The media landscape has changed, bringing with it a new perspective and more advantages for small to medium businesses.
What it means for You
Traditionally, when a business wanted to reach potential customers, the owner would go to the media outlets: newspapers, radio, television. Each is made up of a large body of subscribers, listeners and viewers owned by separate media companies. It's an outside-in approach. You rent daily space on their network with the intent to reach a small percentage of a larger audience that is your market. Your ad is created by their art department, and then you pay a premium to run the ad per day. The ad is viewed by the audience as an interruption or distraction to their main purpose, which is to deliver news or entertainment. It's cost prohibitive for a small business to do enough advertising to make a campaign effective. Even at best, it's difficult to sustain. Read more
We often hear from business owners that they don't want to spam their customers. We couldn't agree more. That's why we only develop opt-in email lists that are made up of individuals who choose to be part of it. If they request to receive your emails, they want to hear from you...unlike traditional media where a commercial is seen as an intrusion. That's why we focus on creating content that is well received. Read more
"A well-executed website, like a quality television program or film, is a combination of content and delivery." David Meerman Scott, author of New Rules of Marketing and PR. What Scott says is true. Think of your web site as a representation of your storefront or office. Imagine if you never added to your inventory, rearranged the merchandise, or upgraded your services. People would soon stop dropping by. A stale website can become a liability. Instead, view your online marketing - website, e-mail newsletter, and social media - as a way to showcase your business and services. Read more
If the game of marketing is a tennis match, think of Facebook and the Web as your two best players. In a doubles match, they're the dream team, serving content out to your customers as they hit right back with feedback and business. Structuring your website and Facebook fan page to work together is the golden ticket to accomplishing your online marketing goals. Just as your website should be designed to reflect you and your business, all aspects of your Facebook fan page should be designed to meet your marketing strategies. How does one do this? Garrett Moon, founder of Today Made- an online marketing resource, offers a "How To" on making your website and Facebook work as a team to achieve "marketing brilliance." Here are a few of his tips. Read more
I bet you'd make a lot of money. Each time a Bob wrote his name, you'd get a check in the mail. Even when a Bob signed his checks, you'd make money. But if you think about it, bob is a brand identity. When you think of a Bob, what do you think of? Most likely, you imagine an average Joe. An everyday man. But then if you think of a specific Bob you know, the name Bob takes on a different meaning. Ever notice that? You can use the same name while addressing different people, but the name takes on a different meaning when you think of the specific person. Read more
"American business needs a lifting purpose greater than the struggle of materialism. Nor can it lie in some evanescent, emotional, dramatic crusade. It lies in the higher pitch of economic life, in a finer regard for the rights of others, a stronger devotion to obligations of citizenship that will assure an improved leadership in every community and the nation; it lies in the organization of the forces of our economic life so that they may produce happier individual lives, more secure in employment and comfort, wider in the possibilities of enjoyment of nature, larger in its opportunities of intellectual life." —President Herbert Hoover in a speech given on May 7, 1924
The main component of Facebook is the news feed. Its a scrolling message board showing all the moment by moment daily posts of anyone you've chosen to friend (for individuals) or become a fan (for businesses or organizations). Each person's news feed is unique to their interests and relationships. It is important to keep posting regularly to stay in view. Then, anyone one can respond to any post which creates a conversation. Of course, it is assumed that any content posted by a business must be relevant and have value to their fans. Otherwise, you will be seen as an intrusion. Read more
Building a high quality email list takes persistence and focused attention, but is one of the best investments of time you will make for your business. A quality subscriber is one who will likely use your services, buy your product, tell a friend, and increase your revenue. Don’t be fooled by a big list of subscribers - quantity is nice, of course - but it’s the ones on the list who will actually engage with your business by buying or recommending your products or services who really matter. From offering incentives, holding contests, and introducing a members only loyalty program, here are some tips on how to increase your subscribers in both categories of quality and quantity.
In the Beginning
In the beginning (the late 90s), there was a need to have a web site. People would ask, "Do you have a web site?" If you didn't, others would gasp! "How can you not have a Web site? It's the future!" This would usually be stated by someone who recently completed their web site. Then they would smugly turn up their nose, turn, and walk away. So everyone went out and got themselves a web site. The main focus was to make sure you had a .com not a .net or .bz (Brazil). As if having a .com alone would somehow cause cash deposits to happen in your bank account while you slept. Read more
Building a high quality email list takes persistence and focused attention, but is one of the best investments of time you will make for your business. A quality subscriber is one who will likely use your services, buy your product, tell a friend, and increase your revenue. Don’t be fooled by a big list of subscribers - quantity is nice, of course - but it’s the ones on the list who will actually engage with your business by buying or recommending your products or services who really matter. From offering incentives, holding contests, and introducing a members only loyalty program, here are some tips on how to increase your subscribers in both categories of quality and quantity.