Nicole Dean on PLR Interview (Part 2)
By Alan | January 27, 2010
Here is part 2 of 2 of my interview about PLR with Nicole Dean of EasyPLR.com. Here is part one in case you missed it.
Nicole Dean PLR Interview, Part 2
In conclusion of my interview about PLR with Nicole Dean here are the next questions…
*What are some interesting, out-of-the-box uses of PLR that you have seen?*
Oh goodness, there are some very interesting things that people have done. One of my absolute favorites was an online quiz that I ran across. It was an interactive quiz and the woman who set it up used a PLR article from EasyPLR.com to create it. Then, she offered a free report to thank the person for taking the quiz at the end – again, which was also created with PLR content from my site.
*PLR & Duplicate content penalties…truth or fiction?*
Yes, of course. Google can only list so many of the exact same articles in their results. They’re not stupid. It only makes sense for them to list the versions of the articles that are on the most important sites first and drop off the rest.
Again, that’s where enhancing and improving and customizing our PLR articles becomes important.
If you plan to use the PLR articles that you purchase from us on your blog, then I recommend that you get them and stick them right into your blog in draft mode unchanged (or have an assistant do so).
Then, the next time that you log into your blog and get writer’s block, just grab one of those drafts and dive in. It’ll make your job that much easier.
Well, that’s it for me. Thanks, Alan, for inviting me here. I invite your readers to check out the PLR at Easy PLR Articles.
Nicole Dean
EasyPLR.com
Thank you very much Nicole for providing my readers with such great insight and cool tips on how to use PLR effectively!
If you’re looking for quality PLR check out Nicole’s website. Her stuff will blow your socks off…
Quality PLR from Nicole Dean at Easy PLR
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Nicole Dean On PLR Interview Part I
By Alan | January 26, 2010
I’m very exited to bring you my interview with Nicole Dean of Easy PLR!
PLR doesn’t always have a good reputation and that’s because some of it is horribly written. You’ve seen those packages of 10,000 free PLR articles that have spread around the ‘net? Those poorly written articles with out-of-date information have been around for ions are not what we’re going to explore here. Quality PLR can not only be a good value, but priceless for your internet business.
It was during my quest for quality PLR that I first heard of Nicole Dean. Go ahead and post on the Internet marketing forums about where you can find quality PLR and I betcha Nicole’s name comes up at least once.
Nicole is easily recognized as one of the leading experts when it comes to PLR. Not just for writing it but for using it effectively.
Before we get started if you’re not sure what PLR is all about, here is a video explanation from Nicole:
Okay on to the interview. So, I asked Nicole a few questions that I had when I first heard of PLR. Here part 1 of 2 of the interview…
Nicole Dean PLR Interview (Part 1 of 2)
Hi Alan. Thanks for having me here.
I hope I can answer some of the burning questions that your readers may have about PLR and also explain why so many top marketers use it.
I know your readers are busy, so I’ll jump right in.
*How do you recommend vetting PLR providers to make sure their stuff is quality?*
Great question! I have a few criteria, but, in the end, it’ll come down to actually buying a bit of the PLR offered and looking with your own eyes whether it’s what you’re looking for. It’s funny, because I see those types of orders come through at EasyPLR.com all the time. I’ll get an order for one article pack, and then another larger order from the same person a few minutes later. I always think “There’s a smart cookie!”
Before you even make that first order to test a PLR provider, I recommend that you run through this checklist:
Who is running the site?
I’ve seen PLR sites that have no name or face on them. Who in the world are these people? Is the content even theirs to sell? Heck, I wouldn’t buy a pair of shoes from a website that didn’t earn my trust first. Why would I purchase articles that will represent me in my online business from a nameless & faceless company? Not a chance.What are the requirements?
Are you able to test the PLR on a small scale before signing on the dotted line? Be sure you have the option to try before you commit to anything too expensive.What is the reputation of the company?
Ask around. For instance, EasyPLR.com has been selling PLR to thousands of repeat customers since 2006. And, I hope to have thousands more.What is the value of the PLR?
How many others will have access to the exact same content as you’re buying? Will it be 100 or several thousand or is there absolutely no limit at all?These are just a few things I recommend researching before purchasing from a PLR site.
*If it’s quality PLR do I still need to re-write it?*
“Re-write” isn’t my favorite term for what I recommend you do with PLR.
_Re-write_ to me means to keep the same exact content but just say it differently.
The word _rewrite_ means that you would restate it and keep the same meaning.
See? Those two sentences are re-written. Not much was added in the way of value. Re-writing is mostly a thing that people do when they’re worried about duplicate content and it simply means that you change everything in a document, even the perfectly good parts.
Yes, if you’re adding the content directly to your website or blog and you want it to attract the Search Engines (as opposed to content that is posted in a private area on your site that only paid member see) you will want to edit the content.
As for Re-writing? I prefer the term “enhancing” or “improving” instead. I encourage my customers to approach the PLR that they’ve purchased, not as something to just restate in a new way, but to improve, customize, and enhance for their readers. This is the case, whether the content will be viewed by the search engines or not.
I know it sounds all warm and fuzzy, but, if the content is going to represent your business, why not add some “YOU” in it?
For instance, include any of the following:
- Your own opinions (in parenting PLR)
- Examples you’ve run into that illustrate your point (in finance PLR)
- What not to do in certain cases (in internet marketing PLR)
- Research that you’ve heard (in health PLR)
- Quotes from yourself or others who you respect (in motivational PLR)
- Screenshots from your own websites (in making money online PLR)
- Photos from your own results (in weight loss, fitness, or even acne PLR)
And, that’s just off the top of my head. Your customers and readers want to know what YOU think, so enhance your PLR. You’ll stand head and shoulders above most other online business owners just by doing that one thing.
Part 2 of 2 of my interview with Nicole Dean will be posted tomorrow so come back and check it out!
And it goes without say that if you’re looking for quality PLR you just need to click on the link below. I use Nicole’s stuff and it rocks…
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Topics: PLR | 5 Comments »
Getting Organized Challenge Update
By Alan | January 15, 2010
Video update on January’s “Get Organized” challenge…
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Easy Video Player Review
By Alan | January 14, 2010
Easy Video Player is an amazing software that I’ve been using now for almost 2 months. It takes video marketing to a whole another level. Below is a video I recorded inside Easy Video Player so you can see it in action.
You can learn more about Easy Video Player and order your own copy here.
I’ve also posted a couple more videos showing the software in action here:
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Laptop mStand Review (Awesome)
By Alan | January 13, 2010
Continuing with my challenge to get organized, I ordered a laptop stand from Rain called the mStand and I love it! I should have ordered one of these bad boys years ago.
As you can imagine in this business I spend a lot of time hunched over my MacBook Pro so I’m already feeling a great difference after only a few days! The mStand elevates my laptop so my wrists are more ergonomically positioned. And it also makes me sit up straight so my back is feeling better since my posture as improved.
I highly recommend the mStand. I got mine via Amazon for under $50 bucks with free shipping and handling.
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2010 Challenge: Get Organized [Video]
By Alan | January 5, 2010
Lynn Terry has done it again! Her January challenge is another doozy! In December she challenged us members of her SSWT Elite Mastermind Group to create an editorial blogging calendar for 2010. That was a toughie and so is January’s challenge…to get organized–starting with our workspace.
I don’t know about you but mine is a mess! As part of her challenge, Lynn asked for before and after pictures so below is my before video. Stay tuned for more updates!
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Topics: Get Organized Challenge | 7 Comments »
2010: One who fails to plan, plans to fail
By Alan | December 31, 2009
It’s about noon on the last day of 2009 so I thought I would make last post of this year all about how to get start off 2010 on the right foot!
“He who fails to plan, plans to fail”
There is a reason that old proverb quote is so popular (especially at the beginning of a new year)–It’s because it is true.
Of all the secrets being sold online having a plan of attack is one that isn’t discussed much–it’s not really as sexy as how to make a million bucks overnight without really trying.
But what most successful Internet marketers have is a plan. Most actually plan out their entire year! Sitting down to plan out your entire doesn’t sound like much fun but it is something that will keep you on track in 2010. This is what separates those who are working this business for the long haul.
An important component of Alex Jeffreys $997 coaching program was to plan out your whole year. Alex has 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day planning calendars that he uses to plan out his entire year.
If you don’t have a plan you’re adrift in a sea of information that can and will quickly overwhelm you. Information overload is one of the biggest problems we face as Internet marketers. By having a clear plan in place you will ensure to keep on track and avoid distractions from the new shiny objects launched month after month in the Internet marketing space.
Blogging pro and affiliate marketer extraordinaire Lynn Terry issued a doozy of a monthly challenge for us elite members of her Self Starters Weekly Forum for December (2009):
Lynn laid out her challenge to create an annual blogging editorial calendar to ensure we keep our blogs update throughout the year.
So I’ve spent the past few weeks of 2009 planning out my entire 2010…
- Blogging Editorial Calendar
- Product Planning Calendar
- Promotional Calendar
Sitting down to do this was not fun…but once I started, it easily began to fall into place. I put together my own spreadsheets in Google Docs, rolled up my sleeves (well I was wearing a t-shirt but that sounds more dramatic), and got to work on my 2010 calendars.
Blogging Editorial Calendar
The worksheets are broken down by week for all of 2010. One worksheet is an at-a-glance by topic. I then created a worksheet for each month to include more detailed information to help with the topics I will write such as category, target URL, keywords.
In Lynn’s private forum some folks have expressed wanting to see an actual calendar in action. Now I won’t be sharing my actual completed calendars but here are some screen shots so you can get an idea…
This calendar will ensure I don’t run out of ideas to blog about all year! And it has me starting 2010 with a HUGE sense of accomplishment already. That my friends is a great feeling!
I figured you might find it handy so you can download my blogging editorial calendar template below (no opt-in required, just a direct download link):
Open Office Blogging Editorial Calendar Template
Excel Blogging Editorial Calender Template
Blog About What?
In order to get ideas I’ve been hitting my favorite PLR spots. I might not use the PLR article itself but there is a treasure trove of ideas to get you going by checking it out. Regardless of your niche there is probably PLR about it so check there for ideas.
There are a lot of odd monthly observations out there and they’re great for ideas. Just in January there are over 30 monthly observances! http://www.brownielocks.com/january.htm
For example January is National Clean Up Your Computer Month…that’s a great topic to blog about!
Also looking at the topics in a time line has helped me. We all know January is when people think about making changes, new years resolutions and all that stuff so a lot of the topics in my calendar fits that theme (cleaning up your computer, getting organized, time management, etc.).
I’ve also added recurring topics such as a weekly video podcast I’m planning to do on this blog (so stay tuned for that).
Just Do It!
It’s important that you set time aside to work on it. Once you get going you’ll be amazed how it starts to fall into place so don’t over-think it too much.
Another cool side effect is in search for items to promote I’ve ordered 3 new books from Amazon on time management and taking action so you’ll find cool resources out there that will help you grow your business professionally and personally.
Flexibility Is Key
But remember to be flexible. This calendar is not the last word for my blog. It’s not like if I get a good idea to blog on Monday that I won’t because I already have it scheduled. Flexibility is key.
It’s great to know I have my blogging year planned out. No more weeks between posts.
Cool Resources
Lynn Terry’s Elite Members Private Mastermind Group – this really is the best kept secret on the Internet! I’ve been a member for over 2-years and a lot of my success I can attribute to Lynn Terry. She’s a great mentor. Honest. Ethical. No hype or bull.
Andy Wibbels blogging editorial calendar. You can download his calendars as well for free.
Darren Rowse (the Pro Blogger). This is a great post on how to build your blog content.
Blogging Editorial Calendar plugin. This is a very cool plugin. The editorial calendar lets WordPress administrators and editors manage the dates for multiple posts at once. You see all of your posts in a calendar view and can arrange them via an easy drag and drop interface.
Promotional Events Calendar. This list tons of promotional events out there throughout the entire year.
Dosh Dosh blog post on blogging editorial calendars and planning. Great tips here.
Wordsell blog post on the blogging editorial calendar they used. This was of great help to get my mind around the concept.
Alice Seba’s Free Planning info. A lot of great goodies to download here!
2010 Observances. A lot of odd observances out there but these are great for finding content and planning your blogging editorial calendar.
SEO Blogger. Optimize your posts as you write. This is a fantastic Free Firefox addon.
Free Monthly Calendar. Generate a free, monthly calendar in printable PDF format.
For those of you who prefer to have an offline planner you can get some great ones on Amazon. Here is a 2010 At-A-Glance planner book and a desktop calendar.
Happy New Year!
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Topics: Blogging | 4 Comments »
An iMac Christmas
By Alan | December 23, 2009
I’m going to start 2010 with a bang with my brand new 27″ iMac computer! That’s my Christmas gift to myself. Ha-ha.
I recorded a quick video of my Christmas tree and brand-spanking new-still-in-the-box iMac.
Have a wonderful Merry Christmas! If you don’t celebrate Christmas have a wonderful holiday!
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The Dangers of 3rd Party URL Shortening Services
By Alan | December 2, 2009
The popularity of Twitter has given a boost to 3rd party URL shortening services like Bitly, Cligs, Tiny URL, Trim, and many more. Using these services for your tweets is fine…I use Cligs and Twitter themselves shorten URL’s with Bitly but I’m seeing these services being used to shorten/cloak/hide affiliates links in reports, blogs, emails, and other spots and that is putting your commissions at risk.
Exhibit A: Cligs is shutting down.
The forwarding data will be retained so that forwarding can continue for at least till the end of November; after that, there are no guarantees as to how long the service will continue to forward the short URLs to their destinations.
I’ve chatted on Skype with the founder and former owner of Cligs and he’s a good guy, I’m sure this was a tough decision but a decision that affected many people. But as the old saying goes: you get what you pay for. Cligs and the other third party URL shortening services are free so they owe us nothing for using their free service.
Now in the case of Cligs there is a happy ending because he was able to sell it to Mister Wong which is a well known web 2.0 type company so looks like Cligs will live on but what if it hadn’t? Or if Mister Wong decides to shut it down in the future?
Your affiliate links will go down right along with these 3rd party service providers.
So I’d really like to urge to only use these type of services on Twitter or to shorten an inconsequential URL and not your affiliate links. It is very important that you retain as much control as you can with your affiliate links–your hard-earned commissions are at stake.
Personally I suggest you use simple PHP redirects and do those manually or use software. I use a great desktop software called Cloak and Tracker (works on Mac and PC).
Of course stuff can happen with software as well but I’m in much more control of my affiliate links vs. using a 3rd party service like cligs.
I’ve also written a comprehensive guide to affiliate link cloaking. I cover all the possible ways you get can cloak your affiliate links and I discuss the pros and cons of each. I also throw in four videos that will show you the best way to cloak/shorten your affiliate links with the loss possible risk to your commissions.
Click to Download The Link Cloaking Guide
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Topics: Affiliate Marketing | 1 Comment »
Happy Thanksgiving 2009!
By Alan | November 26, 2009
If you live in the United States you today is Thanksgiving Day. It’s a big holiday here were we get together with family and friends to give thanks for our blessings. Than we over load on carbs by over eating turkey, stuffing, mash potatoes, gravy, and all that good stuff. Than we watch football, and crash out.
That’s the high level concept of thanks giving for my readers outside of the U.S.
Have a great Thanksgiving day! Don’t eat too much. And enjoy your time off with your family.
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