Using The Popularity of Celebrities and Currrent Events to Promote Your Business


In this article, we want to explore the idea of using the popularity of celebrities and current event (news) topics to help market any internet business.

The Idea

Celebrities and news events are not only popular topics, they are also popular "keywords" in the major search engines. Thousands upon thousands of users everyday search the engines to find the latest info.

The idea is to build mini sites that target this market.

We call these "pop surfer" sites.

It sounds a bit far fetched at first, but with a little strategy, these "pop surfers" can help sell our products - NO MATTER WHAT WE SELL, or at least generate a decent amount of qualified traffic.

To get an idea of the type of traffic, have a look at these sites:

http://buzz.yahoo.com

http://50.lycos.com

http://www.wordtracker.com

http://www.google.com/press/zeitgeist.html

Look at the terms in these lists. I'm sure you recognize most of them, as they are an indication of what and who is "happening" right now. Also, keep in mind these sites (Yahoo, Google, Lycos, etc.) are among the most visited sites on the net.

The "Pop Surfer" Mini Site

The first step is to develop a "pop surfer" mini site (or sites - the more the better). It doesn't have to be the greatest or prettiest site ever created. Don't put as much work into it as you would your primary site. The key to these sites is to get the popular names and terms on the page so the search engines can find and spider them.

When developing your "pop surfer" page, keep in mind that you want a page that will 1) get into the search engines, and 2) grab the pop surfers' attention while they are searching for their favorite artist, news story, etc.

The Strategy

After we have our "pop surfer" mini site(s) built and listed in the engines, how do we use it get customers to our businesses?

There are two models that we will call the Indirect model and the Direct model. Each approach has it's own advantages and uses. In one model we "indirectly" target the "pop surfers", and in the other model we "directly" target them.

The Indirect Model

This model gives us the most qualified visitors. In this model, we utilize the power of traffic "exchanges". After we start getting our share of "pop surfer" traffic, we use the exposure ratio from these "exchanges" to drive qualified, targeted visitors to our primary business site.

This works because exchanges allow us to target our visitors. When signing up for an exchange you are usually asked what category you want exposure in. They often give you a list with such categories as Health and fitness or Business Opportunities. This gives us control over where we want our primary sites' information viewed.

Some exchanges have a 1:1 ratio where one exposure on your page is worth one exposure on someone else's page. Others use different ratios such as 2:1 which gives two exposures on your page for one exposure on someone else's.

There are several types of exchanges. The more popular ones are:

Banner Exchanges, which gives banner exposures in exchange for placing other banners on our site.

Exit Exchanges display your whole website, usually as a pop under window when a visitor leaves your site, in exchange for your site being displayed (as an exit pop under window) on someone else's site.

The most powerful, however, are:

Opt In list exchanges. These are special, because in every marketing circle, the number one rule for promoting your online business is to obtain an opt in list of subscribers. Opt in exchanges deliver the most targeted, and qualified visitors we can get with the exchange model.

How they work is when someone enters or leaves your site, a list of newsletter, or business opportunity sign up forms are generated in a small unobtrusive window. When that happens, your newsletter or biz-opportunity is listed on someone else's website - IN THE TARGETED CATEGORY THAT YOU CHOSE when you signed up.

Put the exchange code(s) on your "pop surfer" sites, and take advantage of the traffic.

The Direct Model

The direct model is more of an indirect approach in that we may not necessarily use the "pop surfers" for our primary business but we can still profit from them.

How?

One way is by utilizing Pay Per Click. Not pay per click in the sense that we bid for our sites' exposure in a search engine, but Pay Per Click in the sense that we place listings on OUR sites and GET PAID for having them there. Every time someone clicks a result in your page, you get a percentage of the bidding amount for that click. If you use pay per click strategically, it can be very profitable.

Merchant affiliate programs work well also. Amazon.com, for example, sells books, music, toys, and more. They let you place their products on your website, and you get a percentage when someone buys from you.

Several other merchants work the same way. Do a search for merchants who sell CDs, books, video, toys, or clothing, and have an affiliate program. There are many out there.

Finally, you don't only have to look for affiliate programs. If you have a business or product that you think might cater to popular culture, target the "pop surfers" directly!! For instance, if you print T-shirts, you could probably sell some with hottest stars' faces on them.

Do your research for your pop surfer page topic. You can bet that if a celebrity or topic has recently made news, the traffic is sure to follow.

Rony Perry is an internet marketer with a B.S. In Computer Science. He maintains websites on various popular topics.http://www.fasbnet.com/celeb/





Latest News:



Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news
Game news: 'GTA IV' hits 10 million, EA meets ESPN (AP via Yahoo! News)
Real news from the virtual world: News and notes on the PGA Tour's top 20 golfers (USA Today)
Get the latest news and notes on the top 20 golfers on the PGA Tour. These rankings are based 2006-07 PGA Tour results. UAL shares walloped by new posting of old news (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
A nearly 6-year-old news story on the 2002 bankruptcy filing of UAL Corp resurfaced on the Internet on Monday, clobbering the airline's shares briefly as some traders mistook the report as current and plausible news. Asyncast delivers custom news to hands-free mobile devices (CNET)
The company's Rocketron service allows users to set preferences for the kinds of news stories they want to hear, as well as filter controls for news they don't want. Young adults want less election news (UPI)
EVANSTON, Ill., Sept. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. young adults say there is too much election-related news on Internet news sites, a university study indicates. CNET News Daily Podcast: The new Zune plays its tune (CNET)
Microsoft lets "slip" Zune news one day before Apple's big shindig. Big ad group says Google-Yahoo is a bad idea. Who says real spies don't dig social networking? Game News: 'GTA IV' Hits 10 Million, EA Meets ESPN (CBS News)
Real news from the virtual world: ABC News gets first Palin interview (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
ABC News' Charles Gibson has snagged the first interview with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin since she was named the GOP's vice presidential pick on August 29. United Airlines hit by 5-year-old news (UPI)
CHICAGO, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- United Airline's stock value plunged Monday after a 5-year-old news story was posted on a Florida newspaper's Web site. UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (UPI)
Spears wins 3 MTV Video Music Awards ... 'Wrestler' wins Golden Lion in Venice ... Report: MSNBC shuffles election anchors ... Iconic Astroland park closes ... News from United Press International.

Site: news - Google News
Palm Shares Soar As New Smartphone Wins Wall Street Praise - CNNMoney.com

guardian.co.uk

Palm Shares Soar As New Smartphone Wins Wall Street Praise
CNNMoney.com - 5 hours ago
The stock price has nearly doubled over the last two days since the company announced its new Pre smartphone and WebOS operating system at the Consumer ...
Palm's new smart phone steals the show MarketWatch
The pré's got Mojo: a developer speaks about Palm's new SDK Ars Technica
Palm's new Pre smartphone gets lots of good buzz USA Today
Kansas City Star - CNET News
all 735 news articles
Live-blog: Obama news conference on Intel choices - USA Today

FOXNews

Live-blog: Obama news conference on Intel choices
USA Today - 6 hours ago
The news conference is now set to get started at 10:45 am ET (though Obama has been known to begin things early). Hit the "refresh" button, ...
Video: Analyst Weighs in on Obama's CIA Pick AssociatedPress
News Analysis A Difficult Road Awaits Panetta at the CIA New York Times
News roundup: Israel presses on in Gaza; Obama tries to reassure GOP USA Today
all 3,234 news articles
New UN resolution on Gaza: final compromise reached, but hard to ... - Xinhua

Financial Times

New UN resolution on Gaza: final compromise reached, but hard to ...
Xinhua, China - 31 minutes ago
The resolution was being drafted and amended at the UN Headquarters in New York while the Israeli offensive against Gaza was going on and diplomatic efforts ...
AP Top News at 7:12 am EST The Associated Press
New UN Gaza resolution proposed Aljazeera.net
Foreign Ministry: China supports new UN resolution on Gaza Xinhua
Xinhua - The Associated Press
all 12,131 news articles
A Fitness Revolution for the New Year's Resolution - CNNMoney.com

A Fitness Revolution for the New Year's Resolution
CNNMoney.com - 44 minutes ago
Just in time for the infamous New Year's weight-loss resolution, FASTrainer, (Flexibility And Strength Trainer), offers fitness optimists a revolutionary ...
Obama: New layoffs show need for urgent action - The Associated Press

WELT ONLINE

Obama: New layoffs show need for urgent action
The Associated Press - 5 hours ago
If it works better than something I've proposed, I'll welcome it," Obama told a news conference. He spoke shortly after the Labor Department reported job ...
Video: Obama: New Layoffs Show Need for Urgent Action AssociatedPress
US Senate Democratic Leaders Outline New Agenda Voice of America
Consumer News: Obama Sells Stimulus Package WDEF News 12
KXMC - The Black Chronicle
all 4,659 news articles
Health Buzz: Flu Drug Failure and Other Health News - U.S. News & World Report

U.S. News & World Report

Health Buzz: Flu Drug Failure and Other Health News
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 4 hours ago
U.S. News tells you how to keep your family safe from bird flu. Oprah Winfrey's very public battles with her weight continued this week, ...
Yahoo reportedly near decision on new CEO - CNET News

Boston Globe

Yahoo reportedly near decision on new CEO
CNET News, CA - 15 hours ago
Yahoo is said to be wrapping up its search for a new chief executive, and a decision could come as early as next week, according to a report late Thursday ...
CES: Microsoft announces new search deals with Dell, Verizon Seattle Post Intelligencer
all 356 news articles
FDA Mismanagement, Gaza?s Ambulance Runs and New Support for a ... - New York Times

SmartAboutHealth

FDA Mismanagement, Gaza?s Ambulance Runs and New Support for a ...
New York Times, United States - 4 hours ago
A Long Island man who donated a kidney to his wife says he wants it back now that they?re getting divorced, The Daily News reports. ...
Business news in brief Philadelphia Inquirer
all 183 news articles
New Classmate PC all about ?ecosystem? - ZDNet

New Classmate PC all about ?ecosystem?
ZDNet - 2 hours ago
We?ve known for a while that Intel was working a touch-enabled reference design for their new Classmate PCs. It wasn?t until I had an opportunity this week ...
Commodore Announces Launch of New Computer Products Series at CES 2009 - CNNMoney.com

Commodore Announces Launch of New Computer Products Series at CES 2009
CNNMoney.com - 3 hours ago
Commodore® (PINKSHEETS: CDRL) today announced the launch of an exciting new series of computer products at the Consumer Electronics Show 2009 in Las Vegas, ...

MORE RESOURCES:
Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for advertising
Ad-averse Mobile Users Will Pay to Avoid Advertising (Cellular-News.com)

Mobile providers looking to boost their revenues through content downloads and advertising are in for a rough ride, according to a new study by market researchers TNS. A Web advertising dark horse goes on the offensive (Market Watch)

While its rivals have been fetching multibillion-dollar acquisition offers from the likes of Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp., online-advertising firm ValueClick Inc. has been busy digging its way out of a legal mess. Intergi's Video Game & Entertainment Advertising Network Has Largest Potential Reach in U.S. According to Newest ... (Centre Daily Times)

Intergi (www.intergi.com), a leading video game and entertainment site representation company and advertising network, today announced that it now has a total potential advertising reach of 52.4 million unique visitors in the United States, topping other targeted ad networks - including bellwethers such as Advertising.com Games and Yahoo! Games. Based on the latest data from the August 2008 ... Largest ever advertising billboard at London Bridge Station (London SE1)

A huge advertising billboard has been unveiled at London Bridge Station to promote the NSPCC and brighten up hoardings on the concourse. Online Brokerage Sites See Increased Visitors With Ramped up Online Advertising Efforts (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)

comScore, Inc. , a leader in measuring the digital world, today released a study of the online trading and brokerage industry showing strong visitor growth to online brokerage sites coinciding with heavy online advertising efforts by several of the key brokerages. Advertising spend in Qatar crawls (MENAFN)

Advertising spend in Qatar crawls Intergi's Video Game & Entertainment Advertising Network Has Largest Potential Reach in U.S. According to Newest ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla.----Intergi , a leading video game and entertainment site representation company and advertising network, today announced that it now has a total potential advertising reach of 52.4 million unique visitors in the United States, topping other targeted ad networks - including bellwethers such as Advertising.com Games and Yahoo! GCC advertising expenditure rises by 23.6% (MENAFN)

GCC advertising expenditure rises by 23.6% NeoMedia and Format Dynamics Join Forces to Integrate Innovations in Online & Offline Advertising (Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance)

NeoMedia Technologies, Inc. (OTC.BB: NEOM), and Format Dynamics, Inc., today announced a strategic alliance designed to accelerate innovation in both online and offline advertising. Bald Is Beautiful (Advertising Space) (CBS News)

New Zealand's national airline is offering to pay bald travelers to use their heads - literally - in a new advertising campaign. Site: advertising - Google News
SMU to launch graduate advertising program - Bizjournals.com

SMU to launch graduate advertising program
Bizjournals.com, NC - 4 hours ago
Southern Methodist University is prepared to launch a graduate program in advertising that caters to students interested in social media outlets, ...
When Truth in Advertising Meets the Unknowable - Conde Nast Portfolio

The Age

When Truth in Advertising Meets the Unknowable
Conde Nast Portfolio, NY - 6 hours ago
Britain's national Advertising Standards Authority typically has to rule on questions such as whether a lingerie poster shoes too much anatomy or whether ...
Atheist Bus Campaign is 'offensive', say complainants to ASA guardian.co.uk
'No God' campaign draws complaint BBC News
Atheist bus ad campaign reported to authorities Examiner.com
AFP - Catholic Culture
all 512 news articles
A Lawyer?s Call for a Greater Black Presence in Agencies - New York Times

Gawker

A Lawyer?s Call for a Greater Black Presence in Agencies
New York Times, United States - 19 hours ago
By STUART ELLIOTT THE inability of the advertising industry to fill its desks, cubicles and offices with a diverse work force is coming under fire again, ...
Has the US Advertising Industry Forgotten About Blacks? DiversityInc.com (subscription)
Madison Avenue Accused of Racial Bias BusinessWeek
Racial Discrimination in the Advertising Industry Civilrights.org
Adweek - AdAge.com
all 23 news articles
mocoNews.net - Microsoft Plunges Into Mobile Advertising With ... - Washington Post

Boston Globe

mocoNews.net - Microsoft Plunges Into Mobile Advertising With ...
Washington Post, United States - Jan 7, 2009
The second thing to point out is the vote of confidence on Microsoft's behalf that they believe the the mobile search and advertising market could be of ...
Verizon chooses Microsoft for mobile search and advertising services Unwired View
Verizon Wireless Selects Microsoft for Mobile Search and Advertising PR Newswire (press release)
Microsoft Picks Verizon Over Google, Yahoo For Search, Mobile Ads eWeek
BNET - Seattle Times
all 356 news articles
From an advertising section - San Jose Mercury News

From an advertising section
San Jose Mercury News,  USA - 3 hours ago
Big marks for small-car safety: An increasing number of Americans are trading in their large sport-utility vehicles after feeling the sting of ...
Campbell announces new head of advertising - SmartBrief

Campbell announces new head of advertising
SmartBrief, DC - 3 hours ago
She replaces Paul Alexander, who left the company in October, and will oversee all of Campbell's advertising. Advertising Age (01/08) Want to dig deeper? ...
Campbell Soup appoints new VP of global advertising and design Trading Markets (press release)
all 6 news articles
Radio late to the feel the pinch on advertising - Sydney Morning Herald

Radio late to the feel the pinch on advertising
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 8 hours ago
RADIO has proven to be more resilient than newspapers and television stations during the economic crisis, posting largely steady advertising revenue in 2008 ...
Adland awaits Gerry Harvey's will The Australian
Ad downturn continues to hit Fairfax The Age
More listening to the radio in tough economic times The Australian
The Australian
all 42 news articles
ck one Launches a New Worldwide Advertising Campaign - PR Newswire (press release)

ck one Launches a New Worldwide Advertising Campaign
PR Newswire (press release), NY - 2 hours ago
The campaign was directed by Trey Laird of Laird + Partners in conjunction with Calvin Klein, Inc.'s in-house creative studio, CRK Advertising. ...
Wedbush Morgan Downgrades Phillips-Van Heusen (PVH) to Hold StreetInsider.com (subscription)
all 14 news articles
Wedbush Morgan Initiates Coverage on Lamar Advertising (LAMR) with ... - StreetInsider.com (subscription)

Wedbush Morgan Initiates Coverage on Lamar Advertising (LAMR) with ...
StreetInsider.com (subscription), MI - 5 hours ago
Wedbush analsyt says, "A pure play on good long-term growth trends in the US outdoor advertising industry. Would revisit stock in anticipation of turn in ...
Wedbush Morgan Initiates Coverage on Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO ... StreetInsider.com (subscription)
Wedbush Morgan Initiates Coverage on National CineMedia (NCMI ... StreetInsider.com (subscription)
all 3 news articles
Illinois Meth Project starts advertising blitz - Olney Daily Mail

Illinois Meth Project starts advertising blitz
Olney Daily Mail, IL - 1 hour ago
... attempting to reach at least 70 percent of its target audience at least four times a week, which he said is an ambitious goal by advertising standards. ...
Wilson touts Illinois Meth Project expansion West Frankfort Daily American
all 2 news articles
Home | Site Map | Resource Links