It is of no use having an expensive professionally designed website if no visitors come to it. To drive up the number of people that go to your site it is important to use a number of search engine marketing tips and techniques so that you stay ahead of the competition.
1. Content - To increase the number of hits on your site it is vital to have content that can be classified as "research". Many people browse the net looking for information, or in other words they are researching. You need to make the most of this and create text that is relevant. Today there are many sites that offer pages which have "how to" information or inspirational and helpful articles. Even if such knowledge is not the main aim of your site by creating pages with this information you will draw people in.
2. More Text, Less Graphics - If you don't have much in the way of text on your site then you are less likely to get good rankings in any search engine as there is little for them to read when they are trawling and indexing. You don't necessarily have to do away with nice images; just ensure that you have a decent amount of text as well.
3. Keywords - It cannot be understated how important it is to choose the correct keywords and phrases to embed into your website. These should be relevant and were possible not too broad or popular as you face stiff competition. Think of which phrases and words are most important for each of your web pages.
4. Directories - It is essential to add your website to as many directories as possible. Today there are many more human powered directories that often appear high in search engine rankings. These have become a popular way of being directed to relevant websites.
5. Website coding - You need to ensure that the coding used to develop your web pages has been thoroughly tested with search engines in mind. Sites that use frames and JavaScript navigation do not often get indexed correctly by the search engines. Your JavaScript can be kept in external files.
6. Links - Through correct internal and external links you can dramatically increase the number of visitors to your web site. Try to add links to other sites that are relevant to yours and vice-versa. Make sure that all of your individual pages have correct link structure.
7. Website USP - This is probably the one element that will secure your websites success. What is the unique angle for your site? You can create the same content essentially, as other sites, but presenting your information in a different and unique way is the secret to successful search engine marketing, that will get your results.
Karla Penny | ezinearticles
Showing posts with label Marketing Strategy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marketing Strategy. Show all posts
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
How To Identify a Target Market
Before beginning your advertising campaign, it is important that you first identify your target market. A target market is basically the type of person that will want or need your product or services. By targeting a specific market, you will be able to save money by spending less on marketing and increase marketing. The process of identifying a target market is called market segmentation. Using market segmentation, a business can use a top-down approach to identifying a target group or niche. Once you have identified a niche using target segmentation, you will be able to concentrate your efforts on marketing to attract a specific consumer group.
As a business owner or executive, you have probably heard of using market research
. Market research is the process of using various techniques to collect, analyze, and report data about potential consumer groups. Formal market segmentation requires comprehensive market research. The market research will help you to identify quantitative and qualitative patterns in consumer groups. Quantitative data refers to numbers such as age, income, and family size while qualitative data relies on characteristics such as education, occupation, and personality. There are severals ways you can go about segmenting a population to target a market. Some are more relevant to your business than others. The following describes different aspects of market segmentation that will help you in identifying a niche and maximizing your marketing dollars.
1. Demographics:
* Age: Teenagers targeted by acne medication company.
* Income: A person earning $200,000 is more likely to purchase a Cadillac than a person earning $10,000.
* Family size: Wholesale distributors that keep prices low by selling in bulk would target larger families.
* Education: A calculator company may target high school math students.
* Occupation: A shoe company might sell a shoe targeted for construction workers.
* Gender: A handbag company will target women.
* Nationality/Race: A small business selling foodstuffs from Africa would target the immigrant African community.
2. Geography:
* Region of the world: The shoe company, Puma, most aggressively targets consumers in Latin America and Europe for their soccer shoes.
* Climate: A snow plow manufacturer will target areas where it snows.
3. Behaviors:
* Brand loyalty: Apple targets a niche of consumers loyal to its products.
* Value of quality: Higher-end watch companies like Seiko target consumers that value high-quality timepieces.
4. Psychographic:
* Personality: A person who likes to show off is more likely to buy a Hummer H2 than a reserved person.
* Lifestyle: A shoe company like Vans, that sells skateboarding shoes would target skateboarders with their advertising.
* Interests: Stores that sell arts and crafts materials target hobbyists and students alike.
5. Other Questions to Ask in Market Research:
* Readiness to buy: How soon will they purchase your product?
* Frequency of purchase: How often will they purchase your product?
* How likely are they to purchase your type of product?
* What kind of music do they like?
* What kind of ____(fill in the blank) do they like?
6. Types of Market Research:
* Surveys are the most commonly used and least expensive market research method available. They can be conducted online, in person, or by phone.
* Focus groups are a method by which companies gain feedback on products by asking questions in an interactive group setting. This method might also be used to gain feedback on services, concept, advertisement, ideas, or packaging.
7. An Introduction to Surveys:
* Establish goals of survey. What market segmentation criteria will you use? Ask specific questions so you won't lose sight of your target.
* Sample size. Who will be asked to complete the survey? The sample size should be as random as possible to ensure a variety of different type of people complete it. Also, the greater the sample size the greater the accuracy of the research.
* Method.
1. Personal interview: Ask past customers to answer some of your questions.
2. Telephone: Hire telemarketers to conduct the surveys for you.
3. Mail: Purchase the addresses from direct mailing companies and mail in bulk.
4. Web-based: Search for a website with a survey panel that has existed for a long time and has good results for past clients. You can also conduct your own research by putting surveys on your website or sending e-mail messages with links to your survey.
* Planning the research.
1. How much will the research method take?
2. How long will it take to write and edit a survey?
3. When will you implement the survey?
4. When will you complete the survey and analyze the data?
* Processing and analyzing data.
1. For large market research campaigns with a very large sample size, computer software is a must. You might want to hire a company that conducts surveys or someone familiar with statistics to help you with this aspect.
2. For smaller market research campaigns you can simply look through the surveys and get an idea of what your niche is.
3. Create a report detailing your findings and how it will fit into your marketing plan.
By Daniel A.
howtodothings.com
As a business owner or executive, you have probably heard of using market research
. Market research is the process of using various techniques to collect, analyze, and report data about potential consumer groups. Formal market segmentation requires comprehensive market research. The market research will help you to identify quantitative and qualitative patterns in consumer groups. Quantitative data refers to numbers such as age, income, and family size while qualitative data relies on characteristics such as education, occupation, and personality. There are severals ways you can go about segmenting a population to target a market. Some are more relevant to your business than others. The following describes different aspects of market segmentation that will help you in identifying a niche and maximizing your marketing dollars.
1. Demographics:
* Age: Teenagers targeted by acne medication company.
* Income: A person earning $200,000 is more likely to purchase a Cadillac than a person earning $10,000.
* Family size: Wholesale distributors that keep prices low by selling in bulk would target larger families.
* Education: A calculator company may target high school math students.
* Occupation: A shoe company might sell a shoe targeted for construction workers.
* Gender: A handbag company will target women.
* Nationality/Race: A small business selling foodstuffs from Africa would target the immigrant African community.
2. Geography:
* Region of the world: The shoe company, Puma, most aggressively targets consumers in Latin America and Europe for their soccer shoes.
* Climate: A snow plow manufacturer will target areas where it snows.
3. Behaviors:
* Brand loyalty: Apple targets a niche of consumers loyal to its products.
* Value of quality: Higher-end watch companies like Seiko target consumers that value high-quality timepieces.
4. Psychographic:
* Personality: A person who likes to show off is more likely to buy a Hummer H2 than a reserved person.
* Lifestyle: A shoe company like Vans, that sells skateboarding shoes would target skateboarders with their advertising.
* Interests: Stores that sell arts and crafts materials target hobbyists and students alike.
5. Other Questions to Ask in Market Research:
* Readiness to buy: How soon will they purchase your product?
* Frequency of purchase: How often will they purchase your product?
* How likely are they to purchase your type of product?
* What kind of music do they like?
* What kind of ____(fill in the blank) do they like?
6. Types of Market Research:
* Surveys are the most commonly used and least expensive market research method available. They can be conducted online, in person, or by phone.
* Focus groups are a method by which companies gain feedback on products by asking questions in an interactive group setting. This method might also be used to gain feedback on services, concept, advertisement, ideas, or packaging.
7. An Introduction to Surveys:
* Establish goals of survey. What market segmentation criteria will you use? Ask specific questions so you won't lose sight of your target.
* Sample size. Who will be asked to complete the survey? The sample size should be as random as possible to ensure a variety of different type of people complete it. Also, the greater the sample size the greater the accuracy of the research.
* Method.
1. Personal interview: Ask past customers to answer some of your questions.
2. Telephone: Hire telemarketers to conduct the surveys for you.
3. Mail: Purchase the addresses from direct mailing companies and mail in bulk.
4. Web-based: Search for a website with a survey panel that has existed for a long time and has good results for past clients. You can also conduct your own research by putting surveys on your website or sending e-mail messages with links to your survey.
* Planning the research.
1. How much will the research method take?
2. How long will it take to write and edit a survey?
3. When will you implement the survey?
4. When will you complete the survey and analyze the data?
* Processing and analyzing data.
1. For large market research campaigns with a very large sample size, computer software is a must. You might want to hire a company that conducts surveys or someone familiar with statistics to help you with this aspect.
2. For smaller market research campaigns you can simply look through the surveys and get an idea of what your niche is.
3. Create a report detailing your findings and how it will fit into your marketing plan.
By Daniel A.
howtodothings.com
Friday, July 3, 2009
Five Strategies for Selling During a Recession
During an economic slump, it’s tough for even the best sales professionals to close deals. Downturns prompt executives to slash discretionary spending as companies face intense pressure to show quick returns on investment and once-loyal customers eye cheaper competitors. But some companies still manage to close deals — or at least tee up for renewed sales in the inevitable rebound. Drawing on the successes of IBM and others, Howard Stevens, chairman and CEO of the HR Chally Group, and John Asher, chairman and CEO of sales training firm Asher, offer these five ways to make your sales organization a winner during a recession.
1. Don’t Devalue Your Product
During the 1973 recession, as competitors panicked, IBM made an unusual move: It raised prices. Big Blue took this step after embracing the marketing catchphrase “Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM.” “Most people think in tough times you have to give a special offer or cut prices,” Stevens says. But that ends up devaluing the product — and the salesperson’s reputation. When prices fall dramatically, Stevens says, customers start to believe they were overpaying at the regular price or that the product is so cheap because there’s something wrong with it. Instead of slashing prices, consider offering additional services — such as longer guarantees or additional tech support — to make buyers feel like they’re getting more value for their money.
2. Stay Calm and Focus on Solutions
One of the worst mistakes a sales professional can make during a recession is to panic, says Stevens. Sales reps who act too aggressive or too hungry to make a sale will scare off potential customers, who are already worried about the fate of their own companies — and their jobs. Instead of hysteria, offer calm, focused solutions. “In a downturn, people are more concerned about safety and security than they are about high potential and big gain,” Stevens says. Sales pros should do background research to determine the biggest challenges and threats potential customers face, then shape their sales pitches around ways to minimize those threats.
3. Concentrate on Fewer Leads, but Contact Them More
Asher says his firm’s research shows it takes an average of 12 “contacts” — including e-mails, voice mails, face-to-face meetings, and phone conversations — to make a sale. “That increases in a recession,” he says. During a downturn it can take as many as 16 contacts to close a sale, because factors like tight credit and budget cuts lengthen the decision-making process. In a recession, sales reps should concentrate more of their efforts on a smaller group of potential clients. “The average salesperson will pick 50 prospects and give them just a little attention, usually quitting after three contacts,” Asher says. “Elite salespeople will pick their top 10 prospects and give them 15 or 16 contacts.”
4. Don’t Neglect Your Base
Focusing on new customers is crucial, but don’t ignore your existing customers or assume that they’re safe. Make sure they know their business is appreciated, and spend as much effort reaching out to them as you do contacting potential new clients. After all, it’s your existing clients who will carry you through a recession. “Losing them for the sake of new business will only cost you more in the end,” Stevens says.
5. Upgrade Your Sales Force
Recessions often trigger layoffs or the closure of entire firms, which means that scores of sales professionals are looking for new opportunities. That’s an opportunity for you to give your sales team more muscle. Asher suggests taking advantage of that pool of experienced labor and reorganizing your sales force to maximize its potential. His rule of thumb: Reassign or let go of the bottom third of your underperforming salespeople and replace them with fresh blood. But don’t stop there. Employee training is also essential to boost sales in a recession. Assign senior sales managers, or even executives, to act as personal coaches to the sales force. Meet regularly with your sales reps to review your products and services, discuss strategies and setbacks, and keep people motivated
source : Christina Salerno-www.bnet.com
1. Don’t Devalue Your Product
During the 1973 recession, as competitors panicked, IBM made an unusual move: It raised prices. Big Blue took this step after embracing the marketing catchphrase “Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM.” “Most people think in tough times you have to give a special offer or cut prices,” Stevens says. But that ends up devaluing the product — and the salesperson’s reputation. When prices fall dramatically, Stevens says, customers start to believe they were overpaying at the regular price or that the product is so cheap because there’s something wrong with it. Instead of slashing prices, consider offering additional services — such as longer guarantees or additional tech support — to make buyers feel like they’re getting more value for their money.
2. Stay Calm and Focus on Solutions
One of the worst mistakes a sales professional can make during a recession is to panic, says Stevens. Sales reps who act too aggressive or too hungry to make a sale will scare off potential customers, who are already worried about the fate of their own companies — and their jobs. Instead of hysteria, offer calm, focused solutions. “In a downturn, people are more concerned about safety and security than they are about high potential and big gain,” Stevens says. Sales pros should do background research to determine the biggest challenges and threats potential customers face, then shape their sales pitches around ways to minimize those threats.
3. Concentrate on Fewer Leads, but Contact Them More
Asher says his firm’s research shows it takes an average of 12 “contacts” — including e-mails, voice mails, face-to-face meetings, and phone conversations — to make a sale. “That increases in a recession,” he says. During a downturn it can take as many as 16 contacts to close a sale, because factors like tight credit and budget cuts lengthen the decision-making process. In a recession, sales reps should concentrate more of their efforts on a smaller group of potential clients. “The average salesperson will pick 50 prospects and give them just a little attention, usually quitting after three contacts,” Asher says. “Elite salespeople will pick their top 10 prospects and give them 15 or 16 contacts.”
4. Don’t Neglect Your Base
Focusing on new customers is crucial, but don’t ignore your existing customers or assume that they’re safe. Make sure they know their business is appreciated, and spend as much effort reaching out to them as you do contacting potential new clients. After all, it’s your existing clients who will carry you through a recession. “Losing them for the sake of new business will only cost you more in the end,” Stevens says.
5. Upgrade Your Sales Force
Recessions often trigger layoffs or the closure of entire firms, which means that scores of sales professionals are looking for new opportunities. That’s an opportunity for you to give your sales team more muscle. Asher suggests taking advantage of that pool of experienced labor and reorganizing your sales force to maximize its potential. His rule of thumb: Reassign or let go of the bottom third of your underperforming salespeople and replace them with fresh blood. But don’t stop there. Employee training is also essential to boost sales in a recession. Assign senior sales managers, or even executives, to act as personal coaches to the sales force. Meet regularly with your sales reps to review your products and services, discuss strategies and setbacks, and keep people motivated
source : Christina Salerno-www.bnet.com
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
How to Cut Marketing Costs without Endangering Business Growth
As business owners and/or marketers, we're all under pressure to cut costs. Unfortunately, many business owners get so intent on reducing costs, they lose sight of what it's going to do to the business. It's hard to grow - or even survive - if you don't have any customers.
Reducing marketing costs without screwing up your ability to grow is easier than you might think.
Here are five ways to do that.
Eliminate waste
Over the years I've looked at hundreds of marketing programs, and I can tell you honestly that nearly all of them have some kind of hole that either drains money directly or allows leads to be lost.
Before you cut anything, take a good hard look at what you're doing. Are there programs that aren't delivering the results you anticipated? Fix them or get rid of them.
Is there anything that can't be traced to increasing sales opportunities? Unless you have a pile of extra money, now is not the time to be spending money on marketing efforts that don't generate more leads or develop the ones you have.
Make fewer mistakes
Another way to say this is: turn to people who know what they're doing.
Marketing - which has never been exactly simple - has changed a lot in the past few years. Customers and prospects are in charge now, and they're looking for you online. If you're not on the internet, you're not in the game.
While I admire business owners who try to figure marketing out for themselves, it wastes a lot of time and it leads to mistakes that could be avoided with some experience.
You may not need a proven marketing pro on staff, but if you don't have one somewhere on your team you're probably wasting money.
Nurture what you've got
Successful lead generation programs bring in people in different stages of the buying process. Some are ready to commit more to you than others are. Some are ready to talk to a sales person and some aren't.
Think of any lead generation activity you've ever done: search marketing, email, advertising, telemarketing, networking, trade shows - it doesn't matter. Were all of the people who responded ready to schedule a two-hour demo of your product? Of course not.
But that doesn't make those people any less likely to buy from you in the future as long as you maintain a relationship with them.
If you're one of those businesses that has a bunch of inactive prospects sitting in a database (or on your desk), you may be better off nurturing those people than paying to find new ones. And nurturing leads can be a lot less expensive than generating them in the first place.
Increase conversions - not just inbound leads or traffic
This point is similar to the one above it, but it's important enough to look at from a different angle.
Let's say you have 2000 visitors a month going to your website and 60% of them leave your homepage without going anywhere else. Which do you think would be cheaper, changing your website so that an additional 20% (400 visitors) stay on your site or doubling traffic to the site? The results are the same.
(Hint: if you picked the first option, you're right).
Complex purchases - such as technology, high ticket goods, and ongoing services - are made up of many different conversion points where the buyer decides whether or not to spend any more time with you. Each of those conversion points can be tweaked to pass more prospects through and provide a better return on your investment.
Consider outsourcing
To have a successful marketing program today requires skills in multiple disciplines - some of which didn't even exist a decade or so ago. For example, you need website strategy and development, search engine optimization, paid search marketing, prospect conversion optimization, lead nurturing and web marketing - just to name a few.
Staffing an in-house team with all of this expertise would cost more than most small to mid-sized businesses are willing or able to invest. Yet you can easily - and cost effectively - get this expertise from an outside firm or group of individuals.
source : Susan Tatum - businessknowhow.com
Reducing marketing costs without screwing up your ability to grow is easier than you might think.
Here are five ways to do that.
Eliminate waste
Over the years I've looked at hundreds of marketing programs, and I can tell you honestly that nearly all of them have some kind of hole that either drains money directly or allows leads to be lost.
Before you cut anything, take a good hard look at what you're doing. Are there programs that aren't delivering the results you anticipated? Fix them or get rid of them.
Is there anything that can't be traced to increasing sales opportunities? Unless you have a pile of extra money, now is not the time to be spending money on marketing efforts that don't generate more leads or develop the ones you have.
Make fewer mistakes
Another way to say this is: turn to people who know what they're doing.
Marketing - which has never been exactly simple - has changed a lot in the past few years. Customers and prospects are in charge now, and they're looking for you online. If you're not on the internet, you're not in the game.
While I admire business owners who try to figure marketing out for themselves, it wastes a lot of time and it leads to mistakes that could be avoided with some experience.
You may not need a proven marketing pro on staff, but if you don't have one somewhere on your team you're probably wasting money.
Nurture what you've got
Successful lead generation programs bring in people in different stages of the buying process. Some are ready to commit more to you than others are. Some are ready to talk to a sales person and some aren't.
Think of any lead generation activity you've ever done: search marketing, email, advertising, telemarketing, networking, trade shows - it doesn't matter. Were all of the people who responded ready to schedule a two-hour demo of your product? Of course not.
But that doesn't make those people any less likely to buy from you in the future as long as you maintain a relationship with them.
If you're one of those businesses that has a bunch of inactive prospects sitting in a database (or on your desk), you may be better off nurturing those people than paying to find new ones. And nurturing leads can be a lot less expensive than generating them in the first place.
Increase conversions - not just inbound leads or traffic
This point is similar to the one above it, but it's important enough to look at from a different angle.
Let's say you have 2000 visitors a month going to your website and 60% of them leave your homepage without going anywhere else. Which do you think would be cheaper, changing your website so that an additional 20% (400 visitors) stay on your site or doubling traffic to the site? The results are the same.
(Hint: if you picked the first option, you're right).
Complex purchases - such as technology, high ticket goods, and ongoing services - are made up of many different conversion points where the buyer decides whether or not to spend any more time with you. Each of those conversion points can be tweaked to pass more prospects through and provide a better return on your investment.
Consider outsourcing
To have a successful marketing program today requires skills in multiple disciplines - some of which didn't even exist a decade or so ago. For example, you need website strategy and development, search engine optimization, paid search marketing, prospect conversion optimization, lead nurturing and web marketing - just to name a few.
Staffing an in-house team with all of this expertise would cost more than most small to mid-sized businesses are willing or able to invest. Yet you can easily - and cost effectively - get this expertise from an outside firm or group of individuals.
source : Susan Tatum - businessknowhow.com
Friday, May 29, 2009
4 Ways to Overcome Marketing Challenges Forever
For most small business owners, marketing is an overwhelming concept. They need marketing solutions that ensure a smooth-running, profitable business yet most don't know where to begin or how to focus their efforts.
90% of small businesses don't even have a marketing plan. It's difficult to reach your destination if you don't know where you're going!
If you're a small business owner looking for ease, focus and marketing success, we recommend that you focus on just 4 tactics:
1. Establish a memorable and unmistakeable brand identity:
The secret to business success is determined by your ability to powerfully communicate your business with laser precision and your ability to deliver a clearly-defined and consistent experience.
In a nutshell... it's called branding, and, when done right, it ensures a thriving business with all the customers and profits you need. The secret is to establish a powerful brand identity that sings distinction. And establish that identity before you launch any marketing activities.
2. Create a deep connection with your core target audience - your potential raving fans!
Who wants and needs what you have to offer? The only wrong answer is "everyone." If you're a pediatrician, you may see infants and children. Are they your target audience? No! They are your patients, but it's the parents you need to connect with to get the kids in your door. And it's not just any parents - it's a definite group of parents.
In marketing, you get a lot more "bang for your buck" if you focus your spending on a well-defined group of people that you enjoy working with. The better you define this group, the more effective your marketing can be.
3. Design compelling offerings that pull customers in like a magnet.
80% of all purchase decisions are based on emotion. It's your job as a marketer to know how your customers want to feel and to get them to visualize how your services can meet their needs. People want to know, "What's in it for me?" Tap into the emotion and create offerings that touch your customers.
4. Craft A Personal, Workable Marketing Plan
Marketing is everything you do to make your product or service more visible, more desirable and more profitable. Your marketing plan will clearly define the big picture and provide focus and direction based on the 4 'P's of Marketing - product, price, place/distribution and promotion.
Since 90% of small business owners do not have a plan, you'll have a leg up on your competition by crafting your personal, workable marketing plan to ensure that you reach your business goals.
Following these 4 criteria will transform any small business into a money-making machine guaranteed to grow your client list, sales and profits. The upfront work is the secret to a million-dollar business, literally and figuratively.
source : Leslie Hamp - marketing.about.com
90% of small businesses don't even have a marketing plan. It's difficult to reach your destination if you don't know where you're going!
If you're a small business owner looking for ease, focus and marketing success, we recommend that you focus on just 4 tactics:
1. Establish a memorable and unmistakeable brand identity:
The secret to business success is determined by your ability to powerfully communicate your business with laser precision and your ability to deliver a clearly-defined and consistent experience.
In a nutshell... it's called branding, and, when done right, it ensures a thriving business with all the customers and profits you need. The secret is to establish a powerful brand identity that sings distinction. And establish that identity before you launch any marketing activities.
2. Create a deep connection with your core target audience - your potential raving fans!
Who wants and needs what you have to offer? The only wrong answer is "everyone." If you're a pediatrician, you may see infants and children. Are they your target audience? No! They are your patients, but it's the parents you need to connect with to get the kids in your door. And it's not just any parents - it's a definite group of parents.
In marketing, you get a lot more "bang for your buck" if you focus your spending on a well-defined group of people that you enjoy working with. The better you define this group, the more effective your marketing can be.
3. Design compelling offerings that pull customers in like a magnet.
80% of all purchase decisions are based on emotion. It's your job as a marketer to know how your customers want to feel and to get them to visualize how your services can meet their needs. People want to know, "What's in it for me?" Tap into the emotion and create offerings that touch your customers.
4. Craft A Personal, Workable Marketing Plan
Marketing is everything you do to make your product or service more visible, more desirable and more profitable. Your marketing plan will clearly define the big picture and provide focus and direction based on the 4 'P's of Marketing - product, price, place/distribution and promotion.
Since 90% of small business owners do not have a plan, you'll have a leg up on your competition by crafting your personal, workable marketing plan to ensure that you reach your business goals.
Following these 4 criteria will transform any small business into a money-making machine guaranteed to grow your client list, sales and profits. The upfront work is the secret to a million-dollar business, literally and figuratively.
source : Leslie Hamp - marketing.about.com
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Best Affiliate Marketing Tips Online
The best way to start with an Affiliate Marketing program is to work on a topic you know. This might not provide you with the kind of commission you expect or the best managed program. But it would be easier to start with since you know the subject very well. Later on as you understand the way the marketing program works you can take up other topics and grow.
Putting up lots of banners can only make your site look awful. Users may want to stay away from such sites where there are rows of banners put up. The idea behind the Affiliate Marketing program should be to make money through merchant programs, drive traffic, or improve sales in your website. The way you build your website is very crucial as the purpose of ranking well in search engines is necessary. Put stress on research activities to understand the common difficulty or challenges your visitors may face and offer efficient solutions for the same.
Having a newsletter in your website will allow the visitors access to content from your site on a weekly or monthly basis. This is particularly important for relationship building with them. Sending out informative materials through these newsletters will help in a big way to promote your site. Another great idea would be to allow them to download a report which gives an idea about the services you can offer.
Traffic is important but should be controlled in the right direction. Don't try to buy traffic that is not useful to the kind of marketing you desire. If you want to promote a merchant program then best option would be to promote similar kind of merchants on your site to provide the visitors a range of destinations to get their needs met. Try to create exclusive content on your site so that the visitors can understand what is being offered and click off from your site to the merchant program which best suits their needs. This would improve the revenue of your program and increase its popularity.
Do you want to learn how I build a list and make money online? I've just finished writing a brand new FREE ebook called '7 Steps to Profits and List Building with Article Marketing'.
Download it FREE here: Article Marketing Profits
by : Jason A Osborn
source : ezinearticles
Putting up lots of banners can only make your site look awful. Users may want to stay away from such sites where there are rows of banners put up. The idea behind the Affiliate Marketing program should be to make money through merchant programs, drive traffic, or improve sales in your website. The way you build your website is very crucial as the purpose of ranking well in search engines is necessary. Put stress on research activities to understand the common difficulty or challenges your visitors may face and offer efficient solutions for the same.
Having a newsletter in your website will allow the visitors access to content from your site on a weekly or monthly basis. This is particularly important for relationship building with them. Sending out informative materials through these newsletters will help in a big way to promote your site. Another great idea would be to allow them to download a report which gives an idea about the services you can offer.
Traffic is important but should be controlled in the right direction. Don't try to buy traffic that is not useful to the kind of marketing you desire. If you want to promote a merchant program then best option would be to promote similar kind of merchants on your site to provide the visitors a range of destinations to get their needs met. Try to create exclusive content on your site so that the visitors can understand what is being offered and click off from your site to the merchant program which best suits their needs. This would improve the revenue of your program and increase its popularity.
Do you want to learn how I build a list and make money online? I've just finished writing a brand new FREE ebook called '7 Steps to Profits and List Building with Article Marketing'.
Download it FREE here: Article Marketing Profits
by : Jason A Osborn
source : ezinearticles
Saturday, May 23, 2009
4 Ways to Boost Franchise Sales
Today’s challenge is to empower positive change in your franchise: How to not only win the battle against slumping sales, but also set an easy-to-execute strategy in place to be proactive in any economy.
As the youngest of seven children from a rural town in upstate New York, stretching the dollar in a tough economy was as normal for my family as sunrise. Now, as the president and CEO of a growing franchise organization, dealing with decreasing sales really gets me going. For leaders, sitting back and taking what the economy or the pundits give us is simply not an option.
First, here is what not to do:
* Panic
* Slash prices
* Slash staff
While a pessimist may think that the current economic situation is fate, and all they can do is preserve cash, an optimist (i.e. an entrepreneur) looks at what they can do to get ahead of the issue and create positive results. A franchisee has the benefit of using a system’s wisdom, and the ability to network with peers who share the same goals. More sales result in more brand equity, which strengthens their own business as well as their neighboring franchisee.
Follow these four proactive and simple steps towards increasing your franchise sales:
1. Take a close look at your industry and get your facts straight. Things may not be as grim as they appear. Use this data to make strategic decisions for both short-term and sustainable activity. First, let’s look at some numbers. Our recession is a broad-based look at the overall gross domestic product. It’s not a sector-by-sector breakdown. Your area's economy can be substantially different from those across the country, or even in the next state. Even if this isn’t the case, you can certainly take proactive steps to improve your situation that others may not have the vision or motivation to do.
People talk about value-based selling, or couponing. While these are great strategies and should be deployed, I strongly recommend you understand what’s happening in your market and potential or actual industry first.
Don’t believe the hype. Some industries are doing well (health care, children’s services, quick-service restaurants) while others are lagging indicators of the real economy (vacation rentals, luxury items, etc.). Is the franchise you’re looking to join on the cutting edge, middle, or back-end of consumer trends and economic reality? Timing is crucial to understanding how long you’ll need to commit resources, or what level of activity you need today vs. six months from now.
After you understand this dynamic, then you can start looking at how to increase franchise sales.
2. Listen to your customers. If they’re not talking, get them to start. Surveys, store walks and input from your staff helps you feel the pulse of the business. I was talking to a buddy of mine the other day. We were scrutinizing the players who are staying successful in our respective industries, and discovered a few common traits. The “winning” organizations talk to their customers directly. They send out surveys, they walk the floor. They also look at their customers’ buying habits to gain a clear perspective of their most recent behaviors. If you have a nearby competitor, spend a few minutes in their store or office and see what their culture is. Does the staff make things happen, or do they just take orders rather than sell or drive value?
3. Slashing prices is not the answer--helping customers spend money more easily, is. Discounting is a zero-sum game, and eventually, if you condition your customers to depend on sales and coupons, your business will be slower to rebound when things turn around. I recommend spending time where people are spending money. For instance, I was recently picking up something for Mother’s Day at a store. There were about eight or nine of us waiting in line, with only one register open. Well, needless to say, I had three items and waited my turn, but the two people behind me just muttered and walked out the door. A scenario like this is a sure-fire way to decrease sales.
Nobody wants that to happen in their own business. The two or three people re-stocking the store could have easily jumped on the registers to help. Another example of something easy to fix--how often do we see someone telling a customer why they can’t do something? Make it easy for customers who actually want to spend money right now. If you only take Visa or MasterCard, consider AMEX and Discover. These are not earth-shattering concepts, right?
4. Find new ways to deliver value to your customers. Educating a customer helps them want to do business with you, and keeps value in your position as the supplier of something they want. As a franchisor for nearly 16 years, and having operated a franchise location myself, I’ve seen too many people focus on the problem and not the solution. For example, if one of my photographers (or me) makes a mistake, we try not to refund money or give products away; rather, we offer a discount on a future sale. Two months ago, our team devised a “stimulus package” for our franchisees, identifying two to three aspects of their business that occur in various months. Then, we delivered incentives for our franchisees to use them. Most were geared toward increasing sales of a product or package. Others included new products for fundraisers or nonprofit organizations we’re affiliated with. This helped add value for our customers, and was simply an extension of a product we already have. Therefore, we could offer it to our franchisees for pennies on the dollar. A win-win situation for all.
As you consider your entrepreneurial career, look at your opportunities to increase sales, not just stop the bleeding. Franchising is a terrific model to lean on during tough times, and helps grow sales and profits during the better times. Think about it as if you were the customer. In doing so, you’ll be surprised at some of the things you’d focus on to get yourself to spend more money.
source : Joe Lindenmayer - entrepreneur.com
As the youngest of seven children from a rural town in upstate New York, stretching the dollar in a tough economy was as normal for my family as sunrise. Now, as the president and CEO of a growing franchise organization, dealing with decreasing sales really gets me going. For leaders, sitting back and taking what the economy or the pundits give us is simply not an option.
First, here is what not to do:
* Panic
* Slash prices
* Slash staff
While a pessimist may think that the current economic situation is fate, and all they can do is preserve cash, an optimist (i.e. an entrepreneur) looks at what they can do to get ahead of the issue and create positive results. A franchisee has the benefit of using a system’s wisdom, and the ability to network with peers who share the same goals. More sales result in more brand equity, which strengthens their own business as well as their neighboring franchisee.
Follow these four proactive and simple steps towards increasing your franchise sales:
1. Take a close look at your industry and get your facts straight. Things may not be as grim as they appear. Use this data to make strategic decisions for both short-term and sustainable activity. First, let’s look at some numbers. Our recession is a broad-based look at the overall gross domestic product. It’s not a sector-by-sector breakdown. Your area's economy can be substantially different from those across the country, or even in the next state. Even if this isn’t the case, you can certainly take proactive steps to improve your situation that others may not have the vision or motivation to do.
People talk about value-based selling, or couponing. While these are great strategies and should be deployed, I strongly recommend you understand what’s happening in your market and potential or actual industry first.
Don’t believe the hype. Some industries are doing well (health care, children’s services, quick-service restaurants) while others are lagging indicators of the real economy (vacation rentals, luxury items, etc.). Is the franchise you’re looking to join on the cutting edge, middle, or back-end of consumer trends and economic reality? Timing is crucial to understanding how long you’ll need to commit resources, or what level of activity you need today vs. six months from now.
After you understand this dynamic, then you can start looking at how to increase franchise sales.
2. Listen to your customers. If they’re not talking, get them to start. Surveys, store walks and input from your staff helps you feel the pulse of the business. I was talking to a buddy of mine the other day. We were scrutinizing the players who are staying successful in our respective industries, and discovered a few common traits. The “winning” organizations talk to their customers directly. They send out surveys, they walk the floor. They also look at their customers’ buying habits to gain a clear perspective of their most recent behaviors. If you have a nearby competitor, spend a few minutes in their store or office and see what their culture is. Does the staff make things happen, or do they just take orders rather than sell or drive value?
3. Slashing prices is not the answer--helping customers spend money more easily, is. Discounting is a zero-sum game, and eventually, if you condition your customers to depend on sales and coupons, your business will be slower to rebound when things turn around. I recommend spending time where people are spending money. For instance, I was recently picking up something for Mother’s Day at a store. There were about eight or nine of us waiting in line, with only one register open. Well, needless to say, I had three items and waited my turn, but the two people behind me just muttered and walked out the door. A scenario like this is a sure-fire way to decrease sales.
Nobody wants that to happen in their own business. The two or three people re-stocking the store could have easily jumped on the registers to help. Another example of something easy to fix--how often do we see someone telling a customer why they can’t do something? Make it easy for customers who actually want to spend money right now. If you only take Visa or MasterCard, consider AMEX and Discover. These are not earth-shattering concepts, right?
4. Find new ways to deliver value to your customers. Educating a customer helps them want to do business with you, and keeps value in your position as the supplier of something they want. As a franchisor for nearly 16 years, and having operated a franchise location myself, I’ve seen too many people focus on the problem and not the solution. For example, if one of my photographers (or me) makes a mistake, we try not to refund money or give products away; rather, we offer a discount on a future sale. Two months ago, our team devised a “stimulus package” for our franchisees, identifying two to three aspects of their business that occur in various months. Then, we delivered incentives for our franchisees to use them. Most were geared toward increasing sales of a product or package. Others included new products for fundraisers or nonprofit organizations we’re affiliated with. This helped add value for our customers, and was simply an extension of a product we already have. Therefore, we could offer it to our franchisees for pennies on the dollar. A win-win situation for all.
As you consider your entrepreneurial career, look at your opportunities to increase sales, not just stop the bleeding. Franchising is a terrific model to lean on during tough times, and helps grow sales and profits during the better times. Think about it as if you were the customer. In doing so, you’ll be surprised at some of the things you’d focus on to get yourself to spend more money.
source : Joe Lindenmayer - entrepreneur.com
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
6 Crucial Steps to choosing the right marketing partner for growth
In this ‘do more with less’ economy, is there a way that your small to mid-sized company can tap into the marketing minds that the big guys are paying for? Absolutely. This is a great time to discover a Lean and Mean Marketing provider willing to partner with your entrepreneurial spirit. Here’s how to choose a marketing partner in this lean and mean economy:
Look into the track records of the agency principals. Were they performing at a Director’s level at a big ad agency? If so, for how long? It makes a difference - too long, and they may be disconnected with the trends of customized marketing solutions. On the other hand, if they left their agency before the ink had dried on their new business cards, they may not have enough marketing insight.
Look beyond clever headlines. These are the price of entry in the advertising world, and if their portfolio does not include solid SEO copywriting services, customized marketing solutions and a proven track record in measured results, keep looking.
Stay away from victims. If a new agency still has a bitter pill that’s only half swallowed from a bad break, they’re definitely not ready to move on and focus on helping your business to grow. Who has time for self pity? If you want to grow in this economy, you need focused marketing insight, fueled by positive energy.
Choose a leader. It’s not unusual to discover an executive level marketing director or creative director working hard to establish their own marketing company. Grab this opportunity. If your start-up can benefit from experienced customized marketing solutions from the former director of a large advertising agency, it’s your lucky day.
Be wary of the SEO Guru. Instead, seek out solid and proven SEO copywriting services by asking for an optimization tour of the websites associated with any so-called expert. It’s hard to know whether someone is a true SEO Guru, since tracking qualified SEO copywriting services remains a relatively new discipline. After all, web lift and traffic increases at your site may not happen for months, you need to choose wisely.
Work with folks who learn about, then get excited about your product or service. The best ad guys and marketing professionals live to match up people with services or products that make their lives better. This makes them very responsive to new products, and usually pretty fun to be around. If you find someone who’s fitting you in between the ‘real clients’, move on. An engaged marketing professional will bring incredible value and marketing insight, beyond your greatest expectations.
This is the day of the new entrepreneur. The best marketing professionals keep their eyes open for intriguing products and services that break away from corporate limits. And companies that discover a lean and mean marketing partner are in a great position for phenomenal growth - even in a challenging economy like the one we’re experiencing now.
source : Kathy Fawcett - phblogger.net
Look into the track records of the agency principals. Were they performing at a Director’s level at a big ad agency? If so, for how long? It makes a difference - too long, and they may be disconnected with the trends of customized marketing solutions. On the other hand, if they left their agency before the ink had dried on their new business cards, they may not have enough marketing insight.
Look beyond clever headlines. These are the price of entry in the advertising world, and if their portfolio does not include solid SEO copywriting services, customized marketing solutions and a proven track record in measured results, keep looking.
Stay away from victims. If a new agency still has a bitter pill that’s only half swallowed from a bad break, they’re definitely not ready to move on and focus on helping your business to grow. Who has time for self pity? If you want to grow in this economy, you need focused marketing insight, fueled by positive energy.
Choose a leader. It’s not unusual to discover an executive level marketing director or creative director working hard to establish their own marketing company. Grab this opportunity. If your start-up can benefit from experienced customized marketing solutions from the former director of a large advertising agency, it’s your lucky day.
Be wary of the SEO Guru. Instead, seek out solid and proven SEO copywriting services by asking for an optimization tour of the websites associated with any so-called expert. It’s hard to know whether someone is a true SEO Guru, since tracking qualified SEO copywriting services remains a relatively new discipline. After all, web lift and traffic increases at your site may not happen for months, you need to choose wisely.
Work with folks who learn about, then get excited about your product or service. The best ad guys and marketing professionals live to match up people with services or products that make their lives better. This makes them very responsive to new products, and usually pretty fun to be around. If you find someone who’s fitting you in between the ‘real clients’, move on. An engaged marketing professional will bring incredible value and marketing insight, beyond your greatest expectations.
This is the day of the new entrepreneur. The best marketing professionals keep their eyes open for intriguing products and services that break away from corporate limits. And companies that discover a lean and mean marketing partner are in a great position for phenomenal growth - even in a challenging economy like the one we’re experiencing now.
source : Kathy Fawcett - phblogger.net
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Customer flood with Cross Marketing Strategy
A successful marketing efforts do not always have to provide unique product or service. However, based on the success of their growing customer base through effective marketing, and provide superior service, support and follow-up to provide a different experience for the customers and make them come back.
Cross marketing is an effort to expand customer base with an effective way, namely by making the cooperation between the two companies that have the customer base with the same demographic. Demographics such as the age level, gender, economic level and earnings.
Cross marketing is not free to give vouchers to customers for the next visit to your store. However, provides a selling program for customer to other companies who have worked together.
For example, a supermarket that has hundreds of thousands of card member, quote discount service salon and spa at partner companies, just show their supermarket member card. This campaign is a form of mutual benefit.
For customers, this is a clear added value that arouse interest, with only one card member, he will get discounts on the favorite shop. For the supermarket member card issuer, this is very important to keep their customer do not shopping move to another shop, considering the value added that they will get. The companies that provide discounts of this campaign the most effective, without advertising to radio, tv, newspapers or the internet, automatically their customer list will grow up fast.
Other examples such as a printing company that provides services of making business cards free for other companies, only with the names and phone numbers printing on the corner back side of the card name. Printing telephone number, although only printed with the font that is very small, will be the circulating virus by itself. Get to the lawyers, doctors, corporate marketing managers, or even can be outstanding mothers club.
If the print quality and design that make it very good, the card can talk to bring a lot of print orders. See a good card, it will cause a feeling curious to know who makes printing. And this means printing your order will be flooded in a short time.
Doing cross marketing must consider several things including:
1. Companies that collaborate are not competitors. Companies must have a different product, such as a supermarket with a beauty shop, spa, fitness centre, karaoke, car garage and gas station.
2. This company must have a customer base with the same demographic. If the supermarkets in cooperation with the heavy equipment, will not necessarily match.
3. Companies in this cooperation must be mutually maintaining a good reputation who joined the company in the group with the prime services.
4. Companies that joined the program must be consistent with the campaign that are exchanged. For example, if conditions get 25% discount spa services for each customer which showing the member card Supermarket A, then the company must be truly give it without a lot of questions again.
5. Companies that have joined in the group is not allowed to join the competitor groups.
If all goes according to the frame that has been agree on, of course will bring the benefits of the respective companies are incorporated therein. Cross marketing more effective if companies have joined have good awarness, let alone who has high trust level.
source : marketingtulen
Cross marketing is an effort to expand customer base with an effective way, namely by making the cooperation between the two companies that have the customer base with the same demographic. Demographics such as the age level, gender, economic level and earnings.
Cross marketing is not free to give vouchers to customers for the next visit to your store. However, provides a selling program for customer to other companies who have worked together.
For example, a supermarket that has hundreds of thousands of card member, quote discount service salon and spa at partner companies, just show their supermarket member card. This campaign is a form of mutual benefit.
For customers, this is a clear added value that arouse interest, with only one card member, he will get discounts on the favorite shop. For the supermarket member card issuer, this is very important to keep their customer do not shopping move to another shop, considering the value added that they will get. The companies that provide discounts of this campaign the most effective, without advertising to radio, tv, newspapers or the internet, automatically their customer list will grow up fast.
Other examples such as a printing company that provides services of making business cards free for other companies, only with the names and phone numbers printing on the corner back side of the card name. Printing telephone number, although only printed with the font that is very small, will be the circulating virus by itself. Get to the lawyers, doctors, corporate marketing managers, or even can be outstanding mothers club.
If the print quality and design that make it very good, the card can talk to bring a lot of print orders. See a good card, it will cause a feeling curious to know who makes printing. And this means printing your order will be flooded in a short time.
Doing cross marketing must consider several things including:
1. Companies that collaborate are not competitors. Companies must have a different product, such as a supermarket with a beauty shop, spa, fitness centre, karaoke, car garage and gas station.
2. This company must have a customer base with the same demographic. If the supermarkets in cooperation with the heavy equipment, will not necessarily match.
3. Companies in this cooperation must be mutually maintaining a good reputation who joined the company in the group with the prime services.
4. Companies that joined the program must be consistent with the campaign that are exchanged. For example, if conditions get 25% discount spa services for each customer which showing the member card Supermarket A, then the company must be truly give it without a lot of questions again.
5. Companies that have joined in the group is not allowed to join the competitor groups.
If all goes according to the frame that has been agree on, of course will bring the benefits of the respective companies are incorporated therein. Cross marketing more effective if companies have joined have good awarness, let alone who has high trust level.
source : marketingtulen
Saturday, April 18, 2009
7 Steps to the Perfect Marketing Plan
One of the most powerful strategic planning tools your business can possess is a marketing plan. I'm not referring to an academic exercise found in college marketing textbooks. Your marketing plan should be a simple (in some cases, one-page) document that specifically answers who you are, what you do, who needs what you do and how you plan to attract their attention. It's a combination of the planning process and the completed action plan.
Follow these seven simple steps to build the perfect marketing plan:
Step 1: Narrow your market focus. Try to describe your ideal customer in the narrowest and most detailed terms possible, as though you're describing him or her to a referral source
Step 2: Position your business. Figure out what you do best and what your target market wants. Maybe it's how you serve a niche or package your products. If you don't know what it is, call up three or four of your clients and ask them why they buy from you. Craft a core marketing message that allows you to quickly differentiate your business.
Step 3: Create education-based marketing materials. Recreate all your marketing materials, including your website, to focus on education. Make certain every word in your marketing materials speaks of your core messages and to your target market.
Step 4: Never cold call. Make sure all your advertising is geared toward creating prospects, not customers. You must find ways to educate before you sell. Your target market needs to learn how you provide value in a way that makes them want to pay a premium for your services or products. You simply can't do this in a 3-inch-by-4-inch ad. Your ad must get viewers to ask for more information. Then you can proceed to selling. Determine all the ways you can get your education-based messages in front of your narrowly defined target market.
Step 5: Earn media attention. Create a list of journalists who cover your industry or community, and build relationships with each by becoming a reliable resource of information. Plan out an entire year of new items you can promote by season or event.
Step 6: Expect referrals. Create a referral marketing engine that systematically turns each client and referral network into a kind of unpaid sales pro. You must instill a referral marketing mind-set into your business's culture. Do this by making every customer a marketing and referral contact. Map every contact and build processes that focus on referrals.
Step 7: Live by a calendar. After you complete steps 1 through 6, determine what you need to do to put them into action. Then create an annual marketing calendar, noting the required monthly, weekly and daily appointments necessary to move your plan forward.
By John Jantsch
source : entrepreneur.com
Follow these seven simple steps to build the perfect marketing plan:
Step 1: Narrow your market focus. Try to describe your ideal customer in the narrowest and most detailed terms possible, as though you're describing him or her to a referral source
Step 2: Position your business. Figure out what you do best and what your target market wants. Maybe it's how you serve a niche or package your products. If you don't know what it is, call up three or four of your clients and ask them why they buy from you. Craft a core marketing message that allows you to quickly differentiate your business.
Step 3: Create education-based marketing materials. Recreate all your marketing materials, including your website, to focus on education. Make certain every word in your marketing materials speaks of your core messages and to your target market.
Step 4: Never cold call. Make sure all your advertising is geared toward creating prospects, not customers. You must find ways to educate before you sell. Your target market needs to learn how you provide value in a way that makes them want to pay a premium for your services or products. You simply can't do this in a 3-inch-by-4-inch ad. Your ad must get viewers to ask for more information. Then you can proceed to selling. Determine all the ways you can get your education-based messages in front of your narrowly defined target market.
Step 5: Earn media attention. Create a list of journalists who cover your industry or community, and build relationships with each by becoming a reliable resource of information. Plan out an entire year of new items you can promote by season or event.
Step 6: Expect referrals. Create a referral marketing engine that systematically turns each client and referral network into a kind of unpaid sales pro. You must instill a referral marketing mind-set into your business's culture. Do this by making every customer a marketing and referral contact. Map every contact and build processes that focus on referrals.
Step 7: Live by a calendar. After you complete steps 1 through 6, determine what you need to do to put them into action. Then create an annual marketing calendar, noting the required monthly, weekly and daily appointments necessary to move your plan forward.
By John Jantsch
source : entrepreneur.com
Tips To Authentically Market With Soul
By: Kendall Summerhawk
The idea of mixing effective marketing with soul can, for some, seem like trying to mix oil and vinegar. If your marketing is angled to get results, then isn’t it too “hard sell” to be soulful; but if you lean towards giving your marketing more soul, will it actually reap results?
Clearly, there are tons of marketers out there who have zero soul. It’s all about reaching their numbers and they couldn’t care less about what they sell or who they sell it too.
But as distasteful as what those people do is, it would be a mistake to think that is what marketing has to look or sound like.
Honestly, I think that BECAUSE you are a soul-preneur™ you’re actually in a BETTER position to market in a way that is amazingly effective, powerful AND speaks from your heart.
While I’ve always been authentic in how I run my business, it wasn’t until just a few years ago that I finally figured out HOW to artfully blend marketing and soul so that my business continues to grow and thrive, AND, I’m staying true to my integrity and the heart of my soul.
Clearly, the system I’ve figured out works, since my business has now skyrocketed into 7-figures and the same strategies have helped a number of my clients slide right into 6-figures.
But since many soul-preneurs don’t know how to comfortably or confidently weave together the marketing tactics proven to work, with the powerful, emotional language of our spirit, I want to give you three AUTHENTIC tips you can use right now so your marketing message has a clear, specific impact, AND, always speaks the truth of who you are.
Marketing and Soul Tip #1 - Always Tie Your Client Results Back To Your Bigger “Why”
Each of us has a bigger “WHY” that motivates us to do what we do. But when you speak or write about client results, do you tie in those results to your bigger why? If not, you’re missing out on helping your listener or reader link practical results with an authentic, compelling emotion.
For example, my bigger “why” is because I want people to love who they are and what they do. That’s my Soul’s Divine Purpose™. I link that to the marketing message of “putting more money in your purse.” So every time I write or speak about a client success I make sure to mention not only how much more they’re making, but how they’re making more doing what they love, with the clients they enjoy best.
Marketing and Soul Tip #2 - Ask For The Sale From A Place Of Love
If you normally shy away from asking for a sale (or writing a clear call to action in your sales letter or newsletter) then you’re not letting yourself love your potential client enough to help them. Stop holding back and instead give your reader or listener a clear, specific step to take that moves them closer to making a purchase so you can be of service to them.
Marketing and Soul Tip #3 - Include Words That Represent Your Integrity Into All Of Your Marketing Copy
Of course you have great values and integrity but how often do you specifically weave those words and phrases into your marketing?
For example: My values include honesty, high-quality, reliability, passion, energy and constant forward motion.
So, in every article, Tweet, blog post or presentation I make sure these values are clearly expressed. I don’t just tell people my values (which no one would really take an interest in); I PROVE them by speaking FROM the place of those values. I use words that describe my core values within each article or blog post. Or I write about situations where those values were challenged and upheld, no matter what. And of course, the client stories I tell confirm I’m someone who walks her talk. This creates trust, credibility and a consistently authentic sense of who I am to my reader or listener.
Marketing With Soul Is Simple If You Remember This…
You don’t have to choose between marketing effectively and being “real.” You only need to remember that marketing is connecting with people and helping move them forward into action. So keep focused on the ONE action you want them to take, then connect to your compelling reason why they must take this action.
You’ll quickly find that you’re easily and authentically marketing with soul…and with the results to prove it!
source : articlesbase
The idea of mixing effective marketing with soul can, for some, seem like trying to mix oil and vinegar. If your marketing is angled to get results, then isn’t it too “hard sell” to be soulful; but if you lean towards giving your marketing more soul, will it actually reap results?
Clearly, there are tons of marketers out there who have zero soul. It’s all about reaching their numbers and they couldn’t care less about what they sell or who they sell it too.
But as distasteful as what those people do is, it would be a mistake to think that is what marketing has to look or sound like.
Honestly, I think that BECAUSE you are a soul-preneur™ you’re actually in a BETTER position to market in a way that is amazingly effective, powerful AND speaks from your heart.
While I’ve always been authentic in how I run my business, it wasn’t until just a few years ago that I finally figured out HOW to artfully blend marketing and soul so that my business continues to grow and thrive, AND, I’m staying true to my integrity and the heart of my soul.
Clearly, the system I’ve figured out works, since my business has now skyrocketed into 7-figures and the same strategies have helped a number of my clients slide right into 6-figures.
But since many soul-preneurs don’t know how to comfortably or confidently weave together the marketing tactics proven to work, with the powerful, emotional language of our spirit, I want to give you three AUTHENTIC tips you can use right now so your marketing message has a clear, specific impact, AND, always speaks the truth of who you are.
Marketing and Soul Tip #1 - Always Tie Your Client Results Back To Your Bigger “Why”
Each of us has a bigger “WHY” that motivates us to do what we do. But when you speak or write about client results, do you tie in those results to your bigger why? If not, you’re missing out on helping your listener or reader link practical results with an authentic, compelling emotion.
For example, my bigger “why” is because I want people to love who they are and what they do. That’s my Soul’s Divine Purpose™. I link that to the marketing message of “putting more money in your purse.” So every time I write or speak about a client success I make sure to mention not only how much more they’re making, but how they’re making more doing what they love, with the clients they enjoy best.
Marketing and Soul Tip #2 - Ask For The Sale From A Place Of Love
If you normally shy away from asking for a sale (or writing a clear call to action in your sales letter or newsletter) then you’re not letting yourself love your potential client enough to help them. Stop holding back and instead give your reader or listener a clear, specific step to take that moves them closer to making a purchase so you can be of service to them.
Marketing and Soul Tip #3 - Include Words That Represent Your Integrity Into All Of Your Marketing Copy
Of course you have great values and integrity but how often do you specifically weave those words and phrases into your marketing?
For example: My values include honesty, high-quality, reliability, passion, energy and constant forward motion.
So, in every article, Tweet, blog post or presentation I make sure these values are clearly expressed. I don’t just tell people my values (which no one would really take an interest in); I PROVE them by speaking FROM the place of those values. I use words that describe my core values within each article or blog post. Or I write about situations where those values were challenged and upheld, no matter what. And of course, the client stories I tell confirm I’m someone who walks her talk. This creates trust, credibility and a consistently authentic sense of who I am to my reader or listener.
Marketing With Soul Is Simple If You Remember This…
You don’t have to choose between marketing effectively and being “real.” You only need to remember that marketing is connecting with people and helping move them forward into action. So keep focused on the ONE action you want them to take, then connect to your compelling reason why they must take this action.
You’ll quickly find that you’re easily and authentically marketing with soul…and with the results to prove it!
source : articlesbase
Monday, April 6, 2009
Marketing Strategy in the Business Perspective
Marketing strategies that can be used to sell the product your business:
Conventional Sales
Sales of the ordinary going on in each hand (resellers) will reach the destiny of the product sold. For example the product is sold in shops or supermarkets.
Consignment
Often used many vendors or company or with a kind sale. Company menitipjualkan their product to the reseller. Examples are books in a large bookstore, or eat a big stall.
Direst Selling
Is a sales strategy to market products directly to consumers, no longer passing through the hands per hand. For example credit card offers, insurance, membership card, a bank product, and so forth.
Telemarketing
Means selling long distance, usually to the sales through focused sound. For example a bank credit card issuer or a large computer company.
Member Get Member (MGM)
Strategies that take advantage of consumers who have to reach new consumers. Nearly all the publisher or the phone company had to use this trick.
Cross Selling
Means to sell product to the consumer the same directly. Almost the same as MGM, which is more focused to the customer.
Take One Boxes
Sales strategy is simple, but very effective, because this method always standby all the time and cost little. For example in the preferred credit card, membership, property and spread with brochures and application form.
TV Shopping
Means that the sales through television. For example in Indonesia, have DRTV media or other TV shopping.
Mail Order
Is the sales made through postal mail or post. Examples are the sale of product accessories, beauty accessories, and others.
Phone Shopping
There is no direct power marketers such as telemarketing, the only sales that receive the phone. Almost similar to the mail order, just phone payment shopping through cash, credit cards or transfer after goods received.
Referral Company
Strategies that take advantage of other companies whose products vary, but there is a relation akan marketed product from your company. For example computer store that offers the service ISP (Internet Service Provider).
Multi Level Marketing (MLM)
Many tips for running MLM strategy. However, most importantly, if it is to follow a MLM network, there is no restriction for the other MLM.
E-Commerce
Sales strategy through the Internet, without a product even if it offered even. For example beritanet.com, andipublisher.com, and so forth.
Affiliate Program
Sales program is that the site banner ad company to other companies. The affiliate program is also called the company referral era virtual world.
Viral Marketing
Program is a combination of network marketing and the Internet. Marketing is not MLM, not just e-commerce, and implemented in an offline and online.
Source: Book "Selling Art: Business Perspective, Ide-Ide Sales And Marketing Strategies"
Author: Ali Arifin
Publisher: Andi Offset
Conventional Sales
Sales of the ordinary going on in each hand (resellers) will reach the destiny of the product sold. For example the product is sold in shops or supermarkets.
Consignment
Often used many vendors or company or with a kind sale. Company menitipjualkan their product to the reseller. Examples are books in a large bookstore, or eat a big stall.
Direst Selling
Is a sales strategy to market products directly to consumers, no longer passing through the hands per hand. For example credit card offers, insurance, membership card, a bank product, and so forth.
Telemarketing
Means selling long distance, usually to the sales through focused sound. For example a bank credit card issuer or a large computer company.
Member Get Member (MGM)
Strategies that take advantage of consumers who have to reach new consumers. Nearly all the publisher or the phone company had to use this trick.
Cross Selling
Means to sell product to the consumer the same directly. Almost the same as MGM, which is more focused to the customer.
Take One Boxes
Sales strategy is simple, but very effective, because this method always standby all the time and cost little. For example in the preferred credit card, membership, property and spread with brochures and application form.
TV Shopping
Means that the sales through television. For example in Indonesia, have DRTV media or other TV shopping.
Mail Order
Is the sales made through postal mail or post. Examples are the sale of product accessories, beauty accessories, and others.
Phone Shopping
There is no direct power marketers such as telemarketing, the only sales that receive the phone. Almost similar to the mail order, just phone payment shopping through cash, credit cards or transfer after goods received.
Referral Company
Strategies that take advantage of other companies whose products vary, but there is a relation akan marketed product from your company. For example computer store that offers the service ISP (Internet Service Provider).
Multi Level Marketing (MLM)
Many tips for running MLM strategy. However, most importantly, if it is to follow a MLM network, there is no restriction for the other MLM.
E-Commerce
Sales strategy through the Internet, without a product even if it offered even. For example beritanet.com, andipublisher.com, and so forth.
Affiliate Program
Sales program is that the site banner ad company to other companies. The affiliate program is also called the company referral era virtual world.
Viral Marketing
Program is a combination of network marketing and the Internet. Marketing is not MLM, not just e-commerce, and implemented in an offline and online.
Source: Book "Selling Art: Business Perspective, Ide-Ide Sales And Marketing Strategies"
Author: Ali Arifin
Publisher: Andi Offset
