Ebook Sample Content Preview:

Multivariate testing refers to a situation where you make several changes on your web pages at the same time, and then test the different versions against one another.

This is clearly more complex and involved than running simple back to back tests, because every alteration that you make between pages is going to be a factor that contributes to the popularity (or lack of popularity) of any particular page.

Whilst split testing can be done in a reasonably effective way manually, it is almost totally impossible to run any kind of meaningful multivariate testing campaign without software that will enable you to do so.

Given the relative complexity of analyzing the results from using multivariate testing methodology, it is perhaps no surprise that a lot of the commercially available software is relatively expensive.

For example, a sophisticated program like Kaizen Track will take care of almost every aspect of testing and tracking for you, but it will do so at a price that might be beyond the pocket of many online businesses or internet marketers.

And a perhaps more surprising thing is that you do not need to buy complex or expensive software at all. There is an excellent program that will allow you to run and track multivariate testing campaigns available for free.

When we were looking at back to back split testing, we focused on modifying only one aspect of your page. Whilst this makes such a testing program relatively simple, it also tends to ignore one very basic idea about people who visit your webpage.

This is the fact that all website visitors take in the total experience of landing on any particular webpage, and they do not focus on one specific area of the page. A the same time, research has shown that most web site visitors will leave within a few seconds unless they find a compelling reason to stay on the page that they have just arrived at.

This is the reason for multivariate testing, because once you accept that a webpage is viewed as a whole, rather than a series of component sections, then it becomes clear that testing complete web pages against each other should be your primary consideration.

Ebook Sample Content Preview:

The holidays are definitely the most tempting time for dieters to overeat. The peer pressure we feel by gathering together with family and friends who bring cookies, cakes, ham, eggnog, and other fattening foods can be overwhelming. It's an American tradition for us to gorge ourselves on sugary sweets, breads, and other foods that are bad for us during the Christmas season.

The temptation is all around us, too. From work parties to friends sharing time together, there is enough unhealthy food at this time of year to last us a lifetime.

The good news is that there is a difference between real hunger and simple cravings. The secret is learning how to tell the difference between the two so you can fight off the urge to overeat. Sometimes the best thing to do is simply take a step back and think about what you're eating before you grab something off the deli platter. Take a deep breath and ask yourself if you truly need to eat that cookie right now.

You might surprise yourself when you allow a moment to just look over your food choices, and then make a decision not to eat the foods that will cause you to gain weight.

Distractions can really help fight off the holiday cravings. If you're sitting on the couch thinking about Aunt Susie's cherry pie, the odds are you will end up eating a slice (or two). However, by distracting ourselves with other things, often you'll find that the cravings will soon disappear.

Instead of simply imagining you're eating tons of unhealthy food, concentrate on something else like decorating the house, reading a book, or taking a walk. Turn your attention to something else so that you are not focusing solely on the food.

Be realistic in your goals this season. Think about how much weight you want to lose, and then decide whether or not that goal is something you can achieve. Better yet, many people decide they just simply want to maintain their weight over the holidays versus actually trying to diet.

Ebook Sample Content Preview:

There are forums for just about every area of interest that you can think of, and if you want to establish credibility, forums are a great way to do it.

Try to find the biggest and most active forums for maximum exposure.
If you go on a forum and hardly anyone is posting and there are no new posts from the past few days, then move on to a forum that will be more useful to you.

To find them all you have to do is go to your favorite search engine and type in the kind of forum you are looking for.

If you’re looking for a dog forum, just type in “dog forum”. Or, you could type in “dog breed information” or “dog training information” and a lot of forums in those areas will come up as well.

A search on Google for dog forums for example, returns 22 million results. Have a look at the following screenshot – to give you an idea about how easy it is to search for forums.

Ebook Sample Content Preview:

Have the word processor check your grammar. Spelling isn’t important here, as long as you can read your own typing. Grammar, however, is important, depending on what you hope to accomplish. A Southern accent is fine, poor grammar is usually not.

Load your text up into the podcast teleprompter, and start practicing. An unrecorded practice session is not necessary. You aren’t using expensive tape or anything like that, so practicing is free.

Practice as much as it takes, but for the sake of time, only record your first five minutes of the podcast and listen to it to see how it sounds, if you are on your time schedule, and if you are easy to understand. Try to have someone else listen to it as well to ensure that they can understand you clearly.

If you are producing your podcast on your computer, you are really kind of tied down as to where you record, unless you have a laptop. If you have a laptop, find the quietest possible place, where there won’t be any interruptions or background noise. If you are tied to a desktop, turn off the ceiling fan, and the air conditioner, as these only serve to create unwanted background noise. Put a sign on your door that says ‘recording in session’ and close the door. Make sure that you won’t be interrupted.

On your computer, close your email, instant messengers, and any other running software that may make noise. Avoid typing while recording, as the click of the keys or mouse will be picked up in most cases. If you must do something with your hands while recording, get one of those tension squeeze balls that don’t make any noise.

Avoid recording in an empty room. Carpeting and furniture will absorb sound, and reduce echoes, which can ruin a recording. When you are practicing, you should test out different distances between the microphone and your mouth. A podcast where the listener can hear you heavily breathing is not only unacceptable; it will be creepy to many. Make sure that the microphone is not picking up a chest rattle or breathing noises.

If you must cough, clear your throat, or get a drink of water during your recording, you should be able to pause it if you are using software, as opposed to phoning in your podcast. Use this feature as often as you please; just make sure that you edit out any sounds that this causes and that the podcast sounds ‘smooth.’