Amazing Winter Sun 7 night Deals from under £53pp
By admin | August 29, 2008
This week, we have some tremendous 7 night beach bargains in October, if it’s sun you crave try 7 nights in Rhodes from under £52 per person. As Autumn draws near what better way to spend it than one of our money saving 2 night stays with dinner with Barcelo hotels from only £89.50pp
4* Rhodes, Panorama Apartments, 7nts from £51.63pp
Available in October
Situated in Arapaki area of Rhodes Town offering local lifestyle at your doorstep. Hotel facilities include a swimming pool, children’s pool and sunbeds with umbrellas.
4* Tunisia, Lecrin Sandra Club Hotel, 7nts from £79.00pp
Available in October
Located only 250 metres to the beach and very close to “Carthage Land” fair ground. All rooms are equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV and balcony or terrace.
4* The Algarve, Cegonha Country Club, 7nts from £88.37pp
Available in October
The resort is only five minutes’ drive from the beach. There is a wide range of leisure facilities including an outdoor swimming pool, snack bar, two bars and a convenience store.
4* Costa Brava, Els Llorers Apartments, 7nts from £86pp
Available in October
Located only 1 km away from the beach. Hotel facilities include a bar, pub, restaurant and TV room.
Hampshire 4*, 2 night & 2 dinners, from £89.50pp
Available in September & October
The hotel offers wonderful food and fine bedrooms, plus an excellent health club with superb beauty treatment facilities. Ideally located for exploring Windsor Castle and other attractions.
Oxford 4*, 2 nights & 2 dinners from £99.50pp
Available in September & October
Ideally located to access Oxford City centre and the Cotswolds. Hotel has a stylish bar, restaurant and great leisure facilities.
Peak District 4*, 2 nights & 2 dinners, from £99.50pp
A perfect base for visiting the beautiful Peak District. Explore the dramatic cliffs, waterfalls and caves by day and enjoy great food by night.
Cheltenham 4*, 2 night & 2 dinners, from £99.50pp
Available in September & October
A beautifully extended Regency manor house set in its own gardens with a natural lake. Nestled at the edge of the Cotswolds and only 2 miles from the town centre.
Body Worlds & The Mirror of Time Exhibition with accommodation, from £54.00pp
Available from 24th October
Gunther von Hagens’ original exhibition of Real Human Bodies. Once in a while there comes an exhibition that has the power to change the way we see ourselves.
Fawlty Towers Break at 4* Moorside Grange, Stockport, 1nt £89.00pp with breakfast and dinner
Available on 24th October
No riff raff or AA Inspectors please, don’t mention the war and keep an eye out for Manuel’s Siberian Hamster!
Topics: Attraction Breaks, City Breaks, Exhibitions, Hotels, Short Breaks, Sightseeing | No Comments »
New Adult Dating website - Find Me Adult Dates
By admin | August 28, 2008
I blogged previously about Find Me Dates, my new dating website built using the White Label Dating system. With some limited advertising, using Gumtree, Facebook & Miva, I have already had some members sign up as paying members, but at the moment, the cost of advertising is more than the money received from memberships :o/
Following on from this, I also launched an adult dating site, Find Me Adult Dates, which has had as many paying members join up without ANY advertising, other than a free ad on Gumtree!
The landing page has been optimised for 10 adult dating keyphrases - casual relationships, casual sex, adult finder, adult dating, adult contacts, adult sex contacts, adult chatrooms, sex personals, adult online dating, which all had a good KEI (Keyword Effectiveness Index), which is the ration of searches to results in the search engines.
I have set up a PPC campaign on Miva and have added the site to a couple of banner exchanges, so will keep an eye on how it goes.
Topics: Adult Dating, Dating, White Labels | No Comments »
New Shows now available from My Travel Extras Theatre Tickets
By admin | August 28, 2008
We have added the following shows:
Riflemind
Booking from 15th Sep 2008
Booking to 3rd Jan 2009
One weekend fast becomes the ultimate test of talent, friendship and loyalty….
Girl With a Pearl Earring
Booking from 24th Sep 2008
Booking to 1st Nov 2008
Dramatisation of the origins of Dutch painter Vermeer’s portrait entitled Girl With A Pearl Earring. Recently depicted in the film starring Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson, the story adapted by David Joss Buckley is now portrayed live on stage.
Topics: Theatre Tickets | No Comments »
Google Adwords - out of the reach of affiliate marketers?!!!
By admin | August 25, 2008
I’ve recently dipped my toe back into the world of Google Adwords!
Recently I have concentrated my efforts on Miva & Yahoo PPC campaigns because they are still affordable for particular sites, whereas Google is not. But, with so many UK users only using Google for their internet searching, is it worthwhile; how many potential customers are going to my opposition?
So, I have once again bitten the bullet & decided to run a campaign on Google for Cashback Shopper, with a daily limit of £5. But, as the minimum bid amount quickly went from £2, to £2.50 & then in some cases to £5, is this value for money, or just a rip off?!!
Although the minimum bid to activate the keyword [cashback] is £5, the actual average CPC over the last week has been £2.35. However, this is still taking half my daily budget for clicks - two clicks & my campaign was off :o/ With a CTR of 4.28%, maybe it’s not worth running this phrase & working only on longer tail keyphrases which will leave the campaign running longer and with a higher CTR. The table below shows how many clicks I’m getting for my £5 over the last 7 days & Google reckons I’m not receiving 82% of my eligible impressions!!
18 Aug Campaign activity: 4 Clicks 5.24
19 Aug Campaign activity: 7 Clicks 4.99
20 Aug Campaign activity: 6 Clicks 5.10
21 Aug Campaign activity: 4 Clicks 5.01
22 Aug Campaign activity: 7 Clicks 5.00
23 Aug Campaign activity: 6 Clicks 4.75
24 Aug Campaign activity: 5 Clicks 5.26
Google suggests a daily budget of £27.34!!!! Is this beyond the reach of many affiliate marketers? It certainly seems beyond mine!! But would those clicks convert to “sales”? This is the choice that has to be made & for many new PPC advertisers, it can be an expensive one - I know, I’ve been there!
My overall CTR for the last week has been 6.98% at an average CPC of £0.91, so this isn’t too bad. Purchases made through the site have increased substantially over the last couple of weeks & the new £50 prize draw competition I am running should create more sign ups from friend referrals, at much better value than PPC!!!
Because of the decent ROI I seem to be getting from the Google PPC campaign, I have suspended all my other search engine campaigns for now & have upped the daily Adwords spend to £10 (not yet the £27.34 recommended!) and will keep monitoring the CTR & ROI closely.
Naturally, if spending continues to grow, it would certainly be worth re-investing the income back into further advertising!
Topics: Advertising, Adwords, Affiliate Marketing, Cashback Site, Competition, Google, PPC | 1 Comment »
Incredible Wine and Dine offers in September and October
By admin | August 24, 2008
This week, we’ve got bargain wine and dine breaks in top UK cities including Leeds and Glasgow from only £50pp. As the end of summer is near, the My Travel Extras theatre season begins - meaning this is the perfect opportunity to book our best selling theatre shows, including Mamma Mia and Dirty Dancing.
3* Swallow Hotel Glasgow, 2 night Wine & Dine Offer, from £95.00pp
Available until 31st October
A modern hotel situated on the outskirts of Glasgow’s centre, convenient for both the city centre and for easy access to the Trossachs and Loch Lomond. The Burrell Collection is only 5 minutes’ drive away.
3* Swallow Churchgate Hotel, Nr Old Harlow, 2 night Wine and Dine offer from £99.00pp
Available until 30th September
An enchanting hotel sympathetically developed around a 14th century Jacobean Chantry House. Leisure facilities include heated indoor swimming pool, sauna and spa bath.
4* Merrion Hotel, Leeds, Wine & Dine offer from £50.00pp
Available until 30th December
An ideal base from which leisure guests can explore the Yorkshire countryside or the city centre shops, nightlife, restaurants, cafes, bars, theatres, museums and the famous Royal Armouries.
Mamma Mia, ticket & 3* hotel from £89.00pp
Available until 25th April
Based on a book by Catherine Johnson, Mamma Mia! is an original musical telling the emotional story of a mother and daughter set on the eve of the daughter’s wedding.
Dirty Dancing, ticket & 3* hotel from £127.00pp
Available until 30th April
The Academy Award winning film, Dirty Dancing is considered to be one of the greatest dance movies ever made, launching the careers of Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.
Jersey Boys, ticket & 3* hotel from £127.00pp
Available until 25th April
A smash hit on Broadway, the musical Jersey Boys tells the story of how four blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop bands of the 1960s.
The Lion King, ticket & 3* hotel from £86.00pp
Available until 29th March
Disney’s marvellous musical about the young Prince Simba, his father King Musafa and evil Uncle Scar.
Simply Red, ticket & 3* hotel from £125.00pp
Available on 3rd December
Simply Red is a soul-influenced UK band, formed in 1985 with their debut single ‘Money’s Too Tight to Mention’. They conquered the world during the 80s & 90s with their vivacious live performances.
Murder Mystery Break at 3* Ramada Hotel Loughborough, 2nts from £169.00pp
Available on 26th September
Right from the start there’s plenty of action as everyone is faced with shocks, surprises and even the odd murder or two. Included in the package is a 3 course dinner plus a full English breakfast.
Fawlty Towers Break at 3* Moorside Grange, Stockport, 1nt £95.00pp with breakfast and dinner
Available on 17th October
Join Basil, Sybil and Manuel for an evening of hysterical comedy! No riff raff or AA Inspectors please, don’t mention the war and keep an eye out for Manuel’s Siberian Hamster!
Topics: Event Tickets, Hotels, Music Breaks, Theatre Breaks, Tickets | No Comments »
£50 Prize Draw Competition
By admin | August 22, 2008
WIN £50! We are offering a CASH prize of £50 to one of our members & all you have to do to enter is refer your friends!
The Cashback Shopper membership has been growing & to celebrate, we have decided to offer a cash prize to one of our lucky members. All you have to do is refer friends & you will receive one entry into the draw for each friend who joins. Get as many friends/colleagues/complete strangers as possible to join & get loads of entries!!!
At the end of October, we will hold a draw from all the valid entries & one lucky recipient will receive £50 in CASH! No DVD’s, no vouchers, just cold hard cash :o)
Don’t forget that you earn £5 for every member you refer anyway, so it’s a win-win situation!!!
You can find your personal referral code here - if you choose to send e-mails to friends or post a link on your blog, don’t forget to use your referral code or we won’t know whose referrals they are!!!
Good luck!!!
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
“We Will Rock You” Show and Dinner Package
By admin | August 21, 2008
We have added the following package:
We Will Rock You and Dinner at Eagle Bar and Diner
£45.00 (Ticket alone normally £55)
Combine a two course meal from the pre theatre menu at Eagle Bar and Diner with a top price ticket for We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre.
Topics: Theatre Tickets | 1 Comment »
Top London Sightseeing Tours & Tickets
By admin | August 19, 2008
Summer Opening of Parliament
Houses of Parliament
Visit the House of Commons and the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster with this guided tour..
Tours available in Spanish and Italian at 10.30, 11.15, 12.15, 1.30, 2.30, 3.15 & 4.15.
Tours available in French and German at 10.30, 12.15, 2.30 & 4.15.
Please check the language of your tour when booking.
During the Summer Recess the Palace of Westminster, home to the House of Lords and the House of Commons is open for a one hour guided tour, which includes both Chambers and other great State Rooms.
London Eye Flight Ticket
London Eye
As well as being one of the most visually striking structures in the world - the offers a new perspective on a great city.
London’s famous streets, churches, palaces and monuments spread out below in a panoramic scene grown up from Roman times - and, on a clear day - views that stretch 25 miles to Windsor Castle. The Eye takes you on a gradual, 30 minute, 360 degree rotation that will give you the kind of panoramic views usually only accessible by helicopter or aeroplane.
Summer Opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of Her Majesty The Queen and serves as both home and office.
During August and September when The Queen makes her annual visit to Scotland, the Palace’s nineteen state rooms are open to visitors.
For the first time ever and for this summer only, visitors to Buckingham Palace will experience the spectacle of the Ballroom set up for a State Banquet. Held in honour of a visiting Head of State, the State Banquet is the occasion when The Queen entertains around 170 guests on the first evening of a State Visit.
Topics: Attraction Tickets, Exhibitions, Sightseeing, Tickets | No Comments »
London Gallery & Museum Exhibition Tickets
By admin | August 19, 2008
My Travel Extras Tickets Worldwide has tickets for all the top London Gallery & Museum Exhibitions
Hadrian: Empire and Conflict
British Museum - Wed, 27th Aug 2008 - Sun, 26th Oct 2008
This special exhibition will explore the life, love and legacy of Rome’s most enigmatic emperor, Hadrian
This unprecedented exhibition will provide fresh insight into the sharp contradictions of Hadrian’s character and challenges faced during his reign. Objects from 28 museums worldwide and finds from recent excavations will be shown together for the first time to reassess his legacy, which remains strikingly relevant today.
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs
The O2 Bubble - Fri, 22nd Aug 2008 - Sat, 30th Aug 2008
Tickets to Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs
Marking the first time the treasures of Tutankhamun have visited London in over 30 years, an extensive exhibition of more than 130 artifacts from the tomb of the celebrated Pharaoh and other Valley of the Kings ancestors visits London on 15 November 2007. London is the only European city to host the treasures.
Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life 1990-2005
National Portrait Gallery - Thu, 16th Oct 2008 - Sun, 1st Feb 2009
This exhibition presents over 150 photographs by the celebrated photographer, encompassing well-known work made on editorial assignment, as well as personal photographs of her family and close friends including the birth and childhood of her three daughters and the death of her father.
Wyndham Lewis: Portraits
National Portrait Gallery - Thu, 21st Aug 2008 - Sun, 19th Oct 2008
This exhibition presents over sixty works, from 1910 to 1950, which capture key figures from Lewis’s life and represent a unique record of some of the greatest literary and artistic creators of the first half of the twentieth century.
Other exhibitions
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National Portrait Gallery
Thu, 16th Oct 2008 - Sun, 1st Feb 2009
£11.00 - £12.10*
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Victoria and Albert Museum
Thu, 25th Sep 2008 - Sun, 11th Jan 2009
£10.20*
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National Gallery
Wed, 15th Oct 2008 - Sun, 18th Jan 2009
£11.60*
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Science Museum
Thu, 21st Aug 2008 - Sun, 2nd Nov 2008
£7.00*
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The O2 Bubble
Fri, 22nd Aug 2008 - Sat, 30th Aug 2008
£16.75 - £70.00*
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National Portrait Gallery
Thu, 21st Aug 2008 - Sun, 19th Oct 2008
£5.50 - £20.50*
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Topics: Attraction Tickets, Exhibitions, Galleries, Museums, Tickets | No Comments »
How to write link texts that will increase your Google rankings
By admin | August 18, 2008
Good inbound link texts can give your website a boost in Google’s search results. Unfortunately, many people still don’t take advantage of the full potential of optimised link texts. They will list their links with the title of their site or use the time honoured phrase “click here“! This article explains how to make the most out of your links.
What is a link text?
The link text is the text in the clickable text that is used to link to another web page. It is the text between the anchor tags. That’s why some people call link texts anchor texts.
Why are link texts important?
Google and other major search engines heavily rely on link texts to specify the position of web pages in the search results. If many websites link to a web page with the link text “travel” then Google thinks that the web page must be relevant to the keyword “travel”. For that reason, the web page will get a ranking boost for that search term.
The more often a keyword appears in links to your website, the better your rankings for that keyword will be.
How to write good links
There are a few easy tips that will make your links more useful for both web surfers and search engines:
1. Write your texts as if there were no links. Search engines like links that are in the normal text of your web page. The content should make sense to the user e.g.
Getting links from another web page is a great way to improve your rankings on Google and other search engines.
2. Do not describe the action of the link, or a meaningless title, but the purpose of the link:
Bad: Click here for more information on cheap flights.
Good: Further information about cheap flights can be found on our site
3. Use clear and descriptive text for your links. The link text should be meaningful enough to make sense when read out of context.
Bad: The software can be downloaded for free on the product name website.
Good: The software can be downloaded for free on the product name website.
4. Avoid unpleasant surprises. If the link goes to a web page that starts a movie, or downloads a file then you should warn the user by mentioning this in the link:
You can download our review of this destination for free.
Many website visitors do not read the text on a web page but scan the highlighted keywords. For that reason, your link texts should be easy to understand & catch their attention even if people haven’t read the surrounding text.
Use keywords in your link texts whenever possible. The more often a keyword appears in a link to a specific web page, the better are the chances that this web page will get higher rankings on Google for that keyword.
Topics: Google, Keywords, Link Building, Search Engine Rankings | No Comments »