sales of the primary products. Some people choose to make a while separate page for affiliate programs. Others work them into their product pages. It is very important to make it clear that they are affiliate programs and will open a new window. Some people might get confused if a new window pops up and may close down both sites. The whole idea is for them to compliment the main products and site, not interfere with it.

The beauty of combining affiliate programs with a home based business website is that it sets up multiple streams of income. Having multiple streams of income is important. It is like the old saying says - do not put all your eggs in one basket. Business fluctuates. What is hot one day may not be the next. When a person relies on one income source they can easily be devastated if one of them starts to fail or business gets slow. By having different income sources or multiple streams of income a person is developing financial stability.

Adding affiliate programs to an existing website is not difficult. It takes some consideration and planning, though to make it work. By choosing and placing ads carefully an internet home based business owner can make the most money online and build nice multiple streams of income. They will boost their income while also being able to incorporate everything together.

Diep Tran is Internet marketer, and webmaster of

http://get-money-making-website.blogspot.com/

Internet Home Based Business Ideas and Opportunities.