Make Money with Your Brain » Shopping

Saving Money Online – Collective Buying Power

Suzanne Wells — Sun, 16 May 2010 19:10:29 +0000

Have you heard of the new way people are saving money online by using collective buying power? The site is called Groupon and here is how it works.

Every day, Groupon will post a new deal. It may be a discount on event tickets, a discount at a trendy restaurant or bakery, or a special price on a service like dry cleaning or a facial at a spa. The way Groupon states it, “Each day we feature something cool to do at an unbeatable price.”

If enough people sign up to do the deal, then the deal is on! If not enough people sign up, then no deal. That is what collective buying power is about – a group of people have to take the deal to get the discount.

Saving money online through Groupon is easy. Click here to sign up, it is free. You will receive emails announcing new deals. If you like the deal, click the “buy” button and you are done. The deal usually doesn’t expire for several weeks or even months, so you have plenty of time to use it.

Generate Website Traffic on YouTube

Suzanne Wells — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:39:39 +0000

Do you have a presence on YouTube? If not, you better get over there. YouTube has millions of users assembled in one place and your future customers are waiting for you.

I have been posting videos on YouTube for over 2 years and I see hits to my website and blog from YouTube on a daily basis. It is how many of my readers and customers find me. YouTube is one of the most popular social websites online, and if you aren’t there, you are missing a huge opportunity to successfully promote your business – for free.

Now, you might think it is a waste of time to post videos to YouTube, since a video can’t contain a clickable hyperlink. That is correct, you cannot post a clickable link in a video. But here is my workaround for that problem:

Summary:

1) Always fill out the description box.

2) Include your link as the first item in the description box. If your link is really long (like an affiliate link), shorten it with TinyURL or Bit.ly.

3) When making your video, instruct your viewers to click on the link in the description box. Instruct them by voice or by using a graphic such as a red arrow.

4) Learn more about video marketing.

What has been your experience with YouTube? Anything besides watching unbelievable basketball shots or Susan Boyle sing?

Swagbucks for Free Groceries

Suzanne Wells — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:13:14 +0000

Are you signed up with Swagbucks? If not, click here to create an account and start earning free stuff!

I love this site. Over the past few months, I have been redeeming my points for the Starbucks gift cards, selling them on eBay, and making some nice cash. (Click here for my strategy on selling gift cards on eBay – they sell for 95% of the face value.) Now I have moved on to getting free groceries.

You can get a $25 Amazon gift card using only 315 points. I get the Amazon gift card, and then shop for groceries, pet food, health and beauty product, or other consumables that my family normally uses. You want to make sure the price is fair and not more than you will pay at the grocery store. Also, ALWAYS choose items with free super saver shipping. You don’t want to waste your valuable points on shipping charges.

You can always sell the Amazon gift card directly on eBay. You can just email the winner the gift card code. But remember that you will incur listing and final value fees so that eats up some of the profit you will make if selling the gift card.