Marketing Guides

Archive for January, 2010

Free Marketing Tips: Maximize Your Traffic Sources

One of the most popular topics discussed in small business forums is traffic and how to generate more of it. I’ve noticed that most marketers jump from technique to technique looking for new traffic sources.

However I’ve always believed in sticking with those techniques that work the best and maximizing my results from those techniques. Let me explain.

If you’re a professional businessowner running a professional business you should be analyzing every aspect of your business including the amount of traffic you’re getting and where that traffic is coming from.

For instance by analyzing my traffic data I know that the greatest percentage of my traffic is coming from small business forums and the many articles I write.

So instead of running around like a “chicken with my head cut off” looking for new traffic sources like most marketers I instead focus my time and energy on coming up with creative ways of getting even more traffic from my current sources.

For instance knowing that small business forums are among my most reliable traffic sources I recently increased my participation on certain forums.

Conversely knowing how effective article marketing has been for me I increased the number of articles I write each week.

In other words I’m maximizing the results I’m getting from current traffic sources by doing more of the same.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that marketers shouldn’t be on the lookout for new traffic sources. By all means seek out new sources of traffic.

Just be smart about it. Make sure you’re maximizing your results from your current traffic sources as well.

After all you know what they say about “a bird in hand…

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;David Jackson is a writer and the owner of FreeMarketingTipsBlog.com providing free marketing tips for your website or blog!
http://freemarketingtipsblog.com

Five Ways To Show Your Confidence By Using Custom Size Brochure

The advertising tools are there to help business owners generate sales. Those materials keep on improving through time as the technology advances. Now your tools can really stand out. If you cant make people look at your plain and standard size brochure switch to custom size brochure. And see the difference.

Be Confident

Before you gain the trust of your prospective clients you must give them reasons to do so. The best way to go about this is by showing to them that you are confident with your company and the products that you offer.

Confidence can be developed through time. But you also must have the right reasons to be confident in the first place. If you believe in your company and you know that it has lots of potential then you have every right to boast about confidence.

Believe that You Can

All the tools that you use to market your products must mirror the right attitude that you should have in order to compete in the market. Make sure that everything is done according to how you want it to be done.

This kind of go get them attitude must reflect on your business card postcard flyers even posters or custom size brochure. Show to your competitors that youve got what it takes. And show to your target market that you are worthy of their trust.

For your brochures to emanate that kind of attitude here are some ways to help you do so.

1.What makes you a good company?
Study your competition. What makes you different from them? What do you think your advantages are over those other companies?

2.Why would people choose you than your competitors?
Give people reasons to choose you. This can be because of your promos or gimmicks. But everything must be accompanied with proper and quality service.

3.What are the needs of your market that your products can address?
You must know your target market very well before you even lay out your brochures. You can highlight on your tool how they may be able to use and apply your products on their everyday lives.

4.How do other people find your products and services?
Include in your brochures testimonials from those who have availed your products and were satisfied with the way you do business. It will be to your advantage to have people that your prospective clients can relate with.

5.Why are you confident about your products and services?
By telling people such reasons theres a better chance that you can sway them to think the same way.

Changing the format of your tool from the standard ones to custom size brochure is already a sign of confidence. Now all you have to do is fill it up with relevant information and enough graphics to further prove your point. Show the market that you know what you are doing. And in no time you no longer have to lure them because they will be looking for you.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Owen loves to read and talk anything under the sun. From current events magazines social life metro lifestyles traveling etc. Not a born writer but experience could make a difference. He also loves to eat especially travel in different places. Going to beaches and mountains really completes his life.

For more details you may check out Custom Size Brochures

Five Things You Should Be Doing Right Now To Promote Your Business

Many people make the decision to go into business for themselves. Many also find that once they’re up and running they hit a road block when it comes to finding new customers. Advertising can be quite expensive and most new business do not have money in their budget for costly advertising. But if you don’t promote your business it will be hard to find customers. so what do you do? The following are simple ways to promote your business that won’t put a strain on your wallet. they are very inexpensive and in some cases free. These are things that you should already be doing and if you are not now is the time to kickstart your marketing campaign. Keep in mind this is a foundation. these are techniques to get you started. A foundation to build on as your business grows.

1 Have a Plan.

This sounds like a nobrainer but most small businesses neglect it and it is the first and most important step you should take in promoting your business or services. Know what you are going to do before you do it. When you build a house you have a plan. You plan every last detail of a wedding or a vacation. Why wouldnt you have a strategy for promoting your business? You can make adjustments to the plan as you go along. But you should definitely have a well defined outline to start with and a timeline with achievable goals.

2 Hand out Business Cards

Business cards are cheap. If you dont have business cards to hand out to potential customers You need to order some immediately. You should never be anywhere without your business card. You want to hand one of those babies to anyone and everyone who could possibly have any need for your services or products or anyone who may know someone else who needs them. So basically everyone you meet. When youre promoting your business exposure is everything. You want to get your name in front of as many people as possible and handing out business cards is one of the easiest ways to do this.

3 Ask for Referrals.

Word of mouth can be a very effective promoting tool for small regional businesses. A satisfied customer can be your best salesperson. Encourage every person that you provide services or products for to refer anyone who they think may be interested in your company to you. Chances are if they were happy with their experience with you they will be glad to refer their friends or associates to you. How many times have you been in a situation where youre talking to someone about getting repairs done on your car or making renovations on your home and someone chimes in and says Hey Ive got a guy that does great work? People will always be willing to do this because they feel like they are helping in some way and guess what? They are. Theyre helping you find someone to fix your car or remodel your home and theyre helping the business by passing their information on to you. Referrals rock.

4 Send out Emails

Create a short informative message describing your business. Include some bullet points spotlighting some of your products or services or maybe just a short description of one of your top products. Make sure you include your contact information Including your location if you have an office or storefront your telephone number website URL if you have one. Also make sure the name of your business appears several times in the message. Include a discount code in the email for the recipients to refer to when they follow up so that you can track the results. Send the email to everyone you know and ask them to forward it to everyone in their address book and so on. Most people have at least 20 30 email contacts in their address book. If you send the message to 30 people and they all send it to 30 people and so on Well you get the idea. Oh yeah. And guess what? Email is free

5 Put up a website

What? You dont have a website? OK not to worry there are many low cost web hosts out there nowadays. You can purchase a domain name and sign up for a year of hosting for about 100.00. If you dont have the funds right away to pay someone to build you a professional website most of the hosting companies have interfaces on their site where you can assemble your own basic site using stock elements that theyll provide you. Your web site is where you can really go all out and put up a lot of information about your business. You can describe your products in depth put a map so people can find your office and put an email link so people can contact you with questions about your products post special discounts or promotions to get people to try your products. The possibilities are endless. Most reputable web hosting companies have starter plans ranging from 10 to 20 per month for basic web hosting and email.

These are just a few ideas to give you a kick start for promoting your business. Remember promotion and marketing are ongoing processes. there is no exact formula that will work the same for everyone. You will want to try different approaches and different combinations of ideas. If you don’t get the results you are looking for immediately don’t get discouraged. It’s not something you do once and like magic you’re a complete success. If you are consistent and persistent you will get results. There are many inexpensive ways that you can promote your business. The ones we highlighted in this article are some of the easiest to initiate and certainly ones that will be effective if done consistently.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Ray Boucher is the creative director and principal of inthinktive an advertising firm located in Dunedin Florida.

Feel free to connect with Ray on any of the following:
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