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“We all know the impact that social media, more specifically Facebook, is having on our real estate business,” said Brad Coy, REALTOR® with San Francisco Real Estate Services. “It’s great to have an application like the one from Roost that allows me to elevate that social media presence and provide useable data to the visitors of my page.”roost.com, Roost.com Launches Social Real Estate? app for Facebook | A Bird’s Eye View, Mar 2010

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You might be running your search engine queries on
a particular search engine, although who is actually
supplying the results – it could be a different
company altogether.

Below, is a list of the search engines that feed your
precious keywords:

Yahoo
Yahoo provides the primary search results for Yahoo
search, Alta Vista, and AllTheWeb, and receives paid
listings from Yahoo Search Marketing (formerly known
as Overture).

Google
Google provides the primary search engine results
to Google AOL Search and also Netscape.  Google also
supplies paid listings to Lycos, Ask, Netscape, AOL
Search, and HotBot.  It also supplies secondary
results to HotBot and receives it’s directory data
from DMOZ.

Lycos
Lycos receives the directory search results from
DMOZ, primary results from Ask, and paid listings
from Google Adwords.

Hotbot
Hotbot receives directory search results from DMOZ,
primary search results from Ask, and paid/secondary
results from Google Adwords.

Ask
Ask provides primary results to Ask, Hotbot, and
Lycos.  It receives secondary search results from
Teoma and the directory results from DMOZ, with
paid listings from Google Adwords.

In relations to marketing, search engines can
provide anything you want to know.  If someone is
looking for something, they normally refer to the
search engines.  When they type it in, the highest
sites on the engines will show – which is normally
where the visitor will go.

By keeping good position on the search engines,
you’ll be near the first for visitors who are looking
for a certain product.  You can make a lot of money
with search engines as well, if you know what you
are doing.

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Learn to drive

That’s right – just those three words. It seems almost too simple to be true, but if we unpack it we can see that this little sentence accomplishes four very important functions:

It clearly defines the product (driving tuition).
It communicates a key benefit of the product (you’ll learn to drive).
It sets out a strong call to action, commanding the reader to act (learn to drive!)
Through its basic, generic phrasing, it confirms BSM’s market positioning – the market leader, default option or natural choice.

Notice how this slogan respects its readers. Nobly declining to spin or sugarcoat its message, it gives customers some credit as thinkers and choosers, setting out the stall and letting them decide. Its simple, solid language makes counterparts like ‘For the road ahead’ (AA’s corporate tagline) sound pretentious and patronising. (Most effective slogans are simple, but not all simple slogans are effective.)

But is it really copywriting? After all, it’s ‘just’ a simple, everyday phrase. There’s nothing really there – no technique, no clever choice of words, no sophisticated appeal to the emotions, no carefully judged tone of voice. Was it even deliberately created? Did, perhaps, the designer just insert it as a placeholder until the real slogan was created?

It doesn’t matter. Great ideas are where you find them. ‘Yesterday’ came to Paul McCartney in a dream. And if this phrase did come from a copywriter, it was an exceptionally intelligent, brave and independent one. Someone who wasn’t afraid to put forward the right solution – not the one that made them look clever, sophisticated or hardworking. For their part, BSM deserve praise for setting aside corporate pride and brand insecurity so they could communicate with customers in the most direct way possible.

Achieving this kind of simplicity isn’t simple – nor is it easy, quick or straightforward. Pablo Picasso said, ‘It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.’ Often, our first ideas are convoluted and confused as we try too hard to make something special, original or arresting. Then, over time and through many revisions, the diligent copywriter discards what isn’t needed to arrive at the essential. When the answer comes, it can seem ridiculously simple. But that’s how we know it’s right.  

Tom Albrighton is a freelance copywriter and founder/director of ABC Copywriting. ABC, based in Norwich, provides professional and creative copywriting services to businesses and agencies throughout the UK and Europe. Specialities include B2B marketing, SEO copywriting, website writing, articles and academic copywriting.
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Due to your marketing efforts or even word-of-mouth from a friend or current client, once you are blessed with a new client, it is your job to keep them as a repeat customer. Obtaining their email address will allow you to do this. It is recommended that you stay in front of your client base with a monthly newsletter.

Some businesses send out information (something short and sweet!) every two weeks. That frequency all depends on you; but be sure to be consistent as your clients will start to expect to receive what you are sending.

One thing to remember in your emails and newsletters is to NOT always make it about what they can and should buy from. Instead, it is better and more valuable to you and your client when you are just “thinking” of them and sending them something that will help them make their day a bit better.

For example: a recipe, information on the benefits of a particular product or service, a thoughtful quote of the day, an upcoming event, etc. Just don’t always try to SELL them on something. Information and teaching people is the key to them NOT deleting your emails.

Ok, now that we know what you need to do once you have your client coming into your store, but what about clients that have not graced your doorstep yet?

What About Your Website.

I s your website providing all that it can to attract new customers? Does your website offer new and exciting information about you and your business so that it is attracting your current clients?

Let’s talk a bit about the value of an “Opt-In” box on your website. This opt-in box is going to give people a way to find out more about you and your business. It is a way for clients to sign up for your newsletter, a FREE eBook about your business or one of your services (such as the benefits of a massage, or how to safely and successfully jump-start a battery…depending on your type of business, of course), or even to enter in a contest you may be having or special coupons that only people who subscribe to your opt-in box will receive. The ideas are endless and only limited to your imagination.

The opt-in box is also a great way to send your clients to your websites (MORE HITS!!!). By having them go to your website, you can tell them if the opt-in to your newsletter, or whatever you are offering, that they will receive a discount off of their next service or a product you offer.

Opt-In email marketing is not different than direct emailing marketing except they don’t have to be a client who has already visited you and you received their OK to send them an email. With the Opt-In box, you are receiving their OK so that you will not be SPAMMING them. That is a no-no! NO SPAM!

Whether you are using Direct Marketing Emails or your “Opt-In” Email Marketing campaigns, follow these tips to better success with your email marketing.

1. Personalize.

It has always been said that the sweetest sound to anyone, is their name. Make sure you use their first name in the subject of the email and in the body of the email. It is proven that your email has a greater chance to be read and not deleted.

2. Short and Sweet.

Keep your emails informative, but short. People want to hear from you, but do not necessarily have the time to read everything. So decide on maybe a quick three little tidbits of information.

3. Chat.

Write your email as if you are having a conversation. Feeling like they are having a one-on-one conversation with you will make your client (or potential client) feel like a real person and not just another number.

4. A Gift.

Offer your clients a gift. Give them something FREE for taking the time to read your email or if they come into your shop. Maybe you have samples of your products that if they come in at a specific time and date, they can receive. Or if they come in for an oil change, they can receive a FREE car wash. Again, this is only limited to your imagination and your budget.

5. Benefits.

Tell clients the benefits of your products or services and not the features. This is your learning part of the email or newsletter. Just share and teach.

6. Call to Action.

Although we don’t want to sell to our clients in every email or newsletter, we do want to make it known that we are there when they need us and to remember us. Maybe you could mention that they need to call you and let you know when their birthday is, so that you can reward them with something special when their special day arrives. This gives you the opportunity to connect with them and them with you on a more personal level.

Or your call to action could be a survey in the email that month. This will get a response out of them. Again, letting them know that you care how they feel or what they are thinking.

7. Track It.

It is vital to know who is and who is not opening their emails. By tracking you will also see which emails are no longer valid and who is opting out of your emails. This gives you a better understanding of your email and newsletter campaigns so that you can correct and change anything that might up the odds of all of them getting opened and read.

8. Contact.

Make sure you remember to put all of your information on your email or newsletter at the bottom. Your business name, your contact numbers, your address, your business hours, and your logo. Remember every email and newsletter is an opportunity to “brand” your identity. Don’t miss out.

The power of “in-house” marketing is too often overlooked and is a very powerful tool. So capture those emails when they come to your place of business. When they give you their email address, you now have permission to send. So don’t neglect this valuable asset to your business.

As far as your “opt-in” emails, now you have a greater chance of getting these people to enter your business. My, isn’t the internet wonderful?

The email opt-in boxes I have used and found easy, where you can create a wonderful newsletter marketing campaign with autoresponders is Constant Contact.

One last thought…and it IS a big one! Think of your email data base AS your business. So many people don’t realize that when it is time to pass on their business to a relative or sell your business for big bucks, your database is really what you are selling. It cost you tons to get those clients and is a very valuable asset to your business. Use it to your best advantage.

Andrea Pekarik Welch specializes in helping people to build their business through the understanding of the basics of advertising, internet marketing and utilizing social media to their business’ advantage. Whether you have the typical brick and mortar business, email marketing with monthly newsletters is an absolute must when keeping in contact with your clients.
To receive more articles on how to increase your business, sign up for our FREE Marketing Tips Report at http://www.SpalonTechniques.com.
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 Here are three very effective and low cost ways to get your name “out there” without breaking the bank.

1) Internet Article Marketing

One of the primary ways you can drive traffic to your Web site is position yourself as an expert on your subject. You can do this by writing articles.   

Article marketing simply means creating informational articles about a topic that is relevant to your audience, based on your keyword research.  You can then submit or post your articles to:

 -  online article directories,

 -  your blog,

 -  related business blogs

 -  your web sites.

Now, there are two options here:  You can write the articles yourself, or hire someone else to write the articles for you (with you as the author.)  The second option is good if you are pressed for time, but it will come with a fee, of course.

The hardest part about writing an article is just getting started.  There’s also a misconception that you must be a professional writer to do this; you don’t.

You will want to do a little research on tips to writing great articles, but don’t do too much.  Remember, you have something to say, and the best way to start is with a few sentences, on your topic.  Then formulate some tips by asking yourself questions.  For example: “How to Grow the Best Tasting Tomatoes,” or “5 Tips for Growing the Best Tomatoes.”

Start filling in the blanks, and before you know it, you will have your article.

Then, submit your articles to the major directories, at least three.  Once you have submitted several articles, you will be considered an authority, and will begin to attract an audience who is interested in your topic. From that point, there is a very good chance they will become leads for your business.

2) Online SEO Press Releases

Online SEO press releases are different from standard press releases. An online SEO press release is written so that keywords are scattered throughout the copy of the release. These press releases are then distributed online, posted on the business Web site, blog, etc., all with the purpose of driving traffic to your Web site and gaining a high position in the search engines.

Write your press release in third person, and submit it to a paid service such as PRWeb, or to various free distribution sites.

There are many “news worthy” things that happen in small businesses.  If you are not sure about what to include or how to do it, read other press releases, or you can out-source it.

3) Blogging

Business blogs are extremely important in your marketing.  Why?  They are the number one way to drive traffic to your Web site — which is traffic that you then have the opportunity to convert into a sale.

One of the reasons that blogs are so successful is because blogs are constantly updated with fresh content and search engines love fresh content. That means you have a higher ranking on the search engines organic side (the left) which you did not have to pay for.  Again, use keywords and build your posts around topics that your audience is interested in.  

Post to your blog two or three times per week.   Add images, videos, video blogging (also called “vlogs.”) Constantly ask yourself how you can help someone else solve their problem.  Then write about it. 

This will keep visitors (and the search engines) coming back to visit….your goal.

There are other low cost ways to market, but I have found that these three are highly effective and will get you on your way quickly.  You can either use any or all, but the key is to be consistent, and you will drive lots of high quality traffic to your site.

And the best part is that it won’t cost you anything except a little time!

Would you like to be shown more methods for driving massive traffic to your site without draining your bank account?
You’re invited to receive my newsletter, “Marketing Is An Art, Learn to Make It Yours.” 
 Here you will find user-friendly, creative tips and tricks for running a successful business from home, or anywhere.  Learn step by step different methods of marketing, and exactly how to put them in action. You’ll be able to use these methods to market anything, anywhere, on any budget.
To receive your 10 free issues, visit http://www.dianejdavis.com
Written by Diane J. Davis
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Some of the questions you may want to ask when defining your ideal client are listed below. Not all questions will be applicable to your ideal client, so pick and choose the questions based on your needs.

* What is his or her age?
* What is his or her gender?
* What is his or her marital status and do they have children?
* Where do they live?
* What is his or her income?
* What is his or her educational level?
* What is his or her hobbies?
* Is this person involved in any organized sport?
* Does this person own a business?
* In what industry is his or her business?
* Is his or her business located in their home?
* How big is his or her business?
* What is his or her annual revenue?
* How long have they been in business?
* Who is his or her ideal client and do you know how to reach them?
* What tasks and issues does this person hate to deal with?
* What problems does this person have?
* How can you solve these problems?
* Will this person pay for what you offer?
* Has this person worked with someone like you before?
* Where can you find him or her?
* Does this person belong to any organization such as a trade association or volunteer group?
* Do they read any industry or entertainment publications?

Once you have answered the questions and created the ideal client profile, then you incorporate this information into your website and other marketing materials. You’ll waste less time looking for clients, and when you find them they will be more likely to hire you. Ideal clients will inspire you, make you feel confident, pay you what you’re worth, praise you, and refer other clients to you without being asked.

Another way of defining your ideal client is to look at past and present clients. Which of these clients did you enjoy working with the most? Pull those client files and list their characteristics based on the questions above. To help you concentrate on which marketing methods worked best in the past, client attraction mentor Fabienne Fredrickson, recommends you ask how your favorite clients found you.

Perhaps the most important benefit of this process is that you will be empowered to fire clients who drive you to distraction, and you will not waste time trying to get an unsuitable client to sign a contract with you! You deserve to work with clients who bring out the best in you-so don’t be shy, and get started on finding your ideal client!

© 2010 Davis Virtual Assistance. Publication rights granted so long as article and byline are reprinted intact, with all links made live.

Bonnie Jo Davis is the creator of Your Marketing Assistant a one-stop-shop for small businesses who need help implementing and keeping up with the latest in internet marketing. Her favorite marketing techniques include article marketing and social networking and she particularly enjoys implementing public relations campaigns. Bonnie is a prolific writer who crafts website text, articles, blog entries, product descriptions and more for herself and her clients. You can learn more about Bonnie at http://www.your-marketing-assistant.com and http://www.articlesubmissionsites.com
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Ali gave us her top marketing “mantras” in her business, and I thought they were so spot on that I wanted to share them here:

1) The marketing is more important than the mastery.  I first heard this from Ali a few years ago, and I recently wrote an article about this very topic. It doesn’t mean that what you do in your business isn’t important, it just means that mastering marketing is as important mastering your craft. You can be great at what it is you do–but if you are not marketing consistently, your skills and abilities won’t be enough to keep your business afloat.

2) Always be marketing.  Marketing your business is necessary all the time—not just when the economy is bad or your revenues are down.  Unfortunately, many business owners are learning this lesson now in the recession.  Their bottom line is suffering because in the past, they never thought they “needed” to market.

3) Emphasize benefits over features.  When you market your products or services, think of benefits as answering the customer’s question of “what’s in it for me?”

4) Be original, but clear.  Adding your own unique flair to your marketing can help you stand out, but make sure the message of what it is you can do for people doesn’t get lost in your quest to be memorable or unique.

5) Work your best methods.  There are numerous ways to market a business, both online and off: advertising, books, blogs, direct mail, giveaways, live events, press releases…and on and on. You don’t have to pick just one method, nor do you need to be doing a little of everything.  As it was described at the event, “marketing is a buffet.”  Choose a handful that work for you and work them continually.

So, what does marketing come down to?  Marketing is really just relationship building and communication.  Your job as a business owner is to use that communication to accomplish 4 main things:
1. Attract leads
2. Collect leads
3. Follow up
4. Close the sale

Sometimes business owners make marketing more complicated than it needs to be.  Follow these five mantras and you’ll go a long way toward simplifying the path to closing that all-important sale.

Christine Gallagher, MLS, MSIS, founder of CommunicateValue.com, teaches small business owners and professionals how to conquer the overwhelming aspects of online and social media marketing to increase business and maximize profits. For FREE tips on how to build profitable relationships, leverage technology and create your own successful online business, visit http://CommunicateValue.com
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It really doesn’t matter what business you are Self Employed in; Retail, Home-based, Service or Products…there is a Telemarketing solution for you.

Telemarketing is worth considering for just one reason…it works! Reaching people by phone is quick, cost-effective, easy and has been shown to get results time after time. By pro-actively searching for your next customers you put yourself ahead of the rest.

We know that the majority of small business fails in the first 5 years of trading. The only reason for this is that most self employed people start working for themselves because they are an expert in their industry and at what they do. But that doesn’t make them an expert in marketing their business.

Unfortunately, too many people go into business believing that their clients will find them. Good business is far more pro-active than that. Being self employed is great when you are making money….so find ways to get more business.

The good news is that I have 7 Tips here that will get you pointed in the right direction for Telemarketing Success.

1. Work out what part of your sales process should be done by phone. Do you have a product or service that could be sold over the phone, or should you use telemarketing to generate qualified leads for your business. Maybe for you, it would be best to use Telemarketing to book appointments with potential clients.

Telemarketing is not necessarily a sales process unto itself. In fact it is best used in conjunction with other sales methods like a mail out, customer survey or face to face appointment.

2. Write yourself a script or at least comprehensive guidelines for the call you will make. This process really needs its own article, but the basics are; build rapport quickly, don’t try to sell too early, ask lots of open ended questions to gather personalised information, make your call all about the customer and what’s in it for them, listen to the client and use a closed question to guide the customer to say “yes.”

3. Make a list of every objection you know your clients could give you. Now write a script for each of those. If you are prepared for whatever happens during the call it will go a lot smoother. Objection handling scripts should be short, logical and should lead the client right back into your main call script.

4. Make sure you have good quality phone numbers to call. This may mean that you buy a list from a list broker or that you employ another source of lead generation to gather contacts. If you do purchase a list, make sure you have “scrubbed” or “washed” the list according to the “Do Not Call” laws in your territory.

5. 6Get organised. Do not even pick up the phone until you have everything you will need pre-prepared. Too many people tell themselves they are Telemarketing for an hour, when really they spend most of the hour shuffling paper, looking things up online or doing other time wasting activities.

6. Set aside time each day. I recommend calling for about 50 minutes, then taking 5 – 10 minutes as a break. Then feel free to start again. Setting time aside for Telemarketing will help you to not put it off.  Some people suffer from Call reluctance, but if you have a big enough goal and you are disciplined this won’t be a problem for you.

7. Build Rapport!! This is the single most important aspect of Telemarketing. Over the phone your client cannot see your smile, your friendly eyes and body language. This means that you need to communicate your message with your voice. Use your tone to connect with your client. People only ever buy off people they like, so make sure that you are instantly likeable. This may mean that you need to match your client. Matching is being like them, talking like they do with similar tone, speed and volume.

Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to increasing your clients and therefore your profits.

Cathy Halliday is a Telemarketing Expert having run Top Telemarketing Call Centre’s for over 12 years. She is the owner of www.top-telemarkeing-tips.com a site devoted to providing Telemarketing advice to Call Centre Managers, Telemarketers, Sales Consultants and the Self Employed.
Cathy can be contacted at cathy@top-telemarketing-tips.com
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Video Can Help You Capture Leads

Capturing the contact information of your visitors is crucial to the success of any internet sales endeavor. Everyone visiting your site has demonstrated an interest in your product, and therefore may entertain further contact. Sales to repeat customers can never happen until a customer is secured the first time, which is the most difficult aspect of sales. Using a video lead capture page is a great way to get names and email addresses, which are the only bits of information you really need. Obtaining this contact information will allow you to contact them in the future with any offers that might interest them, allowing for a possible sale. Vague communications are ineffective; they should be brief and stay clearly on topic. Don’t make your potential customers scroll down or hunt. Place it prominently on the page. You can highlight your video’s content by using simple bullet points. Do not add too many visual or audio effects to the video; it needs to be smart and tidy, not a mess. The achievement of favorable, long-term results with impressively increased conversion rates is quite often achieved by using a lead capture page that contains your video.

Feature Your Videos on a Blog

Sales letters convert well, and have been used long enough to be known as a proven technique. Driving sales are Internet marketers’ ongoing pursuit, and they are always searching for unique, more effective options. Video reaches more customers than print alone. Customers may merely scan your written sales points, but video is compelling to watch and they’ll catch every detail. Before clicking any option to buy, prospects need to have all the necessary details. With video at the start of your campaign, you can show your prospective client/customer all that you are about without using up too much of their time. This is the difference between a sales letter and a dynamic sales letter. Once they are past the initial video, don’t be afraid to add one or two small clips in later to give a demonstration about a specific part of your product. Your visitor’s understanding of the benefits your product provides is a vital aspect that should be included in the video on your sales page; a list of reasons to buy are not enough. Brief, informative videos are best.

Using video in your marketing strategy is key to establishing yourself as a real force among internet marketers, a difficult goal to reach when there are so many others out there who are trying to outsell you. You can move to the forefront and really raise your revenue by making good use of this latest technology. Using videos as a major part of your sales toolkit is critical, and it’s a good idea to start looking into it today, even if you have to pick it up as you go along.

Marketing an affiliate product is so easy to do now.  I was watching this video yesterday showing off FB Ads Manager, a firefox extension for creating Facebook PPC ads and PPC Coach course.  It got me in a buying mood by highlighting all of its great features.  Videos are very effective, so definitely give it a try.
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