Search Results for ‘advertise business’
Quirks Marketing Research Review recently wrote an article about how to increase survey respondents satisfaction. Surveys can help to give the smart marketer a heads up on what your client and prospect really want and need. Surveys can be used to gather all sorts of market data such as customer demographics, likes and dislikes, customer satisfaction and much more. I highly recommend that if you are not using surveys in some form or another (digital, hand-written or by phone) you are missing out on information that can take your business to a new level fo success.
Here are the 10 tips Quirks shared:
1. Make surveys engaging and convenient
2. Avoid complex questions
3. Limit questions to 50 words or less
4. Avoid long lists of rating questions
5, Avoid open-ended questions
6. Avoid repetitive questions
7. Advertise accurate survey times
8. pay incentives (prizes) promptly
10. Pre-test surveys thoroughly
11. Get feedback on surveys
I would only disagree with number 5. Sometimes a person needs the option to expand on a response and having an open ended question makes that possible. You might have an open ended question but make it an option to reply thereby not annoying those really want to offer feedback but who don’t have or want to spend a long time doing so.
About accurate survey times, the article states that respondents don’t mind taking longer surveys as long as they know how much time they will take. This is good to know when you need more in-depth replies.
You can read this and other articles online at http://www.quirks.com/. While there, you can also request a FREE subscription (if you qualify).
While you’re at it you can grab a FREE copy of eMarketing ~ 300 page textbook aimed at tertiary education students, business owners and marketers who want to get ahead in online marketing. It has everything from the facts to case studies and study questions around each eMarketing tactic. Go to http://www.quirk.biz/emarketingtextbook/download.
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September 17th, 2009
The whole point of advertising is to get noticed. With all the noise these days both online and off, it is difficult at best to get seen…
That’s why I recommend publicity over advertising. Do things like createingan event or a stunt that will get you noticed in your niche. Get busy on social networking sites where your customers and clients hang out, including the top 3 Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Having said that, there are reasons and places to advertise online that will pay off without spending a fortune.
Here are some tips to “advertise”:
List your online business in free directories such as Google (http://www.google.com/local/add), Yahoo (http://www.listings.local.yahoo.com) and Bing (http://ssl.bing.com/listings), DMOZ, The Open Directory Project (http://www.dmoz.org/) and ZoomInfo (http://www.zoominfo.com/). By the way, if you do list your site in these directories be sure and only list once because you could get banned for multiple listings of the same company. You can also show videos and photos which can be added to your listings.
In addition, list your business in LOCAL Directories such as YellowPages http://listings.yellowpages.com, City Search http://myaccount.citiysearch.com, AOL Local Search http://localsearch.aol.com, Local.com at http://register.local.com and Merchant Circle at http://merchantcircle.com.
When you list your business above, use keywords to describe what you do using benefit words (eg. “24 hour turnaround” or “loose weight or you don’t pay”) rather than vanity words (like BEST, AWARD WINNING) – people don’t believe that anymore and they don’t search for businesses that way.
This will take you less than an hour to set up and about 10-15 minutes a month to maintain.
Find sites that sell to your audience that compliment what you do and see if they will either sell you space on their site, list you in their links or if they have a newsletter that goes out to your target audience see if they do ads. Most of the time these ads are innexpensive and you can test for very little money. BTW, one insert is not a test. You need to create a campaign and keep your ad in for a minimum of 5-6 issues to see if it is going to work. Remember that it takes that many impressions before people begin to recongize your company. It also builds credibitly.
And remember to add social networking to your marketing plan. I know so many people who just hang out on SN Sites but don’t really know how to effectively use them to get attention for their businesses. Before you waste a lot time check out what those you admire are doing and model them. Don’t copy them, learn from them. See what they are doing and what is working for them. See how you can adapt to your own situation.
As you can see, I could go on and on about this topic. Let’s just say there are many ways to advertise without breaking the bank and many of them are FREE. The price you pay is TIME which by the way IS NOT FREE. Once its spent you NEVER GET IT BACK. So use it wisely.
September 12th, 2009
Need some ideas to advertise your website in the coming months? Here are twelve tips to get you started:
Tip #1
Put your URL on every piece of advertising you use to promote your company, your business card, letterhead, bills, checks, invoices, delivery vehicles, personal vehicles, magnets, yellow pages, newspapers, notecards, etc.
Tip #2
Partner with vendors, and suppliers to offer giveaways or freebies to your customers.
Tip #3
Make your website part of your overall marketing efforts including networking, print, radio, etc.
Tip #4
Create a registration page on your website and offer something for free to encourage them to leave you their contact information. It could be a register to win something just for stopping by, or something they can download when they register. Be sure to track where the leads are coming from.
Tip #5
Offer a “hidden prize” on your site such as a dinner for two or free product. This will encourage people to visit other pages to find the prize. It is a great way to force people to read all the pages on your site, so they learn more about your company in the process.
Tip #6
Design and write a newsletter or ezine about your area of expertise, industry news, tips, answers to difficult questions, and ideas about how to make the most of your products and services. Create a sign up box for people to subscribe (I use Aweber).
Tip #7
Place banner adds on local sites such as city/town/municipal sites and radio stations. If these are your customers you can probably “trade” links. On radio stations, you can offer to provide a giveaway to the listeners for visiting the website.
Tip #8
Cross promote your newsletter with other complimentary companies or companies and individuals who target your audience.
Tip #9
Create a postcard campaign announcing your website and send to everyone in your current database or at least those who would benefit from visiting your site.
Tip #10
Include a voice message for your phone system (or cell phone) inviting callers to stop by your website – be sure and include your website address and spell out anything that would be difficult for someone to understand or has an unusual spelling.
Tip #11
Try a classified ad campaign with an incentive to get people to stop by and take advantage of your special offer.
Tip #12
Ask other complimentary website owners to “trade Links with your site. Start with those you visit and shop and then expand to others that serve your client base.
And be sure to check out the Internet Business Success Report for the 21st Century for more ideas to Start and Grow and Online Business.
December 18th, 2008
December 1st is Cyber Monday ~ Cyber Monday refers to the Monday immediately following Black Friday, the ceremonial kick-off of the holiday online shopping season in the United States that falls between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. “Cyber Monday” is meant to encourage consumers to make purchases online they could not make during the previous weekend which started with Black Friday. Cyber Monday sponsored by the National Retail Federation‘s Shop.org division, has evolved into a significant marketing event,in which online retailers offer low prices and promotions. (Source: Wikipedia)
In recognition of Cyber Monday, I too have some “special offers” for my readers. They include:
Grow Your Business Audio Program on sale for only $39.95!
Sign up for How to Grow Your Million Dollar Business? Audio program, based upon the Summit which took place September 18-20 and 23rd is available at $97 now only $39.95. The complete audio program now includes 20 interviews, a 90+ page workbook and several bonuses. And over the next few weeks we will also be offering additional sessions on “Attracting Million-dollar clients,” “How to get Million-dollar Publicity” and more. You don’t want to miss these. Here’s what one person had to say about these sessions:- Heidi I was blown away by the huge names that you managed to gather together on the one teleseminar series. Just one of these speakers would have made the entry price a great deal. I have learned so much from these speakers (and how wonderful is it that most of them are female!) I feel that they have opened my eyes to a big new world and I am implementing right now some of the suggestions that I heard. Very inspiring! Now what shall I spend my first million on…? Katherine Reschke, Business and Mindset Coach ~ http://www.passionsthatpay.com
To get your copy of this program and attend the upcoming interviews go to www.GrowaMillionDollarBusiness.com today. Unadvertised BONUS: Purchase this audio program and you will also receive a complete set of your choice of one of our other popular audio programs. Visit: www.WomensSuccessSeries.com for more information
MOVING SALE ~ I have a few copies of Life Compass for Women available – Now thru December 30th, You can get an autographed copy for $4.95 (plus shipping) ~ Regular price is $14.95. This Indispensable Guidebook on Life Management for Busy Women features 16 of the top experts on Life Balance and Management Strategies. Every copy you buy, I will also include a copy of her “What’s Your OccuPlaytion” Motivational Book (value $6.95). This little book makes a great stocking. Need several copies?
Send a message to Heidi@speakingwithspirit.com with Life Management book in subject line. And you will get and additional 25% off four or more copies. For more information and to grab your copy ~ Visit: http://speakingwithspirit.com/books/life-compass-for-women/ (FYI we are moving our offices January 1st and won’t have the space to store them.
December 1st, 2008
Six of a dozen marketing ideas professional speakers shared to gain visibility with our target audience.
To continue the discussion about how I gathered information to create a marketing plan for the Florida Speakers Association, I asked members how they would spread the word about FSA, who they suggest we connect with and contact (sharing their resources) and how they suggested we increase our membership base and meeting attendance. Here’s an exercise to use to spark marketing ideas for your small business: where ever the word member or membership is used, replace it with customer or customers.
Here are six more ideas the members shared with me (will post the final six tomorrow):
1. Web marketing, radio, and other technology related media. Web marketing, even though the web is convoluted with millions of sites, still provides an organization a vehicle for establishing name recognition. This is achieved by placing the right keywords at the right places, as well as paying minimal fees for dominant search placements.
2. Another way to spread the word about FSA would be to advertise in any magazine or publication that has to do with public speaking or presentation skills. Advertising at college campuses is another way especially for Communication Majors. Send a Press Release so that a story can be done about the organization and its benefits. Advertise in “self improvement/health” magazines. These magazines have everything from psychics to regression therapy.
3. We should utilize other “partners” such as all area Toastmaster clubs, MPI, ASTD, Marketing Association, etc. as well as communication departments in local companies and public speaking programs at local colleges and their graduate programs as well. FSA members should have a web link to FSA site on their individual web sites to get moor info on “becoming a world class speaker, trainer, etc.”
4. Also, if the local chapter were to create content segments (audio, visual, and type) and made them available free-of-charge from its website, and then submitted the site to various search engines, this would drum up “awareness”. Awareness of a site that provides good, free content, that is backed by a respectable organization, creates a tipping point via word of mouth advertising, the strongest marketing know to humankind.
5. Radio spots, even though not as effective as they were 50 years ago, still reach thousands of listeners daily (especially during driving times of working professionals that may need a speaker). The right genre station provides many opportunities. If the FSA is a nonprofit or not-for-profit affiliated with any philanthropic initiatives, PSA announcements may be available. A knowledgeable member from FSA could be a guest on a radio program
6. Finally, affiliations with universities and public events, again, drives awareness of a brand, in this case, the FSA. Awareness and being distinctly identifiable from other organizations are two of the key ingredients in any successful marketing initiative.
Stay tuned for the final six tomorrow….
October 17th, 2008
Get involved in Social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, RYZE, MySpace and Squidoo. Participate in blogs and forums related to your topic, expertise or areas of interest. “Lurk” for while so you can get a feel for the personality of the groups, then contribute to the conversations in the forums (a.k.a. bulletin boards). Social networking is a great way to make your business known to people you would otherwise be unable to contact. Although it is not generally acceptable to blatantly advertise your business on most forums, you can share your expertise. Once you have developed relationships with members of these sites you become a trusted resource, and members will often encourage you to promote your business.
Most forums allow you to use your signature file to “gently” let people know what you do professionally. StumbleUpon can help you find great websites, videos, photos and more based on your interests. StumbleUpon learns what you like and makes better recommendations. With Stumble Upon you can connect with friends and share your discoveries, meet people that have similar interests, and check out what other people are discovering. For more on Social networking, read my article “Virtual Networking – 7 Ideas for Making Connections Online and Developing a Loyal Following”
Want more ideas to promote your business on the WEB? Get a FREE copy of the 8-page Special Report Promoting Your Business on the WEB TODAY!
Check out the Women’s Media Summit Audio Program. I interviewed 16 experts over 5 days for a total of more than 15 hours of content! Click here to save $20 on the recordings, workbook and more! ~ When you order, you will be sent a link to download the workbook, recordings and any other resources shared during the Women’s Media Audio Program.
October 9th, 2008
1. Create a compelling headline – if you want the reader to read the rest of the ad, you gotta “grab” her with the headline.
2. Use the five-second rule – according to the Direct Marketing Association, you only have 5 seconds to convey what you are selling.
3. The offer must be obvious – if the reader has to guess what you are offering, how they can purchase it and where, you’ve lost them. Period.
4. Don’t make your logo the most important element in the design. Make the products or services prominent, not your company.
5. Where’s the phone number? If the reader cannot find the number to call or website to visit (or needs reading glasses to do so), chances are they will toss the add. Go back to the 5 second rule and subtract 2 seconds.
6. Focus on BENEFITS – what benefits does the reader want when purchasing your product or service. Make sure your message TELLS THEM!
7. Discounts raise conversion rates dramatically. Offer a coupon or pe rce nt off when the reader makes a purchase. Make it look like a coupon in the ad and you will see how effective it is when they redeem it. If they have to visit your business to redeem, they will bring it with them. If they have to call or purchase online, make sure you include a discount “code” so they can enter it on the order form.
September 17th, 2008
September is National Coupon Month – Recently a customer called about a coupon he got in the mail. The coupon was for cut flowers and the value was $5. He called to ask if we honored other companies’ coupons. I immediately said yes! Why, you ask? The other company paid good money to advertise his product and the customer called my florist. I was closer geographically and he did not have an allegiance to any shop (up to that point).
By honoring the coupon, not only does my company gain a new customer, we probably gain one for life! And it only cost us $5… not bad. According to marketing experts it costs up to six times to get a new customer as it does to keep the ones you currently have. So when one “falls in your lap” with little effort on your part, it’s a GIFT. After all, if grocery stores, pharmacies and other retail establishments can honor other companies’ coupons, why couldn’t a smaller business do the same? And you don’t have to be retail, if you provide a service and you are looking for new business, what a great way to encourage people to give your service a try. So, if you have a coupon from another florist and you want to redeem it at my shop 
the answer is absolutely, “We’d be delighted to honor it!
Small Businesses can use big business marketing tactics to grow their business and add to their bottom line. What other BIG BUSINESS marketing ideas have you seen that you could adapt to your own small business?
I’d love to hear from you!
September 6th, 2008
Excerpt from Promoting Your Business on the WEB Special Report.
Start a Business Blog. Blogs are search engine friendly, which simply means the search engines index them almost instantly (as opposed to websites which can take weeks to get indexed). Blogging platforms such WordPress, Typepad and Blogger, allow you to build a complete website by adding pages that contain links to your products, as well as other resources you recommend. I started out using Blogger and now use WordPress (both the free and paid versions) for five of my seven blogs.
Blogs can be used to create multiple streams of passive income because they allow you to add all types of ads to your blog. You can use your blog posts to write product reviews such as the ones Café Mom does. You can review those affiliate products related to your services and products. You can also use your blog to disseminate information, such as articles, free reports, and other industry specific resources. With a blog you can establish your expertise in a particular genre, topic or industry.
Take Darran Rowse as an example. Darran started a blog called ProBlogger as a way to catalog all the information he learned about blogging (while doing so) and others found it interesting. Because of Darran’s expertise, he has established himself as the go-to person on the topic of blogging and currently has more than 100,000 subscribers to his blog. When you establish your expertise as Darran has done, you are solving problems for your followers which helps you build your brand and sell more products and services.
Make the most of Technorati.com – (Currently tracking 98.4 million blogs and over 250 million pieces of tagged social media) and Digg.com (a place for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the web). Build relationships with other bloggers by visiting and leaving comments. Try microblogging with Twitter.com and check out Entrecard (your business card 2.0). Entrecard is a 125×125 image which represents you and your blog. It’s part advertisement and part business card. It comes with a widget you place on your blog, so that others can leave their Entrecard for you. You can also use Entrecard to promote your blog and launch free advertising campaigns. Both FREE.
Want more ideas to promote your business on the WEB? Get a FREE copy of the 8-page Special Report Promoting Your Business on the WEB TODAY!
By the way, you can listen to an interview with Darran when you subscribe to our Blogging for Business Audio Program. More than 13 hours of content and you can Save $20 when you use this link to order!
September 5th, 2008
September is Shameless Self-promotion Month – “If you don’t’ toot your own horn, you can’t enjoy the music.” – Debbie Allen (Founder of Shameless Self-promotion Month).
How about trying your hand at Podcasting? In July, 2006 Speedo, (the swimwear brand) “dipped their toe into the social media water during their inaugural Podcast when they interviewed Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps. Their Podcast “Speedo Make Waves” has featured Olympic and other champions from across the international swimming world. Each Podcast has been accompanied by awareness-raising web advertising as an integral part of the overall communication.
Interviewing experts in fields your target market is interested in is a great way to get media attention for you AND your guests. You can also submit your RSS Feeds to FeedBurner so that in a few weeks or months your site will be “on the radar” of advertisers and other content sites.
For more small business marketing ideas, get your FREE Copy of the 2008 Edition of Your Marketing Calendar TODAY!
September 3rd, 2008
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