Free ads (still) work.

In the various replys, I see that links are mentioned in the ads. Also mentioned are websites. My question is since copying the gateway pages to your personal website is not allowed, Do you use links from your ads to your website then link to the gateway sites? Or do you do it some other way?

What I was thinking of doing was to use a domain name as a cloaked link to the gateway. This way it would look like my personal page.

If this isn't the way to go then please tell me what to do.

Thanks,
Bridge

[dhivethi]

Hi BridgeLindsay,

both of the ways that u have mentioned is ok.

u can either link from your ads to your website and from your website to your gateway, or use a domain to forward to your gateway.

[Shari Harris-Du]

I just read the Johan piece "Get out of the Dark". I've new to SFI and new to marketing and at the moment kind of wildly submitting my SFI website (FREE) to free sites. So far, no signups. I think I need a better strategy and like what I read.

So I need to ask a few very basic questions - what is the easiest place to go to get a domain name and host? Did it cost you anything? Where did you go? Is it very easy (self-explanatory) to do?

I'm not familiar with the 6 figures template - could you tell me the link?

If I want to but in some banners, could I do that - or does the domain name just link back to the SFI site?

Is the free tracker from Hitbox pretty explanatory to use?

Any freebie sites you could recommend going to?

Thanks,
Shari

[cokie]

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 [/b][/quote]

[cokie]

i have tons of ads on the net and thay ans my ad with take a look at mine not to good free ads but the people ans and want me to join what thay have i can't wait i sing up for 45.00 with sfi will be comeing up soon thank you the free ads are not that good maybe becouse thay are free :rolleyes:

[mikestyp]

I have just placed about 45 free classified ads all over the net in the last few days and haven't seen any real results yet...perhaps one sign-up but I hadn't been keycoding but now I am and so one affiliate may have slipped through from a free classified response.

I just want some encouragement that this kind of advertising will bring in SOME affiliates, because my PPC budget for this month is all used up.


Karen Barnes, Norma, and all the other free classified gurus, can you give me some help? How many free classifieds a week do I need to place in order to get at least a trickle of affiliates?

And any hints at WHERE to place without divulging your secrets?

Finally, I downloaded AdWizard onto my home computer but haven't wrestled with it yet...will do soon...how much faster does AdWizard make advertising to classified sites and how much more do you yield in affiliate sign-ups?

Thanks everybody...

Mike Stypula
Fremont, CA

:Koolaid:

[Karen Barnes]

Mikestyp,

The tips that I am going to suggest are in this thread as well as this thread http://www.sfidboard.com/showthread....threadid=23595

Use keywords in your search for different free classifieds.

For Example:

free marketing classifieds


This will show quite a few of the same sites as doing a search for free classifieds, but if you go down further in the pages of listings you will find more.

Yes this takes time. As I have stated in other posts by doing just this I may only get about 20 or so ads posted a day, I am getting them posted to less used sites. Thus bringing in affiliates just not in high volume. The more time you have to do these searches and posting ads the more results you will see.

Now that you have downloaded adwizard this will help you out tremendously once you get more and more classified sites added to it and getting to know the ins and outs of adwizard you will have more time to post your hads and they will go a lot quicker as well.

[Brandyjo]

I have read some of your quotes and am impressed with it. I have a couple of questions though. I am very new to sfi. I was wondering if you could help me out a little. I am having problems advertising. I want to advertise on the free cites but I am not sure of how to find it and get my advertisment added. I am so confused, I have read so much info and went through the smart start and the training a few times now but it is so much to consume. Please help me out if you can I appreciate it a lot. Thank you in advance.

Brandy Jo

[Brandyjo]

Johan, I posted a reply yesterday and I am still lost can anyone help me out. I am new at this and I have read and re-read the smart start/ and training 3 times. I can not figure out how to post on free ad cites, where to find them or how to do key coding. I have tried to understand it but can not seem to get a forward answer please help. I have read a lot of your info and you really seem to have your stuff together. Please help. I am lost, confused, and blonde. Not a good combination. ha ha. Thanks in advance.

Brandy Jo
I can not seem to find where the answer to peoples posting's go it took me forever to find this. Thanks agian

[Tricky Dick]

You can find out about free advertising on the internet by entering "free advertising" at the search section of your home page, or at google or any other search engine.\

That should give you about 5,000 different alternatives.

Click on the first few, and they will guide you in how to place a free ad. Look at some of their ads to see what and how other people are advertising.

Richard A. Cohen CPA
Middlesex, NJ

[myrslok]

The best way to find good FFA, is to search for the kind of business you wan´t to promote, then place your ads on thoose sites or search engines, you find from your search.
//Per

[Corry Pepper]

While placing an add on a free classifieds add site, I was offered a service for $7, which basicly duplicates my add and posts it to 1500 other classified adds sites. I wonder if it's a trick or if it's worth it. Has any of you tried it?

[Chewy]

My best advice is stay away from something like that.

There is software that is free that can do the same thing, plus it may not be legit.

-Matthew Chenoweth

[7691084]

hello Johan,

Please tell me where some of the best free adversitings sites YOU'VE used are? Free ads is my only option and I'd really like to follow your wisdom to "build to my SFI business" as well.

Thanks,
J. Gomez

[Prestige]

Hello,
I'm fairly new to SFI and decided to try chat rooms as a source for my affiliates. Yesterday i spent about 1 hour in a buisness chat room and brought in 2 new affiliate's, I found that i was able to tell the people about SFI personally and able to control the audience a little more( career minded people). Does this seem like a good idea to anyone else? Keep in mind that this is not my only form of advertising, But two affiliates whom i now know personally in 1 hour seems pretty good to me.

And i would also like to say that i have been involved in my familys and my own buisnesses for quite awhile, And with people like you all SFI is a WorldWide family buisness of people who may or may not be related, and for this I Thank each and everyone of you and cant wait to see you all at the Top!! With Sincerity,
Prestige

[Jericho13]

please be advised that SFI doesn't allow SFI affiliates to advertise in Chat Rooms or News Groups. If you are reported for doing so to SFI you could lose your SFI business.

[Prestige]

Well I had no idea, I read the rules and regulations but never seen that part. I think its kinda of silly, but I didnt make the rules I just joined SFI and now I'm here to follow them. I sure am glad I decided to Mention this in the forum Before it eskilated into a bigger problem !!!

I Think That the Rules should be gone over with new affiliates a little better, Ive put atleast 16 hours just reading and absorbing everything I can about SFI ( and like i said Im new). But in this time i never seen a thing about Chating being against the rules.
Thank you,
Prestige :R)

[Prestige]

Before I go, I did want to mention that in no way did i advertise in a chat room,,, I just met a few goal oriented people,, They sent me a yahoo message before i even attempted anything,,Then i just told them a little about it,, The location of my site,,and they signed up,,,,,,but in no way was i advertising in or on a chat board..

Thanks again,
Prestige;)

[Elmarc]

The ban on advertising in Chat Rooms and News Groups is located in the affiliate agreement that we must accept in order to activate or gateway web sites.

Specifically, it is this area: http://www.sfimg.com/Affiliate/Agree...tml#AnchorSpam

We are to go to personal communications to speak of SFI; email, IM, telephone, snail mail or any other way that is not part of the chat. If someone asks, invite him/her to email you or join you on IM or whatever works for you.

SFI is very strict about this because the complaints that shut down SFI for a few months early in its history came from chat rooms.

Elmarc

[Prestige]

Thank you Elmark,
I understand totally. I must have missed it when i signed up. :)

[MarylandNan]

Thanks to Johan and moderators and to all for the useful information about free ads. I also am new to SFI - this is my first post and first review of Board. What a wonderful useful tool!!

I am just starting, but am encouraged by the good will of all of people. I am leary of spamming - and still trying to figure the in and outs of emailing to leads with a message that is not spam.
Will keep studying - have seen messages to me from "big hitters" and they have used their affiliate link, example, SFI link in their email. Is that legal?

[Elmarc]

have seen messages to me from "big hitters" and they have used their affiliate link, example, SFI link in their email. Is that legal?

Maybe.

Strictly speaking, they likely are legal, but that depends on the exact laws where they live and where you live.

Whether they are acceptable to SFI standards depends on the nature of the list that your email address was on.

If you truly asked for business information and verified that they had your information right, it is in a grey area. You still should have received and replied to a specific request to send SFI information before receiving email with any SFI owned url in it. That includes the gateways.

Elmarc

[Douz77]

I'm relatively new too. I understand the whole free advertising thing and I've done some research, but I guess I'm just scared to advertise in fear of being rejected by the classifieds' site. Some websites want in depth descriptions of what your business opportunity is and I've read that a lot of sites don't accept ads about SFI. Does this mean that I have to be a little creative in how I word my advertisement? Some don't want you to be vague so how do I get around that? Or would it be safer to give links to our products instead of affiliate links, or could I do both....with a creative approach?

I have too many questions....ouch, but I'm still learning.

I don't have the $$$ to get my own domain or place ads in papers or the like yet, so I'm relying on free advertising right now.

Has anyone had any luck advertising on their business cards?

[scott richards]

Friends
I need to know how you track free ads. I have gotten a lot of hits but not gotten any sign ups. What can I do?

[email address removed per dboard policy - moderator]

[Karen Barnes]

Make sure to use keycodes when placing your ads and whether or not you use adwizard make sure to note somehow what keycode you are using with each site so that you know where a lot of your traffic and sign ups are coming from.

Keycodes are as follows any numbers from 1-999, no letters are allowed as they won't track properly.

example of what a keycoded gateway looks like:

http://www.yourgateway.com/yourID<fo...23</font>/free

[papasmurf]

I agree that free ads are the way to go if you have no capital. I have finally after two month posting to free classifieds sites, 2 new affiliates.

It does take a great deal of time, and I guess I will need to mix up my ads instead of using the same ones on most of the sites.

[scott richards]

:eek2: That is great Papasmurf. Which free ad were you promoting to get your 2 new affiliates? :eek2:

[freeppc]

I've posted this before...I know of a ppc search engine that will list sites for free within their search results. Here's the link

http://www.search-2-search.com They do get traffic!

[silke247]

Originally Posted by freeppc

I've posted this before...I know of a ppc search engine that will list sites for free within their search results. Here's the link

http://www.search-2-search.com They do get traffic!

Yes, they will get traffic, but it is empty traffic.
PPC means "Pay per click" note "PAY"- they won't send you any real FREE leads, anymore than TEs will.
What you WILL get for free is a lot of spam to the address you register with -that is the "price" you pay.
They are a lot like FFAs.

Free ads work because you have to "spend" a lot of time.
PPCS work because you have to spend a lot of money.

There is NO way to do things fast and free in this business.

If you notice, it is only new affliates, recently joined with few posts, who enter these kind of ideas.
All the long term people, still doing things the hard way, know not to try them.

Put it this way, when one of these posts appear, be it for that $97 submitter or a "10,000 hits a day" scheme you don't get experienced PTLs going
"oh no I wasted so much time and money over the months and years when I could have just used this. I will use this from now on. Thank you so much for sharing this with us"

That should put things in perspective for the newbies when they think they have discovered the "magic pill".


Silke
PTL
;-)

[bfeely1311]

For the new members out there welcome and good luck as you prepare to build your business....

And I did say your Business. Treat it like a business, and you will get the rewards for your hard work.

Just like any other business (brick and mortar) you can not expect that business owner to cut corners and find the "easy way". His/her business will fail.

The only reality to gain your rewards is through hard work.

So my advise, and just my thoughts, avoid anything that cuts corners. I'm not saying avoid things that save you time, because there are technologies and methods that can save you time. This is important, allows you to focus on the most important things in your business....But DO Avoid things that cut corners....

Such as blasting your ads accross the Internet. Sure you're thinking I can get my ad to say 500,000 people (thats what the service states, only for $ XXX) But what the site doesn't tell you is your ad is blasted accross sites that no real, breathing people visit. Your ad is not viewed. And if it is viewed by a real person, the numbers are Extremely Low.

This low number compared to getting prospects through a legitamate method (PPC's, Ezines, classified ad placements) is a waste of your time and money. If out of 500,000...how many real people do you think you would get? Now compare that number....to the number you will get running ads on google for example....ads generating traffic totaling 500,000 qualifed viewers...the number you get from this method is bigger then the blasting, and higher click throughs....you get the idea....

Don't fall into that trap, and take the easy way out. It's tempting I know....but it will cost you in the end, and you will kick yourself for doing it.

Like in the monthly IAHBE newsletter....quote of the month....the dictionary is the only place Success comes before Work......

Benjamin

[sandy2601]

Johan, can you or anyone else tell me about pay per click advertising, free or otherwise. I've heard that's the way to go, and I'd like to know where I can find out more about it. Thanks. Sandy

[rogerrangent]

Originally Posted by Javi

Thats the one Victor, Thanks!

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

Javi :)

What ads did you go too?

[omeomi]

You will not see actual ad sites posted on the forum. A successful ad link posted would quickly be overrun with SFI ads and would no longer yield results.

Those getting good ad results worked hard to find those sites so they keep them "unannounced".

[HISWILL]

Originally Posted by 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

Hey Johan, That sounds great. I'm just starting out and I don't have alot of money. How can I learn to do free advertising? ......HISWILL.......

[bralland]

Originally Posted by HISWILL

Hey Johan, That sounds great. I'm just starting out and I don't have alot of money. How can I learn to do free advertising? ......HISWILL.......

Refer to Johan's Small Guide to Free Advertising elsewhere on this board (just click on the bolded link to the left).

[Fire2004]

I must repeat and emphasize what I think is important about Johans Method.

Remember to put a tracking script on your website.

This is most important as it tells you where your traffic is coming from and this single piece of information is and should be your Prized Possession.

Joel Teo

[FrankjrIII]

Originally Posted by bfeely1311

For the new members out there welcome and good luck as you prepare to build your business....

And I did say your Business. Treat it like a business, and you will get the rewards for your hard work.

Just like any other business (brick and mortar) you can not expect that business owner to cut corners and find the "easy way". His/her business will fail.

The only reality to gain your rewards is through hard work.

So my advise, and just my thoughts, avoid anything that cuts corners. I'm not saying avoid things that save you time, because there are technologies and methods that can save you time. This is important, allows you to focus on the most important things in your business....But DO Avoid things that cut corners....

Such as blasting your ads accross the Internet. Sure you're thinking I can get my ad to say 500,000 people (thats what the service states, only for $ XXX) But what the site doesn't tell you is your ad is blasted accross sites that no real, breathing people visit. Your ad is not viewed. And if it is viewed by a real person, the numbers are Extremely Low.

This low number compared to getting prospects through a legitamate method (PPC's, Ezines, classified ad placements) is a waste of your time and money. If out of 500,000...how many real people do you think you would get? Now compare that number....to the number you will get running ads on google for example....ads generating traffic totaling 500,000 qualifed viewers...the number you get from this method is bigger then the blasting, and higher click throughs....you get the idea....

Don't fall into that trap, and take the easy way out. It's tempting I know....but it will cost you in the end, and you will kick yourself for doing it.

Like in the monthly IAHBE newsletter....quote of the month....the dictionary is the only place Success comes before Work......

Benjamin

I am new here but now frustrated that i cannot go to my own URL address when i typed it to the search box and press the search button. It always comes out with error. what should i do with this kind of problem?

[omeomi]

Type your address in the address bar. The SFI sites are gateway sites and not optimized for search engines.

[berms00]

ron derby
ime fearly new to this. i was looking around and tried to find some places to place a free ad, i couldn't find any and the ones i did find i wouldn't know how to place the ad anyway. can someone give some advice on how to do this.

[silverio]

so, go more a little bit explaning how to get those ads and where do you place them? in a specific web? Please, my question is real...?
Cris

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.

[silke247]

Originally Posted by silverio

so, go more a little bit explaning how to get those ads and where do you place them? in a specific web? Please, my question is real...?
Cris

Hi Cris,

I think I'm your PTL aren't I?

For where to get ads, go to the Affiliate Marketing section of the Resources Centre:
https://www.sfimg.com/MarketingAids/...eMarketing.sfi

As for WHERE to advertise, it takes a long time to figure out which sites get the signups and nobody is going o give away their goldmine on here.

I would say to anyone to contact your PTL. After all, your PTL will benefit if you bring anyone to the team.

And I say to Cris, or anyone in my team reading this, send me an email, and I'll give you some sites to advertise at.


Silke
PTL
;-)

[montanas]

Originally Posted by 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

================================================== ======
:Koolaid: Hello! My name is anatoly, I am russian, trying to get, let even small money like $200 in month for to start. :notso: I try to use free ads and on today result=0. Not one click on my Gatewaysite! Veriuni, IHBE, FREE. :Blah: :scowl: All is :ghost: TEACH ME HOW TO GET SUCSESS IN FREE!!! ads. HOW MENY TIME IT REQUIRE?.

[mactan]

Originally Posted by silke247

And I say to Cris, or anyone in my team reading this, send me an email, and I'll give you some sites to advertise at.


Silke
PTL
;-)

How I wish I'm a member of your team, Silke! I need help too! ;)

-Carol

[Fire2004]

Anatoly,

You really should re-read Johan's post. Spend some time doing the following:

A. Get a Geocities website or anyother free website

B. Add a link that reads, page has moved please click here to the blank page.

C. Find a free counter like www.freestatcounter.com and add it to the bottom of the website

D. Next start posting.

E. Monitor where your hits are coming from (log into your free statcounter)
Get a notebook and write it down.

F. Post as many ads as you can. Try posting about 200 a day and work really hard for a few weeks and note all those sites that give you traffic.


Finally persist in whatever you do.

Joel Teo

[silke247]

Originally Posted by mactan

How I wish I'm a member of your team, Silke! I need help too! ;)

-Carol

Why thank you, Carol, I wish I had anybody as dedicated as you on my Team too, you'd be an asset to anyone.


Silke
;-)

[bootsie223]

undefined

Originally Posted by 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

[jerry542]

I would just like to thank Johan for all the tips on free advertising. Yes it will work if you put in a little time.

I have been gone for a while becuse of my pc problems but im back and advertising, of course its free ads.

thanks Johan :Super:

[jpdriver]

I have proven beyond doubt that the free ads, as y'all have indicated, do get hits on the hit counter. I seem to be missing something after that point. At last check, I have 694 hits on my tracker, with something like 513 of them from the "free" gateway. Of those nearly 700 hits, not a single one has clicked through from the page and signed up. :headbang: How can that many people get to those beautifully-prepared sites given us by SFI and not a single one give it a try? I tried it--surely I'm not the only one who can see something positive about all this...?

By the way...this ain't whinin' and I ain't quittin'!!

jpdriver

[Elmarc]

Unfortunaltely, the nature of business and advertising is that a grat many people will see an ad, look a little closer, then go on to someting else.

To reduce the number of "tire kickers" and "window shoppers" requires a deeper understanding of people and advertising.

What is needed to improve the response rate is better pre-selection of the people who will be looking at your ad or better placement of your ads.

Pre-selection is done by careful placement of the ads and writing ads that state, in effect, that only serious inquiries will be accepted.

Better placement involves understanding who would be looking for SFI, finding where those people "hang out", then advertising there.

Another factor is that it takes 7 or more viewings of an ad before most people are ready to trust that it's legitimate. You are laying groundwork now that may pay off when the time is right.

A great deal of finding your way to the best advertising spots and the most effective ads takes time, patience and attention. It's very typical to begin with lots of click, but no sign-ups.

Keep studying the advise here, at the Affiliate Resource Center, and anywhere else you can get good advice. Also pay attention to any ads that you see that appear to be selling well. They can provide lots of good ideas for your own ads.

Elmarc

[RFF]

Can anyone point me in the direction to advertising free in classifieds. I'm new and have started using http://www.worldwidepromoter.com/ that was suggested by Johan. Would like some other free ad placement sites.

Thanks!
RFF