Home » Writer's Blogs » JimDeSantis

Jim DeSantis Answers Plus Info

Jim DeSantis ⁽¹²⁰⁾ Red Level Author

Jim DeSantis

On Line Tribune Newspaper

10 Great Ways to Create Traffic for Your Blog!

Posted Thursday, December 07, 2006 (2 years 352 days ago.) Viewed 738 times.

One of the most asked questions I see online is - "How can I boost traffic to my blog?". There are numerous tips and tricks available all over the web. Here are 10 Proven Ways to get you started toward becoming an internet star!

Creating traffic just takes a little work and the web does the rest!

1. Provide your visitors with free content, that is, articles or blog posts. Your content will be more attractive to your visitors if it's up-to-date or original. You could also offer people the option to reprint the content in their e-zine, blog, or web site. Always add your URL at the end of the articles so people can find you. This further attracts new and returning visitors, and, submit your original articles to directories such as this one - SearchWarp.com!

2. Give people a free subscription to your e-zine. Almost everyone is publishing a e-zine nowadays so it's important to give something extra with the free subscription. You could offer a free gift or advertising when people subscribe. If you do not have an ezine, there is a free program on one of my blogs (see Author Box).

3. Offer a free online directory or page of links to helpful resources like I do with my Newsman's Favorite Links Blog. The directory should be full of interesting ebooks, e-zines, web sites, etc. If people find your directory to be a valuable resource they will visit it over and over (see my Author Box).

4. Give your visitors a free ebook. I give links to these throughout my 15 blogs. I love Free! Some ebook writers even allow you to include your own ad or website URL in the ebook and allow other people to give it away when they get it from you. This is called Viral Marketing. Another way to spread the word about you! Hey, you could even write your own ebook and give it away! There are programs for this as well at My Links Blog.

5. Hold free online classes or seminars. They could be held in your web site's chat room. The idea of "live" information will definitely entice people to visit your web site. You will become known as an expert on the topic. You can even offer courses or classes via email to people who sign up.

6. Give visitors a free entry into your contest or sweepstakes. The prizes should be something of interest or value to your visitors. Most people who enter will continually revisit your web site to get the results. This does not have to be cash. It can be a valuable ebook that you got free from a Viral Marketer.

7. Let visitors download free software. It could be freeware, shareware, demos etc. You could even turn part of your site into a free software directory. If you created the software, include your ad inside and let other people give it away.

8. Offer free online services or utilities from your web site. They could be on search engine submitting, copy writing, article proofreading, etc. The service or utility should be helpful to your target audience.

9. Give free consulting to people who visit your web site. You could offer your knowledge via e-mail or by telephone. People will consider this a huge value because consulting fees can be very expensive. In fact, you can give them links or ebooks covering their area of interest but sign them up for email to get access to the information.

10. If you have an online Club, give your visitors a free membership for one year. People want to belong to something that benefits them, why not your online club. It could be a game club, video club, music club, writing club, etc. You could also give away a free e-zine for club members only. If your content is really unique, think about charging a monthly membership fee.

These are just 10 great ways to persuade visitors to keep in touch with you and that means a better page rank in the Search Engines!

Yours for success!

Jim DeSantis

___________________________________________________________

About the Author:

Jim DeSantis is a veteran Journalist providing trusted information on Internet Marketing. Subscribe to Jim's Internet Marketing Blog! or browse Jim's Newsman's Links for lots of Free Resources!

Permalink Comments (0)

Tithe Your Way Out Of Debt?

Posted Thursday, October 05, 2006 (3 years 50 days ago.) Viewed 858 times.

In the course of being active in the local church and attaining Associate Degrees in Pastoral Counseling and Theology, I became convinced that "tithe your way out of debt" is false teaching.

There is no scripture that justifies this, not even Malachi.

In fact, much of the church teaches Malachi wrongly. They do not teach the entire passage on tithing. They leave out its beginning that speaks of "you have gone away from mine ordinances". The word "ordinances" means "laws". And, as Paul said -" he (Jesus) released us from the curse of the law".

This teaching that you can give your way out of debt, or, to put it another way they teach it, "you can't out give God", has ruined many Christian families.

We had an evangelist come to our church and teach "Want a better house? Give yours away and God will give you a better house!" One woman in the church actually put her wedding ring in the plate because she was so far in debt she had no money to give. She would have been better off pawning the ring for cash and putting it towards a debt! You can imagine, her husband was not at all pleased! The Pastor had enough sense to give her back the ring.

Listen - if you are giving to get, you will be disappointed and go broke!

Jesus taught a lot about money. He taught that we should be good stewards of God's money. He taught that we should be smart investors of God's money. He taught that we should pay our taxes (render unto Caesar what is Caesar's). And, Proverbs tells us - "neither a borrower nor a lender be".

The Bible is full of advice about money, debt, work, and responsibility. Unfortunately, most Christians don’t read it and study it. They would rather take the word of some evangelist because it sounds good and they are desperate!

Someone said to me - "I tithe faithfully but God is not blessing me. I can't figure it out"

I answered - "Well, maybe it's because you spend $50.00 a week going to a massage parlor and another $20.00 a week on beer. That's $70.00 a week you could be giving to God's work."

I believe God does not look at how much you give. He looks at your heart, your motive for giving, and, He looks at what you do with the money he has put into your hands. There are many scriptures to support this. Take some time and read the book of James. It's a short and powerful book.

Because of Malachi, many people believe that all we need to do is give God 10% ("tithe means 10%) plus an offering above the tithe amount and we have met God's law. But, we are no longer under the law, remember?

Case in point: When I was a fund raiser for a major Christian ministry we received a check from a gentleman for $159.70 each and every month. No doubt, this was a tithe (10%) from his income.

So, Jim, how should I give?

1) Pay off your debts! You are a Christian. If you are a deadbeat, what does this say to non-Christians? Get a second job if you have to. But, get out of debt. Get Christian Credit Counseling if necessary. But, get out of debt!

2) Give what you can for now. Even one-dollar! Give it cheerfully!

3) Don't give to be blessed. Give with the idea you are helping the work of the church to bring others to Christ or to help others in need.

4) Stop squandering God's money (like the example above). Spend on what you need, not on what you want.

In my own life, once I understood Malachi, my financial situation changed dramatically for the better. I began by asking the Holy Spirit how much I should give, ignoring the 10% rule.

Once he said - "Give $200.00".

I said - "We only have $300.00 in our checking account".

He said - "Give $200.00".

I said - "OK" and did not run out of money to meet our needs.

Another time He said - "Don't give anything. You're going to need it".

I said - "OK". and, guess what, we needed it for an unexpected bill.

Did the Holy Spirit talk to me out loud? No, of course not! It was a clear thought, a knowing that it was Him speaking. After a while you will get to know when it’s Him talking to you in your thoughts.

Ever since my wife and I have been giving this way, most of our debts are gone, our bank account has grown, and, best of all, our needs are always met. Now, you have a Mortgage or pay Rent, maybe a car payment, food on the table, clothing, etc. These are debts that almost everyone must incur. The point is, always ask yourself, “Do we need this or just want this?" That simple question will keep you out of debt better than any budget plan devised by man.

This will get you started on the road to abundance.

You will be blessed!
Jim DeSantis