Does your business struggle with profitable online
marketing? If so, you are not alone. Attracting the right
customers to a site and keeping them coming back - while
also turning a profit - can be a challenge. Consequently,
I’m always on the lookout for ways to demonstrate profitable
online strategies.

Last night, as I watched the Baseball All Star Home Run
Derby and visited Major League Baseball’s Web site, it
struck me. The league is doing many things to effectively
find and attract targeted Web customers, while
simultaneously generating revenue.

In fact, I noticed numerous lessons from Major League
Baseball you can consider to profitably target your own
customers. Here are six of them:

Think Through Your Business Models

Free information and activities are present, but well
thought out, revenue generating business models are also
evident.

Lesson 1: Make your profit generators stand out.

MLB.com has a separate, prominent navigation menu for profit
producing activities - MLB Shop, Tickets, Auctions,
Subscriptions - which appears in the upper right on all
pages, where potential paying customers cannot miss it.

Importantly, each corresponding area of the site is narrowly
focused on the visitors’ interests. For example, the shop
sells baseball - and only baseball - items. This is readily
apparent from the slogan “For all things baseball”.

Lesson 2: Sell subscriptions.

The league generates revenue from a variety of event
subscriptions - live video broadcasts, live audio
broadcasts, archived clips, and fantasy games. This also
help open the door for repeat purchases and add-ons.

Lesson 3: Include advertisements.

Pop-ups and other online advertising are a fact of life on
free-to-user sites. Major League Baseball demonstrates taste
and intelligent implementation with their pop-under,
limiting each visitor to a single impression. Banner
advertisements and sponsorships are also apparent.

Develop Profit Pulling Marketing Techniques

Lesson 4: Segment your visitors.

The league uses a “hub and spoke” system, which allows
visitors to choose their own interests. There is one general
site (MLB.com), with links to several specialty sites
(stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com, etc.).

This portal approach helps segment visitors into specific
interest groups. It is a win-win strategy. Visitors find
what they are looking for and the league can more easily
target its marketing activities.

Lesson 5: Target locally.

Each “spoke” off the MLB hub contains local content, which
segments visitors regionally. The league targets products
and services accordingly.

For example, the Cardinals team site includes detailed
information for Cardinals baseball events, ticket purchasing
for Busch stadium games, and auctions for St. Louis related
baseball memorabilia.

Lesson 6: Offer tiered products.

MLB offers subscription services at many levels. By
packaging fantasy games into progressively larger bundles,
they encourage trial as well as repeat visits. The offering
also target customers according to interest level and
budget.

There you have it - five lessons in profitable target
marketing from Major League Baseball.

Copyright 2003 Bobette Kyle. All rights reserved.
marketing? If so, you are not alone. Attracting the right
customers to a site and keeping them coming back - while
also turning a profit - can be a challenge. Consequently,
I’m always on the lookout for ways to demonstrate profitable
online strategies.

Last night, as I watched the Baseball All Star Home Run
Derby and visited Major League Baseball’s Web site, it
struck me. The league is doing many things to effectively
find and attract targeted Web customers, while
simultaneously generating revenue.

In fact, I noticed numerous lessons from Major League
Baseball you can consider to profitably target your own
customers. Here are six of them:

Think Through Your Business Models

Free information and activities are present, but well
thought out, revenue generating business models are also
evident.

Lesson 1: Make your profit generators stand out.

MLB.com has a separate, prominent navigation menu for profit
producing activities - MLB Shop, Tickets, Auctions,
Subscriptions - which appears in the upper right on all
pages, where potential paying customers cannot miss it.

Importantly, each corresponding area of the site is narrowly
focused on the visitors’ interests. For example, the shop
sells baseball - and only baseball - items. This is readily
apparent from the slogan “For all things baseball”.

Lesson 2: Sell subscriptions.

The league generates revenue from a variety of event
subscriptions - live video broadcasts, live audio
broadcasts, archived clips, and fantasy games. This also
help open the door for repeat purchases and add-ons.

Lesson 3: Include advertisements.

Pop-ups and other online advertising are a fact of life on
free-to-user sites. Major League Baseball demonstrates taste
and intelligent implementation with their pop-under,
limiting each visitor to a single impression. Banner
advertisements and sponsorships are also apparent.

Develop Profit Pulling Marketing Techniques

Lesson 4: Segment your visitors.

The league uses a “hub and spoke” system, which allows
visitors to choose their own interests. There is one general
site (MLB.com), with links to several specialty sites
(stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com, etc.).

This portal approach helps segment visitors into specific
interest groups. It is a win-win strategy. Visitors find
what they are looking for and the league can more easily
target its marketing activities.

Lesson 5: Target locally.

Each “spoke” off the MLB hub contains local content, which
segments visitors regionally. The league targets products
and services accordingly.

For example, the Cardinals team site includes detailed
information for Cardinals baseball events, ticket purchasing
for Busch stadium games, and auctions for St. Louis related
baseball memorabilia.

Lesson 6: Offer tiered products.

MLB offers subscription services at many levels. By
packaging fantasy games into progressively larger bundles,
they encourage trial as well as repeat visits. The offering
also target customers according to interest level and
budget.

There you have it - five lessons in profitable target
marketing from Major League Baseball.

Copyright 2003 Bobette Kyle. All rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Training for baseball doesn’t stop after the season is over. The best time to get ready for the next season is during the off season, not training camps, and not a few weeks before the opening game. It takes time to build muscle strength, coordination and skill. Many of these things can be done at home and even indoors. Here are 5 tips for what you should be doing during your baseball off season this year.

Tips To Start Your Off-Season

* Strength Training - The key to being able to hit a home run comes not only from coordination and skill but from the right muscle build. While it is important to keep in shape it is also important to weight train. Get in a cardio workout but also getting in some toning of the arms, shoulders, legs, and back. While you don’t need to look like a professional wrestler, building some muscle tone can really do well to improve your overall game.

* Knowledge Is Power - This old saying is true here in baseball training too. If you are a pitcher, learn how to hold the ball. If you are a catcher, learn the necessary calls and know them well. Develop a new understanding of the game. What plays will improve the team? What skills, then, do you need to have to do just that? Learn through DVD’s as well as through just watching successful pitchers, batters and outfielders play.

* Work On Your Stance And Swing - The ball is coming at you. Do you hold your shoulders right? Do you swing at the right angle? Do you follow through as you should? If you don’t, now is the time. Learn how to do this through coaching videos or through working with a trainer. But, learn.

* Eat Right - You know that your diet is important. Instead of trying to lose twenty winter pounds in the spring, just don’t put them on. Overall your body will be in better shape and you’ll be able to work most effectively on those muscles.

* Excellent equipment - No one said you shouldn’t use quality equipment like swinging nets, pitching machines and just plan old getting outside and throwing the ball around. Sometimes, the best thing for a player is getting to know his team.

About the Author

On http://www.1-stop-baseball.com/ you will find more about softball fastpitch gloves & baseball team uniforms.

Top 5 Baseball Speedsters

 by: Kevin Bourassa

5. Joey Gathright- Tampa Bay Devil Ray(OF, Minors)

Joey Gathright has been called the fastest player in the league, he’s even been called the fastest man in the world, but he hasn’t yet received big-league playing time. Gathright could be that guy, who gets to the 100 SB mark. He’ll have to wait however with a crowded list of OF’s on Tampa Bay. Joey Gathright is so fast, so athletic that he can jump over a car… the long way. “But I can’t do it anymore,” Gathright said. “It’s in my contract. I’m not allowed to jump over cars anymore. Can’t jump fences, either.” Gathright could get a call to the majors sometime in 2004. Steals projection this season: 45, between Minors and Majors.

4. Rafael Furcal- Atlanta Braves(SS)

If Rafael Furcal got more SB opportunities he could easily steal 50+ bases in a single season, but the Braves don’t send him enough. Furcal stole 25 bases last year, and was caught stealing just twice. With Furcal’s speed, he should get twice as many steals as he did last season. In 2000, Furcal stole 40 bases, so why aren’t they sending him now? SB aside, Furcal showed his speed last season when he scored 130 runs in the Braves leadoff role, good enough to place him 3rd in the majors. With some of the big-name sluggers gone from Atlanta, the Braves need to find a new way to produce runs, and Furcal will be a key part in that. Steals projection this season: 40

3. Carlos Beltran - Kansas City Royals(OF)

Carlos Beltran stole 41 bases last season, and was only thrown out 4 times. That’s a ration of 10 steals per 1 time being thrown out, and thats an amazing ratio. Beltran can not only run the basepaths well, but he hit 25 HR, batted in 100 RBI and batted .307 last season. Carlos Beltran is an all-around fantasy god. He should steal more bases this season, because he missed 20 games last season due to injuries. Carlos Beltran is a 4-10 pick overall, and he won’t disappoint you with his speed. Steals projection this season: 55

2. Juan Pierre - Florida Marlins(OF)

Pierre led the leagues in SB last season, so why isn’t he the top speedster? Well he did get CS 20 times. Pierre is on a Florida team that loves to run, 5 Florida hitters stole double-digit bases last season, and Pierre was their leader. Batting at the top of the order, Pierre would get on base and then he would proceed to try to steal second. Pierre attempted a steal about once every 3-4 times he got on base. Pierre’s fantasy value skyrocketed last season, and he should get around the same amount of steals this season as he did last year. Steals projection this season: 58

1. Carl Crawford - Tampa Bay Devil Rays(OF)

So you might be asking, why Crawford over Pierre or Beltran? Carl Crawford stole 55 bases last year, in his first full season, Crawford stole 55 bases and was CS 10 times. That’s 5.5 SB per 1 CS, which is a whole lot better than Juan Pierre’s ratio. Crawford should only improve his speed over the next few seasons, in which his whole team will be improving around him. In his best season Crawford could steal 70+ bases and score 120+ runs. Steals projection this season: 63

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Back in the day …

I used to deal in baseball cards, and some memorabilia in the mid to late 1980’s. Through an old client I had the opportunity to sell a very rare piece of baseball lore. The piece that I was fondest of was a rare document signed by Harry Wright. A founding father of the game. The document was a contract of some player that was signed by Harry Wright, the manager, circa 1870. It was written on Cincinnati Red Stocking’s letterhead.

I was impressed. I was so excited to be entrusted with this rare artifact. I remember saying to myself. “Oh my god. You have got to be kidding.” I was astonished. I was in awe. I felt like I was let into a special group.

I sold the piece in the range of $10,000 - $12,000 if memory serves me. But selling the piece did not compare to the dreams I had about the contract.

Imagine, what it must have been like 130 years ago on the ball field. The baggy uniforms, and the teeny gloves for the players. The pitchers, hurling both games of a double header was common practice and a home run was a rarity. Boy has the game changed.

Handling that document made the early times of baseball real for me. I visualized those men playing in those old ballparks. I felt like I was part of that time. I was having a dream. I was there, back in the late 1800’s sitting in the stands. Smiling and watching baseball - Back in the day.

Handling this artifact was like punching a time clock and never punching out. I was in baseball memorabiliaville.

I can see why some people are so zealous about baseball memorabilia. Their baseball fantasy made a lot more sense to me after I sold this Harry Wright piece.

About the Author

Aron Wallad has been a baseball lover for over 45 years. You will love his honesty and his passion.. You will be touched by the heartwarming stories. The unusual statistics will amaze you and the quotes will make you laugh..

Go here right now to join his ezine http://www.baseballsprideandjoy.com

Being a baseball coach can be very rewarding. It is a big responsibility, though. You are basically the ?leader? of your team, and how you act will directly affect how the assistant coaches and the players act. There are some tips you can follow to make yourself a better baseball coach.

These tips are:

1. Give everyone on your baseball team a responsibility. Make each and every person on the team feel if they don?t do something, it won?t get done! Any accomplishments made by a member of the team are shared by the whole team. (It is important to give recognition to individuals, though.)

2. Help everyone on your baseball team make good, informed decisions. As the baseball coach, you need to guide and teach the players to make the good decisions you want them to make. Don?t bully the baseball team to do what you want them to do, just encourage them to do what is best.

3. Always treat your baseball team like they are winners! If your baseball players feel like winners, they will be more likely to win.

4. Let everyone on your baseball team know you care. Be interested in every individual baseball player. Encourage them and show them your support. Look at your behavior around your baseball team and evaluate it carefully.

5. Help your baseball team understand the meaning of playing with good sportsmanship! Good sportsmanship is just as important as winning. Make sure your baseball players understand the meaning of fair play from the moment you become their baseball coach.

6. Make sure you motivate and reward your baseball team players. Just knowing the basic skills and strategies of baseball won?t necessarily make you a very good baseball coach. Being a baseball coach is truly more than just teaching these things. A really good coach can motivate a baseball team to do its best! Good baseball coaches understand and can empathize with the players? feelings of joy, anger, anxiety, frustration, and pride.

7. Don?t make your baseball practices boring or repetitious. Shake up practices by playing games and teaching new techniques and plays. Since only 9 players can play at a time, make sure to keep the rest of the baseball team feeling useful by having them keep score or charting pitching and offence. Make sure to keep each baseball player feeling they have an important role in winning.

8. Make sure you have a plan for your baseball team. Just like a teacher needs to plan for the school year, a baseball coach needs a plan for the season. Having no plan is a sure road to failure.

9. Give your baseball team enough time to review things they have learned. Whether at the end of a practice or the end of a game, give your players time to review what has been learned and what could be improved upon. Keep the review as positive in tone as possible.

10. Make sure you communicate with your baseball team. If you cannot get across to your baseball team what you want, how will they know what to do?

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Dontrelle Willis is quite a professional baseball player; he has participated in the World Series, pitched in an All-Star Game and nearly won a Cy Young Award in his brief but brilliant career. But, he has still never played for his country, but that comes to an end when the Marlins pitcher will play with Team USA take the field against Mexico in a first-round game of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in Phoenix.

Playing for your country means a lot more than just playing. You have to play hard; you have to make the people feel proud that is why patriotism takes up on this World Baseball Classic event. Miguel Cabrera is another example of an MLB player who will be experiencing some of these feelings playing for his country, Venezuela, in its WBC debut this afternoon wondering what it would be to lead his home.

For all that patriotism, though, Cuba is one of the teams that is compromised to make a good show. Their history of three-time Olympic championships and 25-time World Cup wins clearly makes them the best amateur team, but they have never played a team of top professionals aside from a pair of exhibitions against the Baltimore Orioles seven years ago.

About the Author

Cathy Jones writes on sports betting and gambling one of the fastest growing online industries and she is one of the top senior article writers for http://www.envivosports.com Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.

Baseball Trade Review: Carlos Beltran Deal

 by: Dustin Smiley

The Carlos Beltran sweepstakes are over and the Houston Astros are the winners. After spending the offseason recruiting Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte, the Astros have found themselves mired back in the pack of a tough NL Central division race.

Beltran brings a flashy glove to center field and some excitement and run production to the top of the lineup. Of course, players like him dont come without a cost. Houston sent away closer Octavio Dotel and catcher-of-the-future John Buck.

The added wild-card is that Beltrans contract expires at the end of this season. Should the Astros fail to reach the playoffs and also lose their new star center fielder to free agency, this deal could haunt them in the future.

Kansas City, Beltrans former team, sent Dotel on to Oakland in exchange for two prospects, third baseman Mark Teahan and pitcher Mike Wood. The Royals had decided they wouldnt be able to match Beltrans asking price this offseason and picked up the best value they thought they could get. Oftentimes these deals turn out very favorable for the team willing to trade current talent for high-potential minor leaguers.

The Oakland Athletics jumped in to make this a 3-way deal and filled a big need by picking up a consistent closer. Arthur Rhodes had excelled with other teams in a setup role but hasnt fared well closing out games for the As. Nothing is more frustrating to a starter than to pitch hard through seven or eight innings in a close game only to see a win slip away in the ninth. Oakland boasts one of the best rotations in baseball and a solidified bullpen should help them overtake Texas and maybe even make a run in the playoffs.

This trade will be seen as a success or failure for both Houston and Oakland by the end of the 2004 season. For Kansas City, however, it could be a few years before anyone knows how their 3 new players will pan out. All three teams did well in accomplishing something that made sense for their situation.

All you need to do to make your hubby or son puff up with pride is to give either of them a baseball jacket. Or even both of them, why not? Make certain you pick a baseball jacket that carries the insignia of the baseball team he is cheering for.

Because to the owner of a baseball jacket, possessing a baseball jacket is much more meaningful than just making a macho fashion statement. Wearing that special baseball jackets says beyond a doubt that he loves this sport and supports all the good sports values it symbolizes.

For the owner of a baseball jacket, its not so much about the protection it offers him.. It may just be coincidental that the baseball jacket is made of durable materials, be it leather or wool. It may just be coincidental that baseball jacket which has thick lining, will keep him warm as he sits watching the game. He believes in the sport and keeping it alive.

There are different baseball jackets for the avid baseball fan. But to be sure, to pick a baseball jacket that will stand the test of time and the elements, here are some tips in selecting.

Pick a leather baseball jacket. It is durable and lasts a long time. Most baseball jackets are fashionable. Some are even works of arts, so pick one that is pleasant as well as durable. Pick one that has Polyfil and has satin lining. Ensure that his baseball jacket has inner pockets. Two is a good minimum for a baseball jacket. Lastly pick a baseball jacket that has his favorite teams insignia on it! You can be sure he will love the gesture you made in finding just the right baseball jacket for him to wear.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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I love what prominent baseball people have to say about the great ballplayers. They seem to eloquently capture what we are thinking. “It was his solemn duty to catch a ball that wasn’t in the stands.” - Monte Irvin (Newark Eagles OF, May 6, 1981), on Willie Mays

“Maybe they should see if his body is corked.” - Howard ‘Hojo’ Johnson (NY Mets), on Bo Jackson, from Sports Illustrated, October 19, 1986

“When he took BP everybody would kind of stop what they were doing and watch.” - Jim Kaat, former pitcher, on Mickey Mantle

“I played with him for nine years and marveled at how hard he hit and how fast he ran. How can anyone ever forget the catch he made on Gil Hodges’ line drive to save Don Larsen’s perfect game?” - Tony Kubek, former shortstop, on Mickey Mantle

“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” - Jackie Robinson

“Having Willie Stargell on your ball club is like having a diamond ring on your finger.” Chuck Tanner

“Ted Williams was the greatest hitter I ever saw, but (Joe) DiMaggio was the greatest all around player.” Bob Feller

“No one hit home runs the way Babe (Ruth) did. They were something special. They were like homing pigeons. The ball would leave the bat, pause briefly, suddenly gain its bearings, then take off for the stands.” Lefty Gomez

“When Neil Armstong first set foot on the moon, he and all the space scientists were puzzled by an unidentifiable white object. I knew immediately what it was. That was a home run ball hit off me in 1933 by Jimmie Foxx.” Lefty Gomez

“Every time Johnny Bench throws, everybody in baseball drools.” - Harry Dalton

“He (Babe Ruth) hits a ball harder and further than any man I ever saw.” - Bill Dickey “He (Lou Gehrig) just went out and did his job every day.” Bill Dickey

“He gets better every year, that’s what’s remarkable about him. Some guys are good and stay good. Some guys are good and get better. He reminds me of Kareem. Hubie Brown said that Kareem worked at the beginning of every season to improve some facet of his game. It’s that way with the best, whatever the profession. That’s the way this kid is.” Ed Bradley on 60 Minutes - Talking about Derek Jeter

“I think he was one of the greatest third basemen of all time. He had one of the sweetest swings I ever saw.” - Teammate Johnny Logan - Referring to Eddie Mathews

“How good was Stan Musial? He was good enough to take your breath away.” - (1989)Vin Scully “When he (Maury Wills) runs, it’s all downhill.” Vin Scully

Seeing what these writers, ballplayers and managers has to say about these players lights up the page for me. I can visualize these players on the field hitting home runs, running with arms outstretched to catch a ball or throwing out a would be base runner trying to steal a base.

This is my baseball memorabilia.

Feel Free to pass this article on to anyone you think would enjoy reading it.

About the Author

Aron Wallad has been a baseball lover for over 45 years. You will love his honesty and his passion.. You will be touched by the heartwarming stories. The unusual statistics will amaze you and the quotes will make you laugh…Sometimes

Go here right now to join his ezine http://www.baseballsprideandjoy.com

When choosing a baseball bat it helps to have some kind of rough baseball bats buying guide to help you find you way through the maze of products that are available on the market these days. When buying a baseball bat there are a number of factors that you should take into consideration, before you make your purchase. These factors include level of play and whether you are playing with friends, in an amateur league or in competitive tournament, size of the batter, the price you are prepared to pay and naturally, the comfort factor.

Aluminum baseball bats tend to be the bats that are preferred by players, over the wooden bat options. This tends to be because aluminum bats are lighter in weight and have extra strength. Lighter bats allow the hitter to generate enough speed to put some extra energy into their swing, and they can provide more “pop” of the baseball off the bat, and are much more durable than wooden bats.

The comfort level a player feels while holding and swinging the baseball bat, is by far the most important factor for a potential bat buyer. Just as is the case when buying any piece of sports equipment, the more comfortable you are the better. When choosing a baseball bat you should take a few swings with the bat and try to picture yourself in a game. If you are choosing a bat for someone else ? say, a child - then take this piece of advice from our baseball bats buying guide - make sure they can swing the bat without struggling. If it is too big or too heavy it will make it hard for them to score and this can quickly mean they lose interest in the game.

Of course having the right size bat is also vital to having a great game. In general, taller players should use longer bats. Here is a table to help you work out which bat is right for you according to your height.

Age Bat Length
5-7 24″ - 26″
8-9 26″-28″
10-11 28″-30″
11-12 30″-32″
13-14 31″-32″
15-16 32″-33″
17+ 34″

Weight also has an influence on the size of the bat that is optimal for each player. This table offers the recommended bat weight to correspond with your weight.

Player Weight (lbs.) Best Bat Weight (oz.)
100 22
140 24
180 26
220 28
240 30
280 32

About the Author: You can avail of free baseball equipment, by participating in our promotional offers. Check out how you can acquire free baseball gear right now.