Free ads (still) work.

[Johan]

I've heard many voiced saying that free ads does not work anymore. Is that correct, or not?

You who know my story know that I've build up my SFI business with free classified ads. Now I don't use them anymore because I can afford to buy more effective advertising.

However I decided I had to make a test, and yesterday I placed just 10 ads. I got a total of 6 visitors so far from those 10 ads, and I just got a fresh sign-up totally FREE.

Posting free ads still is a working alternative if you can not afford to invest money. Go ahead and place those free ads but remember to track your results and try new places, that way you will improve your results.

Good luck!

Johan

[Karen Barnes]

I agree with Johan on this.

I post more free ads than paid ads. This includes ppc's. I still get people from free advertising not a lot of them because I do spend a lot if time looking for obscure places to advertise and only place about 20 ads a day from doing this which only results in about 10 to 15 sign ups a month. These are the people that I am personally having the best results with that are truly interested in this business.

So don't give up on free advertising.

[Javi]

Johan I did a search for the "Get out of the dark" thread that you posted some months ago, but I coulden´t find it. It´s probably one of the ones that was deleted when the board has hacked.

If you still have a copy of the thread can you please repost it? It helped me a lot and I´m sure it will help others as well.

Javi :)

[Victor]

Johan writes:

If you have advertised your SFI page month after month without success then you are probably repeating the same mistake over and over again.

How should you get out of this bad wheel?

At the beginning I was in the process of placing ads without any response. I made desperate post on this board that this was impossible. People told me to stop whining and to get to work! This was a hard time, and I almost gave up. The only thing that kept me going was that I had too much pride to see myself losing when there were others having success.

I used the personal SFI page that was given to me when I signed up. I had the Key-code to rely on when I tracked my results. I got 1-2 affiliates signed up, and I thought it was great. But when I went to the same place again and posted my ad I got nothing. I posted again, but still nothing. So I moved on to the next place, and the next... I was working in the dark, and all I knew was that I didn't get any affiliate sign-ups from my ads.

At this point I didn't know how many visitors that I had brought to my personal SFI page, or how many it takes to get a sign-up.

I wanted to get out of the dark so I did this:

I got myself a domain name and a host. I could have used a free host and got myself a free name, but I wanted to have a easy to remember name considering that I might want to use it later for offline advertising (I have not done this yet). Then I used 6 figures template that I downloaded in the resource center, and put up my own first webpage on the internet. I wanted to stay out of the dark so I got myself a free tracker from Hitbox. Well I actually tried two other trackers that were no good before I found Hitbox. Hitbox lets you track from what places on the net your visitors comes from, up to hundred per day.

Everything was now set up.

So I started my advertising again. I placed 100 ads per day, and to my surprise I only got 2-3 visitors! OK, then I understood why I had such a bad result. I WAS ENLIGHTENED! But I wrote down those two ad sites that gave me my visitors. Next day I posted to my two small gold mines again PLUS 100 more ads on other pages. This took me around 3-4 hours, sometimes more. I repeated this process everyday until I had around 30 pages that gave me traffic. At this point I had around 40 visitors per day. AND I HAD 2-3 AFFILIATE SIGN-UPS PER DAY! AND I also had 6 upgrades my 3rd month!

I learned that it takes around 15 visitors to get one sign-up. And that I had spent most of my time advertising in the dark with a bad result, and without the possibility to improve myself.

Till that point I only used free resources. Now I invest the money that I make, and get 100-200 visitor per day WITHOUT ANY WORK. That is why I have time to stay at this wonderful board with all you lovely people. And I also spend time with my family and friends.

BUT I have not stopped looking for more resources. I always spend time looking for better ad sites and possibilities. I have to because otherwise I don't know where to invest my growing SFI commission.

So what I wanted to tell you: If you have spent month advertising, and are getting more and more frustrated - Take those small steps; create a gateway page with a tracker, and DON'T STAY IN THE DARK!

And advice to Gery: If we could have a tracker system attached to our personal SFI page from the day we sign up we could spare a lot of frustration!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Member under cover
(operation Take the Dboard back from the whiners)

[Johan]

I did not have that text on my computer anymore, but Victor here must have saved it for almost a year. Time moves fast!

It seams like Gery followed my little advice to add the tracker system. No; I guess he already had that figured out.

I was whining all the time when I started with SFI. I saw my teamleader adding more and more money to his paycheck, and I could hardly get a sign-up. That made me angry, but I knew that it was my methods that needed improvement. It's easy to get angry if you focus on the results you want to have but not yet have, instead of focusing on the actual progress that is taking place if you actively work in a direction.

As long there is someone else doing it you also have the possibilities. They might have advantages; years of experience and money to invest, but they also started from square one.
A person told me on this DBoard (three generations ago) that I "did not wanted it bad enough". I still remember that because it's the essence of success. I remember a post where we talked about "flow", and it is so important that we focus on what happens right now and how we can improve the current situation with the tools that are available to us. Hit-tracking is the tool you need if you want to take your SFI business from one point to another. It will indicate how your changes affect your results.

I wish we all could have a "hit-tracker" inside our minds. But maybe we have, we just have to find it. "Today I got 10 hits, and yesterday I only got five, Ah-ha, I'm doing something right, I'm a better person today".

Johan

[Javi]

Thats the one Victor, Thanks!

My success with Free classified ads started the day after I read that post. Thanks Johan!

Javi :)

Johan(Or Anybody else) could U recommend some sites that offer free advertising that have helped you

[Johan]

kroberts75,

Any sites that real people visits that are looking for what you offer. How do you find those sites? Do not look for classified ad sites when you look for advertising, "look for your own site". What I mean is that you should place yourself in the same shoes as the persons you are trying to reach. Use the searchengines and type in: "work at home", "home based business", "small business", ETC, or the products you are promoting.

Johan

[ShareInfo]

Yuup... I agree Free Still works... Just has to be a little creative..

Some really great postings here from our Swedish friend.... I see Johan in the the top 100 every month now..

Really a awesome job you have done. Johan.. I highly respect the job and entusiasm you are showing..

Yeah I agree the way to find good sites to place your Classified ads is to just use the search engines.. Yahoo, Google, Overture, DogPile, AltaVista... just to mention some of them...

And then you search for :
Work at home
Home based business
Work at home moms
Work at home dads
Small Business
Free Classified

etc...

Greetings ShareInfo ;)

Johan,

i guess it took you quite alot of time to build your business from free classifieds. You must have wanted it pretty bad if you ask me.

I find your posts to this board very helpful.

Keep up the good work and please continue posting helpful info to this board.

Wolter

[JOHN WOODBURY]

There are surely a lot of good ideas on this thread. My problem is that I am not really computer literate and don't completely understand when you say advertise on a specific media-I have tried overture and signed up with them for a monthly paid program about a week ago and then have heard nothing from the fellow Nick that I was corresponding with. Have sent emails asking for an answer and hope he will answer. I have 98 affiliates but only 2 MIQs. About 75% of my affiliates came from Eagle but my 2 MIQs came from my personal ads outside of Eagle.
I keep sending my affiliates encouragement. Have indicated that even though they are past deadlines that SFI is working on giving them the opportunity to upgrade. Hope this is true.

[Seeker111]

If you're using hit tracker or something similar on your own SFI web page, can you still use keycodes, or do you just have to see where you are getting the hits from? Can you use keycodes with your own SFI page? If so how do you do it? Where does the keycode go?
For instance if your page was http://mypage.ddd.com where would you put the keycode?

maybe http://mypage.ddd.23.com???

Thanks

[Elmarc]

When you are using a personal web site, the keycode goes in the outgoing link to your SFI gateway.

It is possible, although an advanced technique, to make your site accept and forward a keycode. CGI of some sort is the best way. Javascript can also do it, but is only good when your visitors have Javascrpit enabled.

Some tracking software can also track keycodes, but they can't follow into SFI's site to track signups.

Elmarc

[bralland]

http://www.yourgateway.com/SFIID.keycode/gatewaycode

for example,

http://www.quickinfo247.com/123456789.562/FREE

or

http://www.ezinfocenter.com/123456789.67/FCS

where 123456789 represents your SFI ID Number (SFIID),
the 562 and 67 represent keycode choices of yours from 1 to 999,
and FREE and FCS are gateway codes assigned by SFI.

[sammyjane]

I just made a sale (Mining Gold) through a free ad, and have almost 11 affiliates from the free advertising method!!


I have found affiliates are better quailty with the free adverts I have placed, more likely to activate websites, complete smart start etc. You just have to find the right advertising source.

Cheers.

Sammy!

[Carla Drake]

Hi everyone!
I am very new to this business. I have placed several free ads and have recieved a numerous amount of hits to the ads.
I agree very strongly with thr freebies, I am a mom of four and a school bus driver by trade, I am on medical leave right now, and not alot of cash coming in form my joob, so I am trying with minimual start up cash, but have placed some free ads and some paid ads, I'm having good response on both. Glad to be a part of such a cool team.


Have a good one!!
Carla D.:D

[TIFFT-1]

Hi Johan,

You don't mind me asking, but which
URL are you advertising, and did you
put all ads on one (same) classified
site.

TIFFT-1

[TIFFT-1]

Originally posted by Karen Barnes
I agree with Johan on this.

I post more free ads than paid ads. This includes ppc's. I still get people from free advertising not a lot of them because I do spend a lot if time looking for obscure places to advertise and only place about 20 ads a day from doing this which only results in about 10 to 15 sign ups a month. These are the people that I am personally having the best results with that are truly interested in this business.

So don't give up on free advertising.

Hi Karen Barnes,

You indicated that you place 20 ads a day 560 ads
a month
, and you received 20 new affiliates a month. Do you place all
your ads on one classified ad site.

TIFFT-1

[Karen Barnes]

Nope on various free classified sites..I use the sites that give me the affiliates until I receive no more from them.


There is still one that I use every month for the past 1 1/2 years that still produce a few sign ups each month on a continual basis.

[Cliff Wencker]

Hello Johan-
I'm new on the scene and just wanted to say I've watched your posts since I got in and you are a major source of knowledge and inspiration to me already. I want to build my business just like you have from scratch the hard way, through free classifieds. It doesn't intimidate me in the slightist because I know that my drive and creativity will get me traffic. I also do tons of tearaways and business cards everywhere I go. I'm a marketing machine 24-7 and live for this aspect . I want to tap into your knowledge because I know you've got so much to offer and I can tell you don't mind helping, because you really contribute to this outlet. If you ever want to come to SAN DIEGO I'm in the hotel industry and will get you well taken care of...Best Regards,CLIFF W.

[Karen Barnes]

Forgot to post this in my last response.


Also use a bit of imagination on where to find new free classified sites. There are more classifieds out there than just the business classified sites. I will suggest however while looking at these sites make sure that it is ok to place your business opp there some places will have a section for these and some won't.

[Johan]

Originally posted by Cliff Wencker
Hello Johan-
I'm new on the scene and just wanted to say I've watched your posts since I got in and you are a major source of knowledge and inspiration to me already. I want to build my business just like you have from scratch the hard way, through free classifieds. It doesn't intimidate me in the slightist because I know that my drive and creativity will get me traffic. I also do tons of tearaways and business cards everywhere I go. I'm a marketing machine 24-7 and live for this aspect . I want to tap into your knowledge because I know you've got so much to offer and I can tell you don't mind helping, because you really contribute to this outlet. If you ever want to come to SAN DIEGO I'm in the hotel industry and will get you well taken care of...Best Regards,CLIFF W.

Thank you Cliff! I will make a note that I'm welcome in San Diego. As soon as I get some time I will take my laptop and travel around the world, so it's good to have some contacts.

TIFFT-1,

I'm using my own gateway page; it's similar to the FRE URL. But I want to use my own site to have 100% controll of what is happening. I still place some free ads once in a while to test the waters, but it is on different sites. You find the best free ad sites by surfing around on different "work at home sites". You first do a search in a search engine and after that you just click around and search deeper on those sites by following links. There should not be any problem to sign-up 10 new affiliates/day using free ads, but only if you put it in to an effective system by tracking your results and collect statistics. The quality of the free affiliates use to be even better then those from PPCSE. I have also noticed that all you need is a solid title that catch the surfers attention, and that makes him curious. Sometimes I just write: Visit our website for more information" in the description field. From that point the website will do the work. I still enjoy the free affiliates more then I do with the ones I get from paid advertising, so sometimes I place a free ad or two.

Johan

[La'Vena]

Ok, I've read all you have to say printed it out so I have something to go by, went to address bars and typed in things like work form home, stay at home mom, and so forth. Was real interesting.
Then I went to the search engines (typed things like google and alta vista in the address bars) and looked for links to advertise.

It was there I got confused. Didn't see anything about free advertising. What am I doing wrong? Never advertised on anything b-4.

[Jericho13]

Try "free advertising" - "classified ads" .

[Paula Simonis]

The information about free advertising - especially from Johan - has been very helpful and re-assuring, since I had planned to use free advertising to get things off the ground. But, my recent investigations and attempts to submit have come up with somewhat contrary results - contrary to Johan's success, anyway.

Here's what I've been finding (understand, though, that I haven't tried every site listed in the DBoard Resource Center):
1. Yahoo isn't free anymore - at least, not that I can see.
2. Many of the free sites have banned affiliate websites such as those offered by SFI. In most cases, SFI websites have been the first ones mentioned on the list of banned websites. Yes, I know the way around this is getting one's own website. But, then, what good are the supplied websites?
3. Those ad sites that do offer free services and allow affiliate sites also make it clear that the free ads will be at the bottom of the list, after the premium ads. They also make it clear that the premium ads get 96% higher response rate that the free ads (which only makes sense). However, I'm wondering, then, how a free ad can generate any response-whatsoever.
4. In many case, the free ads are not searchable within the ad site itself. Does this mean then that these free ads are not searchable via a search engine?
5. I think I saw the answer to this next question in one of the threads, but I need to re-ask it so I have my answers all in one place. I understand how to keycode for the SFI supplied sites, but can I do the same thing for my personal website? I will have certain pages for certain products and services. How do I keycode a non-SFI site without invalidating the URL?
6. Does the Adwizard allow for different timing? In other words, can I have some ads going to certain sites once a day, while other ads go out once a week? Or every two weeks? How flexible is it? I don't relish the thought of "harassing" an ad site with daily bombardments when that site does not allow for it.
7. Now, explain to me exactly what spamming is - again? If I send an email asking someone if they're happy with their life, would they like to try something else and supply only my email address, then that's not spamming? But if I do the same and add an URL, that's spamming - right?
8. Does SFI have a very clear example of what's spamming and what is not? I know that SFI has a very clear policy on not spamming but how about some very clear examples of what is and is not spamming? One of the major complaints held by the free ad sites that no longer allow affiliate websites is that these sites generated excessive spamming. How did that happen considering SFI's policy?

I think that's it for the time being. I look forward to hearing from you.

[Creta]

Originally posted by Paula Simonis
1. Yahoo isn't free anymore .....I need to re-ask it so I have my answers all in one place.

Paula,

Johan has not suggested you submit to the Yahoo main site. This is impossible 100%, especially with your quickinfo and your ezinfocenter url. What he says is to go to any Search Engine or Directory, type in "work at home" etc and many OTHER sites than the main Yahoo submission page will appear. There, you will find what Joe (Going_the_max) has so nicely described: "I have found oodles and oodles of places where I can place free ads, and boy oh boy, I've only scratched the surface!" in this thread entitled "I'm liking what I'm seeing in those Search Engine results for the free advertising!!!":
http://www.sfidboard.com/showthread.php?threadid=18901

This Forum is about free advertising and Johan's topic is about free classified ads. This particular thread is considered a "classic" in this field, so I would suggest you go to the other forums for your other questions, or open a new thread for each of your questions, by choosing the correct forum each time.

You may want to read first innumerable posts about the Adwizard and spam if you just type these words on the Sfidboard search bar

Creta

[Elmarc]

Originally posted by Paula Simonis
The information about free advertising - especially from Johan - has been very helpful and re-assuring, since I had planned to use free advertising to get things off the ground. But, my recent investigations and attempts to submit have come up with somewhat contrary results - contrary to Johan's success, anyway.

Here's what I've been finding (understand, though, that I haven't tried every site listed in the DBoard Resource Center):
1. Yahoo isn't free anymore - at least, not that I can see.

Creta's answer is very good. I'll touch on your other points.

2. Many of the free sites have banned affiliate websites such as those offered by SFI. In most cases, SFI websites have been the first ones mentioned on the list of banned websites. Yes, I know the way around this is getting one's own website. But, then, what good are the supplied websites?

For all the free and Pay Per Click sites that have banned SFI ads, there are huge numbers that have not, more than you would guess have barely or never been found by SFI affiliates. Our assigned gateways work quite well at the places that have not been overrun with them.

3. Those ad sites that do offer free services and allow affiliate sites also make it clear that the free ads will be at the bottom of the list, after the premium ads. They also make it clear that the premium ads get 96% higher response rate that the free ads (which only makes sense). However, I'm wondering, then, how a free ad can generate any response-whatsoever.

There are free sites that have no premium ads, although these are getting rarer! Even at that, if there are no SFI ads or other believable ads for what we target, people do go through the lists and find our ads. That does not contradict the fact that higher placement means higher response, but it does mean that the response is more targeted when your ad is lower in the list. It also means that you need more of these places to gather a good response.

4. In many case, the free ads are not searchable within the ad site itself. Does this mean then that these free ads are not searchable via a search engine?

No. Search engines will find and accept sirtres for listing according to their design. Some will not accept any recognized affiliate programs, others are still open to us. The searches don't often gather ads for their listings by spidering, but by getting listings from their partners, usually PPC's

5. I think I saw the answer to this next question in one of the threads, but I need to re-ask it so I have my answers all in one place. I understand how to keycode for the SFI supplied sites, but can I do the same thing for my personal website? I will have certain pages for certain products and services. How do I keycode a non-SFI site without invalidating the URL?

You can keycode the link to your gateway so you can see who came to you through your personal site. To keycode trough your site, you need to use Javascript or CGI. I see that you have already found my Javascipt solution. Be sure to use the code in the last post!

6. Does the Adwizard allow for different timing? In other words, can I have some ads going to certain sites once a day, while other ads go out once a week? Or every two weeks? How flexible is it? I don't relish the thought of "harassing" an ad site with daily bombardments when that site does not allow for it.

Yes, you tell AdWizard how long you should wait between times you post.

7. Now, explain to me exactly what spamming is - again? If I send an email asking someone if they're happy with their life, would they like to try something else and supply only my email address, then that's not spamming? But if I do the same and add an URL, that's spamming - right?

That's a pretty straightforward description of it. Describing the program (more than a thumnail sketch) and giving the company name are also ways to make it Spam.

8. Does SFI have a very clear example of what's spamming and what is not? I know that SFI has a very clear policy on not spamming but how about some very clear examples of what is and is not spamming? One of the major complaints held by the free ad sites that no longer allow affiliate websites is that these sites generated excessive spamming. How did that happen considering SFI's policy?

Spam is such a slippery topic that examples would become obsolete too often and would always be incomplete. It would be very nice if we could have concrete examples!

Spamming a search engine or ad site is an extension of the definition of Spamming. It is up to the site to determine what will or will not be accepted. Typically this includes

• excessive submissions
• too frequent submissions
• submissions to the wrong category
• inappropriate content
• attempts to subvert the site's purpose
• attempts to subvert the site's procedures
• anthing else they please.

I think that's it for the time being. I look forward to hearing from you.

OK

Elmarc

[mcarrizo]

Originally posted by Johan
kroberts75,

Any sites that real people visits that are looking for what you offer. How do you find those sites? Do not look for classified ad sites when you look for advertising, "look for your own site". What I mean is that you should place yourself in the same shoes as the persons you are trying to reach. Use the searchengines and type in: "work at home", "home based business", "small business", ETC, or the products you are promoting.

Johan

Johan:

I read what you said about finding the best places for free advertising. I did what you said, went to the search engine, typed home business and found many matches. What I dont see is what information do I need to get from the first 20 results, in order to advertise for free. For example in the first result, there was a site address that does not get me anywhere with free advertising. Please be so kind to guide me on these.

Thanks,

Mel

[waynegm]

I've posted 10 Classifieds in 10 Different Sites, the last 10 days and got 1 hit and no sign ups or affiliates...... so, my question is this: WHAT SITE DO YOU ADVERTISE ON??

:)

WayneGm ((((((((()))))))))(((((((()))))))))))))((((()))))) ))


ALSO::::::::::::::::::::::::

On the NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS - can we EMAIL THEM and ask them if they are THINKING of Joining//////???????///////

Thanks Wayne

[Johan]

Mel,

It's not easy to find classified ad sites by searching a targeted search term like "home-based business", but it's smarter. You have to try different search engines, vary your search terms and follow links on those pages as well. Most pages that rank high only offers paid advertising; because they know that their ad space is valuable. Sometimes you also may have to look a little deeper then 20 results when you look for free ad space. I'm not saying that you will find a lot of sites this way, but those that I've found with this method are usually very good.

Wayne,

Post more! You have found one good site, make a note of the URL and keep it safe. Your foucus at this point is not to get a bunch of sign-ups, it's to find a couple of more of those good sites that give you visitors. When you get those sites the rest will follow. Don't post your ad 10 days in a row to the same sites if you don't get any visitors from them, thats a waste of time.

Johan

[7418545]

How do I place banners on the websites? :confused:

[Elmarc]

Read this post for help in using banners.

Elmarc

[worksmartlivelife]

I've started using free classifieds, but I have a question. How do people arrive at these ads? When I did a search for a business opportunity, I didn't see anything leading to any of these classified ad sites. Do people just look up "classifieds" and find them that way?

[emola69]

Work from home
work at home
home based business
home-based business
be your own boss
internet jobs
network marketing


Check the first 2 pages of results. Check each site for classifieds or links to classifieds. This is often where you will get better results, tho it is time consuming ....it is MUCH better than the standard AdWizard default sites.

PERSISTANCE, ENTHUSIAM, KNOWLEDGE, COMMUNICATION SKILLS!

[NoorhayatiSenin]

Now, how did you place 10 ads when the maximum allowed was 1 per person. Would you further elaborate on how you did it?

[TIFFT-1]

Hi Folks,

Just wondering how do all you successful marketers
post 200 ads a day.

It takes me countless hours just to find new sites
to advertise in for free.

I have a bunch of ads on these sites, but i'm running out of search engines.
What do I do now, I cancell ads, renew ads, change the wording
around and I get no results.

Don't get me wroung, I have 40 affiliates and I follow up with
them at least 3 times a week, but they don't reply to my e-mail.

So what's the secret.

Thanks for your replys
TIFFT-1

[GMeyers]

To Johan, Elmarc, Bralland and many others. I've got my own website + tracker... and it wasn't even that hard!!

What I still can't manage to do is put banners on my site. I've followed the instructions to the letter and my banners appear, as in the link is there but the .GIF doesn't show (only an X). What am I doing wrong, guys. It says in sfimg.com/Marketing/Resources/... to "position the banner onyour website". I've put the code on the index.html file. Is that right??

Gert "keep the faith" Meyers

[Elmarc]

Originally posted by GMeyers
To Johan, Elmarc, Bralland and many others. I've got my own website + tracker... and it wasn't even that hard!!

What I still can't manage to do is put banners on my site. I've followed the instructions to the letter and my banners appear, as in the link is there but the .GIF doesn't show (only an X). What am I doing wrong, guys. It says in sfimg.com/Marketing/Resources/... to "position the banner onyour website". I've put the code on the index.html file. Is that right??

Gert "keep the faith" Meyers

If your IMG tag is set up correctly, then your copy of the banner is not saved to your web site where the IMG tag points.

You must have an IMG tag where you want the banner to appear. It sounds as though you have done that entirely right.

You must have the banner image (.GIF file) where the IMG tag points. That means that you must upload a copy of the banner onto your web site along with the page that is to show it. It's not vital, just handy, to have a separate directory (folder) for your images. What is crucial is to have the IMG tag include the correct address of the image file.

Did you review the banner help post I linked to?

Elmarc

[GMeyers]

Thanks El.

I really feel I've done everything right (obviously not). Here's the bannercode I've inserted between the <body> <body> tags, high up on the index page, just below the tracker code (I want it to detract attention from the small tracker button):

<A HREF="http://www.quickinfo247.com/7339171/GD"><IMG
SRC="http://www.mysite.com/htdocs/graphics/Banner131.gif"
BORDER=0></A>

(apart from the mysite.com this is a cut and paste replica)

Banner131.gif has been uploaded into /htdocs/graphics successfully on my site.

What is maddening is that I had no problem with the tracker code, nor with code for a non-SFI related banner. That latter bit of code looks exactly the same, except (well, mainly) for the site name and graphics directory.

And, no I'm sorry but where is your banner help link, cos I will click!!

I'm getting there El, its easier than I thought. 10 years ago I used to do a lot of code and FTP, its all kind of coming back to me.

Appreciate your and anybody's help more than words can tell.


GKtFM

[Elmarc]

The link was a few posts back, so here it is again:

Read this post for help in using banners.

Elmarc

[GMeyers]

Checked out the post but still no joy with my banner.

Anyway, I don't want to pester the board with any small code problem, so is there a resource on html, ftp, etc that is fairly general and that I could download to selfhelp me? I can't seem to find anything in the dboard Rcenter.

GKtFM

[Elmarc]

Here are some "obvious" things to check:

Capitalization. The image file name and calling tag must agree.

You should be able to type the web address of your banner image in your prowser's address bar and display it that way.
http://www.mysite.com/htdocs/graphics/Banner131.gif should display the banner in your browser window. If it does not, the banner was not properly uploaded or the url (path) is wrong somehow. Proof reading is best done by someone else, in this case. (We always tend to read what we meant, not what's written.)

Try leaving htdocs/ out of the url if that is supplied by the system. Some servers have one path for FTP and a shorter url to display the page or image.

Don't stop trying to get the answer. There's likely just one word or phrase that we need to see from you to tell us what's stopping you. You won't overwhelm the DBoard and the people who don't need or care about this subject will be able to pass right by it, so keep posting until you get it to work.

Elmarc

[GMeyers]

Thanks for your support. I didn't realize that you could view the banner that way so I tried and no, cannot be displayed. The server is up so that is not the problem. Going back to my server, "my website" page it said amongst mucho else:

(about FTP transfer)

"Once logged in, you should upload all of your files into the HTDOCS sub-directory"

So I've relocated the Banner131.gif to /htdocs rather than /htdocs/graphics, adjusted the index.html, uploaded it, overwriting the previous version, checked the presence of Banner131.gif in /htdocs and away we go...

No, still no joy, can't see it from the browser still (http:/mysite.com/htdocs/Banner131.gif) and naturally it doesn't show on the page.

Anyway, I know what you mean about spelling and all that but now I'm going to request some support from the server. Its a paid one so who knows...

We'll laugh about this one day!!

GKtFM

[GMeyers]

Dear Customer,

Here's what my server support returned

You banner is viewable from this url:

(quote)
http://www."mysite".com/Banner131.gif

however, your html reads:

IMG SRC="http://www."mysite".plus.com/htdocs/Banner131.gif"

The "htdocs" is unnecessary - that folder is the document root for your webspace. So anything you put inside htdocs appears under "mysite".com/ via http. (conversely, don't put anything OUTSIDE htdocs!)

Also don't forget that filenames are case sensitive on *nix servers - so banner131.gif is not the same as Banner131.gif. That's one which used to catch me out quite a lot.

(end quote)

Easy when you know it!!

I'll keep on posting since you don't mind.

a 1000 thanx

GKtFM

[Elmarc]

I'm glad to see that you get great support from your host! I was suspecting that htdocs/ might be the problem.

Now there's nothing to hold you back! :cool: :K)

Elmarc

[GMeyers]

Yes , thanks, I've now got my own, somewhat primitive site to promote etc.
Very happy about that too (Small step for... and all that). I do have a question to which I've rather searched high and low.

My site is with an unmetered ISP, which offers 250 megs of space and free registration of a domain name (and decent support). The website (up and running and ready to be "taken to market") is basically my username with the ISP, my domain name is personalized.

How do I make use of the domain name??

I've also got a few free websites scattered around (I found 0catch.com useful, not plugging or anything) the place.

GKtFM

[lynn82301]

Okay...maybe I am not as computer literate as I thought!

I am very new to SFI and I am so excited about the oppurtunities that I have read about. I went through Smart Start, have checked out the marketing resources link, and have even read dozens of how to get started pages, but all to no avail!:(

The free advertising sounds exactly like what I am looking for but has confused me so much that I feel like a dunce... I hate to be a whiner...Actually I am quite Gung_ho and all for this exciting business oppurtunity... But here is my question.......

Is it possible that someone can tell me step by step how to post free ads and start generating some results...:confused:

I would so graciously appreciate it...as some of the previous posts that I have read were a little too technically worded for a mind such as mine that is so new to the whole world of internet-based businesses. Thanx!!!!!:p

[Norma]

Each free ad site is different but each is basically the same. First you visit the site and if they ask you to sign in before you can post and ad then you do that. After getting into the site you are asked to pick a category then you pick the one that closely fits your ad. such as business for an internet business or business opportunites or if you are advertising something else such as the LD then you may have to look for a services type of listing. then you need to post your ad following the instructions of the site.

Always use keycodes in your ads so that you will know which ad someone comes from and which site when they sign up.

Hope this helps you.

Norma

[lynn82301]

After reading :R) your reply, free advertising was as easy as blowing a bubble :Bubble:

But I still have one more thing to ask if you or anyone else can help me... In my ads it leads to either my e-mail or my main site... which basically to me looks like a page for new affiliates... :D

But now I am wondering how I get people to buy products and is there a way to direct people to the power points mall under my reference that aren't affiliates, or do they purchase the products from the merchants elsewhere? :A)

I was so excited to see that I could be able to earn commission off of many purchases in the past 24 hours...but I need to become MIQ. I would love to do this...but is there a way to become EA without purchasing any products myself?

Still up in the clouds -:O,

Nicole

[mike5150]

I was so excited to see that I could be able to earn commission off of many purchases in the past 24 hours...but I need to become MIQ. I would love to do this...but is there a way to become EA without purchasing any products myself?

You can become EA by retailing any SFI product worth 10 SVP to someone who is NOT an SFI affiliate! That's one of the reasons you have over 15+ different free websites that were given to you when you joined. I often become EA by doing this! :)


mike5150 :)