3 Ways To Create Drop Shadows

Not being a CSS programmer, yesterday I was intrigued by a CSS programming tip on how to create drop shadows using CSS. So I read the tip and spent some time playing with the code given. Unfortunately, while I could get the code to make shadows as shown in the examples, I found that I didn't like the shadows that much and it took a great deal of time to make them look the way I wanted. But in case you're interested in making drop shadows using CSS here's a good article about how it's done:
http://www.alistapart.com/articles/cssdropshadows

For me, I'll stick to the 2 easy ways I use to create drop shadows... click here to get the instructions for both.

To Your Success,
Susan

P.S. Please feel free to leave a comment about this tip.

Tags: drop shadows, css drop shadows

What Are Hub Pages?

This week I am not writing a tip but instead I'm giving you a free copy of a product that's currently being sold, "HubBlueprint." You can download it directly from here or you can read the sales page to see what it's about and why I'm giving it away here. And if you decide you want the MRR for this product before 1/26 check out sevenbucks.com. If you decide after 1/26 then be sure to read the README file inside the download because I tell you another place to get it where it's almost $20 less than the link inside the ebook.

To Your Success,
Susan

P.S. Feel free to leave a comment about either getting a current product rather than a tip or about the product.

Tags: hub pages, hub blueprint

Do Pop-Up Ads Work?

Everyone hates pop-up ads, right? At least everyone who voted in one of my recent polls does. And if we all hate pop-up ads then they don't work very well and we shouldn't use them on our websites, right?

But wait a minute. Many internet marketing experts keep reciting, "Pop-up ads work!" And not only do they say the words, they also keep coming out with new forms of "unstoppable" pop-up ad software.

So what's the real truth about pop-up ads? Do they or don't they work?

The truth is ...

When done correctly pop-up ads do work. Unfortunately, like everything else in internet marketing, they must be used correctly because if you misuse or abuse the use of pop-up ads, they can hurt your business.

The easiest way to explain the correct use of pop-up ads is to look at why we hate them and fix it.

• There are too many of them.
  Don't annoy your site visitor by having pop-up ads on every page they visit! Only use 1 pop-up ad per visitor (not 1 per page)
  
  
• They hide part of the content you want to read.
  Keep the size of your pop-up ads reasonable and try not to cover the text your visitor is trying to read. Also, make them easy to close.
  
  
• They appear at inappropriate times and interrupt your train of thought.
  Either use a delayed or an exit pop-up ad that offers something extra after the visitor has had a chance to see what's available. Just be careful to make sure an exit pop-up doesn't appear if they do take the desired action on your page.
  
  
• They are intrusive and offer you nothing new.Effective pop-up ads offer an additional benefit to the site visitor like an added bonus, a free report or an extra discount.

When used correctly, pop-up ads do work. And 1 of the very first unblockable pop-up ad makers was "Magic Subscriber." It doesn't create fancy pop-up ads but you can get it for free inside the member area.

Just remember, if you use pop-up ads do it correctly.

To Your Success,
Susan

P.S. If you're afraid to use pop-up ads or are dead set against using them here are 4 alternatives to pop-up ads:

1. peel-away ads Version 1 or Version 2




2. ribbon ads




3. impact popups




4. context ads

I own and have used peel-away Version 1, ribbon ads, impact popups and the exit pop-up software referenced in the article. While they all worked I thought impact popups was the easiest to use and ribbon ads was a close second. The others weren't too hard to use but did require more work.

P.P.S. If you have any thoughts about these types of ads feel free to leave a comment.

Tags: pop-up ads, peel-away ads, ribbon ads, impact popups, context ads, hate pop-up ads, web marketing, web page design

Work Smarter Not Harder

The title of today's tip was taken from a poster my ex-employer had placed in a location where most employees would see it - daily.

Now why am I sharing this tidbit of information with you? Because there's a lot of wisdom in those words.

You see, most of us are looking for the 'right' way to do something... start an online business, create a website, design an opt-in page, advertise, etc. And when we look for the 'right' way we find there are many ways to do just about everything. But which 1 is the 'right' way?

The answer is... drum roll please.

There are lots of 'right' ways. It's just that some of them are easier than others and some work better than others.

To prove my point I would like you to read this eye-opening report about the simplicity of doing business on the internet.

Now you're thinking... "Great, another free report trying to sell me something" aren't you?

And to quote the author of the report, "Why in the world would I even bother to write this fifty page Special Report, if I wasn’t?"

So if you're afraid you might be tempted to buy something with my affiliate link and are willing to not get some of the best free internet marketing information, don't read it.

However, if you want to know how a very successful internet marketer "works smarter not harder" then not only read his report but go to his blog because he's posted 9 very informative videos that explain things like the smart way to design an opt-in page and how to drive massive amounts of traffic to your website. (BTW, you don't have to pay or sign-up to watch the videos;)

Get your free report here.

P.S. Please feel free to leave comments about the report.

Tags: work smarter, internet marketing, free report, how to do internet marketing

Will 2008 Be The Year You Succeed?

It's a brand new year and with the new year come new hopes and dreams of becoming successful.

Unfortunately, just like New Year's Resolutions, 99% of the hopes and dreams for new internet marketers will be left unfulfilled at the end of the year.

Why?

You won't like the answer but I'll tell you anyway.

Like New Year's Resolutions, to achieve your your hopes and dreams you have to leave your comfort zone and change what you're doing.

You see, your hope to become successful and your dreams of how your life will be when you are successful give you the desire and drive to try to make it happen and the perseverance to continue trying for awhile. Unfortunately, your hopes and dreams alone won't make it happen.

Becoming a successful internet marketer is just like becoming successful at playing an instrument, playing golf, cooking and everything else that requires training and technique.

Whether you call them masters, experts, great artists or gurus, they all started with a dream. And to achieve their dream they all learned the fundamentals. And then, when they knew the basics, they started applying their own techniques until they found the 1 that made them unique and great.

To become a successful internet marketer is no different. You have to learn the basics. You have to make a plan to implement the things you've learned. And you have to find your own techniques that make you unique.

Hopes and dreams are just like New Year's Resolutions. Not knowing how to make things happen and not having a plan to put those things into action will guarantee their failure.

Yes, you need your hopes and dreams to motivate you but you also need to learn the basics of internet marketing and a plan to achieve success.

Wishing You a Successful 2008!
Susan

P.S. Do you know the basics for internet marketing? Is there something holding you back because you haven't figured out how to do it? Feel free to ask your questions here.

Tags: internet marketing, internet marketing question