It’s warm and fuzzy. I promise.

Thanks, John!

Related posts:

1. The Value of Twitter
2. The Future of Public Relations?
3. Interaction Builds Business Communities

There’s no point in trying to sell a product that no one wants.

And honestly, you don’t need a huge budget to conduct market research. If you wanted to, you could purchase reports from market research agencies; they spend a lot of time and money creating reports that will tell you if it’s worth trying to sell your products in a certain market to a certain kind of person. If you can afford it, that’s great.

But for those of us who don’t have the start-up capital to pay out thousands of dollars to these firms, we have to conduct out own market research.

So here are 5 ways a small business can conduct market research on a budget:

1. Search Amazon.com or Other Retail Store Sites

If you want to sell an ebook or information product, conduct a search on Amazon.com for competition. If the market is already flooded and you can’t provide an add-on or improvement to what you find there, move on. What books are selling and what is buried at the bottom of the list? Why buy from you and not the guy with the Engineering degree or Ph.D?  If you still think you can out-sell the others that you find use all of this information to build a compelling case for your own product.

2. Search Google for News & Blogs

Are thousands of people already selling your product or service? Are their websites new and up to date? Is the first page full of abandoned blogs and old news? If so, these people may have found out the hard way that there was no market for what they were selling. If you can improve what they tried to sell, then great. But just be ready for a tough road ahead.

3. Watch Your Competition

The best way to determine if there is a market for your product is to watch the competition, closely. Not just their website, but their blog, social networks, friend’s websites and other blogs that link to them. Where is their advertising? What are they doing and how are they delivering it? How are they interacting with people and what is being said? Are they adding or removing anything from their website? What are they missing?

4. Talk to the People

Real people are a valuable resource when it comes to market research. Not just your mom and your best friend, but people that you connect with at networking events, in the grocery store, or even at the off-leash dog park. Find unbiased people – preferably not relatives – who are attending events where you think your product will have the most impact or will be the most valuable to the people who attend. You don’t have to tell people every detail about your product, but ask them what they would be interested in buying.

5. Use Social Media to Conduct a Survey

It may be as simple as asking a question on Twitter or creating a survey page. Either way, some people would be willing to give their opinion about what they like or don’t like about your specific industry, or product. Or even suggest improvements to something that they absolutely love. If you put some thought into your survey and present it in a way that adds value to your research, you can collect highly relevant and almost immediate feedback.

Bonus: 6. Use Your Mailing List

If you have a mailing list with active subscribers, ask them what they need and if they would respond to a product that filled that need. You can ask them about price points, features, gaps they see in the market. They are on your list because they like something that you are doing, so ask their opinions and take into account all the good and bad things they say about your ideas.

We all have great ideas, but before you spend a lot of time and energy creating a product that you think the world needs, take some time to connect with the world you want to sell it to. Make sure you think of every aspect and understand your prospects concerns and perception within the market you are trying to reach.

One last thing, it’s hard to compete with free. If you find a market that is saturated with free information, free reports, free articles, and free products, really take the time to consider if you have a chance selling something to people who are used to having everything offered at no charge. Unless you are providing above and beyond value, free is a hard competitor.

Even if you don’t think these methods are right for you, at least do something in the way of research.

What do you think?  Have a missed something?

Related posts:

1. We Should Always Market Like There’s a Recession
2. Know What Your Prospects Really Want
3. Lessons from a Garage Sale

Advertising is expensive and becoming less effective, so how do we create awareness when times are even more dire? We need to add low cost marketing strategies to our existing business plans and get back to the basics. Find ways to advertise and create conversations about our businesses without exceeding our budgets or putting our businesses in jeopardy.

Use Public Relations and Find Stories that Fit Your Business

Let’s get creative, throw out the old rules and start breaking some new ground. We’re most creative when the options that were readily available to us quickly disappear. That’s where PR  comes in. When we can’t rely on the traditional advertising methods and techniques we need to expand our options and search for solutions that extend our reach and add credibility to our businesses. We can read the news, follow journalists and media outlets in our areas and find ways we can connect with issues and involve our businesses in the solutions.

Show Your Customers You’re Still There For Them

Add more Public Relations practices to your plan. I’m not talking about media relations, but “public” relations. Even if you have a small client base, reach out your previous and existing customers and give them a reason to talk about you and pass on your message. Offer some low-cost incentives for being loyal to your company. Consider customer appreciate days or contests that reward customers for their opinions and loyalty. We can’t be afraid to ask for opinions and feedback. Although we don’t like criticism, it can mean the difference between survival and bankruptcy.

Fill the Gaps Your Competitors are Leaving

We need to stay one step ahead of the competition. They’re being hit with the recession, too. While they’re pulling back, we can push our businesses forward with consistent positive communications. It’s not difficult to differentiate ourselves when we’re listening to your customer’s most immediate concerns.  We need to ensure we know where people are talking about us and what they are saying. We can’t afford to miss an opportunity to create an open and positive conversation with our business community. We’re not the only ones looking for gaps and if we’re not paying attention, someone else will step in and take over the conversation.

Always Focus on Building Your Story

Businesses have survived recessions before and what we need to remember is people are still going to buy products and services and plan for the future. They’re just being cautious and becoming more educated about their purchases. When customers search for products to purchase they’re going to be looking for trustworthy companies that are generate positive buzz.

I believe that the recession is best time assess our marketing efforts and create a plan that focuses more on the benefits of our products and the relationships with our customers. Once we start using non-traditional marketing and stepping away from the expected methods of advertising, it’s easy to realize how disconnected from our customers we’ve become.

Public relations isn’t just about what media attention can do for us. It’s about being part of the story and giving people something to talk about.  Read the newspaper and watch the news, the people who get the most exposure are the people who put their customers and communities first.

People are changing the way they live. We just have to figure out how we fit into the picture.

Related posts:

1. The Future of Public Relations?
2. 5 Ways to Conduct Market Research on a Shoestring Budget
3. Know What Your Prospects Really Want

Our words can spark imagination, evolve into action and create change.

If I learned anything today, it’s that words can create unity. Words can cause people to forget about borders and differences, and create a unified battalion of human beings armed with hope and prepared to face their future together.

Most of all, words empower. Some of the greatest movements of all time were inspired by passionate people who believed in a message, believed in the strength of each individual person and believed in the incredible power of unity.

Great leaders come at a time when people most need inspiration and hope. They speak to our hearts, and our minds.

It’s that time again.

Whether people agree with your idea or not, they are moved by your words.

They can choose to listen. They can choose to stand up.

And, they can choose to join the movement.

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1. My Aunt Roxanne
2. Interaction Builds Business Communities

What is Search Engine Optimization?

Wikipedia says:

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via “natural” (”organic” or “algorithmic”) search results. Usually, the earlier a site is presented in the search results, or the higher it “ranks,” the more searchers will visit that site. As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work and what people search for.  -Wikipedia

Basically, SEO is doing everything you can to structure your website so it ranks at the top of the search engine results when your prospects are searching for an immediate solution to a problem. If you have that solution, you need to be in those top results.

That’s where Wordpress SEO Secrets by Michael Martine of Remarkablogger comes in.

Why I Bought Wordpress SEO Secrets

I really needed it. I’m not the only small business copywriting and marketing company on the internet, and I may not be the right choice for everyone, but I still want to be on the short list. If I’m not in the searches, I’m not a choice. It’s as simple as that.

I was on the fence about buying Wordpress SEO Secrets for weeks. I know it was just released last week, but I knew in 2008 it was coming out this January and I found myself trying to logically justify the purchase price. Not because I think the product isn’t worth the price – it’s worth a lot more than it’s selling for – but, because I set a tight “educational training” budget for my business. Eventually, with the help of the looming deadline, I talked myself into it. I also got in minutes before the price doubles, that’s how “on the fence” I was about it.

Why You Need this Product

The importance of this information was reinforced yesterday when I met with a potential marketing client. It was during this two hour session that I realized the huge – and I mean huge – online marketing knowledge gap that plagues many small business owners. After I got over the initial shock of discovering how much she spends monthly to have a big corp host her HTML website, I explained to her why her website wasn’t being found, at all. Not only does she have huge competition in her market and location, but she’s using generic copy and relying on meta tag keywords (as suggested by the multi-billion dollar corp) to get ahead of her competition in searches. But that’s a post for another day.

I’ve been working in marketing for small business for quite some time.  I know how fierce competition can be for small business owners. Especially if you are just starting your business and you’ve never designed a business website. And with all the talk about the insurgence of newly laid off people jumping on the internet and starting up businesses, I know that people don’t have time to spend researching all the techniques that Michael is offering in his SEO Secrets program.

If you need results now, and don’t want to wait until your market is flooded with hundreds or even thousands of new websites in 2009, Michael’s program is the best place to start.

My Opinion – Product Strengths:

1. You can implement it immediately, which I did and then created a new XML site map to reflect the changes I made.
2. Michael explains how to use the search engines and other tools to find out what your competition is doing to get ahead of you on the search results page.
3. He explains how to use Wordpress add-ins to your advantage.
4. The videos outline all the steps Michael talks about in the book & audios. If you’re unsure about navigating the Wordpress administrator dashboard,  these videos help to explain the various functions, what to enter and how to fix mistakes.
5. He talks about categories and duplicate content penalties so that everyone can understand them.
6. Most of the search and SEO tools he suggests are free, or available at minimal cost. So, once you buy the program, you really don’t have to spend a fortune to put the methods into action.
7. He explains “Black Hat SEO” and lets you know what the search engines will do to you if you break the rules and get caught.
8. WordPress SEO Secrets is for WordPress SEO only – so it’s unique among all the other SEO educational programs out there.

My Opinion – Product Weaknesses:

1. The audio fades in and out a little and there is some background noise, but that’s the nature of online communication tools. Just turn your speakers up – and be prepared for some beeps that will make you jump.
2. Although the audio came from a Teleseminar session, all the questions were cut out. I really would have enjoyed hearing some of the questions and discussion that went on around the content that Michael included.
3. WordPress SEO Secrets is for WordPress SEO only, so it won’t help you if your using something else. (Why are you anyway?) The search and research info is still relevant, but the true focus is on people who are going to start blogging with a self-hosted WordPress website.

The biggest problem - Michael is pulling it from the Remarkablogger Store shelves on January 17th, 2009. There’s no word yet as to when he will be releasing it again. So, if you need more targeted traffic to help your small business get more attention, I’d buy it before it’s gone.

As of January 17th, Michael has decided to eliminate the deadline. I think that’s great news for everyone. Especially those of you who are undecided about how you want to position your small business on the internet. When you do decide to use Wordpress to host your blog, you can still buy SEO Secrets to ensure you’re using it to the fullest.

Honestly, there is almost nothing out there that thoroughly addresses the needs of people who are just starting out in blogging, are new to SEO and are self-hosting WordPress – until now. I won’t go over the entire table of contents – I have to admit, the section “Changes to Google Page Rank and Search Algorithms” was the real clincher for me – but I can direct you to a sample from 1 of the 3 e-books included. Check out a sample of Wordpress SEO Secrets here.

If you’re still not sure, just check-out the Wordpress SEO Secrets sales page and see what other business owners are saying about it.

Existing, or not existing, in the search engine results page is entirely up to you.

P.S. Because of Michael’s product, I’m already indexed and ranked 11th in the search engines for a keyword I was targeting.

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1. Review – Watch, Listen and Click…
2. 5 Ways to Conduct Market Research on a Shoestring Budget

“All I want is one widget.”

For the client, it’s simple and direct.

They need something, they call, someone answers the phone takes their order, sends the product with their invoice and boom: they have their one widget. They’re happy. They tell everyone they meet that they’re happy.

People understand that you’re a great company to work with because no matter how simple the need, you fill it.

“All they want is one widget.”

For the small business that doesn’t understand this and needs to sell widgets by the hundreds per client to increase their profits, it’s a hassle.

The client is demanding just one small widget, the commission is low, the quoting process is long and drawn out, so you push the client need to the bottom of the list.

You’ll get back to it once you’ve filled the orders of your “important” and “big budget” clients. So, the client calls again. You tell them you’ll get back to them as soon as possible and, once again, the client waits. Their need becomes more urgent and they watch their deadlines slip past, but still no call. Now, they’re not happy. They vow never to return.

They tell everyone they’re not happy and not to bother contacting your company. The people they talked to continue to spread the word about your shoddy customer service to their own contacts.  The potential for lost clientele continues to grow.

People start to understand that you don’t value their business and your focus is on pleasing only the big budget clients.

So, if you’re a small business or entrepreneur, how do you handle your client needs?

Do you rank them based on potential value, first come first serve, or do you treat everyone the same because your main goal is to have happy customers, no matter how big their budget, spreading the word about your customer service.

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1. Being the best, or the first, takes a lot of hard work. Don’t be fooled by get-rich-quick scams.
2. Going into business with a friend is a huge mistake. You won’t miss the business, you’ll miss the friend.
3. Expect the unexpected, or at least have a great voicemail system just in case.
4. Approaching everything with an open mind, it’s the only way you will ever succeed.
5. Business, Marketing and PR plans are extremely important.
6. Before you start looking for clients, have your accounting, legal documents, terms and conditions and payment methods in place.
7. Everyone needs competition. It keeps you from becoming lazy and forgetting your clients are human.
8. Skype is one of the most valuable business tools you will ever use.
9. Business Cards are the second most valuable business tool you will ever use.
10. Your website is a reflection of your personality, so fill it with words and images accordingly.
11. Sometimes, being a solopreneur is as lonely as it sounds.
12. StumbleUpon traffic is awesome, for about 24 hours, then you have to write something new to Stumble.
13. Don’t get caught up in numbers, counts, and lists. It’s quality, not quantity. Numbers lie.
14. All the cool kids are on Twitter. If you want to know what people are talking about in your industry, get an account! Right now!
15. Meetups and community networking groups are awesome. Go to as many as you can.
16. If you need help, ask for it. Who knows what could happen.
17. Time goes by fast and the more time you spend procrastinating the farther behind you fall.
18. Sometimes, while you’re looking for your purpose, it finds you instead.
19. Writing words for other people is extremely rewarding.
20. Helping people achieve their dreams is even more rewarding.

My Biggest Mistake:

I stopped blogging. I stopped just when people were noticing me, starting to read what I had to say, and felt that my words held some importance. I stopped as soon as I found my voice and formed an opinion. And, I let some great people down.

Fear kills creativity. Don’t let it run your life.

What 2009 will Mean to Me:

2009 will be my year. I’m taking everything I learned 2008 and building a stronger business. I’m learning from my mistakes. I’m focusing on relationships, community, knowledge and skill to help others reach their goals, make a difference and change the world.

Lofty? So what?

My only resolution is to stop wondering “what if” and start taking action.

Happy New Year!

What will you do with your 2009?

Related posts:

1. What Twitter Has Given Me
2. The Power of Words
3. How I Rock the Web on John Haydon’s Blog

Since creating my Twitter account in May 2008, I’ve been lucky enough to find:

• Companionship,
• Advice,
• Answers,
• New Ideas,
• Friends,
• Laughter,
• Support,
• Mentors,
• Chances to Collaborate with Great People,
• NaNoWriMo Writing Buddies,
• Awesome Copywriting Projects,
• Connections Within My Own Industry,
• Connections with PR Firms and the Media,
• Great Blog Posts,
• Free Stuff,
• Great Contests,
• Good Affiliate Programs,
• Breaking Local and World News,
• Offline Meet-ups,
• A Chance to Support Others,
• A Chance to Help Others Succeed,
• A Chance to Give Back to My Community,
• A Chance to Help End Extreme Poverty,
• Humility,
• Thank yous,
• Inspiration,
• and My Voice…

Are you on Twitter?

If you are, what value is it providing you?

Or, more importantly, what value are you providing others?

If you like this post, you might also like: The Value of Twitter

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We can’t deny that we buy “things” that make us feel better.

We don’t buy products, we buy solutions. Even the things we “need”, whether they are brand name, bargain or environmentally-friendly, are purchased because on some subconscious level they make us feel good about our choice. In today’s market, we have a tremendous choice between products, but ultimately we buy the brand that makes us feel better about ourselves.

I can’t tell the difference between Coke and Pepsi, but I buy Coke because my Dad did when I was a little kid. Over time, I’ve associated buying this brand of pop with family memories and good experiences.

That’s why we buy expensive clothes, cars, shoes, and highlights for our hair. Our lives were bearable before we bought these products, but somewhere along the way, someone created a “want” that turned into a “need”. Suddenly, we thought that purchasing these things would make us feel better, they did and they became part of our everyday lives.

In his post Do Not Ever Promote Your Products or Services, Ritu Pant of Marketing Hackz says:

Your customers are interested in only two things while purchasing your product or services – Good feelings and solution to the problem. Everything else is secondary to these two elements that customers require.

What solutions are you selling your customers? How are you making them feel better about themselves?

Think of your own reasons for buying products and services. What motivates you to buy? Think of all the reasons that you feel better for purchasing those products.  Now apply that to your own products to set yourself apart from other sellers.

Essentially, customers begin the buying process by looking for a solution to their problem, but their decision to buy will be based on their feelings about you, your sales approach and your company.

Whether you are selling products or education, if you’re not thinking about how it will make your customer feel better about themselves, you’re not selling it.

Pamela Weir is a Marketing Copywriter. If you are looking for a sales writer with experience creating website content, press releases, squeeze pages, and sales pages, please visit her Copywriting Services page for more information.

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Today would have been my Aunt’s 53rd Birthday.

If anything, my aunt was the main reason I decided to start my own business.

She was always thinking up crazy plans. She never doubted her ability to conjure up a good idea and create success with whatever resources were available to her. Even if the idea turned bad, she stuck with it. She made it work, and she became stronger and more educated by the experience. She was an inspiration.

She was like a second mother to me. The other half of my own mother. In childhood, they had been abandoned by their parents and gained strength in their shared determination to stay together no matter what happened to them. They were two very opposite people who were entirely lost without each other. She is wrapped up in all of my childhood memories. On the good days, I can still hear her laugh, and then I remember the days we spent talking about life and drinking tea in my mother’s living room.

I never truly believed that cancer could take her from us. She was too strong. It seemed impossible after all that she struggled through that her own body would rob her of the life she fought so hard to build. During her treatment she would become very ill, but she would always get better and come back to us. We always had hope that she would conquer it and stay with us until she had a chance to grow old. I think we were all in denial.

In December, the doctors said that she had three more months, but she was gone on January 4th, 2008. Her daughter was holding her when she passed.

And now, we’re still picking up the pieces. We’re trying to figure out what life should be like without her. It has been difficult.

I’m not doing her justice here. I can’t find the proper words to express the loss we feel. I’m too wrapped up in images of her illness to describe her life as it should have continued.

We should be calling her today, wishing her a happy birthday, talking about all the things she’s done to the house and figuring out the next time we will be able to get together.

It’s no longer a day of celebration. Instead, it’s a day of silence and remembrance. A day of writing.

Pamela

Related posts:

1. What 2008 Meant to Me
2. Time to Reboot
3. My Own Writing Journey – The Dream Meme