The Secret to Adwords Success
March 31, 2005 - by Darren Power - It seems at the moment that everybody is telling you that the easiest and quickest way to make money online is with Google Adwords and affiliate programs. It sounds so easy. You join a programme, get a link, choose a couple of keywords, put up an ad and the money flows. Many have tried and many have failed. Don't get me wrong, it's possible to make money this way and to be very successful. There are many people making $100's per day from their Adwords campaigns. But those that are successful don't follow the herd, they think for themselves.
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Do Your Radio Ads Work?
March 30, 2005 - by Big Mike McDaniel - Most small businesses don't have a high powered advertising agency to produce selling radio commercials for them and end up with something akin to a high school play, or with the business owner reading tired copy. The radio ad person should know all about your campaign and image before leaving with the order. You should be promised a "proof" of your radio ad before it goes on the air. There should be at least two commercials, better four, selling the benefits.
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Sales Copy Tips
March 30, 2005 - by Adam Waxler - Writing good sales copy is not an art, it is a science. There is no reason to get creative here. You want to follow the formula that has been proven to work. Nevertheless, I am always surprised at how many sales letters on the internet can be improved upon. Here are a list of some helpful tips when writing your own sales copy.
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13 Facts About Newspaper Advertising
March 29, 2005 - by Big Mike McDaniel - Newspapers are still a formidable advertising force. Find ways to continue to use the paper to increase store traffic, but do it with other advertising too, so the media mix is efficient. Don't let anyone tell you not to advertise in the paper. Just do it better.
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Lead Me On - Learn About Internet Marketing Leads
March 29, 2005 - by Mal Keenan - Every for-profit web site needs a steady flow of internet marketing leads. A big part of any online marketer's job is to generate the leads that will ultimately be responsible for another sale. In particular, in the highly competitive online marketing arena, someone selling products and services to other marketers will need a steady flow of fresh internet marketing leads to fuel their sales.
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Give People a Reason to Buy your Product or Service: Create a Strong Signature Box
March 28, 2005 - by Judy Cullins - Overcome lackluster signature boxes with merely your name, address, and email listed. Instead use the "passion approach." Give your product's or service's promise. Name benefits. Stop missing sales because of weak copy.
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10 Ways to Build Trust and Build Your Business
March 25, 2005 - by Charlie Cook - Before making a purchase from you, buyers need to trust that your products and services will do what they are supposed to. Does your marketing help establish the trust necessary to convince prospects to buy from you? If you're struggling to attract clients and customers, use the following tactics to convert prospects to clients.
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Writing to Overpower Your Competition
March 23, 2005 - by Karon Thackston - There may be no other businesses that sell the product or service you sell, but you still have competition. Once that's understood, you have a greater advantage when it comes to copywriting. You can recognize the other options your customers have before them and can position yourself as the only logical choice.
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Top Ten Ways to Drive Targeted Buyers to Your Web Site
March 22, 2005 - by Judy Cullins - The biggest complaint from clients is that they get hits, but not enough sales. If you are a non-techie like me, you may not have heard of what a "sticky" Web site is (it is the stuff that lures visitors back again and again). But we do know we want that! Forget getting to the top of the search engines. Let your Webmaster do that. Instead, try out some of these low-maintenance ways to bring 'em back to your Web site for more.
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How to Write a Newsletter without Being a Writer
March 18, 2005 - by Eileen Parzek - There are many ways a small business can develop a newsletter, when the full do-it-yourself route is not an option. First, keep in mind that it is acceptable that 20-30% of the newsletter is promotion and good news about the business, assuming the audience is primarily made of clients and prospective clients. To come up with the rest of the content, try these techniques.
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What Does Your Telephone Say About You When You Are Away? Your Small Business Image can be Shattered by Your Phone
March 18, 2005 - by Big Mike McDaniel - I cannot count the number of times I have had to ask to person answering the phone to repeat the mesh of words that just flew by. Hundreds of times I have been ka-thudded on hold with not so much as a “Hang on Bub!” One bored telephone person can do more to undo what took years to do more than any other company asset (or liability). What if your company is you? Staff of one with a home office. What happens when a call comes in and you are not there to put on your best voice?
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Affiliate Marketing--Huh?
March 17, 2005 - by Vickie J. Scanlon - Affiliate marketing is the promotion of another person's or company's product, in which you get a percentage of the profit if a sale is made. That doesn't sound so hard, does it? Well -- it's doeable if you have the information you need to get you started in this field -- and it is work.
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10 Tips For Long Term Client Retention
March 17, 2005 - by Dr. Rachna D. Jain - Attracting and retaining long-term clients is a powerful strategy for growing your business. Long-term clients are likely to feel more satisfied, are more likely to refer others, and are more likely to purchase additional services from you. The savvy solo professional or small business owner gains big from focusing on these 10 sound strategies for long term client retention.
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Why Some Web Sites Sell and Others Don't
March 16, 2005 - by Charlie Cook - Does your site pull in a steady steam of prospects, build your target list and supply you with both clients and income from product sales? If not, take a look at your site content, design and promotional strategy.
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Networking without the Work
March 16, 2005 - by Eileen Parzek - Before you enter the networking fray, think about the types of relationships you would like to build for your business network. This could mean determining a type of person or industries that would be a natural fit with yours, or a source for referral business. Sometimes the best places to network are not obvious – it might be a place where no one else does what you do, but many attendees know someone who needs what you do.
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How Does Your Website Make Me Feel?
March 15, 2005 - by Philippa Gamse - For the online visitor, your Website is the next best thing to that in-person conversation with you, your colleagues or employees. And since so many people are researching products and services on the Web, it's critical that your site has maximum impact in persuading them to take the next step with you. So how does your Website connect emotionally with your visitors?
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Ads Don’t Sell, People Do
March 15, 2005 - by Mike McDaniel - Advertising is not a substitute for good sales technique and superb customer service. Inserting an ad in a handy newspaper to call attention to a line of goods will not sell those goods unless you can back it up with intelligent, well directed sales efforts in the store. Sales technique and service must follow advertising and unless it does advertising is a failure.
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Marketing Smarter to Earn More
March 14, 2005 - by Charlie Cook - If you sell services, your primary limitations on earnings are your costs and the number of hours in a week. Most independent professionals are already working well over 40 hours a week and can't work longer hours to increase earnings. Your goal should be to find ways to work less and increase your earnings. How can you market smarter and make more money?
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Turn Your Site into a Community with Forums
March 14, 2005 - by Eileen Parzek - Typically, people visit a web site because they are looking for something, find it in search, or hear about the site through another venue, and then maybe bookmark it to return. You can leave it to chance – or you can invest the time and energy into building a community around your web site. One of the best ways to do this is to offer your visitors a discussion forum.
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Should Your Business Blog?
March 09, 2005 - by Eileen Parzek - Blogs are now being considered by businesses because the technology also lends itself to creating content on a business web site. It is essentially just a type of content management system which can easily be implemented into a site. Businesses are using them as a way of publishing info about their particular area of expertise, news about the company, and product updates.
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What the Newspaper Ad Person Won’t Tell You
March 09, 2005 - by Mike McDaniel - Despite declining circulation figures and increasing ad rates, newspapers still reach large audiences, daily. Many, if not most, retailers, lay out their own ads. It is said that over the years, merchants have come to believe the only way to get it right is to do it themselves. This thinking has given rise to the new breed of newspaper salesperson. No training, just a list of customers and the daily question “Gotchyur ad ready yet?” You should understand the newspaper’s weaknesses and learn to avoid them whenever possible
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Copywriting Tips for Sales-generating Brochures
March 08, 2005 - by Karon Thackston - Brochures have held an important place in marketing plans for longer than most of us can remember. There is no doubt that they have the ability to generate sales and increase revenues. Why then do so many of them fail? There are several aspects of copywriting for brochures that amateur writers don’t consider. It’s those things that make or break the success of your efforts.
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Make Mine to Grow: Building Your Solo Business to Outgrow You!
March 08, 2005 - by Eileen Parzek - Many solo entrepreneurs choose to curtail their businesses growth for the purpose of lifestyle. Others have visions of expansion right from the start. Being the only person in a business, wearing all of the hats, is just a stepping stone to increased prosperity. What steps can you take if you plan to expand your business some day?
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Using Technology to "Tickle" Your Customers
March 07, 2005 - by Eileen Parzek - Traditionally, businesses set up a “tickle” file to recall and reconnect with clients at period intervals, or when specific events occur. You have probably heard that it takes less time and money to market to your existing customers than it does to create a new one. Let’s take a look at some ways that you can harness computer technology to “tickle” your past customers, and maintain your place when they need you again or have a referral to send your way.
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Your Website May Reveal More Than You Really Want Customers To See
March 04, 2005 - by Barry Welford - What do customers or potential customers think about your company. Do they ever see your company facilities? Have they received some of your company literature? Or is it based on meeting you or one of your representatives personally? In this Internet age, a big part of their impression of the company will be influenced by your website. For potential customers, your website may be their only impression. The vast majority of managers, particularly in companies with the best purchasing potential, now use the Internet as their principal tool to research companies they may do business with.
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Information To Include On Your Business Card
March 03, 2005 - by Erin Ferree - The logo and graphic elements that you include on your business card are quite important, but having the right text and contact information on the card is equally important. Here are our tips about the elements to include.
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What is a Blog? In Plain English Please.
March 03, 2005 - by Vickie J. Scanlon - If you are fairly new to the Internet, you have probably heard the word “Blog” flying around. But what is a blog? How does it work? And how can I use it on my website? These are all goodquestions, which I hope to answer for you.
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Value-pricing strategy: “We’re not the cheapest but…”
March 02, 2005 - by Henriette Martel-Lawson - In this highly competitive online marketplace, it can be difficult to persuade customers to buy from you when you offer a similar product to your opposition but with a higher price tag. And trying to beat competitors on price alone is a cut-throat business, very risky and not recommended. It attracts bargain hunters ready to defect to competitors for a better deal. Using a value-pricing strategy is a better proposition because it attracts loyal customers. Why do customers buy designer-labelled clothes and luxury cars? Why are those items more expensive when they don’t cost so much more to make? The answer lies in the perceived value. Value is not an inherent attribute of the product but it commands a higher price.
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Five Sections of Your Copy Guaranteed To Get Read
March 02, 2005 - by Karon Thackston - Only about 20% of your copy is going to get read. The rest will simply be scanned. So what do you do next? Give up? What difference does it make if only about 20% will be read anyway? It makes a world of difference. Especially if you understand that there are some sections of your copy that are practically guaranteed to get read. If you know what these are and work to reinforce them, you'll see your conversions increase dramatically whether your copy is geared toward online or offline promotions.
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Personal Brand: The Marketing of You
March 01, 2005 - by Eileen Parzek - Have you heard about "personal branding?" This is when you think of yourself, an individual, in similar terms. What do people think of, when they think of you? It is a concept that is particularly relevant to solo entrepreneurs and micro business owners. As such, the brand you develop becomes about you, as much as it does about your business. You ARE your business, after all.
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The Top Ten Reasons Why Your Website Must Be Your Top Business Priority
March 01, 2005 - by Barry Welford - Sometimes ignorance is bliss: or it seems like it. Unfortunately some of what we don't know may harm us. In a market place things may be happening that we really should react to. In setting priorities, we may instinctively go with our intuition. However, we may not have realized that the world has changed. This is particularly the case with the effect of the Internet on business operations. A changing world demands a different order of priorities.
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