Whats the magic word in marketing? Yeah, thats right FREE! Its the basic foundation of Marketing 101. That four-letter word captures attention, and spells success.
Now for the big question, Are you implementing it? Nope, those old clearance items that you havent been able to get rid of for the past decade dont count. Im talking about the real deal something thats worth something just being given away, no strings attached and no hidden costs.
Chances are that youre probably just like the rest of us, and are afraid to really give something away. Heck, it costs a LOT of money to just throw products out the window to everyone who looks your way. We know how many people are out there like leaches, just looking for a handout, right?
Maybe then again, maybe we cut ourselves out of a big bunch of profit by being cheapskates. Thats right, cheapskates!
Think about this. How can you effectively describe the taste of a crisp salad with all the trimmings, and a hot steaming turkey sandwich? Arent there a dozen restaurants that serve the same menu?
Would a restaurant owner be a fool to give away 1000 FREE lunches instead of trying to say in words when the tantalizing aroma, succulent tastes, and tasteful appearance can do convince in a way no words could ever? Sure, it might cost $5000, but how much higher would conversion rates be?
It sure doesnt take long to rack up a $5000 dollar advertising bill with local TV and radio stations, or the newspaper. Will they net as many converted consumers?
Maybe youre not into the food industry, but there is something you can give away that will have the same affect. Maybe its a free informational seminar, a free oil change, a free subscription, or a free haircut.
The key is to get them in the door, and wow them with the best youve got to offer. Believe me, consumers know when theyve been handed cast-offs and when theyve been wined and dined like royalty. You judge which is more effective?
Most of us have come to expect the hidden agendas of giveaways. When we accept a gift, were looking for the catch. Its a pleasant surprise to come across the real deal. Were taken aback. We scratch our heads and wonder, but deep inside theres a warm fuzzy that sticks around. We remember genuine generosity!
The next time youre looking for a way to increase revenue, and are tempted to take the cheap way out, curb the urge. Go all out and treat your customers to an old-fashioned, honest-to-goodness FREE gift. See what happens!
Hey, I didnt say it would be easy or that it wouldnt take guts! Just remember that sometimes the biggest risks pay off big, and that risk takers often come out on top. Go the extra mile, and stand out above the competition even if it scares you a little bit.
2007年12月9日星期日
2007年11月28日星期三
Take A Free Marketing Lesson From Martha Stewart
A Free Lesson in Marketing from Martha Stewart
Think you have to pay hundreds of dollars for marketing advice and help, not at all. Enjoy a free lesson form one of the best, Martha Stewart.
I will recount for you my free lesson. The other day I happened to be at home during a week day. I felt I needed some entertainment so I turned on the TV. There was Martha Stewart just beginning her weekday show.
The show began with Martha greeting her audience and then telling them what she did over the weekend. Ho hum, you say, but wait. Martha tells her audience how she is on a book tour and that while promoting her book she was on the Tonight Show with Borat. (Sacha Baron Cohen, the actor /comedian). Then she mentions how crazy he is and shows her audience a video clip from the Tonight show with her, Jay Leno and Borat attempting to make a bed.
So, in case you missed it. Martha, or her marketing team, went from a straight up promotion of her book to linking herself (which is her brand) with one of the top grossing films in the USA and linking her own video clip with one of the most searched keywords on the internet Borat. She then tells her audience to check out the video at Youtube.com Talk about search engine optimization, wow. Martha has integrated her brand into a top level key word search in a matter of minutes but not just key words but images and video.
Of course her marketing team is aware that she is a regular on Youtube as the butt of many jokes and parodies so why not use her own video on Youtube.com to drive traffic to the Martha Stewart web site and who better to link her with than a high profile person with a movie and who has a super high ranking in the search engines.
But wait there is more. In the next few moments of her intro to the show she responds to a viewer email. The question is how does she maintain her wonderfully white teeth? She explains that she has naturally good teeth but she uses ( here it comes) A certain brand of electronic tooth brush and then she calls in a dentist to show how to get the best results from the brush. She follows the whole thing up by saying go to Martha Stewart.com to get all the details.
Sony maybe the king of product placement but Martha is hot on their heels.
In less that five minutes Martha has promoted her book, linked her brand with the top grossing film in the US and highest ranking search on the internet, provided content for Youtube, and provided content for her viewers.
Can you market like Martha? Sure you can.
Lets see how. First remember Martha is her own brand and she is also a life style. She promotes not just her products ,her books and TV show but a way of living. But for the average small business here are the lessons.
First if you do not have a web site, get one. They are one of the best returns on business advertising investment you will make. You can now find easy to use do it yourself basic sites for very little money. For help and resources check out my profile box at the end of this article. There are lots of inexpensive easy to use choices.
Next what to put on your web site? Provide information about your business or service, hours, location, product line ,phone numbers, email, and fax number, your address and zip code, email address. Also any helpful information about your product or service.
Why is this so important? Because Google will bring your information up with Google maps every time someone looks for directions or a business in your area. Now that cell phones have search and GPS this is becoming the way people find products and services.
Next to make sure Google finds you go to their Google local page and sign up to list your small business web site, it is free and believe me it will help your small business in many unexpected ways.
Again taking a tip from Martha, give your target consumer what they want. Provide information details, helpful hints whatever will help them decide to purchase your service or product.
Still another tip from Martha offer a special discount or price if the customer lets you know they visited your web site. Keep in mind your web site will work for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year so reward the visitor who uses it to find you.
And finally pictures and video. If either will help sell your product or service by all means use them. Pictures of your staff, your office, your service, your product. Internet search is now adopting image search and making that a choice when you search for something. Adding some video does not need to be elaborate, a short two minute clip using your digital still cameras video feature is fine. Keep it short and to the point. Two minutes is great maximum four minutes. This will help people find your product or service when they search.
The reason web sites, internet search, images and video are so important now is the wide spread availability of broad band internet service and the cell phones GPS and search functions. The cell phone is now an essential tool, not just for business users but for people in general so take some free marketing tips from Martha and help your small business succeed.
Think you have to pay hundreds of dollars for marketing advice and help, not at all. Enjoy a free lesson form one of the best, Martha Stewart.
I will recount for you my free lesson. The other day I happened to be at home during a week day. I felt I needed some entertainment so I turned on the TV. There was Martha Stewart just beginning her weekday show.
The show began with Martha greeting her audience and then telling them what she did over the weekend. Ho hum, you say, but wait. Martha tells her audience how she is on a book tour and that while promoting her book she was on the Tonight Show with Borat. (Sacha Baron Cohen, the actor /comedian). Then she mentions how crazy he is and shows her audience a video clip from the Tonight show with her, Jay Leno and Borat attempting to make a bed.
So, in case you missed it. Martha, or her marketing team, went from a straight up promotion of her book to linking herself (which is her brand) with one of the top grossing films in the USA and linking her own video clip with one of the most searched keywords on the internet Borat. She then tells her audience to check out the video at Youtube.com Talk about search engine optimization, wow. Martha has integrated her brand into a top level key word search in a matter of minutes but not just key words but images and video.
Of course her marketing team is aware that she is a regular on Youtube as the butt of many jokes and parodies so why not use her own video on Youtube.com to drive traffic to the Martha Stewart web site and who better to link her with than a high profile person with a movie and who has a super high ranking in the search engines.
But wait there is more. In the next few moments of her intro to the show she responds to a viewer email. The question is how does she maintain her wonderfully white teeth? She explains that she has naturally good teeth but she uses ( here it comes) A certain brand of electronic tooth brush and then she calls in a dentist to show how to get the best results from the brush. She follows the whole thing up by saying go to Martha Stewart.com to get all the details.
Sony maybe the king of product placement but Martha is hot on their heels.
In less that five minutes Martha has promoted her book, linked her brand with the top grossing film in the US and highest ranking search on the internet, provided content for Youtube, and provided content for her viewers.
Can you market like Martha? Sure you can.
Lets see how. First remember Martha is her own brand and she is also a life style. She promotes not just her products ,her books and TV show but a way of living. But for the average small business here are the lessons.
First if you do not have a web site, get one. They are one of the best returns on business advertising investment you will make. You can now find easy to use do it yourself basic sites for very little money. For help and resources check out my profile box at the end of this article. There are lots of inexpensive easy to use choices.
Next what to put on your web site? Provide information about your business or service, hours, location, product line ,phone numbers, email, and fax number, your address and zip code, email address. Also any helpful information about your product or service.
Why is this so important? Because Google will bring your information up with Google maps every time someone looks for directions or a business in your area. Now that cell phones have search and GPS this is becoming the way people find products and services.
Next to make sure Google finds you go to their Google local page and sign up to list your small business web site, it is free and believe me it will help your small business in many unexpected ways.
Again taking a tip from Martha, give your target consumer what they want. Provide information details, helpful hints whatever will help them decide to purchase your service or product.
Still another tip from Martha offer a special discount or price if the customer lets you know they visited your web site. Keep in mind your web site will work for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year so reward the visitor who uses it to find you.
And finally pictures and video. If either will help sell your product or service by all means use them. Pictures of your staff, your office, your service, your product. Internet search is now adopting image search and making that a choice when you search for something. Adding some video does not need to be elaborate, a short two minute clip using your digital still cameras video feature is fine. Keep it short and to the point. Two minutes is great maximum four minutes. This will help people find your product or service when they search.
The reason web sites, internet search, images and video are so important now is the wide spread availability of broad band internet service and the cell phones GPS and search functions. The cell phone is now an essential tool, not just for business users but for people in general so take some free marketing tips from Martha and help your small business succeed.
2007年8月31日星期五
How To Write A Resource Box so it Makes People click
The internet is the information highway, this phrase has been used so may time it should be nominated for the Internet Cliche Award. People that go to the internet are subdivided into groups, but generally, they are out to search information. Whether for gaming, business, fun or anything else the internet has provided us with information that has proved to be very beneficial.
Through the recent years many people have learned the secrets of Search Engine Optimization. More and more sites have seen the effects articles have done for the traffic of their sites. Some have even created sites devoted entirely to providing articles that could be read by their website visitors and have links that could lead to many sites that are related to the topics and subjects of the articles.
For example, the sites may feature many articles about a whole lot of topics. As a website visitor reads the articles they have searched for, they can find at the end of the article a resource box that can be clicked on to link them to the site that has submitted the article. Of course the article would be in relation to the site. Lets say if the article is about rotating the tires, the resource box may lead to a link to a site that sells tires or car parts.
A resource box is what you usually find at the end of an article. They will contain the name of the author, a brief description of the author, a brief description of the sponsoring site and a link. If a reader likes what they read, they would have the tendency to find out where the article came from to read more. The resource bow will be their link to the source of the article and this will entice them to go to the site and do some more reading or research for the subject or topic they are interested in.
But like the article itself, the resource box must also be eye-catching to demand the attention and interest of the reader. While the resource bow encompasses only a small space, providing the right keywords and content for your resource box will provide more prodding for the reader to go to your site.
Now we know what resource boxes are, what are the benefits of having a good resource box? Mainly its driving traffic to your site. Many sites would allow articles to be placed in their sites because they can make use of the articles to fill their pages. They also get affiliation with other sites that can be beneficial for them as well. For the sponsoring site, when you get people to click on your resource box, you generate traffic that can be counted upon as potential customers.
So what would be a good content for your resource box? Basically it is keywords, learning about the proper keywords that people are mainly searching for. There are many tools you can find in the internet that can help you in determining what keywords to use.
Resource boxes can also make use of all the creativity it can get. You only get a small space for your resource box so you better make the most of it. Try to catch the attention of your reader with resource box content that can make them give a second look. Unlike TV ads, you don't have visual aids to drive your point in. But you do have the power of imagination of a reader. With the right content, you can make them think and intrigued.
Another tip is to use keywords that should be related to your site. Do not mislead your potential website visitors. Build your credibility so that more people would get enticed to visit your site and browse what you have to offer. Make the people click your resource box by providing resource box content that makes a lasting impression. You only get one chance to wow them and hundreds of chances to repulse them.
Never underestimate the power of the resource box. It may be small in size but they will provide a significant aid in driving traffic to your site. A boring resource box will never get a job done. Be fun and creative but at the same time show that you have a great deal to offer, too much to ask for something that couldn't fit a paragraph? Yes and no, there are many tips and guides that can help you in doing this, the first step is realizing how important a resource box could be in making people click your link and be directed to your site.
Through the recent years many people have learned the secrets of Search Engine Optimization. More and more sites have seen the effects articles have done for the traffic of their sites. Some have even created sites devoted entirely to providing articles that could be read by their website visitors and have links that could lead to many sites that are related to the topics and subjects of the articles.
For example, the sites may feature many articles about a whole lot of topics. As a website visitor reads the articles they have searched for, they can find at the end of the article a resource box that can be clicked on to link them to the site that has submitted the article. Of course the article would be in relation to the site. Lets say if the article is about rotating the tires, the resource box may lead to a link to a site that sells tires or car parts.
A resource box is what you usually find at the end of an article. They will contain the name of the author, a brief description of the author, a brief description of the sponsoring site and a link. If a reader likes what they read, they would have the tendency to find out where the article came from to read more. The resource bow will be their link to the source of the article and this will entice them to go to the site and do some more reading or research for the subject or topic they are interested in.
But like the article itself, the resource box must also be eye-catching to demand the attention and interest of the reader. While the resource bow encompasses only a small space, providing the right keywords and content for your resource box will provide more prodding for the reader to go to your site.
Now we know what resource boxes are, what are the benefits of having a good resource box? Mainly its driving traffic to your site. Many sites would allow articles to be placed in their sites because they can make use of the articles to fill their pages. They also get affiliation with other sites that can be beneficial for them as well. For the sponsoring site, when you get people to click on your resource box, you generate traffic that can be counted upon as potential customers.
So what would be a good content for your resource box? Basically it is keywords, learning about the proper keywords that people are mainly searching for. There are many tools you can find in the internet that can help you in determining what keywords to use.
Resource boxes can also make use of all the creativity it can get. You only get a small space for your resource box so you better make the most of it. Try to catch the attention of your reader with resource box content that can make them give a second look. Unlike TV ads, you don't have visual aids to drive your point in. But you do have the power of imagination of a reader. With the right content, you can make them think and intrigued.
Another tip is to use keywords that should be related to your site. Do not mislead your potential website visitors. Build your credibility so that more people would get enticed to visit your site and browse what you have to offer. Make the people click your resource box by providing resource box content that makes a lasting impression. You only get one chance to wow them and hundreds of chances to repulse them.
Never underestimate the power of the resource box. It may be small in size but they will provide a significant aid in driving traffic to your site. A boring resource box will never get a job done. Be fun and creative but at the same time show that you have a great deal to offer, too much to ask for something that couldn't fit a paragraph? Yes and no, there are many tips and guides that can help you in doing this, the first step is realizing how important a resource box could be in making people click your link and be directed to your site.
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