BusinessBuilder Building your Business One Step at a time
Simple Guidelines to Starting Your Business Marketing
Magazine September 2013
Identify Your Expertise for Market Influence
Business Marketing Strategies for Salons & Spas Direct Mail Principles For Internet Marketers
Tricks on How to Succeed In
Marketing Plan for Small Scale Delivery Service Magical Tips to Increase Traffic on Your Website
Mobile
NICHE MARKETING - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW Powered By:
Business Builders Magazine
CONTENTS Marketing Tips for 4 5 Simple Business Proper Visibility 5 Marketing Strategies for Small Bakeries for Small Home Based 6 Marketing Strategies Business
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Simple Marketing Strategies for Small Online Business
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Simple Guidelines to Starting Your Business Marketing
Strategies for Salons & 10 Business MarketingSpas
11 Marketing Plan for Small Jewelry Store in Retail Business 12 Window Displays Marketing 13 14
Marketing Plan for Small Scale Delivery Service Internet & Social Media in Small Business Marketing
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Types of Online Advertisements
Business Builders Magazine
CONTENTS
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Direct Mail Principles for Internet Marketers
17
Newbie Mistakes - What Not to Do When Marketing Online
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Some Ideas to Make Money in an Online Home Based Business
20 21
Identify Your Expertise for Market Influence
Understanding and Lowering Your Bounce Rate
Traffic on Your 22 Magical Tips to Increase Website
23 Niche Marketing - All You Need to Know 25 Is Article Marketing Really Worth It? on Choosing a Good Affiliate 26 Some Advice Marketing Opportunity Traffic Tops Search 28 Why Social Media Engine Traffic
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Tricks on How to Succeed In Mobile Marketing
Editor’s Notes Welcome to the first edition or our magazine. As a member of Your Virtual Assistant in a Box we wanted to bring you some great ideas and articles to stimulate your business senses. This magazine is a compilation of articles to help you think of ways to make your business better. Whether it’s an article on social media, financing, advertising or marketing the goal is bringing you the latest ideas and trends in building your business. So have a look around and review the articles, it you see one you like cut and paste it to a file and save it to use it later. Since it is digital you can always refer back to it as all the current and past issues will always be available to see. We want this to be a valuable resource for you so if you have an idea for an article or even have an article you think may be good in one of our future issues feel free to send me an email and I will look it over. Lastly, thanks for being a member in Your Virtual Assistant in a Box. We want this to be the place you go to grow your business. We want to be part of your success story. We know using virtual staff has been the catalyst for success for so many people; we want you to be next. Looking forward to our future together!
Guy T. Dunn
5 SIMPLE BUSINESS MARKETING TIPS FOR PROPER VISIBILITY While you market your small scale business, remember to do it on a personal level. People tend to be more willing and indulge in a brand if they are able to identify with them and realize there is a real person behind it. 5 Simple Business Marketing tips for Proper Visibility Getting to start your own small scale business can be a harrowing task. However marketing it properly to your target audience requires some specific strategies. No matter what size your business venture is, it requires proper recognition and visibility. Therefore the task at hand remains how to go about it. This article discusses 5 simple business marketing tips for proper visibility of your small scale business. One of the most important points to remember as you progress your small scale business marketing is to do it through your social network. Friends, family or acquaintances are of great help. Ask for spread of mouth. Ask for testimonial and recommendation from people you have worked with. Keep up the process in a consistence manner and you can reach your niche customers. While you market your small scale business, remember to do it on a personal level. People tend to be more willing and indulge in a brand if they are able to identify with them and realize there is a real person behind it. A great way to market your brand is to provide tips or information to your niche customers, this way they will be attracted and interested. Try and get on top of Google Ranking. Of course it can be expensive and time consuming, however with advancement of time and technology, there are numerous ways by which you can leverage traffic and attract customers. This will allow and put your business on popular radar. Hold contests and giveaways. You might think that just at the start of your business this might be a risk. However this marketing method holds great potential and will attract potential customers and buyers and in the process encourage buying from you again. Remember that you have already put your heart and mind into this business venture, no matter what the size. Therefore set your goals and recognize your buyers and you will be making profit in no time.
MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR SMALL BAKERIES Opening a small bakery that sells delicious baked products has always been your dream and if you have managed to realize it then you need to market it properly. Simply having talent in baking won’t make your small scale business grow and also you won’t be able to make the desired profit. You need to go about it in a specific manner so as to reach your target customer as well as make profit out of it. This article will discuss few simple steps that will let the traffic going after the initial appeal of your business diminishes. The initial way to go about marketing your small scale business is to recognize the potential customers. This will help you understand what promotional tactics required to attract that customer base. Recognizing the initial requirements will allow you to make arrangements that will intrigue them and make them regular customers. While you market your bakery no matter what the size, be aware that your store will have competition. Therefore make proper research about your competitors, including snack bars, grocery stores and other bakery stores as well. Make a note about the items and services not provided by them and you can put them up to attract your own set of customers.
While you market your bakery no matter what the size, be aware that your store will have competition. Therefore make proper research about your competitors, including snack bars, grocery stores and other bakery stores as well.
Plan your promotional strategies beforehand. They can be anything from posting on social networking sites to getting testimonials from someone you have worked with before; putting up advertisements or it can be handing out fliers. Your aim must be to include potential new customers. Therefore plan beforehand and promote in places so as to make your customers keep coming back. You need to understand what can make your bakery set aside from the others. Once you have made the necessary arrangements and attracted the potential customers, you must know how to retain them. Offer excellent customer services, arrange give away and don’t forget to put up surveys for better improvement. Remember the most effective way to go about marketing your small scale business is to plan ahead and follow them methodically. Observe your competitors and pay attention to your customer and in no time the name your small little bakery will be on everybody’s tongue.
MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR SMALL HOME BASED BUSINESS Marketing your small scale home based business can be a challenging task; however it is not unattainable. It is true that your home based business reduces the budget or the need to purchase or rent new building or other apparatus, however you have the disadvantage of not operating in a desired area and also a sign that that recognizes your building. So what are the ways Market your small scale home based business? Follow these quick steps and you will only taste success in your venture. Once you get whims of your potential customer base, send them newsletter, affiliate mails about your product or service and keep them up to date. This will allow your dormant customer base to re visit your website. Educate and inform about your product or service to your customer base. If they are unaware of what you are dealing with, it becomes uncomfortable for them to approach you. Therefore approach them first and advertise your product by giving ads, spreading fliers or holding seminars.
Once you get whims of your potential customer base, send them newsletter, affiliate mails about your product or service and keep them up to date.
Although unused most of the times but voice mails is a great marketing option for small scale home based business. What is better way than to promote your ideas and services through voice mail greetings when you are unable to answer your phone? Do not forget to mention the business slogan or tagline in the voice mail as well. Lastly, ask friends, colleague and whoever you have worked with before for spread of mouth about your business. Create a small network that can refer your name when the service provided by you will be required. Hand out your business card wherever necessary, this can act as a fantastic marketing tool. No matter how small your home based business is, you still need to make a profound marketing plan to reap maximum benefit.
SIMPLE MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR SMALL ONLINE BUSINESS Starting a small scale online business is in no way any different that an actual business. You may not need to buy an apartment or find an appropriate location, yet the need to need to market your product and service remains the same. If you want to make your online business successful then you need to develop certain marketing strategies to reap maximum benefit from your small online business venture. This article will discuss few simple marketing strategies and help you market your online business properly. No matter what form or size your business ventures is it reaches nowhere without proper advertisement. Therefore with online business enterprise you need proper online advertisement plans. Some sites provide pay-per-click on advertisement on particular search pages. This way you have to pay for the ad as much as you can afford. The advertisement cost is different in each site but nonetheless guarantees the right audience to view your service or product. One of the most efficient marketing tools for your online business venture is Social networking sites. It is easy to get started on most social networking sites as they render free account. You can easily open an account and post messages, information, launch of new product, sales and keep your potential customer base up to date. However one of the most important things that your Business venture requires is a sound and well functioning website. You must make sure to invest in a website that is customer friendly and simple to use. Ensure there is regular traffic flow and that your customer service options are located in proper locatable corner. Affiliate mails and Email- news letter has become a feasible option for many online small scale business ventures. Therefore organize and create best content for mails and news letter to send out to potential customers. Remember to generate more content and update your website constantly to make your customer base keep coming back.
One of the most important things that your Business venture requires is a sound and well functioning website. You must make sure to invest in a website that is customer friendly and simple to use. Ensure there is regular traffic flow and that your customer service options are located in proper locatable corner.
Simple Guidelines to Starting your Business Marketing Whether a business is small or large, to reap profits, it has to be backed by a solid marketing strategy. No matter how unique and distinguished your product is, the truth is that it isn’t going to sell itself. Consumers are by nature, lazy. You can’t possibly sit and wait for them to seek you out. For your business to have a swift run, you need to reach out to your customers and make them aware of your product. This is the fundamental idea of business marketing. Small and big business owners often view business marketing as an unwanted additional expense that they would rather forgo. What they fail to realize is that dispensing the marketing expense might save you some money in the short run, but will take a negative toll on your business in the long run. Marketing your business isn’t necessarily a great undertaking that needs to be chalked out and extensively spent on. Simple marketing strategies are certainly going advance your business towards your expected goals. Let’s consider some simple yet effective marketing plans to give your business a positive nudge. Identify the buyer Not all products are meant for all types of consumers. Try to divide your customers according to the basic demographics and identify the target consumers. No matter how generic your product is, there is a demography that represents your niftiest potential market. Your goal will be to reach out to this buyer segment and market your product accordingly. Identify the demand pattern Despite what we read about the modern consumer culture, a purchase happens only when there’s a demand for the item. One of the initial goals in any business, whether big or small, is to identify this demand. The decision to purchase may be backed by a long term want, or an immediate requirement. The consumer might want something affordable and dandy; he might prefer something expensive and reliable. Demand is also based on seasons and occasions. Analyze all such demand criteria to understand where your product fits best.
No matter how generic your product is, there is a demography that represents your niftiest potential market. Your goal will be to reach out to this buyer segment and market your product accordingly. Reach out to your buyer Your product maybe something that is what a certain buyer has dreamt of owning for a long time. But if he isn’t aware of your presence, this demand of his will never be translated into a successful purchase. Advertising your product enables you to reach out to your target consumers and builds your reputation as a provider. Advertising doesn’t necessarily imply spending huge bucks to get your brand’s name on the television, billboard or newspaper. Pamphlets, flyers, posters and coupons are cheap and effective ways of educating the potential customers about your product and brand. Fix a timeline for your product A timeline for a product is the transitory time between the need and the purchase. The timeline between the need to consume fast-food and the subsequent purchase is usually limited, so your time to influence a buyer’s decision is fairly small. By correctly assessing this timeline, you’ll be able to cull inefficient marketing strategies and employ effective methods to influence your target demographic. The world of business marketing spans into several complicated spheres and involves complex business decisions. However, almost all businesses, irrespective of their size, rely on these basic principles of business marketing to advance in their respective fields and connect to their customers.
BUSINESS MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR SALONS & SPAS Nowadays, people rely heavily on beauty parlors and salons to enhance their looks. Conventional salons have given way to the vamped up spas and fitness centers. Every salon and spa owner is aware of the fact that the customer retaining factor for their business is the quality of the staff. Product quality is something that all salons and spas thrive to maintain. But when it comes to repeat customers, several factors work towards ensuring customer satisfaction. However, retaining a steady customer base isn’t the sole business goal. It’s imperative for business growth and profit to attract new customers and expand the market. Gone are the days where you’d achieve such goals by distributing pamphlets and flyers in the neighborhoods. The tech-age calls for newer and unique marketing strategies that will help you to seek and reach out to your potential customers in a personal manner. In addition to the generic marketing methods that are quintessential for your business, you need to ‘think out of the box‘ to emerge victorious in a competitive market frame. People nowadays resort to the internet for all their trivial and important needs. We’re living in a world where we ‘Google’ our queries and needs. The potential market for a salon and spa, is thereby, not limited to the neighborhoods of its location. So here are a few tips that’ll help you market your salon and spa in a non-conventional manner. Create an attractive name for your business Surprise the potential customer base with a fun and unique salon name. The name and logo should force people to turn heads and beacon them inside. Your aim is to imprint your store’s name and image into the public mind. The logo and signage should be able to illicit the desired visceral response from the public.
Create a website for your business Social networking is the newest and most effective method of effective business marketing at a limited cost. Setting up a Facebook page and updating regularly on Twitter has the capacity to generate more interest than you’ll probably imagine. Collect email addresses of all your clients provide the opportunity for online appointments. You could always offer a small benefit for those who book appointments through your website. Promote your business with the local service directories It’s imperative to get your details available on online search directories. The other salons within half a mile range aren’t really your competition. Your active presence in the internet search results will make you accessible to hundreds of customers throughout the city you’re based in. Donate gift certificates Don’t shy away from developing attractive discount schemes to usher more customers. Donate gift certificates with magazines; give out gift coupons at departmental stores. In short, lure in the customers with attractive deals and offers. The market for salons and spas is expanding day by day. Take advantage of the booming market and expose yourself to the seeking eyes. Take a moment to reckon these simple business marketing plans. Offer something extra to the customers. Any one of these could motivate a potential customer to give that much desired celebrity hairstyle a serious consideration.
Don’t shy away from developing attractive discount schemes to usher more customers. Donate gift certificates with magazines; give out gift coupons at departmental stores. In short, lure in the customers with attractive deals and offers.
MARKETING PLAN FOR SMALL JEWELRY STORE Opening a Jewelry stores is a lucrative business option for many. Each Jewelry store has specific demands that it caters to. Stores’ selling gold and platinum jewelry generally foster to the customer with heavy spending budget .where as costume jewelry stores have their own market base. Therefore before developing a marketing strategy recognize your potential customer base as each store is unique and must understand the marketplace to take its total advantage. Below are few marketing strategies that will help you to promote your jewelry store so that you can earn maximum benefit. Understanding The Market- Recognizing the market position and the value of the product is essential to set up the value or price of the commodity. The cost of Jewelry varies depending on numerous factors. Therefore it advisable to review them and then market the price properly. Competition- Look out for competition from other jewelry store in your area. Research the product and prices they are offering and try to include the ones that are missing in yours. Start competitive pricing if necessary. Location- your marketing plan must include a suitable sales location. It should be located in a place that is nearest to your potential customer base. If you are selling online then take help of social networking sites or other search webs to promote your products. Product description- Customers prefers product that they can relate to. Therefore try and give as detailed product description as possible. Give out information and be clear about what you are selling. Transparency creates a bond between the seller and buyer. And your customers would want to keep coming back. Advertise- Make sure to advertise the benefits of buying from your shop. If you are selling inexpensive costume jewelry then advertise discount offers. Advertising in newspapers and online search engines is his town’s great way to promote your product. If you have realized your dream of setting up your own jewelry store then it is time that you promote it in fashion. Highlight your stores uniqueness and in no time it will be the talk of the town.
Recognizing the market position and the value of the product is essential to set up the value or price of the commodity. The cost of Jewelry varies depending on numerous factors. Therefore it advisable to review them and then market the price properly.
Window Displays in Retail Business Marketing Look Outside-In Your window display is for those outside your store. So, rather than creating a display that looks gorgeous from inside the store, take a moment to visualize what an outsider will see. Place yourself in the shoes of a stranger who’s oblivious to your product and then imagine what kind of a display might compel him to come in and take a look. Use Bold Colors It’s human nature to be visually attracted to something bright and shiny. If you can’t come up with a story to tell, generously use bold colors to attract attention. If your product is not large, find a way to decorate the window with colorful props. You needn’t spend a lot on such endeavors. Use your imagination and work with colorful scotch tapes, ribbons, tissue papers and such to brighten up your display window.
Do you own a retail outlet? Have you ever considered just how beneficial your window displays are for your business? The window displays in retail are effective and costless business marketing tool which have the potential to give your sales a healthy thrust. These window displays have the capacity to evoke intrigue and provide information at the same time. They generate impulse purchases. Therefore, you must give ample thought into designing your window display’s theme, design and your offering. Your window display should be a beacon to the casual passerby – so don’t just consider it for general display. Your goal is to tempt them into entering your store and browse your products. With a unique display, you are making an alluring offer to a potential customer to give your product a consideration. This tool at your disposal is what decides if a random passerby will ignore your store, or become your customer. Follow these simple steps to create a window display to entice and enchant. Be a Storyteller Who has the time to take interest in a boring window with the old-fashioned display? Try to tell a simple story with your product as the protagonist. From the streets of Paris to a farmer’s garden, your display should make those swarms to fleeting eyes stop and stare.
It’s human nature to be visually attracted to something bright and shiny. If you can’t come up with a story to tell, generously use bold colors to attract attention.
Do Away With the Clutter You might think that cramming all your best selling products in the display window will attract sufficient customers. Truth is, cluttering is always a turn-off. All your items would be competing for focus the customers would end up distracted. Try to use larger quantities of a single product instead. This will keep the diversity at bay and make your display eye-catching. Also, control your need to fill all the empty spaces. A calmer canvas always enhances the main display. Use Proper Lighting Lighting isn’t just a necessity for window displays. They’re quintessential tools. A proper combination of light and shadow forces the passerby’s attention on the product of your choice. No matter how amazing your product is, with poor lighting, it’s bound to fail from enamoring the customers. Use proper lighting to highlight the focal points of display. Keep Changing Change is the only constant for stunningly successful window displays. Something that captivates a stranger is bound to become mundane after repeated observation. Therefore, alter your displays from time to time to eliminate the chances of boredom. You could rotate and swap your display items to create a short-term change in your window display as well. In today’s competitive world, people don’t have the time to halt and take notice unless they’re forced to do so. It is imperative in every retailer’s business marketing strategy to employ strategic visual merchandising techniques to get ahead in the race. Stunning window displays are one of the primary tools at your disposal to spruce up your store and increase your sales.
MARKETING PLAN FOR SMALL SCALE DELIVERY SERVICE No business venture can function without proper advertisement. If you are running on a constricted budget then aim for local newspaper and radio stations. You can also purchase television spots as it tends to reach a varied range of potential customer base. Marketing plans for any Business venture requires profound strategies and systemic planning no matter what the scale and size. Small scale delivery services are booming and their needs are increasing every day with the rise of online shopping. However unlike other business enterprises, there are few specific marketing requisites for delivery services to reap maximum benefit. This article will guide you through few quick steps for successfully marketing your delivery service. The first step to go about while marketing a delivery service business is to inform your customer base about any product or thing that you include and offer in your service. If your customer base have a clear knowledge about what you offer and the details of the service that you provide then it will be easier for them to identify with your brand. Advertise the benefits and features of your services. Remember to inform about the timing and pricing for your service. Research your target customers; segregate them according to age, gender, geography, socioeconomic status, lifestyle and values. This will not only help you to provide better services but also allow you to understand which services are frequently used and when. No business venture can function without proper advertisement. If you are running on a constricted budget then aim for local newspaper and radio stations. You can also purchase television spots as it tends to reach a varied range of potential customer base. If possible hand out fliers, leaflets and brochures describing the offers and service in detail. Online service, social networking sites and your website can be used to promote as well. Every business endeavors faces competition and it not unlikely in case of delivery service. Recognize your current competition and research the services and offers that are not provided by them. Describe how your delivery service is different and try and include them in your services. Understand and determine the budget you will be working with and then plan the marketing strategies. Marketing takes up almost 20% of the initial budget so plan carefully. Delivery services have become indispensible for the communication system. If proper marketing strategies are adopted then great opportunities lie ahead for this business scheme.
INTERNET & SOCIAL MEDIA IN SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING To a layman, terms like ‘marketing strategies’ and ‘business development’ might evoke images of experts in crisp business suits in conference rooms discussing complex statistical charts. The reality, however, is not nearly as rarified. To simplify, any practice by a business owner that facilitates the sale of his product or service constitutes business marketing. Small business owners often find themselves at a loss after having established their much desired business. Without substantial marketing strategies, they fail to reach out to their target demographic and thereby, lose out on several opportunities and forwarding their sales margins. What these small business owners often overlook is that business marketing isn’t necessarily a cost incurring complicated process. It is an initiative that could be commenced at a minimum cost and little effort.
Studies show that a hefty percentage of people ‘Google’ an item when purchase needs come up. From fast-food to automobiles, from apparel to medicines, people nowadays prefer the online communities as their referrals.
Remember those cooking blogs that shared amazing easy-to-cook recipes? You could set up a similar blog promoting your products as well. Blogging gives you an edge where you can build up your own fan-following for your item. The more the readers read about your experiences with your product, the more they feel connected, and the better the chances at costless word-of-mouth promotions. Next in list is the present generation’s virtual abode – Facebook. As casual as this might sound, Facebook is an extremely sorted after promotional canvas for businesses of all magnitude. Setting up a Facebook page for your business and updating it frequently hardly consumes much time. And yet, it provides you with immense opportunities to reach a wide array of potential consumers, without the need for individual contact.
The owners of small businesses tend to trivialize the potential of the internet as a tool for business marketing. Fact remains, though, that with the world converging under one virtual web, the internet is probably the most effective instrument to reach the key buyer demographic.
Similarly, Twitter provides you with ample opportunities to keep your consumers updated with your business. Ever wonder why multinational companies go through such efforts to keep their followers updated? It’s because social media allows their potential market to approach them in an informal and convenient manner.
The first step in marketing for any business should be to set up a website. Studies show that a hefty percentage of people ‘Google’ an item when purchase needs come up. From fast-food to automobiles, from apparel to medicines, people nowadays prefer the online communities as their referrals. Your product quality could be exponentially better than your competitor’s, but without a website, your target consumer’s would have no means to find you if they wanted to ‘look you up online’.
Digital media has slowly crept into our daily lives with podcasts and streamed videos have claimed a fair share of the internet addictiveness. Podcasts and videos have a tendency of abbreviating physical distance and evoking a feeling of recognition. Never underestimate the power of YouTube. It has unparalleled powers of transcending borders. Episodic podcasts will enable you to directly interact with your viewers and customers and gain instant feedback.
TYPES OF ONLINE ADVERTISEMENTS
Internet marketing is done through various means and thus it can be divided into various types. Placing web banner ads on a third party web site and thus enable the traffic to move from the web site where the banner has been placed to the web site of the company which has placed the advertisement banner. Social media marketing is also a very upcoming and latest trend which has sprung up with the popularity of Face book, Twitter and such social networking web site. Companies providing products and services have made special pages on face book and twitter accounts who keep on posting the new trends, special deals and new launches by the company which is a great pool of information for the prospective buyers and the brand loyalists who want to keep a track of what is happening in the brand or the company. Referral and email marketing are also tried and tested means of doing the work. There is a very large variety in the type of advertisement s that can be seen and marketers opt for while opting for the internet marketing method. There is one known as a floating ad which is prevalent on the internet. This ad moves like a banner across the screen of the web page which the customer is browsing. New kinds of ads which have developed are the explaining ads. These ads enlarge when the cursor opens on them and when the cursor is removed it shrinks back to the normal small size. Pop up ads are also very common these days which are separate popup windows which open up on the opening of the web site which the customer has started browsing. Video ads are also very popular among the marketers who want to give a very graphic representation for their product or service.
Companies providing products and services have made special pages on face book and twitter accounts who keep on posting the new trends, special deals and new launches by the company which is a great pool of information for the prospective buyers and the brand loyalists who want to keep a track of what is happening in the brand or the company..
DIRECT MAIL PRINCIPLES FOR INTERNET MARKETERS With direct mail, you have to strive to be a master copywriter. Nothing is more important than persuading your prospects and current customers to buy from you. And if you want to see this happen, you will need to step up your copywriting game and start learning how to write direct mail letters that make money for you simply and easily. If you have an online business, luckily part of this will be done for you. All you want to do is use your direct mail piece as a "teaser" to convince your past customers to visit your site, and buy another product from you. You want to reserve the main selling piece to the sales description on your site. You need to understand that your direct mail piece will serve as something that is "personal". This factor alone will increase your conversion rates. If you don't know much about direct mail and certain strategies, then you may want to start off with postcards. A postcard is personal too, and it has some advantages over a standard direct mail letter.
In the mail pieces that you send out, I mentioned that they should be light on the content, and just long enough to get them interested and come back to your website. I know people who have done this with postcards, and have led thousands of people back to their site to sell their $300 and above product. It's true - this form of marketing is this powerful, but only if you know how to use it right. Now these guys are long time direct marketing and internet marketing experts, so results like these are just typical to them. They get to make the money, and they live the lifestyle most people online only dream about. But study enough and learn more about different strategies, and you can be on your way to becoming a successful online marketer too. I like direct mail because it's one marketing medium that is testable and predictable. However it can get pricey. I suggest that you start off with a postcard first, and only market to your backend customers. This way you will already have a highly responsive list to mail to, and you may in fact make some immediate marketing on your campaign. Good luck with using direct mail marketing in your internet business today.
With a postcard, the "message" is already opened. This means that people don't have to open up your message. This is very important. One of the most overlooked thing that goes down with direct mail that internet marketers don't understand is that it's tough to get someone to open up your letter. Just imagine it... someone receives your letter in the mail, it may or may not look important, they sort it out with the rest of their mail, and then they determine which ones to throw out immediately. If your envelope doesn't do the job of convincing someone to open up your letter, they may very well throw your envelope in the trash. This is something that you don't want to happen. Like I said, with a postcard, this element is eliminated. Your "offer" or message is already open, and they can't help but to read it... especially if it's from you, and you've built a nice relationship with them. Direct mail can be very powerful in this regard, and it's something that you will want to cherish and implement when you can.
If your envelope doesn't do the job of convincing someone to open up your letter, they may very well throw your envelope in the trash. This is something that you don't want to happen.
NEWBIE MISTAKES WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN MARKETING ONLINE Want to know what NOT to do when marketing your site on the internet? Lol well, this lesson is for you! If you're new to online marketing and you have a specific product that you want to sell, you will be tempted to eagerly sell it everywhere that you can, so that you can make some money. But this isn't always the best course of action. If you want to make sales online, you need to set up a marketing funnel that you can put leads into, and then later convert them into customers. But any kind of other "questionable" marketing actions aren't recommended. It won't get you any sales, and your reputation in your niche will suffer - even before you got started. In today's lesson, I want to go over a few things that you should NEVER do when marketing your site online. You will probably look at these things and then have a flashback at when you tried to do one of these poor strategies. But now that you're learning how to market correctly, you're taking steps in the right direction. Here's the first thing that you shouldn't do when marketing online: 1)Relying on 1 traffic strategy This is like an internet marketing "cardinal sin". You should never put your eggs into one basket when it comes to marketing your site. At any time your traffic can go belly up, and you're left without any traffic coming through to your site. To be on the safe side, use a wide variety of marketing strategies. For example, instead of just relying on SEO, use SEO, article marketing, video marketing, forum marketing, blogging, and even affiliate programs. I understand that you may want to fully tap out a particular traffic source, but it's not recommended. Here's another thing you shouldn't do when marketing online
When you market ineffectively on the internet, your business will suffer, your reputation will suffer, and you won't succeed. It won't lead you anywhere - except back to step 1 and more desperation.
2) Using forum marketing ineffectively Forum marketing is a "give and take" strategy. You give good information on the forum, and in return, you get to receive traffic back to your website via the signature under your posts. One thing that you never want to do on forums is blatantly create posts that promote your product or service. People hate this. People on the forum hate it, the moderators hate it, and I hate it too. Never blatantly advertise like this on forums. It's the fastest way to get your account banned - and even your IP address banned. If you want to do forum marketing, do it the right way.
When you market ineffectively on the internet, your business will suffer, your reputation will suffer, and you won't succeed. It won't lead you anywhere - except back to step 1 and more desperation. Start slow, learn how to market the right way, and you will find that this is the best way to proceed with your marketing efforts. Forum spamming and using only 1 traffic strategy is not the way to go. Go and find an internet marketing course, and learn how to market online correctly. Good luck with marketing online, and be sure to avoid these mistakes today.
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SOME IDEAS TO MAKE MONEY IN AN ONLINE HOME BASED BUSINESS Having a home based business can be rewarding. It allows you to make as much money as you desire and best of all, no boss! Keep in mind that consistency and dedication must be part of you day's work. You still need to keep some kind of schedule.
Good content on websites is in need. If you possess good writing skills, there is an opportunity for you in this field. Start with small articles and work your way up to bigger ones with more exposure.
An online business can be a way to make money from the comfort of your home. No commutes, traffic, wear and tear on your car, etc. Once you get a system in place, the transition of working at home will be a wonderful experience. Affiliate Marketing. This is where you basically start a website, blog, or even a YouTube account and attract readers there. You will need to make sure that you work to bring in traffic and that you generate this traffic often including every day. Once you have a substantial following you will be able to allow an online merchant to come in and place ads on your site. When a person visits your site and clicks on the ad, you get paid for their click and for their purchase in some cases. This is a great way to earn extra money by working online. Good content on websites is in need. If you possess good writing skills, there is an opportunity for you in this field. Start with small articles and work your way up to bigger ones with more exposure. Listed above are only a couple of the options that you could choose when you want to start an online home based business. Take your time and research every possibility. Make sure that you learn how to avoid the scam sites and make sure that you check into everything that interests you. When thinking about choosing your business make sure that you actually like to do what you are thinking about. For instance, if you want to start a writing business first make sure that you like writing and that you can write. If you want to start an affiliate marketing business make sure that you take the time to research how to generate traffic and see if it is something that you want to do. Making money online is quite easy if you are willing to put forth the effort. Many people have chosen to quit their regular jobs and go into an online business. These people have succeeded and now are working the hours that they want to work. If you are interested in an online home based business make sure that you read this online home based business review.
Identify Your Expertise for Market Influence The best way to influence people's buying choices is to offer something they can only get if they work with you or buy your product or those you recommend. What is your expertise? What sets you apart from others? And why should prospects choose you over your competition? This is a portion of what will define your unique selling proposition (USP). Every so often some "expert" claims we don't need a USP. Or they come up with some fancy-dancy name for it. But your USP is what makes you unique, which I feel is key to success. By identifying your USP you are able to more fully position your message. Granted, it's okay to blend in, but it's far better to stand out by taking a stand with your USP. If you don't identify what makes you unique, your market won't be able to either. Without a unique flavor to what you do you are simply a commodity. The more of a commodity you are viewed as, the less value you can bring to your market. To gain clarity on your unique positioning statement, answer the following questions: 1. What makes you unique? 2. What do you do that others don't? 3. What experience do you have that others don't? 4. What results have you achieved that others have not? 5. What specialized training or certification do you have that sets you apart from your competition? 6. What beliefs and values do you stand by that set you apart from others? 7. What irks you about your market? 8. What are you committed to providing a solution for? 9. What is your big why that drives you?
As you identify what sets you apart, be thinking in terms of a short identifying statement. Your USP is a strong, concise, simple statement about your business or brand that tells prospective customers why you are the best choice for them. Your USP very clearly answers the question, "Why should people do business with me and/or my company?" Here is mine: Kathleen Gage is the "no-nonsense, common sense" speaker, author and product creation specialist, and owner of the highly successful company Power Up For Profits. Kathleen helps entrepreneurs make money online. Her clients are driven by making a difference through their own unique voices. Considered to be one of the nation's most passionate speakers, Kathleen is known for cutting through the fluff and helping people leave their sob stories behind so they can stop focusing on the past and start looking towards the future. She speaks and teaches about what she believes are the core elements of a successful life: accountability, integrity, honesty, and living with passion and hope. Kathleen's mission is to help people understand that their business is merely a means to get their message out to the world. She teaches that it's not just about what you do, but the reasons behind why you do it. Having a clear USP makes it easier to focus on both your product and the needs of your clients. If you have business partners, employees, subcontractors, or virtual assistants, a clearly defined USP makes it easier to get your team on board with your vision. They can understand your vision, be able to focus their energy on reaching the goals you have established for your business, and respond to inquiries appropriately. Whenever a customer needs the type of product you sell, your USP should bring your company immediately to mind.
If you don't identify what makes you unique, your market won't be able to either. Without a unique flavor to what you do you are simply a commodity. The more of a commodity you are viewed as, the less value you can bring to your market.
UNDERSTANDING AND LOWERING YOUR BOUNCE RATE Do you know your website's bounce rate? For that matter, do you even know what a bounce rate is? For the small business owners that are too busy digging themselves out of paperwork to stay up to date on this sort of jargon, let us explain: your site's bounce rate is the amount of visitors to your page that leave the website without visiting any other pages on the site. It typically means that your landing page is not very strong or that your SEO is off. Luckily, there is quite a bit you can do to make sure your bounce rate stays low. Some of you may already be doing these things and likely have a current low bounce rate. However, here are some tips for those of you that may be struggling. Make sure your landing Page is Easy to Read and Navigate. If your landing page is an eyesore, that's an automatic strike against you. Loud colors or excessive bells and whistles can turn some readers off right away. Make sure your page is easy for even the slowest of users to navigate. Simple colors and design often work best for landing pages. Improve Your Loading Times. Most people online are incredibly impatient. If they have to wait for your page to load for more than five seconds, they will probably leave and go elsewhere, Make sure you don't fall victim to this by removing unnecessary plug-ins and videos. If you are still having problems, contact your web designer for help. Keep keywords and SEO strong. Always be sure that you are reinforcing your keywords in your content. If you put it in your metadata and not in your copy, your readers are going to leave promptly. Also, it is not cool to use your business name as a central keyword. Keep it centered on the topic at hand, not you. Watch it with all the external links. While it's certainly admirable to place an external link to a page that you got some of your information from, you need to be clever and strategic with where you place them, Placing them close to the beginning may lead some to click the link and never return to your page. Try placing external links near the bottom of the page to prevent this. What other tactics are your small business using to make sure your bounce rate remains low?
If your landing page is an eyesore, that's an automatic strike against you. Loud colors or excessive bells and whistles can turn some readers off right away. Make sure your page is easy for even the slowest of users to navigate. Simple colors and design often work best for landing pages.
MAGICAL TIPS TO INCREASE TRAFFIC ON YOUR WEBSITE A well designed and user-friendly e-commerce website is really important for a successful online business. Take an example of most successful websites; you will notice a few common things in them. They used common designing techniques to build their website. Unquestionably, high quality, good prices and special offers are also the significant parts of their success. When carefully analyzing these sites, common threads in their design can be easily noticed. Here you will get some useful design tips that will drive traffic in and keep the visitors coming to your website. Promote Your Brand Brand identity means a lot. It does matter especially when you are new to the e-commerce business or a well-known name moving into the online word for the first time; brand is everything. Every single constituent of your site, from font style to the color palette and logos, plays an important part in building your online identity. Whatever style you choose for your website, it should remain steady throughout. Optimize your website For Both Desktop and Mobile Platform People are now purchasing things through their smart phones or tablet PC while others use laptops or desktop computers to make their purchase. Use "responsive design" technique to shape your site for these platforms. This technique will help your site to accommodate for both groups in a better way. Make it user Friendly User mainly comes to your site to buy what they want with less amount of commotion. Therefore, in order to convert a first time user to a potential user, remove all unnecessary stuff and duplicate pages from your website that make the process time-consuming. Incorporate time-saving features and search boxes Search box helps the user to type in the exact product they are looking for. Therefore, it is essential to have a search box on your website. By incorporating search box, customers will easily locate the product they are after. You can also add features like intelligent product recommendation. This feature has proven to be very useful in attracting more people to your site. Keep product reviews short Your reviews about products should be short. Do not add unnecessary details. Time is short, so should be your product reviews. You can use an attractive picture that would take a few seconds to load on your computers. A well designed website makes a pleasant first impression. Once you are done with your design, it's time to promote your website. If you do not have enough time then you can take help from the search engine optimization professionals to promote your website.
Brand identity means a lot. It does matter especially when you are new to the ecommerce business or a well-known name moving into the online word for the first time; brand is everything. Every single constituent of your site, from font style to the color palette and logos, plays an important part in building your online identity. Whatever style you choose for your website, it should remain steady throughout.
NICHE MARKETING ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW Marketing is an umbrella term and it encompasses many different techniques and types. At different times and to achieve different goals, businesses use some or all of these techniques to gain advantage over their competitors after having thoroughly studied the potential of those methods. One such method is Niche Marketing and it has proven to be quite an effective approach especially when the firm is desirous of making a noticeable impression over the market where other competitors have already established their grounds. What is Niche Marketing? Niche marketing is a technique in which the company or marketing executive focuses all the marketing efforts towards a comparatively smaller yet specific group or well defined section of the market. This, however, should not be confused by already existing groups like targeting people of a specific gender or people who can be grouped together by a similar income range etc. These days the trend is that one should target a more specific and a shorter group. These niches are created by the marketing body itself after identifying the loopholes in the marketing strategies of other competitor business. This marketing body is going to play on those poorly addressed needs and requirements of the population and then develop an effective strategy to satisfy the customers. Niche marketing follows the concept of aiming to become a big fish in a smaller pool rather than becoming one of the small fish in a large pond. Niche Marketing is also sometimes known as micromarketing. If you are a new competitor then you cannot aim at challenging your opponents in all fields and in all niches all at once. Therefore, what you should aim at is becoming successful in targeted areas first to get recognition and solid customer base.
How to go about Niche Marketing First of all, you need to build up your database; collect information from prospective clients. Do a survey with basic question and answers that yield the information that you are trying to gather. Think from the customer's perspective to evaluate their requirements. You can start building up your strategy from there. Once you have all the data, your strategy and hence your niche should start taking its shape. With the information that you have acquired and the knowledge of your own skills, you will be able to decide on the target areas of the market. In your next step, you should evaluate your niche in the following sectors: Your niche should be inclined with your long-term goal. It should definitely be unique and an unchartered zone. It has the potential of expediting a decent profit margin. If your niche fulfills all of the above criteria, then it is time to test market your product with a few people; for example by providing free samples. This is the only way of checking the feasibility of your method before going up-scale. Niche marketing is undoubtedly an effective way of making a dent in an already established market.
IS ARTICLE MARKETING REALLY WORTH IT? Here are three great, simple tips to make sure you submit articles consistently, and make the most out of your article marketing campaign. 1. Start Small. When you start your article marketing, don't push yourself too hard. By trying to take on too much at once, you'll burn out quickly and lose your motivation. Start by writing a small amount of articles per month, but make sure you are writing at least one a week. 2. Know What to Expect.
Article marketing is an art, and like so many technologies and business formats, it can be a little confusing to know where to get started. No doubt you've come across a variety bag of opinions on the subject of SEO, internet marketing and article marketing, ranging from ecstatic rave reviews to baffled businessmen who just don't see any results. So to put it bluntly, let's ask the question: is article marketing really worth your time? The answer is: that depends how you're doing it! It doesn't take genius skills and business savvy to make article marketing work, but like any worthwhile venture, it does take a little know-how and effort to make it work for you. Businesses all over the world have found that article marketing is an excellent tool for boosting their business success, bringing in far more customers and website traffic than traditional advertising techniques. So why all the mixed reviews, if article marketing clearly works? Simply put: some very basic mistakes can undermine an otherwise incredible advertising campaign of any sort, and article marketing is no different in this respect. Fortunately, the biggest mistake that can ruin your success is also one of the easiest ones to rectify: time and again, those who don't submit articles consistently find they have inconsistent or poor results, the solution to which is simply to submit articles on a regular basis.
Instead of expecting huge change overnight, be realistic about your expectations. Over the first few months, you might not see much of a change to your overall traffic. However, in the long run, your traffic should gradually climb, and you should see an overall boost of customers and site visitors. Remember, the more articles you have online, the more backlinks you will have to your site - and the more traffic you can expect to see. This will also gradually help improve your Google page rank, meaning you can expect to see growing success over time. 3. Keep it up! Don't just drop your campaign after you start to see success. By continuing to submit articles long-term, you can expect to see a more consistent effect on your marketing efforts, and far more payoff than in the beginning. Over time, try increasing your submission rate, and building on your knowledge of the articles your customers love. That way, you can become the primary resource for information in your niche, and the number one business customers will turn to!
Instead of expecting huge change overnight, be realistic about your expectations. Over the first few months, you might not see much of a change to your overall traffic. However, in the long run, your traffic should gradually climb, and you should see an overall boost of customers and site visitors.
SOME ADVICE ON CHOOSING A GOOD AFFILIATE MARKETING OPPORTUNITY -
If you are just starting out with affiliate marketing, you've made a wise decision. Affiliate marketing has got to be the best way to make extra money, or even replace your full time income. And the web is filled with opportunity for affiliate marketers. But before you begin, understand that there are many, many different affiliate marketing products out there that you can choose from. And it takes the same amount of time spent marketing a good product vs. marketing a not so good product. So do your research, decide what niche you are going to get into and when deciding this, think of choosing something evergreen. Like making money online is an evergreen topic. The make money online niche is something that's here to stay. Another evergreen topic might be weight loss. As these are two niches that people are always looking for information on and are willing to spend money on. If you're just getting started, know that both choosing your opportunity and building your affiliate marketing business takes time, effort and energy. So start out with the right opportunity. Do your research. Search for information about the product, and I suggest that you purchase the product that you are going to promote. As you will want to know your product inside and out so you can market all of the benefits that your product or service has to offer. You also want to work with a program that is honest in their endeavors. There actually are people online that do not pay their affiliates or are dishonest in their payment programs. This is few and far between, but it does happen. Your compensation plan should be at least 50% commission. Perhaps a bit less on higher ticket items. Try to make at least $25.00 per sale. To make it worth your while. You may also be able to get in touch with people who are marketing the same program to see how their results are, as there's a lot involved. You want good landing pages, or sales pages with a good marketing funnel, that converts the traffic that you are driving your offer to. This is very important. You can have the best product online, but if it does not carry good marketing material for your buyers, then you are not going to produce sales. Judge for yourself. Visit their sites, are they offering a video? Is it too hyped up? Does it hold your attention? Is their sales copy just plain boring? You will want to consider all of this before you
If you're just getting started, know that both choosing your opportunity and building your affiliate marketing business takes time, effort and energy. So start out with the right opportunity. Do your research. Search for information about the product, and I suggest that you purchase the product that you are going to promote.
Once upon a time, not all that long ago, the only way to find information on a specific topic was to visit a website you knew. This was a time before search engines and progress now allows us to enter any keyword or keyword phrase in our browser to be presented with data from a seemingly endless list of options. More and more websites began to emerge as a result of the search engine revolution as people realized the potential they created. Search engines provided a never before seen source of traffic. Once small, virtually unknown companies like Google and Yahoo grew in popularity as there seemingly limitless power increased and webmasters began to take note of their relevance and importance. With their rise in power, search engines slowly became aware of just how important they were. As a result rules were established and use of the applications became more controlled. Today that power is diminishing to a degree as the power of social media steps up and into a world once ruled only by search engines. Although search engines still have the masses running blindly behind the them, social media is emerging as the front-runner for traffic generation. Search engines maintain an unprecedented level of popularity but social media now offers services that the search engines never have or are ever likely too. I believe this is why we will soon discover social media traffic "out gunning" search engine traffic. Readers Love Social Media Users of social media sites love to read about their favorite subjects. They log in to their accounts to engage and discover what's new in the worlds that interest them. Science fiction, Television, Books, just about any subject matter you can think of is represented in social media (SM). When SM users see something of interest, they click on it and travel to the blog or site to read more. More web users are browsing SM sites these days than search engine sites. Access to information is simpler and more engaging. Presentation is better and through SM sites people can engage in a range of activities all at the one time. Users of SM sites are active because they are curious not because they are seeking to find something specific. For this reason they tend to stay on the sites for longer periods of time, allowing them to engage and be exposed to information (and advertising). Typically with search engine traffic people are directed to your site because they are looking for something specific, perhaps researching or looking for a solution to a problem. Visitors who land on your pages for these reasons are less likely to stay and look around. If they don't find what they are specifically searching for they tend to move on and continue to hunt for what they need.
Why Social Media Traffic Tops Search Engine Traffic Social Media Traffic is Highly Targeted The visitors who visit your site from SM platforms like Twitter and Facebook are usually highly targeted. They click on what attracts them or what they think may be interesting. Facebook case studies have identified that users are very highly targeted because they only click through to something they have a very definite interest in. For this reason social media traffic from any source tends to have a much lower bounce rate, higher number of page views per visit and as a result a higher conversion into sales or subscriptions. This tends to be the exact opposite for search engine traffic. Unlike social media traffic where users are taken to what they want they are only directed to sites based on keyword relevance. In addition, they can't set any guidelines as to what they might prefer in their first page selections. Search engine traffic is defined by the search engine and not by the users own preferences. Social Media Traffic is Reliable With social media traffic, once you establish a following and form relationships with your readers, you're virtually unstoppable. Maintain a standard that provides quality, interesting information and your visitors will continue to interact and come back for more. Always consider how smart your readers are and how easily they recognize value in the content provided. With search engine traffic your visitors can be directed away from you at anytime and without you doing anything wrong. It may simply be a matter of where you rank in the search standings and you could simply be overlooked.
Users of SM sites are active because they are curious not because they are seeking to find something specific. For this reason they tend to stay on the sites for longer periods of time, allowing them to engage and be exposed to information (and advertising).
TRICKS ON HOW TO SUCCEED IN MOBILE MARKETING Tricks on How To Make Money In Mobile Marketing One of the newest ways for businesses to be seen is mobile marketing. Take your time and learn about how to get your point across to customers. For your mobile site, it's important to come up with ways to convey your information in as few words as possible. Sites that are packed with keywords and say nothing of value are unfavorable. In the mobile marketing universe, brevity is highly prized. Your friends can help you by viewing ads, emails, and your website on their various mobile devices. If you can, hire a professional to test and improve your campaign. Your mission statement will help you design the best campaign possible. Maintaining your principles is key to you being successful in your business plans. Every successful mobile campaign should have a home base. Your mobile presence is dependent upon driving your customers to that base, or keeping contact with those who are already in contact with you. Remember that a mobile platform should be an extension of your existing marketing plan, not the center of it. Make sure you send text messages at reasonable times. This can be an annoyance and turn-off for many consumers, no matter how much they enjoy your product. Try and make your marketing campaign viral, as this is the greatest way to be successful. They could recommend it to friends and family, which will increase your customer base. Offer your customers an option to leave feedback; this will help you improve your products and services. Regardless of a customer's opinion, you can always use feedback to improve your strategies. When using mobile marketing, make your ads easy to send. Before you start your campaign, make sure that your ads are easy to forward. If you give people an incentive, they are even more likely to forward them. Don't add SMS to a mobile marketing campaign unless you are willing to be totally honest with your customers about how many texts will be sent. Don't ever send texts to anyone unless they have specifically opted-in for that service. A poor implementation of an SMS campaign can have a drastically negative impact due to the fact that receiving SMS messages triggers alerts on mobile devices. Using this type of marketing can feel intrusive to your customers if you are not careful. So be sure customers can opt into our out of your SMS services when marketing and let them know how many texts will be sent regularly. Making promises and keeping them builds trust among your consumers.
Get a good understanding of your audience. Before diving head-first into any mobile marketing campaign, you want to know your money is well-spent by first understanding what preferences your audience has. Do they use their cellphones more than their computers? Which operating systems are in place on their phones? Your audience is sure to respond to a plan that was clearly designed for them. Make sure your content is timely and interesting. You are understandably excited about mobile marketing, but you need to take the time to create content that fills a need. Approach things from your customers' perspective and send out messages they would judge as interesting. Fill the needs and wants of your customers to ensure that they stick with you and continue to buy your products. Instead of using shared short codes, purchase dedicated ones. It can be a little pricey, about $2,000, but it can be linked to your brand. Before too long, there will be people who can recognize the short code you use. This added expense is well worth the legal protection it offers. You could be liable for the abuses of a code sharing company. Always look for ways to better advertise your company, for new opportunities arise constantly. Know your competition and keep careful watch on their new directions. This article should have given you some ideas on how to keep a competitive edge in the innovative world of mobile marketing technologies.
This book is a combination of motivation and how to steps to network yourself to getting more business. Many people hear that networking is a way to grow your business but may not know why or how. This book gives you practical steps and advice on what to do to make networking work for you. It uses stories, examples and advice to help guide you during your journey as an entrepreneur. The book is now available on Amazon at the following links: http://tinyurl.com/networkingforbiz-paperback for a physical copy & http://tinyurl.com/networkingforbiz-Kindle for an e-book copy
How much can you get done if I gave you an assistant for
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