Drive sales with your words

Getting the word out about your company can help drive sales.  You already know that.  But with the advent of the internet there are other options other than print advertising.  If you think just putting up a website and leaving it alone is good enough you're wrong, too.  Here are some things to think about:

1. First of all, YES, you need a website.  That is the basic online strategy.   (I'll tell you later about a company who has NO website).  By the way, what is it about entrepreneurs and small businesses who don't have one?  Ok, thats another blog.  Let's continue...

2. E-mail marketing. Stay connected with your customers.  If you are a part of my VIP Marketing Academy you get an email from me once per week, sometimes twice.  I personally think that is enough, unless you are promoting something special.  I personally think it shows you care about your clients/customers. Share some "special" information with them not given out to the masses.

3. Content distribution.  Everyone is saying that if you don't have any content out there you are missing out.  Content is basically articles about some aspect of your business. It positions you as an expert.  For, example, when I am finished with this blog, I could turn it into an article and submit it to SubmitYourArticles.com, EzineArticles.com or GoArticles.com. Not only are will the articles be listed in these directories, but they will distribute them to other social media sites --sometimes for a fee.  I currently have an article listed in SubmitYourArticles.com on the six tips of how to shine at expos and fairs (see earlier blog post).

4.  A blog. This is a blog.  I am authoring some information that will be picked up by search engines (I hope) and distributed throughout the world.  You don't have to be a member of my VIP Marketing Academy to see it.  But I will use it to promote my VIP Marketing Academy.

I'm only going to mention these four this time because I don't want you to get overwhelmed.  So, here is your homework:

You don't have to do all of these right away.  Choose TWO

1.  Think about what you would want to tell your customers on each of the platforms
2.  Decide how many times you want to send information out if you decide to do a blog, submit articles or do e-mailing.

HINT:  You don't have to write everything from scratch.  Once you get information about your product or service, you can re-purpose it and use it in all four categories.  If you are not a writer, then I suggest you get a content strategist to help you.  Or....you can e-mail us and we will walk you through it.

Bring in Customers with Sales Promotions

"Bring in Customers with Winning Promotions" makes debut

I completed the Bring in Customers with Winning Promotions e-book.  While this e-book benefits my clients and readers, you have to understand that it is part of my marketing strategy, also.  You see, I want to provide content that is relevant for my clients.  After all, that is what my business is about -- providing marketing advice.  

Similar to you, I have to continue to produce while also marketing my other services.  Yes, it is very time consuming.  But as I say, if you don't do it, you won't have a business. It took well over 20 hours to research and write.  But as a business owner I have to "make the donuts".

Are you interested in creating content to distribute to your clients?  It is a good way to engage them and brand you as an expert in your field.  I will be doing a blog on that soon.

If you choose to get the e-book, I hope you find useful information in it. If you want an e-book that has promotion ideas, a handy 12- month listing of special days,  and events that you can use to develop your promotions, then this e-book is for you.  Also, I have examples and resources you can use.

Want to get it?  Click here

If you sign up for the VIP Marketing Academy, you will get a free download.

When will they learn?

When I was reading the link I have included below, it made me say "sho' you right!" It really hit home and says what I tell entrepreneurs and small businesses all the time: The money you pay someone to do what you are trying to do will actually bring in MORE money.  

And while the link speaks about a content strategist, it could very well speak about marketing specialists, website developer, social media specialist in general.  

The article just reminded me of a client that wanted to nickel and dime every little thing and then say, "I can do this myself". It's sad because they are doing it and they are in the same place they were in four months ago.

So, here is the link:

http://www.startupnation.com/grow-your-business/market-your-business/not-hire-content-strategists/

Get sticky with me

You've put months into having your trade show booth designed.  Now it's finished or very close. You walk around your new booth like a proud parent when it suddenly dawns on you; you need promotional handouts to go with it!  Where to start, though?

The key to a great promotional handout for a trade show event is that it provides needed information about you and your business.  But for it to stick, in other words, not get thrown in the trash, it has to have something a little more than just information.

One of the very best ways to make sure your trade show booth handouts don't get thrown away but will stick is to put an offer or coupon of some kind on them.  Coupons that a person can use after the trade show event practically guarantee your handouts won't get thrown away.  After all, your customers will want to use the coupons!

Sweepstakes and raffle offers also work well and assure your handouts will be read, kept and, better yet, used.  To get someone's attention these days means you usually have to give them a little more than just information.  They want STUFF.  And so having a simple sweepstakes or raffle offer in your trade show booth handouts means that your handouts are more likely to be read and held on to.

And here's a great tip that many people forget.  By using this sort of trade show booth handout, you have the opportunity to gather names and addresses.  And it's so easy!  You can use them for follow up using direct mail, email newsletters and other marketing promotions long after the trade show event is over.  

So the last thing you want to do is think a trade show booth event is all you have to do to make a sale.  Use a sticky handout that allows you to gather contact information and by continually reaching out to those people who have shown an interest in you, you'll ensure they show a return interest in you!

Watch for my Promotions E-book this month! 

Sign up for the VIP Marketing Academy at Fluidcommunications.net

It's time to advertise

I've run into so many business owners who have analysis paralysis. (I have fallen prey to this too). But at some point we have to stop analyzing and DO something.  We have to make a decision.  And as an entrepreneur, you know that not all decisions will be the golden one.  But sometimes you have to get going.

Advertising has to be done. So, in order to give you a chance to exhale and make the decision, I put together the e-book Media Buying Insider   It will be a FREE download available to my VIP Marketing Academy within the next week.  It describes some techniques you can use when buying media, what media is hot and what is not, and how to target your advertising to your niche market.  And it is written so everyone can understand it.  Here is an excerpt:

"What you want to do with your advertising is place it where YOUR customers ARE. Your customers are increasingly on the internet – either on the computer or on their smartphones. The best answer is to use small business advertising that only charges the owner when and if it works. There are several ways of doing this.  You may have heard of pay per click advertising.

Pay per click is available with numerous online merchant sites as well as hundreds of newspapers across the country and the globe. Simply put, a small business agrees to pay a specified amount to the publisher, or the merchant site, for each ad that entices a consumer to come to the small business site. The price paid is generally an amount that the small business owner has bid on. This means they have bid on keywords that describe their business.  More and more newspapers are offering this option as they struggle to maintain competitive online with eBay, Craigslist and other pure pay classified and marketplace sites."

Remember, digital advertising is here to stay!

If you are not a part of the VIP Marketing Academy, sign up at www.fluidcommunications.net