Making his way into the cockpit, he sits in the seat and clinks around with the keyboard in front of him. He checks his monitor and navigation device, pointing and clicking to make sure they're working properly. He then enters his destination into the navigation bar...and he's off. Soaring through the endless abyss, otherwise known as the internet, he wonders where he will land today. Are you prepared for his landing?

If not, you can start by creating a runway. On the web, this is most commonly referred to as a "landing page". A landing page is a "specific web page that a visitor ultimately reaches after clicking a link or advertisement." (1) They are designed in specific ways to aid companies in achieving a pre-determined goal.

Preparing the Runway
In order to start building your landing page, is it important to consider the following:

What is your goal? - Are you trying to get a customer to buy your product, or are you attempting to acquire a customer’s contact information for further outreach?

Where is your customer coming from? - It is important to match your referring medium. As you can imagine, someone clicking in from an ad is expecting to see an attractive page that sums up everything there is to know about that particular product or service. While someone coming from an organic search will probably expect to see a page with more quality content that educates instead of sells.

What is your unique selling point? (USP) – Be prepared to tell your customer what is special about you and your company/product/service. This will help to persuade them into performing the desired action.

Lighting up the Runway
A landing page should be straightforward. A simple layout combined with visuals should provide easy-to-follow directions that guides the eye across the page and shows what is expected of the customer upon arrival. Here are some helpful tips when designing layout:

• Eye-tracking studies show that most people's eyes follow an "F" shaped pattern when reading web content. So make sure your content moves in this manner. (2)
• Remove any navigational links or buttons from the page, including any navigation bars you may have by default on every page of your website. The point is to keep the customer there, not provide opportunities for them to stray. (3)
• Try to fit all your content above the fold of the page so the customer doesn’t ever have to scroll down.
• If your customer came from a search, place the keywords at the top of the page so they know that they’ve come t
  Abridging eBooks Into Multiple Online Articles
  Many people have written an eBook and they have marketed this either on their professional consulting website or at Lulu.com or a similar service. If you have written an eBook it might make sense to break down the book into chapters and perhaps each chapter could be made into three to five articles.Then you can put these articles all online at an article online submission web site free of charge and put your name and business in the byline at the bottom with a link to your web site. Let's say you wrote the book of 70 pages and it has 14 chapters. If each one of th
  t commonly referred to as a "landing page". A landing page is a "specific web page that a visitor ultimately reaches after clicking a link or advertisement." (1) They are designed in specific ways to aid companies in achieving a pre-determined goal.

  Preparing the Runway
  In order to start building your landing page, is it important to consider the following:

  What is your goal? - Are you trying to get a customer to buy your product, or are you attempting to acquire a customer’s contact information for further outreach?

  Where is your customer coming from? - It is important to match your referring medium. As you can imagine, someone clicking in from an ad is expecting to see an attractive page that sums up everything there is to know about that particular product or service. While someone coming from an organic search will probably expect to see a page with more quality content that educates instead of sells.

  What is your unique selling point? (USP) – Be prepared to tell your customer what is special about you and your company/product/service. This will help to persuade them into performing the desired action.

  Lighting up the Runway
  A landing page should be straightforward. A simple layout combined with visuals should provide easy-to-follow directions that guides the eye across the page and shows what is expected of the customer upon arrival. Here are some helpful tips when designing layout:

  • Eye-tracking studies show that most people's eyes follow an "F" shaped pattern when reading web content. So make sure your content moves in this manner. (2)
  • Remove any navigational links or buttons from the page, including any navigation bars you may have by default on every page of your website. The point is to keep the customer there, not provide opportunities for them to stray. (3)
  • Try to fit all your content above the fold of the page so the customer doesn’t ever have to scroll down.
  • If your customer came from a search, place the keywords at the top of the page so they know that they’ve come t
    How to 'Work' a Trade Show to Find Companies to Buy
    Often the more “creative” you are to find companies to purchase the quicker you’ll find the “right” deal. “Working” trade shows offers an extraordinary opportunity to find and quickly qualify acquisition opportunities. To take maximum advantage of these “corporate shopping malls”, you need to use proven techniques to make this methodology worthwhile.As a business buyer you want to use the most creative means possible to position yourself to get the first shot at a viable business that can be purchased, preferably a purchase opportunity where you have no othe
    further outreach?

    Where is your customer coming from? - It is important to match your referring medium. As you can imagine, someone clicking in from an ad is expecting to see an attractive page that sums up everything there is to know about that particular product or service. While someone coming from an organic search will probably expect to see a page with more quality content that educates instead of sells.

    What is your unique selling point? (USP) – Be prepared to tell your customer what is special about you and your company/product/service. This will help to persuade them into performing the desired action.

    Lighting up the Runway
    A landing page should be straightforward. A simple layout combined with visuals should provide easy-to-follow directions that guides the eye across the page and shows what is expected of the customer upon arrival. Here are some helpful tips when designing layout:

    • Eye-tracking studies show that most people's eyes follow an "F" shaped pattern when reading web content. So make sure your content moves in this manner. (2)
    • Remove any navigational links or buttons from the page, including any navigation bars you may have by default on every page of your website. The point is to keep the customer there, not provide opportunities for them to stray. (3)
    • Try to fit all your content above the fold of the page so the customer doesn’t ever have to scroll down.
    • If your customer came from a search, place the keywords at the top of the page so they know that they’ve come t
      Internet And Affilliate Marketing-What is Hype What is True?
      I am writing this article as a sort of primer because some of my friends and colleagues are interested in trying online marketing. Because of the flood of info all over the internet i thought I would give some advise peppered with warnings. I myself started a internet marketing a little over a year ago, and hence friends look to me for a some advice on how to get going.I’m not a professional writer or marketing guru, just a damn good Financial advisor trying other ways to market myself and my practice. I found that most so called tools on the internet all cost quite
      about you and your company/product/service. This will help to persuade them into performing the desired action.

      Lighting up the Runway
      A landing page should be straightforward. A simple layout combined with visuals should provide easy-to-follow directions that guides the eye across the page and shows what is expected of the customer upon arrival. Here are some helpful tips when designing layout:

      • Eye-tracking studies show that most people's eyes follow an "F" shaped pattern when reading web content. So make sure your content moves in this manner. (2)
      • Remove any navigational links or buttons from the page, including any navigation bars you may have by default on every page of your website. The point is to keep the customer there, not provide opportunities for them to stray. (3)
      • Try to fit all your content above the fold of the page so the customer doesn’t ever have to scroll down.
      • If your customer came from a search, place the keywords at the top of the page so they know that they’ve come t
        5 Reasons Experienced Salespeople Should Cold Call
        Lots of businesses insist that novice salespeople cut their teeth by cold calling.Their jobs are to prospect, qualify buyers and to set appointments that the more experienced “pro’s” go out and see.Presuming the initiates pass muster, they’ll graduate to the ranks of regular sellers and it will then be their opportunity to run the leads others set for them.You see this pattern in financial services, real estate, and insurance, to name just a few industries.There are five reasons I believe EVERYONE should cold call, at least occasionally, and thi
        nt. So make sure your content moves in this manner. (2)
      • Remove any navigational links or buttons from the page, including any navigation bars you may have by default on every page of your website. The point is to keep the customer there, not provide opportunities for them to stray. (3)
      • Try to fit all your content above the fold of the page so the customer doesn’t ever have to scroll down.
      • If your customer came from a search, place the keywords at the top of the page so they know that they’ve come to the right place. (4)
      • Make your "call-to-action" is apparent, like a "PURCHASE NOW!" button. It should be obvious what is expected of the customer upon arrival.

      A call-to-action may be easier to represent when you want the visitor to make a purchase, but what would be the call-to-action for those who are just curious about your company? In this case, you should start off by providing educational materials and then giving an opportunity for them to leave their contact information to receive company promotions, newsletters, or just to learn more. This usually requires the use of forms.

      Runway Formation
      When using forms, the most important thing to remember is to always test your forms before making your pages live. Also, be sure that your forms only ask for information that is absolutely necessary, ensuring that the form stays short and is less of a hassle to fill out. Stating the added benefits of completing the form adds extra reinforcement because people are always more easily persuaded with good information to back up their decision.

      Do not ask for feedback or comments unless it compliments the goal of your landing page. Most likely, there will be other pages within your site that would be more appropriate for this type of content.

      To gain some extra bonus points, take the time to reassure your visitors that they will not be spammed and that their information will remain private and not be distributed to third parties. Leaving a link to your privacy policy will reaffirm this.

      A Safe Landing
      With this comprehensive overview of landing page design, no longer will your customers continue to crash and burn trying to land on your site. You will have provided them with a safe and easy runway to land on that is sure to increase the number of your online registrations, purchases, and trials.

      Happy Landings! _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _