The new Apple iPad was not what many expected. As a multi-media device it does a great job and I do think there is a market for the iPad.  There are many people who do not need a home computer and find anything PC to complicated. The older non-tech user might find this a great device. It allows access to the Internet and email with a very simple interface. The device also makes a decent eBook reader. These are some features that for people who do not need a powerful computer will want to take a look at iPad. As for the tech savvy consumer it’s a nice device and has certain cool factor. Will it replace the netbook noway. The netbook with a full keyboard and long list of productivity software can not be replaced by the iPad. With time more applications might be made available and the software issue will not be a problem. At this point in the products life cycle I think the iPad is a cool toy and will have core set of users. Is it worth the price tag at $499 it’s not a bad price for an Internet device that is going to get looks at Starbucks. The iPad is a step in a new direction, but it’s not for me at this time.

The classified web site Backpage is very similar to Craigslist. The Backpages web site has been around for less time and has a smaller community. This is not to say that you can not make money with Backpage. The good thing is that there are also less flag reporters. If you have listed on Craigslist you know how annoying it can be to have your ad flagged even tough there is nothing wrong with what you have listed.

If you live in the US then there is a Backpage for almost every major city. The site has also gained a following and is growing in the US market. As for marketers in other parts of the world you will find a very small following as many people are still not aware of this site. As a Canadian I find that Backpage has not gained too many users over the border. At this point it looks like a great site for US users who have something to sell online.

The difference between Backpage and Craigslist is that you have the option of listing for free or adding extra feature to make your listing stand out. You can also pay to have your listing show up in printed newspapers in some areas.

I found Backpage very easy to use and setting up a classified was just like doing it on Craigslist. If you do not need any extra features then this free classified site does a great job. As more people find out about Backpage the community will grow. Those looking for bargains might want to check out Backpages as you have less people competing to buy an item. You have a better chance to buy an item at a barging price.

If want to make money online then Backpage is a good place to offer some affiliate products or to list your old stuff. You need to try Backpages and get familiar with all the options.

Link to Backpages.com

Last year I covered a few software titles that would benefit an online business. Here is just  a quick recap for those who are new to the blog. These are software packages that help me make money online and they can also help your business.

1. Digsby Instant messaging
   
2. LinkAssistant SEO
3. XSitePro 2
4. PPC Web Spy

These were just a few titles that were reviewed last year. These are as I mentioned programs that I use for my own business and make great tools for my online marketing. There are many more programs I use and hope to add reviews in the near future.

It’s been awhile since I had a give away on this site. As a prize I have 3 copies of The Twitter Book.

This practical guide will teach you everything you need to know to quickly become a Twitter power user, including strategies and tactics for using Twitter’s 140-character messages as a serious–and effective–way to boost your business. Co-written by Tim O’Reilly and Sarah Milstein, widely followed and highly respected Twitterers, the practical information in The Twitter Book is presented in a fun, full-color format that’s packed with helpful examples and clear explanations.

The Prize

3 copies of The Twitter Book which costs $10.79 online. This is a nice book to add to your collection and very helpful for those who want to get the most out of their Twitter accounts.

How to Win

1. Follow me on Twitter @vendingmatic

2. Tweet this message: @vendingmatic I’m entering to win a free copy of The Twitter Book at http://vendingmatic.info/2010/01/21/the-twitter-book-giveaway-contest/

On February 1st  I will hold a draw for the 3 copies of  The Twiiter Book.

Make sure you both follow me and tweet the message above or you will not be eligible. I will contacting the winners on February 1 and give 3 days for prizes to be claimed. If prize is not claimed in that time period I will re-draw a new name.

Good luck!

The top three PPC networks are Google Adwords, MSN(Bing),Yahoo Sponsored search. If you have been banned from Google Adwords then you might want to take your campaign to the next big PPC network Yahoo. If you are new to Yahoo there is a $25.00 credit that you can use to set up your account. The traffic from Yahoo is targeted and for most PPC campaigns it converts very well.

The quality of traffic is top notch and Yahoo protects you from click fraud. All your traffic is valid which is a nice peace of mind when your spending money per click.

Yahoo! Sponsored Search lists your business on top sites like Yahoo!, AltaVista and CNN. Sign up and get a $25 credit.

Affiliate Summit has just wrapped up, and many affiliates have walked away with information that is going to make them money.

Even if you did not make it to Affiliate Summit there is going to be a lot of blog posts with topics covered at the event. If you search around you will find some great ideas that others are going to share online.  Just reading a few of my favorite blogs I already discovered an affiliate network that I was not aware existed, and today I signed up for this network. The next Affiliate Summit takes place this summer in New York and I would recommend that you attend if you have the chance. No other convention brings together so many players in the industry. You are able to network and find new way of generating money online.

Clickbooth – Make Money!

A few days ago I mentioned MIVA PPC Ad Network. Looking around for a bonus credit I found this link which will add $25.00 to any new account. Not sure how long this promo link will work. If you want to try MIVA for your PPC traffic no better way then to use their credit.

Use this link to get $25.00 from MIVA!

The Blogger service from Google is one of the easiest ways to get online and have your own web site. The platform that Google uses for Blogger is not feature rich as WordPress, but there is lots that can be done to improve your users Blogger experience when they visit your site. One simple action is to add followers to your Blogger gadgets. If you have not used the gadget feature it’s one of the best ways to add new functions and get interaction from your users. The follower gadget will let your readers who also have a Blogger account to get updates from your blog. When the follower logs into their Blogger account they will see your updates in their dashboard.

This feature can be found in the Blogger add a gadget section. There are also many other gadgets that you can play with. If you use Blogger try out new gadgets and enhance your site.

It’s time to get down and start planning you money making game for the year. If you have a web site and need some great partners to generate some money then consider Neverblue. This is one of the top CPA affiliate networks out there. Never have they missed a payment and they have a great team to work with.

If you are planning on running CPA offers and need a network with many campigns to promote you should give Neverblue a try. It’s free to sign up and you can start running many top offers on your site that can bring cash your way.

If want to make money learn more at Neverblue press here to get to their sign up page!

Last summer I tried MIVA which is a PPC network like Google Adwords. At the time the campaign I ran did not do much in sales. The MIVA site did send a good number of clicks my way. Since I only spent $50 at MIVA it was not enough to truly validate this traffic source. Just before Christmas I tired a new campaign and added $200 to test the traffic. The new campaign did much better and I was ahead by $124 which is not a bad profit for a short test like this. Following a few tips I read online I played with a few offers that might best match MIVA’s traffic and it worked. If you are looking for traffic and have a bit of money to play with then give MIVA a try.

Make sure your landing pages are optimized and asking for the sale. Most people coming in from MIVA left within seconds the first campaign. With the new campaign I figured out a better ways to engage the traffic and keep them on the site. One thing that really helped was selling the product with more visual content and asking for the sale.

Generate traffic to your website with MIVA PPC. You can learn more about MIVA by clicking here!