StepFront » Online Marketing http://www.stepfront.com Thu, 02 Apr 2009 20:14:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 The Ethics Debate on Online Marketing http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/the-ethics-debate-on-online-marketing/ http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/the-ethics-debate-on-online-marketing/ #comments Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:36:19 +0000 Farhan Kamal http://www.stepfront.com/?p=156 My latest article in Spider Magazine covers the debate on the four major online marketing channels, (seo, sem, e-mail and affiliate marketing). Grab your copy and let me know what you think about it.

]]> http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/the-ethics-debate-on-online-marketing/ /feed 3 Link Baiting Article http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/link-baiting-article/ http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/link-baiting-article/ #comments Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:48:36 +0000 Farhan Kamal http://www.stepfront.com/?p=120 For this month’s issue of Spider Magazine, my article about Link Baiting is published. It covers the strategies, types and things to take care of while designing a link baiting campaign. Grab your issue now.

]]> http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/link-baiting-article/ /feed 0 Marketer’s ToolKit http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/marketers-toolkit/ http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/marketers-toolkit/ #comments Sat, 10 May 2008 07:52:07 +0000 Farhan Kamal http://www.stepfront.com/?p=92 My article in this month’s Spider Magazine, covers a list of very useful tools and services every marketer needs. Go and get your copy and let me know if there’s something missing.

]]> http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/marketers-toolkit/ /feed 0 5 Tips to Make Sure Your Emails Arrive in the Inbox http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/5-tips-to-make-sure-your-emails-arrive-in-the-inbox/ http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/5-tips-to-make-sure-your-emails-arrive-in-the-inbox/ #comments Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:47:47 +0000 Farhan Kamal http://www.stepfront.com/?p=88 A great and active email list, a nice offer in hand and you have the recipe to instant online success, right? Well not so fast! You have to make sure that your email is delivered to the inbox of the recipient. Following tips might help in improving your email deliverability rate and make your email marketing more successful

  1. Use a Reliable 3rd party email sending service / software
    Services like www.constantcontact.com or www.icontact.com do not allow sending spam emails,and so have a very good reputation with all the major ISP’s and Email service providers. This enables a higher deliverability rate.
  2. Text to Image Ratio
    many times you will receive an email which is 100% image based. The first appearance of such an email in desktop clients such outlook express is a blank. The better approach is to keep a 60:40 image to text ratio. Never send out an image only email. 100% image based emails, also trigger spam filters and your email will end up in the junk mail folder of the recipient.
  3. Mind Your Text and Subject Line
    some words such as FREE, $$$, CASH are known words that trigger spam filters. Wherever possible avoid using these words and also ALL CAPS formatting of the text.
  4. Backgrounds and alignment.
    Use white background and align your text towards left. Personal observation says that it passes through the spam filters pretty well
  5. Personalization
    Addressing the recipient with his/her name, highly improves the chances of your email to pass through the spam filters. A good email sending software will insert your recipient name in each email while sending.

If you have any other tips, please share them here.

]]> http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/5-tips-to-make-sure-your-emails-arrive-in-the-inbox/ /feed 3 Making YouTube Videos Work for Your Online Business http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/making-youtube-videos-work-for-your-online-business/ http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/making-youtube-videos-work-for-your-online-business/ #comments Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:42:57 +0000 Farhan Kamal http://www.stepfront.com/?p=80 my article about how to use online video sites such as YouTube and Google Videos for online marketing is published in the April’s issue of Spider Magazine. Get your copy today and let me know what you think about it.

]]> http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/making-youtube-videos-work-for-your-online-business/ /feed 0 Google Adwords Startup Guide http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/google-adwords-startup-guide/ http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/google-adwords-startup-guide/ #comments Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:08:56 +0000 Farhan Kamal http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/google-adwords-startup-guide/ I stumbled upon this really nice guide for, if you are planning to tame the Adwords beast.

Have a nice read and provide your feedback.

Google Adwords Startup Guide

]]> http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/google-adwords-startup-guide/ /feed 0 PhoneBook Pakistan’s New Online Yellow Pages http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/phonebook-pakistans-new-online-yellow-pages/ http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/phonebook-pakistans-new-online-yellow-pages/ #comments Mon, 24 Mar 2008 15:20:11 +0000 Farhan Kamal http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/phonebook-pakistans-new-online-yellow-pages/


If you have a registered business in Pakistan, you can get yourself listed for free in www.phonebook.com.pk The website launched and managed by Jang Group, provides a much better interface and more accurate information compared to Jamal’s Yellow Pages in Pakistan.

To get a free basic listing follow this link
http://www.phonebook.com.pk/Dynamic/BasicListing.aspx

For companies interested in advertising on the website, there’s ample opportunity in form of web banners and enhanced listings.

]]> http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/phonebook-pakistans-new-online-yellow-pages/ /feed 1 Craziest Internet Marketing Contest Win $12201 http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/craziest-internet-marketing-contest-win-12201/ http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/craziest-internet-marketing-contest-win-12201/ #comments Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:19:38 +0000 Farhan Kamal http://www.stepfront.com/news/craziest-internet-marketing-contest-win-12201/ Craziest Internet Marketing Contest You’ve Ever Seen – $12,201 in FREE Cash & Prizes

I spotted this really fun Internet marketing contest. I am usually not interested in this kind of stuff, but i feel the need to mention it here to show you guys how you can cleverly and creatively build link popularity and buzz. Check it out for yourself


Internet marketing contest

]]> http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/craziest-internet-marketing-contest-win-12201/ /feed 1 Domain Buying Guide Article http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/domain-buying-guide-article/ http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/domain-buying-guide-article/ #comments Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:16:11 +0000 Farhan Kamal http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/domain-buying-guide-article/ My article, Domain Buying Guide for businesses is published today in Spider Magazine. It covers from basic to advance tips of securing a long-lasting domain name for your business. The issue of March is full of other useful stuff so go and grab your copy today.

]]> http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/domain-buying-guide-article/ /feed 1 10 Point Checklist for a Memorable and Brandable Domain Name http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/10-point-checklist-for-a-memorable-and-brandable-domain-name/ http://www.stepfront.com/online-marketing/10-point-checklist-for-a-memorable-and-brandable-domain-name/ #comments Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:08:58 +0000 Farhan Kamal http://www.stepfront.com/uncategorized/10-point-checklist-for-a-memorable-and-brandable-domain-name/ More often than not, companies name their business “casually”. Sitting with friends, over a cup of tea. Frankly speaking, it’s a disaster strategy. I have learned a lot from Mr. Naseem Javed when he was in Pakisan last year and I have made the following checklist for business naming.

  1. Can you acquire the .com extension of the domain?
  2. Is it short and simple?
  3. Is it easy to spell and read?
  4. Is it easy to recognize and remember?
  5. Is it easy to pronounce?
  6. Is it pronounced in only one way?
  7. Is it pronounced in all languages (for international markets)?
  8. Is it Suggestive of product benefits?
  9. Is it always timely?
  10. Is it legally available for use?

If you anwer yes to all these 10 points above, you are creating a globally powerful brand name for yourself. Microsoft is one classic example of a powerful global name that gets a 10 on 10 on the naming checklist.

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