Sep
5
Jake Collums asked:
Having a forum is one thing. Having a successful forum, however, is something completely different. Anyone can create a forum, but it takes hard work to improve that forum and keep it interesting to its visitors. Making sure that you keep your forum up to date and interesting is the best way to keep visitors coming back time and time again. The two most important elements of improving your forum are getting visitors to the forum and getting people to come back. In order to get people to your forum at first, you need to promote. You don’t have to be completely shameless when it comes to forum promotion, but you should find as many places to put a link as you possibly can. Promote at the end of articles, in your email communications, through social media, and even through other websites by link sharing. Make sure that you choose quality websites to work with, though. If you have 100 links out there and only 10 or 15 of them are of good quality, search engines will notice. However, if you only put out 20 or 30 links on high quality and relevant sites, you’ll get much more respect and attention from search engines and users.
The credibility of the sites where you put your links reflects directly on your credibility, which is why you need to be careful where you post. Get people to sign up for your forum by offering freebies and exclusive information or products. For example, offer a free e-mail newsletter or even an ebook that people will enjoy. People like free stuff, and if you offer it they will come. It doesn’t have to be a big gesture, because anything that shows your appreciation will be effective. Improving your forum after you have attracted visitors is critical to keep them coming back for more. Keep posts current, relevant, and updated regularly. If people come to your forum and the last post was four or five days ago, they’re likely not going to stick around. They want to see that people are talking on a daily basis and that everyone is interacting well.
The internet is a place full of instant gratification, and your forum needs to reflect that by staying on top of postings. Make sure that your software can keep up with the changing world of technology and that you can add plug-ins and extensions to make your forum more dynamic as time goes on. Stick with a simple layout and design that will stand the test of time, and avoid bright colors or complicated layouts. The easier it is for people to see your posts and use your forum, the more likely they will be to keep coming back time and time again. If you get to a place where you want to make improvements but you aren’t sure what to do, ask your forum members. The best way to appeal to the needs of your visitors is to find out what they want, need, or expect. There is no easier way to do that than to go straight to the source. Consider putting a thread on your discussion board for suggestions and ideas that users have about improving the site. It’s a great way to make people feel included, and it can help you make your forum more enjoyable and appealing to visitors without having to wonder what improvements would be best. The most important part of improving your forum is to accept the fact that you can’t just build it and forget it, and that feedback from your members is the key to successful updates and improvements over time.
Don
Having a forum is one thing. Having a successful forum, however, is something completely different. Anyone can create a forum, but it takes hard work to improve that forum and keep it interesting to its visitors. Making sure that you keep your forum up to date and interesting is the best way to keep visitors coming back time and time again. The two most important elements of improving your forum are getting visitors to the forum and getting people to come back. In order to get people to your forum at first, you need to promote. You don’t have to be completely shameless when it comes to forum promotion, but you should find as many places to put a link as you possibly can. Promote at the end of articles, in your email communications, through social media, and even through other websites by link sharing. Make sure that you choose quality websites to work with, though. If you have 100 links out there and only 10 or 15 of them are of good quality, search engines will notice. However, if you only put out 20 or 30 links on high quality and relevant sites, you’ll get much more respect and attention from search engines and users.
The credibility of the sites where you put your links reflects directly on your credibility, which is why you need to be careful where you post. Get people to sign up for your forum by offering freebies and exclusive information or products. For example, offer a free e-mail newsletter or even an ebook that people will enjoy. People like free stuff, and if you offer it they will come. It doesn’t have to be a big gesture, because anything that shows your appreciation will be effective. Improving your forum after you have attracted visitors is critical to keep them coming back for more. Keep posts current, relevant, and updated regularly. If people come to your forum and the last post was four or five days ago, they’re likely not going to stick around. They want to see that people are talking on a daily basis and that everyone is interacting well.
The internet is a place full of instant gratification, and your forum needs to reflect that by staying on top of postings. Make sure that your software can keep up with the changing world of technology and that you can add plug-ins and extensions to make your forum more dynamic as time goes on. Stick with a simple layout and design that will stand the test of time, and avoid bright colors or complicated layouts. The easier it is for people to see your posts and use your forum, the more likely they will be to keep coming back time and time again. If you get to a place where you want to make improvements but you aren’t sure what to do, ask your forum members. The best way to appeal to the needs of your visitors is to find out what they want, need, or expect. There is no easier way to do that than to go straight to the source. Consider putting a thread on your discussion board for suggestions and ideas that users have about improving the site. It’s a great way to make people feel included, and it can help you make your forum more enjoyable and appealing to visitors without having to wonder what improvements would be best. The most important part of improving your forum is to accept the fact that you can’t just build it and forget it, and that feedback from your members is the key to successful updates and improvements over time.
Don
Sep
1
Eight Ways that Increase the Perceived Value of Your Freebies
Filed Under Internet And Businesses Online | Leave a Comment
Catherine Franz asked:
Almost everyone is giving away a freebie in order to attract visitors to their web site or to get them to make a decision now to buy something. They are giving away free ezines, e-books, e-courses, teleclasses, introductory services and other e-learning opportunities.
What is happening to all this fre*e stuff? Net visitors are loosing the perceived value of anything offered for fre*e.
Every time you surf the Internet or check your e-mail you see at least 5, 10, or even 30 freebies offers. Don’t get me wrong freebies do increase traffic, but not like they did just a year ago. Most of the material being offered is old information, poorly written — sometimes even incomprehensible — or 50 percent sales pitches.
Visitor’s appetite for anything fre*e being offered on the Internet is now going back to the old saying, “There is no such thing as a fre*e lunch.”
Even bonus offers aren’t turning heads any longer.
So what is the answer? Or is there one?
The key is to increase the perceived value of your freebies so they will be more attractive to your audience. How do you do this? Well, here are eight ways:
1. You could tell them what the freebie is worth with a dollar amount. For example, “Subscribe to my free ezine! A $199 value!”
2. You could add other freebies to your freebie that will increase the value. For example, “Subscribe to my free e-ezine and get free access to our “subscribers only” private web site!”
3. You could tell them the freebie is only available for a limited time. For example, ” Download our free ebook, this free offer will only be available until May 30, 2000.”
4. You could tell them the freebie is only available to a limited number of people. For example, “Our free software will only be available for the next 100 people that download it.”
5. You could give more details about the freebie. List the benefits, features, what problems the freebie will solve, etc.
6. You could describe your freebie to sound more attractive. For example, instead of “free report” you could say, “free never released top secret document.”
7. You could list testimonials for your freebie. Most businesses don’t give testimonials for their freebies. This would defiantly increase your freebie value.
8. You could tell people how many people have already received your freebie. For example, “15,000 people have already subscribed to my free ezine! Can they all be wrong?
These are only a few ways you can add value to your freebies. Feel free to be creative, color outside the lines and think up some other ways to increase the perceived value of your freebies. But remember. It isn’t what you perceive the value to be, but what the visitors or prospective buyers think its worth. You will also want to test each idea to see which one draws the most traffic to your web site.
Edna
Almost everyone is giving away a freebie in order to attract visitors to their web site or to get them to make a decision now to buy something. They are giving away free ezines, e-books, e-courses, teleclasses, introductory services and other e-learning opportunities.
What is happening to all this fre*e stuff? Net visitors are loosing the perceived value of anything offered for fre*e.
Every time you surf the Internet or check your e-mail you see at least 5, 10, or even 30 freebies offers. Don’t get me wrong freebies do increase traffic, but not like they did just a year ago. Most of the material being offered is old information, poorly written — sometimes even incomprehensible — or 50 percent sales pitches.
Visitor’s appetite for anything fre*e being offered on the Internet is now going back to the old saying, “There is no such thing as a fre*e lunch.”
Even bonus offers aren’t turning heads any longer.
So what is the answer? Or is there one?
The key is to increase the perceived value of your freebies so they will be more attractive to your audience. How do you do this? Well, here are eight ways:
1. You could tell them what the freebie is worth with a dollar amount. For example, “Subscribe to my free ezine! A $199 value!”
2. You could add other freebies to your freebie that will increase the value. For example, “Subscribe to my free e-ezine and get free access to our “subscribers only” private web site!”
3. You could tell them the freebie is only available for a limited time. For example, ” Download our free ebook, this free offer will only be available until May 30, 2000.”
4. You could tell them the freebie is only available to a limited number of people. For example, “Our free software will only be available for the next 100 people that download it.”
5. You could give more details about the freebie. List the benefits, features, what problems the freebie will solve, etc.
6. You could describe your freebie to sound more attractive. For example, instead of “free report” you could say, “free never released top secret document.”
7. You could list testimonials for your freebie. Most businesses don’t give testimonials for their freebies. This would defiantly increase your freebie value.
8. You could tell people how many people have already received your freebie. For example, “15,000 people have already subscribed to my free ezine! Can they all be wrong?
These are only a few ways you can add value to your freebies. Feel free to be creative, color outside the lines and think up some other ways to increase the perceived value of your freebies. But remember. It isn’t what you perceive the value to be, but what the visitors or prospective buyers think its worth. You will also want to test each idea to see which one draws the most traffic to your web site.
Edna
Aug
28
Freesites - Why This Housewife Led Industry is Capturing Attention
Filed Under Internet And Businesses Online | Leave a Comment
Marvin Stewart asked:
Freesites, called Freebie sites by some, have become a popular housewife-led industry for those looking for extra income. They are a sure way for the average person to earn money online. It represents guaranteed income with no risk or monetary investment required.
Freebies are popular because one can earn money for free by completing offers to try products, or by getting others (Referrals) to try products. There is no real skill involved. Patience is the most important quality for success as one earns slowly. Freebie sites are purely for those looking for part-time income, $200 to $2K a month.
What Is a Freebie Site or Freesite? Freesites describes an online industry where companies pay consumers to try their products or services. It is also an industry where one is paid to get others to try products for free. Business loves the industry because of the opportunity to place their product in a consumer’s hands at a greatly reduced marketing cost.
In practice, the companies pay money to a Freebie site for each potential customer the Freesite brings to the table. To get customers, the Freebie sites offer an incentive, ie., a cash prize, to those (called Sponsors) responsible for the Customer. This incentive leads some to call these ‘incentivized web sites’, IFWs.
When a potential customer gets credit for agreeing to try a product, the company pays the Freebie site which in turns pays the Sponsor responsible for the customer (called a Referral). The Sponsor in turn pays the consumer who tried the product.
Freebies & The National TV/Radio Ad for Lifelock A good example of Freebies in operation is the national commercial ran by Lifelock. An individual who wants to try Lifelock’s identity theft protection service can respond to a radio or tv ad. The cost to Lifelock to get that potential customer through a radio or TV ad is significant.
Let’s assume Lifelock decides to do some marketing through Freesites. The marketing cost is so drastically less that Livelock agrees to pay the Freebie site for every potential customer. The net result is that same consumer who wants to try Livelock for 30 days will be paid when he tries Lifelock through a Freebie site instead of a radio or tv ad.
Freesites produce a ‘win-win-win-win’ for all involved:
* Lifelock got a potential customer at a drastically reduced cost . . . a win,
* A Freesite got paid for bringing a potential customer to Lifelock . . . a win,
* The Sponsor responsible for the potential customer got paid by the Freebie site for his efforts . . . a win, and
* The Customer who agreed to try Lifelock through a Freesite instead of the radio or tv ad got paid to do so . . . a win again!.
Paula
Freesites, called Freebie sites by some, have become a popular housewife-led industry for those looking for extra income. They are a sure way for the average person to earn money online. It represents guaranteed income with no risk or monetary investment required.
Freebies are popular because one can earn money for free by completing offers to try products, or by getting others (Referrals) to try products. There is no real skill involved. Patience is the most important quality for success as one earns slowly. Freebie sites are purely for those looking for part-time income, $200 to $2K a month.
What Is a Freebie Site or Freesite? Freesites describes an online industry where companies pay consumers to try their products or services. It is also an industry where one is paid to get others to try products for free. Business loves the industry because of the opportunity to place their product in a consumer’s hands at a greatly reduced marketing cost.
In practice, the companies pay money to a Freebie site for each potential customer the Freesite brings to the table. To get customers, the Freebie sites offer an incentive, ie., a cash prize, to those (called Sponsors) responsible for the Customer. This incentive leads some to call these ‘incentivized web sites’, IFWs.
When a potential customer gets credit for agreeing to try a product, the company pays the Freebie site which in turns pays the Sponsor responsible for the customer (called a Referral). The Sponsor in turn pays the consumer who tried the product.
Freebies & The National TV/Radio Ad for Lifelock A good example of Freebies in operation is the national commercial ran by Lifelock. An individual who wants to try Lifelock’s identity theft protection service can respond to a radio or tv ad. The cost to Lifelock to get that potential customer through a radio or TV ad is significant.
Let’s assume Lifelock decides to do some marketing through Freesites. The marketing cost is so drastically less that Livelock agrees to pay the Freebie site for every potential customer. The net result is that same consumer who wants to try Livelock for 30 days will be paid when he tries Lifelock through a Freebie site instead of a radio or tv ad.
Freesites produce a ‘win-win-win-win’ for all involved:
* Lifelock got a potential customer at a drastically reduced cost . . . a win,
* A Freesite got paid for bringing a potential customer to Lifelock . . . a win,
* The Sponsor responsible for the potential customer got paid by the Freebie site for his efforts . . . a win, and
* The Customer who agreed to try Lifelock through a Freesite instead of the radio or tv ad got paid to do so . . . a win again!.
Paula
Aug
6
Things To Consider When Downloading Free Stuff
Filed Under Internet And Businesses Online | Leave a Comment
Sampath Wijeratne asked:
Free stuffs (also called as freebies) are available all over the internet. They come in different kinds of forms like free software, mp3s, videos, various consumer products, magazines, money, email, web hosting, eBooks, screen savers and much more. Sometimes you have to register at their websites to get their free offers. Some websites ask you to fill a questionnaire to get the free offer. There are certain things that you should know before you download any of these free offers. This article gives some important things that you should consider when you download free stuff.
The most important thing that you must do before download anything from the internet is installing trusted anti-virus software and an internet spyware detection and removal tool. Otherwise your computer will be attacked by various viruses and spyware which will ultimately destroy your computer in various ways. I mentioned you this because about 99.99% free stuffs are carriers of various computer viruses and spyware with or without their knowledge.
Some free stuff like free software, mp3s and videos are used by websites as marketing tools for their promotions of new products or existing products. Sometimes they are given away freely as trial versions. You will have to pay to get the fully functioning version. There are cracks (These days mainly as Torrents) available for trial software to make it a fully functional software. But these cracks may also carry the unwanted viruses and spyware.
If you want to find free fully functional software, you better find open source software as they will make the least damage or zero damage to your computer. But make sure that you download them from their original developer.
Various free stuffs like consumer goods (soaps, perfume, cream, food, etc.) are not always good for your body and health. These are offered sometimes to get a feedback from you after using them. Sometimes companies test their new products on you like scientists test on rats and rabbits. You have to be very careful when using these kinds of free stuffs. You better check the vendor’s profile and reputation.
Free offers like money are 99.99% scams and you will get into trouble. My advice is that never get into money free offers. No one will give you free money. The people pretend to give money actually try to get money from you.
EBooks, email and webhosting free offers are less harmful compared to others. These are used as a medium for marketing products and services. Yahoo GeoCities, Gmail, free eBooks offered by various internet businessmen are some examples for these kinds of free offers.
The reality that you must understand is, no one offer free offers if they don’t get a benefit from them. Each and every free offer is designed in such a way that the offerer will benefit from it by some way. Therefore you better be careful when using or downloading free offers.
Timothy
Free stuffs (also called as freebies) are available all over the internet. They come in different kinds of forms like free software, mp3s, videos, various consumer products, magazines, money, email, web hosting, eBooks, screen savers and much more. Sometimes you have to register at their websites to get their free offers. Some websites ask you to fill a questionnaire to get the free offer. There are certain things that you should know before you download any of these free offers. This article gives some important things that you should consider when you download free stuff.
The most important thing that you must do before download anything from the internet is installing trusted anti-virus software and an internet spyware detection and removal tool. Otherwise your computer will be attacked by various viruses and spyware which will ultimately destroy your computer in various ways. I mentioned you this because about 99.99% free stuffs are carriers of various computer viruses and spyware with or without their knowledge.
Some free stuff like free software, mp3s and videos are used by websites as marketing tools for their promotions of new products or existing products. Sometimes they are given away freely as trial versions. You will have to pay to get the fully functioning version. There are cracks (These days mainly as Torrents) available for trial software to make it a fully functional software. But these cracks may also carry the unwanted viruses and spyware.
If you want to find free fully functional software, you better find open source software as they will make the least damage or zero damage to your computer. But make sure that you download them from their original developer.
Various free stuffs like consumer goods (soaps, perfume, cream, food, etc.) are not always good for your body and health. These are offered sometimes to get a feedback from you after using them. Sometimes companies test their new products on you like scientists test on rats and rabbits. You have to be very careful when using these kinds of free stuffs. You better check the vendor’s profile and reputation.
Free offers like money are 99.99% scams and you will get into trouble. My advice is that never get into money free offers. No one will give you free money. The people pretend to give money actually try to get money from you.
EBooks, email and webhosting free offers are less harmful compared to others. These are used as a medium for marketing products and services. Yahoo GeoCities, Gmail, free eBooks offered by various internet businessmen are some examples for these kinds of free offers.
The reality that you must understand is, no one offer free offers if they don’t get a benefit from them. Each and every free offer is designed in such a way that the offerer will benefit from it by some way. Therefore you better be careful when using or downloading free offers.
Timothy
Jul
23
How to Get Completely Free Stuff on the Internet
Filed Under Internet And Businesses Online | Leave a Comment
Stephan Ambrosio asked:
Wouldn’t it be nice if you had enough cash for that shiny new mp3 player? You could load it with all your new and old music. It would be great to take with you on runs or walks. You could hook it to your stereo and have your favorite music blasting through your house.
Unfortunately, these days, spending money on luxuries is not in the plan for most of us. What if you could get it for free, though? Well, believe it or not, that is possible. If you have a computer and an Internet connection, there are a bunch of websites that allow you to get completely free stuff. You can get samples. You can get free magazines. You can even earn points toward bigger and cooler stuff.
Many manufactures and stores will give you free stuff, in the form of samples. Sometimes, the samples are given to you, just because you ask. Sometimes, you have to fill out a survey and give your opinion. Either way, you send no money and get free stuff.
There’s free stuff for your computer, too. You can get screen savers, games, and other software all for free. You must be careful, here, though. Some of these will come with “extra” software that can harm your computer - like spyware or virus’. If in doubt, don’t download something until you talk to your computer professional. He can tell you if something is safe.
If you can’t find any free stuff that’s to your liking, you can look for ways to get discounts on items you do want. Just go to your favorite search engine and enter the item you want and the word “coupon” or “discount”. For many items, you might be able to find coupons, discount codes, or rebates on just the thing you’re looking to get.
Some sites will say they are giving you free stuff, but they really aren’t. Be wary of any site that says, “participation required”. Some sites will offer you a “free” computer or “free” gift card. But, they really aren’t free. You’ll need to fill out trial offers or make purchases from their sponsors to get credit toward the “free” item. Chances are, you’ll end up paying more than the item is worth.
Some retailers have free samples you can get just by going to their web site. Walmart is a great example of this. They generally give away free samples of household items or personal items or food. My wife and I get free items from them, all the time. It’s a lot of fun. Sure, we’ve never gotten a free iPod, or computer, or any other big ticket item. However, we’ve been able to integrate what we get in to our daily living. This means that we might get something for free that we would have bought, under other circumstances. This means we spend less and have more money for other things.
Sometimes, manufacturers will also give away free stuff. The best way that I’ve found to uncover these freebies is to watch forums where other people post what they have discovered. If you search for “freebies forum” you’ll probably be able to find a few.
These are just a few ways that you can find some free stuff on the Internet. You may score something you’ve always wanted. You may get something that you just needed. Either way, with some diligent searching, you can get new “presents” in your mailbox over and over and over. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
Christina
Wouldn’t it be nice if you had enough cash for that shiny new mp3 player? You could load it with all your new and old music. It would be great to take with you on runs or walks. You could hook it to your stereo and have your favorite music blasting through your house.
Unfortunately, these days, spending money on luxuries is not in the plan for most of us. What if you could get it for free, though? Well, believe it or not, that is possible. If you have a computer and an Internet connection, there are a bunch of websites that allow you to get completely free stuff. You can get samples. You can get free magazines. You can even earn points toward bigger and cooler stuff.
Many manufactures and stores will give you free stuff, in the form of samples. Sometimes, the samples are given to you, just because you ask. Sometimes, you have to fill out a survey and give your opinion. Either way, you send no money and get free stuff.
There’s free stuff for your computer, too. You can get screen savers, games, and other software all for free. You must be careful, here, though. Some of these will come with “extra” software that can harm your computer - like spyware or virus’. If in doubt, don’t download something until you talk to your computer professional. He can tell you if something is safe.
If you can’t find any free stuff that’s to your liking, you can look for ways to get discounts on items you do want. Just go to your favorite search engine and enter the item you want and the word “coupon” or “discount”. For many items, you might be able to find coupons, discount codes, or rebates on just the thing you’re looking to get.
Some sites will say they are giving you free stuff, but they really aren’t. Be wary of any site that says, “participation required”. Some sites will offer you a “free” computer or “free” gift card. But, they really aren’t free. You’ll need to fill out trial offers or make purchases from their sponsors to get credit toward the “free” item. Chances are, you’ll end up paying more than the item is worth.
Some retailers have free samples you can get just by going to their web site. Walmart is a great example of this. They generally give away free samples of household items or personal items or food. My wife and I get free items from them, all the time. It’s a lot of fun. Sure, we’ve never gotten a free iPod, or computer, or any other big ticket item. However, we’ve been able to integrate what we get in to our daily living. This means that we might get something for free that we would have bought, under other circumstances. This means we spend less and have more money for other things.
Sometimes, manufacturers will also give away free stuff. The best way that I’ve found to uncover these freebies is to watch forums where other people post what they have discovered. If you search for “freebies forum” you’ll probably be able to find a few.
These are just a few ways that you can find some free stuff on the Internet. You may score something you’ve always wanted. You may get something that you just needed. Either way, with some diligent searching, you can get new “presents” in your mailbox over and over and over. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
Christina
Jul
20
Spyware Prevention: Here Are Four Ways To Block Spyware
Filed Under Internet And Businesses Online | Leave a Comment
Garry Allen asked:
Your privacy is under serious threat by the constant growth of spyware and it needs your urgent attention to counter it. If you want to keep prying eyes out of your computer then you need to initiate some spyware prevention steps and here are four ways that can help you to do just that.
Now this battle must be waged on two levels. First, you need to find and eliminate the spyware that has already entered your computer system without your knowledge. Second, you need to take further steps to prevent any new spyware from entering your computer.
You can achieve both of these objectives by following these four steps:
1. You need to update your Windows software: The majority of spyware that is written is for systems that run a Windows operating system. Of course Microsoft, the makers of windows, is well aware of this fact and is constantly posting useful information as well as security patches to deal with this growing problem. You need to visit the Microsoft website regularly to download these patches, and learn of the new spyware that is floating around on the net. This will help you immensely to reduce the risk to your computer.
2. You need to set up firewalls: Spyware software can be blocked very effectively when using a Firewall. It provides protection to your computer and checks the authenticity of any and every file that you try to access on the net. The firewall can also be set to detect malicious programs and prevent them from entering your computer. Therefore, preventing spyware and adware files of ever getting the chance to be uploaded to your computer. Now for those using windows XP the firewall already exists in your operating system all you need to do is turn it on.
3. You need to install spyware protection software: At the very first possible opportunity you must download anti-spyware software. This software will make sure that the existing spyware in your computer is detected and erased. It will also make sure that no new spyware enters your system. This is an established solution and should be put into action as early as possible, also for best results you need to keep this software updated regularly.
4. Finally prevention: Remember nothing comes without a price and the simplest way to avoid spyware and adware is to avoid downloading freebies. Any Free stuff you might be thinking about downloading from online sites will most probably lead to spyware or adware unless it is an established and legitimate business that you are downloading from. Also avoid the temptation of clicking on pop-up ads that may appear on your screen, these are known to be hotbeds for malware infections.
Now before you make any anti-spyware software purchases I would visit spywarewarrior.com first, they provide good information on various malware prevention software and also information on the sites and software to stay away from.
Marion
Your privacy is under serious threat by the constant growth of spyware and it needs your urgent attention to counter it. If you want to keep prying eyes out of your computer then you need to initiate some spyware prevention steps and here are four ways that can help you to do just that.
Now this battle must be waged on two levels. First, you need to find and eliminate the spyware that has already entered your computer system without your knowledge. Second, you need to take further steps to prevent any new spyware from entering your computer.
You can achieve both of these objectives by following these four steps:
1. You need to update your Windows software: The majority of spyware that is written is for systems that run a Windows operating system. Of course Microsoft, the makers of windows, is well aware of this fact and is constantly posting useful information as well as security patches to deal with this growing problem. You need to visit the Microsoft website regularly to download these patches, and learn of the new spyware that is floating around on the net. This will help you immensely to reduce the risk to your computer.
2. You need to set up firewalls: Spyware software can be blocked very effectively when using a Firewall. It provides protection to your computer and checks the authenticity of any and every file that you try to access on the net. The firewall can also be set to detect malicious programs and prevent them from entering your computer. Therefore, preventing spyware and adware files of ever getting the chance to be uploaded to your computer. Now for those using windows XP the firewall already exists in your operating system all you need to do is turn it on.
3. You need to install spyware protection software: At the very first possible opportunity you must download anti-spyware software. This software will make sure that the existing spyware in your computer is detected and erased. It will also make sure that no new spyware enters your system. This is an established solution and should be put into action as early as possible, also for best results you need to keep this software updated regularly.
4. Finally prevention: Remember nothing comes without a price and the simplest way to avoid spyware and adware is to avoid downloading freebies. Any Free stuff you might be thinking about downloading from online sites will most probably lead to spyware or adware unless it is an established and legitimate business that you are downloading from. Also avoid the temptation of clicking on pop-up ads that may appear on your screen, these are known to be hotbeds for malware infections.
Now before you make any anti-spyware software purchases I would visit spywarewarrior.com first, they provide good information on various malware prevention software and also information on the sites and software to stay away from.
Marion
Jul
18
Graham Walsham asked:
We all like something for nothing and the Internet is jam-packed with FREE STUFF. Stuff like eBooks, Software, Screensavers, Pet Food, Ringtones, Free Samples, Free Services, Magazines, Free Websites etc., etc., the list goes on.
There are countless online newsletters and websites devoted to free stuff, some people make a hobby of finding freebies online, it can be habit forming but there are worse habits to have.
A word of caution though, some unscrupulous people use free stuff to send viruses, most free stuff is genuine, the ones to watch out for are unsolicited free offers through pop-ups and email etc. - best to leave these anonymous ones alone.
But as stated, most are genuine but it pays to be a bit wary.
In a many cases, you need to complete questionnaires or click links to qualify for the free stuff but if you’ve got the time, it can be worth it. On some “free stuff” sites you have to jump through hoops to get the freebies which can be a bit of a pain.
Some freebies are just ploys to get you to part with money. Common ones are pc scans, these scan your computer for free to detect bugs or viruses and invariably they come up with negative results which to put right, you have to download their software which is not free.
I’m a bit of a cynic and wouldn’t be surprised if these scans found problems on brand new, unused equipment.
A lot of reverse phone searches purport to be free but in reality, you are directed to a sign-up page where you have to make a payment for the service. There are a few free ones out there but most have a catch.
Enjoy yourself tracking down freebies but remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Vivian
We all like something for nothing and the Internet is jam-packed with FREE STUFF. Stuff like eBooks, Software, Screensavers, Pet Food, Ringtones, Free Samples, Free Services, Magazines, Free Websites etc., etc., the list goes on.
There are countless online newsletters and websites devoted to free stuff, some people make a hobby of finding freebies online, it can be habit forming but there are worse habits to have.
A word of caution though, some unscrupulous people use free stuff to send viruses, most free stuff is genuine, the ones to watch out for are unsolicited free offers through pop-ups and email etc. - best to leave these anonymous ones alone.
But as stated, most are genuine but it pays to be a bit wary.
In a many cases, you need to complete questionnaires or click links to qualify for the free stuff but if you’ve got the time, it can be worth it. On some “free stuff” sites you have to jump through hoops to get the freebies which can be a bit of a pain.
Some freebies are just ploys to get you to part with money. Common ones are pc scans, these scan your computer for free to detect bugs or viruses and invariably they come up with negative results which to put right, you have to download their software which is not free.
I’m a bit of a cynic and wouldn’t be surprised if these scans found problems on brand new, unused equipment.
A lot of reverse phone searches purport to be free but in reality, you are directed to a sign-up page where you have to make a payment for the service. There are a few free ones out there but most have a catch.
Enjoy yourself tracking down freebies but remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Vivian
Jul
18
10 Vital Traffic Factors You Can Dominate Through Free Untapped Sources
Filed Under Internet And Businesses Online | Leave a Comment
Carole Nickerson asked:
While free ‘junk’ advertising has always been around, most internet marketers and webmasters have evolved and matured to focus on methods which are ethical, proven and effective both in the present and long-term. As new ideas and strategies come to the surface, others slowly die off and the cycle of life online starts all over again.
There are some methods that have remained constant though, and while people rush to jump on the latest craze, it’s easy to overlook some of the simplest ways of generating traffic that have proven themselves for years.
Such is the case with submitting to software directories. Most people wouldn’t see this as an obvious source of targeted traffic. After all, they’re for notepad clones and anti-virus programs right? Wrong. Many will accept other kinds of files and you don’t even have to know how to write a line code.
What does this mean to you?
- Interest in your website and products
- Reliable links to your website
- Reaching a greater audience
- More exposure for affiliate programs and Adsense
- Almost immediate, long-term traffic which brings wide distribution
- Often very high page ranks for pages you submit
- People will create more links for you as they recommend your site in forums, on blogs, etc.
- More pages on your website for the products you submit means more pages being indexed by search engines
- Existing visitors will come back more often and your chances of getting bookmarked by new users are increased
- Depending on the type of content you submitted, you may have CD publishers wanting to include your products on their CDs
- Submitting to most software directories is free!
This is the same strategy I used to get listed in literally 1000’s of software and freeware directories over a period of just 1 year with another site I own. There are actually over 12,000 links referencing the site, but to sort out the actual number of software directories would be impossible. I can estimate though that about 70% of them are software sites. The more freebies I created, the more listings and unique pages pointing to my website. Originally I had only submitted to about 50 directories, but a few things happened to cause the massive growth - these freebies caught a lot of attention, being talked about in forums, newsletters, blogs, and appearing in other directories which picked up the links and indexed them. Other sites too wanted to give copies away from their own website. If that wasn’t enough, magazine publishers included my work on their cover-mounted cds and a university used my content as part of one of their courses. As you can imagine - traffic galore!
You might be wondering about regular free stuff sites. I have found that getting listed in general free stuff directories is difficult, takes too long, most demand a reciprocal link and they don’t seem interested 90% of the time. Why? Because most of the ‘freebies’ listed on their site are connected to affiliate programs - and that’s all they care about. Yes, software directories usually promote affiliate programs too, but generally they want as much software as possible in their directory, and the layout is different too, so that visitors can find freeware much easier.
Here are some ideas for different types of products you can easily create so you can get your foot in the door to this huge traffic source:
1. Screensavers
An easy way to not only get listed in multiple software directories, but to get your products & links right on people’s desktops. Sure, the world is full of screensavers - so you either have to make a really cool screensaver, or focus on a niche.
You can find some free screensaver software at:
http://www.zeallsoft.com/
2. eBooks
This is the easiest option for most and doesn’t have to be very complex. A simple eBook of resources is good, such as one I published years ago called “The Webmaster Freeware Guide”. With ebooks, you want to make sure you include plenty of links within them back to your website.
A good free ebook creation program can be found here:
http://www.spadixbd.com/wsz/
3. Fonts, Icons, Photos, Graphics & Templates
Success with these kinds of digital freebies depend on your knowledge and skills. The idea is to create a collection of 50, 100 or even 500 files and then zip them up into a bundle. I won’t go into details about creating these products because there would far too much information to cover and there are so many different kinds of products to be covered.
One very popular free graphics editor is TheGimp:
http://www.gimp.org/
If you’re looking for an incredible free webpage editor, I recommend Nvu:
http://www.nvu.com/
4. ‘Faux’ Software
Faux software isn’t really software in terms of writing code. Basically, you are using simple scripts within ebook software to give the illusion of software. While not every ebook creation software supports this, you can easily add javascript to html documents (which will be part of the ebook) or host php scripts on your website (where the ebook auto-redirects to the page on your website within the ebook software provided the ebook creation software supports it) There are plenty of free scripts on the web which you can use, so don’t worry about having to create them yourself.
My favorite script haunt is Hotscripts:
http://www.hotscripts.com/
5. Sticky Content
Sticky content is content which you outsource to other websites such as news feeds, a script, images, and other content. Compared to a simple link or banner, It is a great way to get visibility on other people’s websites because they usually put the content in higher traffic areas, claims more page space, and is considered a feature rather than an ad for something. Creating a bundle of 10 sticky content units and bundle them into a collection.
To get started with sticky content, here’s a great freeware tool:
[http://ygetup.com/scw/]
An additional benefit to creating all these digital freebies and submitting them to software directories is the ability to have traffic go in two distinct directions on your website. Most listings allow you to a link to your homepage as well as the download page. My download page listed all the items I was giving away with quick download links, but also included affiliate links and Adsense ads.
How To Get Started:
The first step is to sit down with good old fashioned pen & paper and do some brainstorming. You want to think about the content and theme of your website and then consider products which compliment it.
Example A: If you run a health theme site, you could create some relaxing screensavers “that have been shown to help people ease their stress throughout the day”… ok, so maybe that’s a little bit of marketing bull - but a little hype never hurts!
Example B: If you run a template site, you can bundle up a collection of free templates that each contain a link back to your website. As a rule, people using the templates must include the link back.
Example C: If you are an affiliate marketer for software such as anti-virus programs, you could create an ebook like “50 anti-virus tips” or “How to protect your computer from viruses”. Obviously, you’ll want to include affiliate links.
The possibilities are endless and you’ll be surprised at the exposure you get compared to other kinds of directories. The more digital freebies you create, the more exposure, listings, search engine traffic boosts and page views you’ll get.
Tips For Getting More From This System:
- Encourage visitors to give away copies from their own website
- Include a ‘readme’ file in html which introduces your website, affiliate links, etc.
- Create a master download page and perhaps individual download pages for each product which include affiliate and Adsense ads.
- Don’t submit your products to these directories as if they were ads - because they’re not! Use keyword-rich titles and informative descriptions because often these directories make the filename for the page the same as the title you enter. This gives you a huge advantage in the search engines.
- If you want to update the content of the ebook on a regular basis, you can create a link within the ebook which will auto-redirect to page on your server. The page will be displayed within the ebook - so nobody is the wiser. The only problem here is if the ebook creation software you’re using doesn’t support it. You’ll only know this through trial and error.
Now the question is … where are these software directories? Oh, please don’t ask me that because I certainly couldn’t list them all. Your best approach is to Google it. Use keyphrases like “free software”, “free software directory”, “free software search”, “freeware”, “freeware search”, “freeware directory”, etc. You get the idea, right?
Before you do submit your products, check around first to see if there is a matching category and read their policies (if any) on submitting programs and files. There has been an ever-increasing demand from software publishers to submit .xml data on their products, so look for that too.
Good luck!
Edwin
While free ‘junk’ advertising has always been around, most internet marketers and webmasters have evolved and matured to focus on methods which are ethical, proven and effective both in the present and long-term. As new ideas and strategies come to the surface, others slowly die off and the cycle of life online starts all over again.
There are some methods that have remained constant though, and while people rush to jump on the latest craze, it’s easy to overlook some of the simplest ways of generating traffic that have proven themselves for years.
Such is the case with submitting to software directories. Most people wouldn’t see this as an obvious source of targeted traffic. After all, they’re for notepad clones and anti-virus programs right? Wrong. Many will accept other kinds of files and you don’t even have to know how to write a line code.
What does this mean to you?
- Interest in your website and products
- Reliable links to your website
- Reaching a greater audience
- More exposure for affiliate programs and Adsense
- Almost immediate, long-term traffic which brings wide distribution
- Often very high page ranks for pages you submit
- People will create more links for you as they recommend your site in forums, on blogs, etc.
- More pages on your website for the products you submit means more pages being indexed by search engines
- Existing visitors will come back more often and your chances of getting bookmarked by new users are increased
- Depending on the type of content you submitted, you may have CD publishers wanting to include your products on their CDs
- Submitting to most software directories is free!
This is the same strategy I used to get listed in literally 1000’s of software and freeware directories over a period of just 1 year with another site I own. There are actually over 12,000 links referencing the site, but to sort out the actual number of software directories would be impossible. I can estimate though that about 70% of them are software sites. The more freebies I created, the more listings and unique pages pointing to my website. Originally I had only submitted to about 50 directories, but a few things happened to cause the massive growth - these freebies caught a lot of attention, being talked about in forums, newsletters, blogs, and appearing in other directories which picked up the links and indexed them. Other sites too wanted to give copies away from their own website. If that wasn’t enough, magazine publishers included my work on their cover-mounted cds and a university used my content as part of one of their courses. As you can imagine - traffic galore!
You might be wondering about regular free stuff sites. I have found that getting listed in general free stuff directories is difficult, takes too long, most demand a reciprocal link and they don’t seem interested 90% of the time. Why? Because most of the ‘freebies’ listed on their site are connected to affiliate programs - and that’s all they care about. Yes, software directories usually promote affiliate programs too, but generally they want as much software as possible in their directory, and the layout is different too, so that visitors can find freeware much easier.
Here are some ideas for different types of products you can easily create so you can get your foot in the door to this huge traffic source:
1. Screensavers
An easy way to not only get listed in multiple software directories, but to get your products & links right on people’s desktops. Sure, the world is full of screensavers - so you either have to make a really cool screensaver, or focus on a niche.
You can find some free screensaver software at:
http://www.zeallsoft.com/
2. eBooks
This is the easiest option for most and doesn’t have to be very complex. A simple eBook of resources is good, such as one I published years ago called “The Webmaster Freeware Guide”. With ebooks, you want to make sure you include plenty of links within them back to your website.
A good free ebook creation program can be found here:
http://www.spadixbd.com/wsz/
3. Fonts, Icons, Photos, Graphics & Templates
Success with these kinds of digital freebies depend on your knowledge and skills. The idea is to create a collection of 50, 100 or even 500 files and then zip them up into a bundle. I won’t go into details about creating these products because there would far too much information to cover and there are so many different kinds of products to be covered.
One very popular free graphics editor is TheGimp:
http://www.gimp.org/
If you’re looking for an incredible free webpage editor, I recommend Nvu:
http://www.nvu.com/
4. ‘Faux’ Software
Faux software isn’t really software in terms of writing code. Basically, you are using simple scripts within ebook software to give the illusion of software. While not every ebook creation software supports this, you can easily add javascript to html documents (which will be part of the ebook) or host php scripts on your website (where the ebook auto-redirects to the page on your website within the ebook software provided the ebook creation software supports it) There are plenty of free scripts on the web which you can use, so don’t worry about having to create them yourself.
My favorite script haunt is Hotscripts:
http://www.hotscripts.com/
5. Sticky Content
Sticky content is content which you outsource to other websites such as news feeds, a script, images, and other content. Compared to a simple link or banner, It is a great way to get visibility on other people’s websites because they usually put the content in higher traffic areas, claims more page space, and is considered a feature rather than an ad for something. Creating a bundle of 10 sticky content units and bundle them into a collection.
To get started with sticky content, here’s a great freeware tool:
[http://ygetup.com/scw/]
An additional benefit to creating all these digital freebies and submitting them to software directories is the ability to have traffic go in two distinct directions on your website. Most listings allow you to a link to your homepage as well as the download page. My download page listed all the items I was giving away with quick download links, but also included affiliate links and Adsense ads.
How To Get Started:
The first step is to sit down with good old fashioned pen & paper and do some brainstorming. You want to think about the content and theme of your website and then consider products which compliment it.
Example A: If you run a health theme site, you could create some relaxing screensavers “that have been shown to help people ease their stress throughout the day”… ok, so maybe that’s a little bit of marketing bull - but a little hype never hurts!
Example B: If you run a template site, you can bundle up a collection of free templates that each contain a link back to your website. As a rule, people using the templates must include the link back.
Example C: If you are an affiliate marketer for software such as anti-virus programs, you could create an ebook like “50 anti-virus tips” or “How to protect your computer from viruses”. Obviously, you’ll want to include affiliate links.
The possibilities are endless and you’ll be surprised at the exposure you get compared to other kinds of directories. The more digital freebies you create, the more exposure, listings, search engine traffic boosts and page views you’ll get.
Tips For Getting More From This System:
- Encourage visitors to give away copies from their own website
- Include a ‘readme’ file in html which introduces your website, affiliate links, etc.
- Create a master download page and perhaps individual download pages for each product which include affiliate and Adsense ads.
- Don’t submit your products to these directories as if they were ads - because they’re not! Use keyword-rich titles and informative descriptions because often these directories make the filename for the page the same as the title you enter. This gives you a huge advantage in the search engines.
- If you want to update the content of the ebook on a regular basis, you can create a link within the ebook which will auto-redirect to page on your server. The page will be displayed within the ebook - so nobody is the wiser. The only problem here is if the ebook creation software you’re using doesn’t support it. You’ll only know this through trial and error.
Now the question is … where are these software directories? Oh, please don’t ask me that because I certainly couldn’t list them all. Your best approach is to Google it. Use keyphrases like “free software”, “free software directory”, “free software search”, “freeware”, “freeware search”, “freeware directory”, etc. You get the idea, right?
Before you do submit your products, check around first to see if there is a matching category and read their policies (if any) on submitting programs and files. There has been an ever-increasing demand from software publishers to submit .xml data on their products, so look for that too.
Good luck!
Edwin
Jun
15
Website Marketing - Do You Make These 3 Mistakes With Free Offers?
Filed Under Internet And Businesses Online | Leave a Comment
Cathy Goodwin asked:
Professionals — coaches, consultants, financial planners — want to help their clients. They also realize that clients often cannot imagine what service delivery feels like, let alone appreciate the benefits.
So their offer all kinds of freebies to generate leads, convert visitors and attract clients: sample sessions, get-acquainted calls, bonus gifts, introductory and CDs. Being generous, they often toss off a free offer because “everybody does it.”
Free offers can be a rewarding investment of your time or a wasteful drain on your energies. Here are 3 of the most common freebie mistakes.
(1) Focusing on price, not value.
Does the back of your business card read, “Call me for a free 20-minute consultation?”
Some professionals tell me they gained clients this way… five or more years ago. Today, I believe you have to differentiate yourself based on benefits and based on your unique ability to out-perform the competition. Experienced buyers expect the free call to be little more than a sales pitch. So your offer can actually signal that you don’t value your time *or* your prospect’s time.
(2) Not tying your freebies directly to your target market.
Will your freebies attract prospects who differ considerably from those who actually sign up for the regular-priced service? When I first offered copywriting services, I offered free trial consultations.
But I soon discovered a hard truth. Clients who grabbed my free offers were very different from clients who expected to pay for the diagnostic call. And they didn’t understand what they were receiving. One early client even said, “Sure, after you wrote my copy, I filled my workshop. But I’m sure it was coincidence.”
Needless to say, my free offers are long gone, even for my very best friends, even if I still had time in my schedule. Of course, few marketing strategies are universal. In some markets, you will profit greatly by offering free sessions.
One reason: That’s the only way your prospects can get a sense of what you offer. Some professionals offer services that are so confidential they can’t even get signed testimonials. And in some markets, introductory offers lead to lucrative contracts. You have to test.
(3) Not incorporating your freebies into your overall marketing strategy
Decide what you will give away as part of your marketing efforts - and decide what you will demand in return. Many marketers (including me) offer ezines, e-courses and mini-ebooks…if you agree to share your name and email address and receive future mailings, including product announcements.
Some coaches and consultants offer free consultations after the prospect completes a lengthy questionnaire or assignment. They find they attract strong prospects by creating these filters. Others offer a reverse free offer: Pay for a short consultation and get a refund if you sign up for a larger project. Frankly, I like this system because your prospect gets a realistic experience with no sales pitch and no hassle.
Ultimately, the decision to offer a freebie - and the type of freebie you offer - can shape your marketing strategy and ultimately your ability to attract clients.
Phyllis
Professionals — coaches, consultants, financial planners — want to help their clients. They also realize that clients often cannot imagine what service delivery feels like, let alone appreciate the benefits.
So their offer all kinds of freebies to generate leads, convert visitors and attract clients: sample sessions, get-acquainted calls, bonus gifts, introductory and CDs. Being generous, they often toss off a free offer because “everybody does it.”
Free offers can be a rewarding investment of your time or a wasteful drain on your energies. Here are 3 of the most common freebie mistakes.
(1) Focusing on price, not value.
Does the back of your business card read, “Call me for a free 20-minute consultation?”
Some professionals tell me they gained clients this way… five or more years ago. Today, I believe you have to differentiate yourself based on benefits and based on your unique ability to out-perform the competition. Experienced buyers expect the free call to be little more than a sales pitch. So your offer can actually signal that you don’t value your time *or* your prospect’s time.
(2) Not tying your freebies directly to your target market.
Will your freebies attract prospects who differ considerably from those who actually sign up for the regular-priced service? When I first offered copywriting services, I offered free trial consultations.
But I soon discovered a hard truth. Clients who grabbed my free offers were very different from clients who expected to pay for the diagnostic call. And they didn’t understand what they were receiving. One early client even said, “Sure, after you wrote my copy, I filled my workshop. But I’m sure it was coincidence.”
Needless to say, my free offers are long gone, even for my very best friends, even if I still had time in my schedule. Of course, few marketing strategies are universal. In some markets, you will profit greatly by offering free sessions.
One reason: That’s the only way your prospects can get a sense of what you offer. Some professionals offer services that are so confidential they can’t even get signed testimonials. And in some markets, introductory offers lead to lucrative contracts. You have to test.
(3) Not incorporating your freebies into your overall marketing strategy
Decide what you will give away as part of your marketing efforts - and decide what you will demand in return. Many marketers (including me) offer ezines, e-courses and mini-ebooks…if you agree to share your name and email address and receive future mailings, including product announcements.
Some coaches and consultants offer free consultations after the prospect completes a lengthy questionnaire or assignment. They find they attract strong prospects by creating these filters. Others offer a reverse free offer: Pay for a short consultation and get a refund if you sign up for a larger project. Frankly, I like this system because your prospect gets a realistic experience with no sales pitch and no hassle.
Ultimately, the decision to offer a freebie - and the type of freebie you offer - can shape your marketing strategy and ultimately your ability to attract clients.
Phyllis
May
23
Trevor John asked:
So long as you can use a search engine, it’s fairly easy to find a free blog template code to make your blog look good.
Remember that each blog service is different, so a Wordpress template (or theme, as they prefer to call them) will take a lot of tweaking to make it work with a Blogger blog.
It’s a lot easier to narrow down your search to only return links to blog templates that match your particular blogging platform.
Of course, if you’re a wizard with HTML and have the spare time, you could design your own blog template code from scratch. But that’s not something that many people are comfortable with doing.
Most blogs come with a few standard blog templates. A standard Wordpress installation will have a couple templates. Blogger has a larger number and you’re asked to choose your template in the new blog creation wizard.
Trouble is, these blog templates are so common it will look as though you haven’t put any effort into your blog if you use one of them.
Once you’ve typed in your search for your particular blog template, chances are that you’ll get hundreds of possible sites that you could choose from.
But even if you’ve used the word “free” in your search, that doesn’t mean that all (or even any!) of the templates you find on a particular site will actually be free for you to use. You see, sites know that you’re likely to be looking for free stuff and will construct their pages in such a way as to fool the search engines into showing their pages. A phrase like “we don’t offer free blog template code” will likely help the site to show up in a search for free templates.
So be careful - it’s easy to get hooked on a particular blog design and then suddenly find that when you click the “download” button you’re asked for money.
If the blog template code that you thought was free turns out to cost a few dollars, that may actually be a good thing. Since most fellow bloggers will be looking for true freebies, your blog could look more distinctive if you actually pay for a template. Ultimately, it’s your choice.
Karen
So long as you can use a search engine, it’s fairly easy to find a free blog template code to make your blog look good.
Remember that each blog service is different, so a Wordpress template (or theme, as they prefer to call them) will take a lot of tweaking to make it work with a Blogger blog.
It’s a lot easier to narrow down your search to only return links to blog templates that match your particular blogging platform.
Of course, if you’re a wizard with HTML and have the spare time, you could design your own blog template code from scratch. But that’s not something that many people are comfortable with doing.
Most blogs come with a few standard blog templates. A standard Wordpress installation will have a couple templates. Blogger has a larger number and you’re asked to choose your template in the new blog creation wizard.
Trouble is, these blog templates are so common it will look as though you haven’t put any effort into your blog if you use one of them.
Once you’ve typed in your search for your particular blog template, chances are that you’ll get hundreds of possible sites that you could choose from.
But even if you’ve used the word “free” in your search, that doesn’t mean that all (or even any!) of the templates you find on a particular site will actually be free for you to use. You see, sites know that you’re likely to be looking for free stuff and will construct their pages in such a way as to fool the search engines into showing their pages. A phrase like “we don’t offer free blog template code” will likely help the site to show up in a search for free templates.
So be careful - it’s easy to get hooked on a particular blog design and then suddenly find that when you click the “download” button you’re asked for money.
If the blog template code that you thought was free turns out to cost a few dollars, that may actually be a good thing. Since most fellow bloggers will be looking for true freebies, your blog could look more distinctive if you actually pay for a template. Ultimately, it’s your choice.
Karen