Today’s AskMissyWard.com question comes from Anna at VSO Software:

“When I clicked on “like” on your Missy Ward Facebook Page, I landed on a page with the link to a special offer. That’s awsome. How do you do this ? I have a welcome tab, but how do I make people land on another page with my discount when they click on “like” ?”

I am using the paid version of a Facebook App called Tradable Bits which allows you to create a customized Facebook Page quickly and easily. You can upload images, embed Twitter and video content using their simple tools. Their templates have allowed me to easily create a Welcome Tab, an “Exclusive” Tab and other html-based Tabs within my Facebook page in minutes. You can then select whatever Tab you decide to be your default tab that you want visitors to see.

They offer an ad-supported free version, but I opted to go with the ad-free small-business version which allows me to use the App on up to 3 of my pages.

Here’s a quick video showing how easy it is to use:

Let me know how it works out for you.

Today’s AskMissyWard.com affiliate marketing question comes from Chris Gar who asks:

“What WordPress template would you recommend for a new affiliate that allows it to be used for multiple sites and includes all the bells and whistles like seo opt, and all of the social media links, etc. I’m not necessarily looking for a free template, just a good one.
Thank you.”

Hey Chris,

There’s only one solution that will fit your needs that I wholeheartedly recommend and that is Thesis For WordPress, by DIYThemes.

Now, that being said, I must disclose that I used to oversee their affiliate program for charity. However, before I worked for them, I was an extremely satisfied customer and recommended the Thesis for WordPress theme, to anyone who was in the same boat as you. I currently use Thesis Theme on MissyWard.com, FeedFront.com and GeekCast.fm.

The main reason why I am a happy Thesis for WordPress user resides in the fact that while I know enough about designing, coding and SEO to be dangerous, any tool that can help me spend less time doing this kind of stuff and let me concentrate on marketing, is a godsend.

The skillfully-coded HTML + CSS + PHP framework that Thesis for WordPress runs on makes optimizing each page of your site for the search engines, super easy.

Here is a video showing how easy it is to control every page of your site using Thesis for WordPress:

The Thesis option panels also allow you to make design changes very easily. Whether you’re looking for a 1, 3 or 3-column option, you can test out tons of different layout and font options with just a few clicks of your mouse.

Most recently, Thesis 1.8 was released boasting new design controls making it even easier to construct your site exactly the way you want it. Here is a quick video showing how simple it is to design a site using Thesis.

Most importantly, the support staff is terrific and always there in a pinch if you get stuck on something. Additionally, there are dozens upon dozens of Thesis for WordPress users that post tutorials on how they’ve made things happen on their blogs. Couple this with the video tutorials that the DIYThemes staff creates and you’ll find that the learning curve for using Thesis is fairly small.

There are two options for purchasing Thesis For WordPress. First, there is a Personal Copy which is only $87. This will allow you to use Thesis on one website. Based on your question though, it looks like you’re wanting to use it on multiple websites, so I’d recommend that you pick up the Develolper’s License which will allow you to use Thesis on as many sites as you want. This option is only $164.

I hope this helped you with our decision, but I’m here if you have any other questions.

If you decide to purchase DIYThemes’ Thesis for WordPress, please consider using my affiliate link. (Hey, I am an affiliate marketer after all, ya know.)

Today’s AskMissyWard.com affiliate marketing question comes from Robert (no last name provided) who asks:

“Could you give a few good resources for newbies getting into affiliate marketing. Such as books, magazines, and websites.”

Hey Robert,

The 2009 Affiliate Summit AffStat Report is available for free to download.  In addition to benchmarks and affiliate marketing feedback from participants, it also features a directory of Affiliate Marketing Forums, Blogs, affiliate marketers to follow on Twitter and a quick reference guide to affiliate marketing terms and acronyms.

Additionally, you can sign up to receive FeedFront Magazine for free, which contains articles on affiliate marketing, social media, search engine marketing, interviews and more.

These two resources are loaded with information that’ll get you going

Gena from WinAHouseCompetitions.com submitted the following question to AskMissyWard.com:

“I like the way your twitter page has your photo and info down the left hand side of the page! Where did you get your twitter template, it’s cool!”

Hey Gena,

I actually designed the background myself on Twitter.com/MissyWard, but there are a number of companies out there that have done backgrounds for friends of mine:

Auggie4000.com – Auggie charges $20.00 per background. You can see samples of his work and purchase online here. After you’ve completed your purchase, you’ll receive a form via email to complete, letting Auggie know what you want. (I’ve used Auggie’s services for a number of banner creatives and he does a great and fast job).

TwitterWallpaper.com – My friend Julie recommends them. Looks like they charge $75.00 for a custom Twitter background.

TwitterImage.com is another company that provides custom Twitter backgrounds. I haven’t used them, but they’ve done a number of high-profile Twitter users. They charge $100 per background.

Gregory Young submitted the following question to AskMissyWard.com:

“I have had success promoting affiliate products with niche sites, but I know I am leaving money on the table because I am not building a “list” as well. As Queen of the Affiliate Scene, I was hoping you could point me in the direction of a simple yet thorough guide on building and marketing to an email list.

Well Gregory, I couldn’t locate a guide that encompassed everything that you needed to know to get started, so I put together the following video presentation for you.

In the video, I discuss the reasons you should be building a list and marketing to it; list management and deployment technologies available and strategies to build up your numbers in your database.

I hope you (and the others who may watch it), find it helpful.

Have an affiliate marketing question that you’d like answered by me for free? Ask away on AskMissyWard.com

Shawn Collins and I are speaking at Inbound Marketing Summit in Dallas today about employing affiliate marketing strategies to monetize blogs.

Below is the video from our presentation along with the slides.

If you have any questions about the presentation or if you have any other affiliate marketing questions that you’d like answered, please feel free to ask away on AskMissyWard.com