Author: Katherine

Is affiliate marketing right for you?

Posted by on Leave a Comment

Affiliate marketing can be a great way to monetize your website, but it can also be daunting, depending on how you manage it.  It needs some effort and time to make it work. Besides, merchants can be critical, too, in choosing which affiliate program can best carry their products or services.

While it is true that creating a website is easy, making it as an income-generating project, however, is another story.

Affiliate website

 

What is affiliate marketing and how does it work?

To better understand what affiliate marketing is all about and how it works, let us first define the term.  It is a type of marketing where you get paid for promoting a product or service.  The items may not necessarily be yours, but someone else’s. You just have to feature the items on your website.  Once a visitor to your site clicks on the link to the product or service, he will be led to the source of the items.

The owner of the product or service is called the merchant. If that same visitor of yours eventually makes a purchase or transaction with the merchant, you will get a commission from such referrals. The amount of your commission is a percentage of the purchased item’s sale price.

You don’t have to worry about not knowing how to create banners to usher your visitors to the merchant’s site. You may simply mention them, as a matter of product suggestion, in your content.  Or, you may write content on a topic and add the link to a product that may be useful to your reader.  You can talk about different affiliate products in your website and recommend them to your readers, provide them with detailed and factual reviews, and make some comparisons with similar products.

How much money can you make with your affiliate website?

Now, this is the real serious part of affiliate marketing. Creating an affiliate website is one thing; making it successful is another. Like any business, the amount of income you want to make depends on how much effort and time you put into it. Besides, it takes some serious planning on which items to promote in your website. You cannot just stuff your website with so many products to promote and share links to their websites. You must consider your audience, too.  Make sure you promote the right product to the right audience.

How about brined turkey for Christmas?

Posted by on Leave a Comment

Christmas dinners are bonding moments of families and friends, celebrating the gift of life.

As Christmas Eve nears, many of us worry about what to prepare, or how much to spend for the occasion. Weight watchers also ponder on how much calories to take.

Well, let me share with you this Paleo-friendly recipe that makes a healthy and sumptuous Christmas dinner. It’s the brined Turkey with gluten-free gravy.

Paleo - Christmas

The ingredients:

  • 1½ cups kosher salt
  • 2 gallons filtered water
  • 1 pasture-raised turkey
  • 2 medium onions
  • 4 stalks celery
  • 4 carrots, cut in large chunks
  • 1 bunch fresh sage
  • 1 bunch fresh rosemary
  • 1 large lemon, quartered
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
  • 1 cup water
  • ¼ cup ghee or butter

… and, here is how to prepare it.

Paleo - brining a turkey

  • In a large pot and over low heat dissolve the salt.  Let cool and then place in the refrigerator until completely cold.
  • Remove the turkey giblets and set aside for other use.  Rinse the turkey and place it in a large bowl.  Add the brine and store in refrigerator for 8 hours.
  • Remove the turkey from the brine and rinse it thoroughly.  Pat dry. Place it on a wire rack over cookie sheet.  Put it back in refrigerator uncovered.  Leave dry for 6 hours.
  • Take out the turkey from the refrigerator an hour before you roast it.
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  • Spread half of the vegetables in the roasting pan and add a cup of water.
  • Stuff the remaining vegetables, herbs, lemon, and garlic into the turkey’s cavity.
  • Truss the turkey with cooking twine and put it on a roasting rack with its breast side down.
  • Glaze the turkey with half of the ghee and put it back in oven and roast for 40 minutes.
  • Take the turkey out and turn it with the breast side up.
  • Again, glaze turkey with the remaining ghee and return to oven for 20 minutes.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
  • Take the turkey out when its thigh’s temperature is down to 170 degrees. (You may use an instant-read thermometer to monitor the oven’s temperature)
  • Keep the turkey at room temperature for 30 minutes.

The gravy:

  • Using a slotted spoon, remove the vegetables from the turkey and set aside.
  • Separate some of the fat from the drippings.
  • Put vegetables and drippings into a blender and puree until smooth.
  • Put the gravy in a saucepan and simmer.
  • Adjust seasoning according to taste.
  • Serve hot.

Don’t forget, though, that the essence of Christmas is not on the food but on the moments you share with your loved ones and family.

How to boost your sales on eBay

Posted by on Leave a Comment

crimson - ebayPutting your products on eBay is both an advantage and a challenge.  It’s advantageous to be on one of the best online marketplaces because your product gains greater visibility.  At the same time, it is a challenge because, most often than not, you are not alone in selling similar item.

It is up to you, then, to devise ways on how to have an edge over your competitors.  Here are some tips that may help you boost your sales on eBay:

Create a brand and logo.  People are keen about buying products that have quite established a name in the industry.  Whether your business is large, retail, or business to business, a brand assures customers of quality.  It distinguishes your item from that of your competitors.

Product Description.  This is very important because it is here that you either make a potential buyer hit the ‘Buy’ button or click the ‘Exit’ key and go elsewhere.  Product description is all you need to have to draw your prospective customers’ attention and compel them to buy your product right away.

Keep your product description short and easy to understand because online customers don’t spend much time reading loads of information, unless they want to get comprehensive facts. Usually, internet users only scan pages; and so, you need to grab their attention right away.  Your description should include colors available, and size in centimeters and inches.

Crimson - payment cards

Product presentation.  This is the initial introduction of your product to your prospective customers.  So, be sure to make your first impression create a niche in your customers’ minds.

Since online selling does not allow customers to touch or see the actual product, you need to display your item in several high quality photographs taken at various angles.

Modes of payment, shipping arrangement, and Terms and Conditions.  These aspects are crucial in selling your products online. Lay down all the information that customers need to know about their transactions to avoid creating uncertainty and misunderstanding with them.  By doing so, you don’t leave them hanging with questions about basic processes to follow.  Besides, you save them extra effort of e-mailing or calling you for clarifications.

Cash Back

Coupons, special promotions, and other perks.  Customers are bound to choose brands that offer them extra savings, such as bargains, cash back, and other benefits. So, you might as well consider giving such amenities from time to time.

Getting the man you like

Posted by on Leave a Comment

First and foremost, ladies,  let’s admit that we cannot always get the man we like to like us back – or love us. I’ve witnessed how a friend so desperately chased the guy she has set her eyes on – and failed!

But, the thing is, all is not lost.  There’s a way to getting around the seemingly elusive apple of your eye.  Listen to what Jonathan Green, creator of the Girl Gets Ring System, has to say about attracting Mr. Right.

Nevertheless, let me also give you these simple “getting the man you like” tips, hoping your crush finally turns his eyes on you:

ai-lgbt - talk

  • Have self-confidence. Be happy with who you are and be ready to improve aspects of yourself that needed improvement. Any man would hesitate to come to you if you are aloof and shy.
  • Project a good appearance. Being simple does not mean you have to be shabby.  Don clothes that flatter your body, but not too flashy, though, as to make you look eccentric.  Avoid showing too much skin because many men are turned off by women who look like a prostitute.  Observe proper hygiene.  Your dream guy may get turned off if your body smells or you have bad breath.
  • Establish your own identity. Don’t pretend to be like someone you idolize. Usually, men are attracted to women who firmly stand on their standard of values.  Be who you are!

ai-lgbt - subtle

  • Get to the guy in a natural and subtle manner. If he is not yet your friend, figure out how you may be introduced to him.  You may initiate a conversation with him about things you may have in common like school, sports, or organization.  Another way to get introduced to the guy is through a common friend. Most importantly, you must project a friendly and bubbly attitude when you strike a conversation with him.  But keep your initial talks short.  Don’t let ‘talkative’ or ‘noisy’ be his first impression of you.  Also, throw in a compliment, when necessary.  Maintain an eye contact with him as you speak, but don’t stare at him for a long time.