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Viral marketing can be a very effective strategy for your business
Viral marketing refers to the marketing method of using your existing website visitors or other website owners to send you new referrals, visitors, and subscribers. This Viral marketing refers to the marketing method of using your existing website visitors or other website owners to send you new referrals, visitors, and subscribers. This very effective strategy can be used in many different ways.
An easy way to get started with viral marketing is through article marketing. You simply submit articles that you have written to article reprint directories. These are sites that other website owners and bloggers visit in order to find free content for their web pages.
When you submit an article to a directory, you are allowing other people the option of publishing your article on their web page. In exchange, they will include a link back to a site you have specified. To get the best results, write articles that have something to do with the content found on your site, and make sure the link you include is a link that has the same type of information as the article, rather than simply sending the traffic to your home page.
Creating an ebook is another way to use viral marketing. You can sell the ebook and include resell rights or you may give the ebook and allow others to give the ebook away as well. You will want to stipulate that while persons may resell the ebook or give it away for free, they do not have the right to change the information.
This is important. If you create a title page that includes your URL (or if you add your URL to other places within the ebook), you will want to make sure that the persons who resell the ebook know that they cannot take your info out of the ebook and replace it with theirs.
A similar idea is to create a special report (sometimes referred to as a viral report). A special report is anything longer than an article but shorter than an ebook. They are very popular as they do not take much time to create. And many people enjoy reading them as they can get a crash course on a subject in a short amount of time. Again, you can choose to sell them with resell rights or simply give them away.
If you choose, you can create brandable eBooks and reports. All you have to do is make some of the links inside the content can be changed to reflect a person’s individual affiliate link.
For instance, we’ll say that you created an information product on gardening. To gain publicity, you created a special report that contains some basic information and explains that if the readers want to learn more, they can purchase your information product. Your affiliate can include their specific affiliate link and when one of the people they distribute the report to becomes a customer, you and the affiliate will both be paid.
Viral marketing is a great way to increase your traffic and your sales.
If you offer a physical product for sell, having a website can help you bring many sales you wouldn’t have otherwise received. People from all over the world can view your products, both day and night. To make the most of your website (and your profits), you will want to display your highest quality product photos.
Many times, when it comes to your products, your website may be the only thing your customers have to go by.
They may never have had the chance to see your products in person. It only makes sense to include photos that show several views of your product. You may want to include a shot of both the front and back views. If you are offering something such as a purse, you may want to include a shot of the inside lining.
Depending on the type of product you are selling, you may want to include a model in your photos. This is especially true if you are offering something such as clothing, jewelry, or handbags. If your visitor can “see” the image on someone else, they can more easily imagine it on themselves.
If you are offering some other type of item, you may not need a model, but you may want to include something that can help the visitor distinguish the object’s actual size. This is true, even if you include measurements in your product description.
Make sure that your photos are in focus and that images can be clearly seen. Another helpful tip would be to include a function that increases the size of the picture as the customer rolls their mouse over the image.
Having high-quality photos on your website will also add to your credibility and help to establish your reputation as a professional. When a visitor comes to a website that features poorly lit photos that contain blurry images, they will most likely assume the owner of the website is a real amateur.
On the other hand, when they visit a website that contains lots of high-quality photos, they will assume that the owner of this website is very professional and takes pride in their work.
To achieve the best photo results, you may want to consider hiring a professional photographer. They will have high-resolution cameras that can really capture the detail of your products. Not to mention, they also have access to great lighting, and they know how to make an image look great.
You can call the local portrait studios in your area to get an idea of what the average fee will be. While it may involve some up-front cost it is well worth it.
The photos on your site will be “selling” your product. A picture may be worth a thousand words; over the course of time, it could also be worth several thousands of dollars.
This week’s question comes from James P. from Des Moines, IA .
Question : “I attended your recent workshop about Internet Marketing and I loved it. I was really intrigued about the ASK campaign idea you spoke about. Can you give more details? Thanks- James ”
Answer:
Thanks so much for your question, James! You may have heard of the saying, if you don’t ask for it, you’re not going to get it. An “Ask Campaign”is a marketing strategy that you can use time and time again to create (and sell) more products and services.
If you have a website devoted to the topic of scrapbooking , for example, and are thinking about creating an information product, but are not sure what your customers are looking for, you can set up an ask campaign with the question, “what is your biggest question about scrapbooking?” or”What is holding you back from completing your albums?”, or any other question that you can think of.
You can send out an email to your mailing list, asking them to take part in your survey. You may want to dangle something free in front of them, such as a small report. You simply include a link in the email to your survey page, and then they fill out the questions. Once they have submitted the questions, you can have an autoresponder set up to send them a thank you email with the link to the free report.
As you read through the responses, you will notice that some questions get asked many times. Those are the questions that the majority of your visitors want answered, and those are the topics that should be included in your information product.
You can create anything from a special report to an ebook to a teleseminar using this method. You may want to take some time to create the written information and then hold a free teleseminar (and record it). Have someone “interview” you. You can give them the list of frequently asked questions and simply go down the list of questions together. You can do this on a conference line and open the telephone lines at the end of the call in case any of the guests have questions.
You can let your guests know that you have created an ebook or special report on the same subject and that you are going to record that night’s call and include it as a special free bonus for those that buy the special report or ebook. You can even announce the landing page URL on the call and start receiving orders before you are even done with the teleseminar.
An Ask Campaign can help you figure out exactly what your customers want. This will save you the time of researching various projects, only to find out that they want information on totally different topics. By using this marketing strategy, you are able to deliver the information they want, plus they will enjoy the fact that you took the time to ask them what they wanted.
Grow your list with Facebook
If you’re only using email to followup with your customers, you are leaving a ton of money on the table. If you see Facebook as “just another way” to followup with your customers, then you’re missing out on the true power of Facebook.
Implementing a proper Facebook campaign can do absolute wonders for your business. Your exposure can quite literally go overnight from small thousands to hundreds of thousands.
How? Through the power of your customer’s FRIENDS and NETWORK.
Why Facebook Pages Spread Quickly
Which do you lend more weight to: A TV commercial about an upcoming movie, or a friend’s personal recommendation?
In pretty much every single case, a friend’s recommendation has FAR more weight than any company’s advertising. This is because there’s already trust with the friend. You know them.
This is the power you’re harnessing when you use Facebook.
Instead of a Google AdWords ad or a link on a website somewhere, people arrive at your Facebook page through a FRIEND’S recommendation.
How to Tap Into Your Customer’s Network
So what’s the “secret sauce” that makes some Facebook pages succeed while fail?
The answer: Customer loyalty.
Not just “loyalty,” but the respect of your customers. If your product is of such a quality that customers rave about your products, then your Facebook page will spread like wildfire.
People will post your page and your announcements on their walls, exposing your page to hundreds or thousands of people at a time.
Take the example of Apple. Their fan base is RABID about their products. (yes we are one of them — we only have Mac products in our office! ) If Apple started a fan page when they launched the Apple iPad, how would the page have spread? Like wildfire.
The same principle applies to smaller businesses. Basically, do your customers love you enough that they want to talk about your product? If so, then you have a Facebook page that will
spread.
Case Study: $5 Million in 4 Years
One very successful example is Gary Vaynerchuck who built a $5 million dollar wine business almost entirely through social media marketing. He used video blogging to distribute his content and used social media websites like Facebook and Twitter to spread the word about what he was doing.
At first he only had a few viewers for every video he made – Less than 20. Then his following grew and grew exponentially because his viewers kept passing on his videos. In just a few years,
he has a multi-million dollar business and is now a recognized business teacher.
Start Growing Your List Today
That’s just one example of the kind of success you can experience if you started working with Facebook correctly.
The best way to learn how to use Facebook successfully is to learn from someone who’s “been there and done that.” One great place to learn these strategies and actually get coached on the step by steps of how to implement them is by joining our 4 week coaching program.
Communication is the key to keeping great clients or customers!
When you first begin your business, it can take a lot of time and effort to land your first few clients. As your business develops, you’ll find that securing new clients takes less time; however, it is a lot easier to stay in contact with your current clients and develop long term relationships, than to constantly seek out new clients.
Communication is very important in all aspects of life, business is no exception. Developing long-term client relationships is very important, and without communication, it will be difficult to achieve.
When you are working with a client, it is best to keep communication open, as a way to keep them informed. This is especially true if you haven’t worked together before or if you are working on an extensive project. The client can’t see you and doesn’t know the status of the project unless you let them know what is going on. Keeping them informed of your progress will ease any worries they have.
Staying in regular contact with your client can also clear up any miscommunication that may arise. Miscommunication can be detrimental to your business. If you thought a deadline was set for the 17th, but the client thought the deadline was set for the 7th, they will be angry and frustrated at not receiving the work on time. By communicating regularly, you will both be on the same page and know what is expected.
Simply taking the time to email past clients and inquire as to how they are doing and if they need your services can spur them into contacting you for a new project. Sometimes people simply get caught up in other things and your simple hello reminder can remind them of a project they wanted to finish and need assistance on.
Keeping your name in front of your past clients can also help you achieve positive word of mouth advertising. Word-of-mouth advertising happens when a past or current client is talking to someone in need of the products or services you offer, and they refer you and your business. By staying in touch with your customers, you increase the odds of them remembering your name in upcoming conversations.
You don’t have to call each and every client on the phone as way to communicate, use email as well as email newsletters. In fact, newsletters are a great way to promote your new products and services to prior customers. Once someone has bought from you in the past, they are more likely to buy from you in the future.
Creating a monthly newsletter for your customers doesn’t take a lot of time, and it can even be outsourced to a virtual assistant. Your newsletter can be emailed to your clients once per month, and you can use this time to let them know of any new products or services you will be offering, as well as special sales and other items of interest to them.
Not sure the best way to utilize email marketing ? Sign up for our FREE Email Marketing Webinar on April 19th .
Today we are so very fortunate to have a guest post from my freind and amazingly talented graphic artist, Rebecca Litton of RebeccaLitton.com
You have a fabulous product, idea or service. You have stellar customer service. And, you have a marketing plan. What next? Now you need to leave the sweat pants at home and show up in a suit like the big boys. You need to LOOK like you belong. You need a graphic designer.
Design is, at its core, visual communications.
Everything your potential customers see concerning your business, from flyers to websites to hangtags, conveys a message about your business and your product. Having a professional pull all of these elements together for you will give your company a polished and professional look and feel that will translate into sales.
How do you find a designer who is right for you?
Here are the important questions to answer before you begin your search…
- What do I need?
- Do you have existing branding in place, such as a logo that you need incorporated into your design or do you need branding advice as well as graphic design. Do you need an existing website overhauled or do you need to start from scratch. Are your needs purely digital or will you need print material? Will you need help in the long run or is a one time interaction?
- How much can I spend? Know your budget. Graphic design, like most services, can range from a small fee to an enormous investment. Do you simply need a blog header tweaked and a WordPress template installed or do you need a cutting edge original look complete with concept art, original artwork and a long run high concept branding strategy?
- Who is your audience? Hopefully you have already answered this question. This will be the first question a good designer will ask you.
So, now you start your search.
- Ask your contacts for references and take a look online at what they have done. Graphic designers range from newly graduated or self taught artists working from a laptop in Starbucks to professionals with years of experience both in art as well as programing working for large design firms.
- Take a look at their portfolio. Do you like their previous work? Is it similar in platform to what you need? Are their previous clients still utilizing their designs?
Here are some questions to ask when you find one you like…
- Does the designer have experience working with styles and formats similar to what I need? If you need a Word Press site, you’ll want someone with WP experience. If you need a 24 page full color catalog, hire someone with experience working in print.
- Does the designer do logo creation and branding? If not, you may need to find one that does or have them work with a marketing and branding expert.
- Are they in your price range? Be honest and up front. Most graphic designers are professionals like you, and you will have to work together to come up with the best solution to your graphic needs. You will most likely find that your designer will have a range of services and prices, and they may be able to work with you even if you are on a tight budget.
And finally, a few tips when working with a graphic designer…
- Communications is key. The more the designer knows about your business and your preferences the better the end product will be. Keep all expectations, especially concerning timelines and payment clearly stated and consistent. If you hate what they are doing, tell them, but be professional. An experienced graphic designer understands the subjective nature of his or her work and most likely expects to go through a draft or two of a design before finding the perfect one.
- Let them do their job. You are not designing your bedroom. You are designing for your clients, and hopefully your designer will know more about what works best for your audience visually than you do. That is why you hired them.
Now for those of you that know me personally – you know about my love of hockey. Yes I do love hockey and pretty much any sport for that matter. In Hockey , skating can make or break you . You have got to know the fundamentals in order to be a good player. Running a business is pretty much the same thing.
I’ve watched and played enough sports and have experienced enough in business since the beginning of BrandReady Media to know the value of preparedness, but it always
comes down to the basics. For me, It’s been a set of five basic tasks — and can get you and your business through the good times and the not-so-good.
- Be Prepared and Plan!, As Ralph Waldo Emerson said ” People only see what they are prepared to see. ” In order to ride the waves of being a business owner , you have to be prepared for whatever comes your way. Do your research , set goals and write that business plan. You wouldn’t travel drive from NY to CA by yourself without a map(or GPS) would you? You shouldn’t either in business! Don’t stop at the first bump in the road, spend time looking for ways to get around it. Having a plan in place will also help you stay focus and avoid “Bright and Shiny Object ” Syndrome .
- Stick to your values
As the old saying goes, everyone has high integrity when their integrity has yet to be tested. In tough times, you’ll discover your true self, and sowill your team. Set a good example by staying true and authentic. It may hurt in the short term, but your customers and staff will admire and support you when you lead by example. One of BrandReady Media’s core values — do the right thing.. no matter what– is the guiding light when it comes to making the tough decisions. - Educate yourself – Make sure you have the latest information on the different aspects that affect your area of business, the market you are in and the markets you plan to get into. Take online courses (or courses at your local college or university) if you need to. There are new strategies, techniques and methods coming around all the time, especially in the areas of marketing and social media.
- Stay on Target!
Who is your target market ? Many business can’t tell specifically who their target customer/client is. This is NOT good. Knowing this is by far, one of the most important steps in avoiding failure in whether you are starting a new business or running an existing business. Don’t try to be all thing to all people. It is far better to target one specific group. What problem will you be solving? People are more likely to buy a product/service if it solves a problem for them or makes their life better. - Communication
Is there anything more key to your success ? Communication with clients/customers and even staff can make or break your business That goes for the message as well as the communication systems you have in place. At BrandReady Media , we have an protocols in place that enables open and honest communication. It includes things like monthly team meetings with our clients and alliance partners, an Help Desk System, and a web-based project management system.
Once you have the fundamentals done, you can then move on to the more advanced things. Let’s face it — no one can really be entirely prepared and know what the future will hold. But everyone can own up to the fact that tough times can happen in any business. So right now, recognize that you won’t always be on a hot streak. Remember that not every project is going to be make you come out smelling like a rose. You need to recognize that there will come a time when you’ll be glad you practiced the fundamentals.
What are some of your basic fundamentals for running a business ? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
Over the next several weeks, we’ll be posting a series of articles on utilizing Facebook for your business in conjunction with our Facebook Marketing Bootcamp e-course launch! (details coming tomorrow morning )
Facebook Pages are the most straightforward way for businesses to have a presence on the Facebook social networking website. A Page is similar in its appearance to a standard Facebook profile (which are used by individual who join Facebook), except that it’s designed to be the Facebook profile of a business.
People are becoming comfortable with conducting an increasing amount of their online activities exclusively on Facebook. Rather than using a search engine to find a product or service they need, some people are simply asking their Facebook friends for recommendations, or doing a search on Facebook itself. If you don’t have a Page set up for your business, you’ll be limited in how many of these potential customers can find you.
Begin the sign-up process by visiting the Pages area of Facebook. When you create a new account, try to choose a Page name that is as close to your real business name as possible. This will make it easier for people who you already do business with to find you on Facebook.
Once you’ve set up your Page, you can begin to build a following for your business. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that social networking tools such as Facebook are generally not very effective sales tools – at least in the traditional sense of the term “sales.” Facebook users that receive sales pitches on their Facebook walls tend to view the companies making them rather negatively. In fact, companies that try to use Facebook as a direct sales tool are quite often viewed– rightly or wrongly –as “spammers.”
Instead, you would be better served by viewing your Facebook Page as an opportunity to build a following or community around your business. For example, whenever someone follows or becomes a “fan” of your company’s Facebook Page, any time you post a status update or link or other item to your Page, your followers will get a notification in their main news feed. You can use your Page to announce new product offerings, sales or special offers that you may be conducting, or other interesting news about your business.
Resist the temptation to try to sell to these people by posting multiple status updates or notes every day. If your followers feel overwhelmed by the volume of updates from you (especially if it seems to them like some of the updates are “forced”, or not noteworthy information), there’s a good chance that they’ll simply un-follow you, and you’ll lose Facebook as a means of reaching that customer.
You should also consider how your business’ Facebook Page provides a new way to engage in a dialogue with your customers and potential customers. Ask customers what kind of new products and services they’d like to see from you, or how they might want you to refine your existing offerings. Once the conversation is underway, you may find that a greater number of people participate.
Sometimes the “business intelligence” you’ll gain from your Facebook Page is something you’d never be able to get any other way.
If interested in learning more, make sure to sign up for our mailing list and receive a free report on Facebook Marketing Success
This is one question that we get a lot from our clients. Whether you are just getting started with an online business or you have been around for a while and looking for a new way to network, have a look at what Twitter can do. Part chat program and part tiny blog, you will find that the Twitter interface is one that can change the way you interact with your current customers and potential customers worldwide.
Here are 5 reasons Twitter is a powerful marketing tool for online business owners like you.
1. It’s Short, Sweet & To the Point
Have you ever heard the phrase, less is more? You’ll find that one of the best things about Twitter is that it keeps all messages very short and sweet. You’ll have to give your customers and clients the gist of what is going on in short tweets (messages similar to instant messages) that allow their interest to be piqued in such a way as to make them investigate further. You won’t bother them with long-winded messages that make them yawn and move on. Instead, you will be able to catch their attention quickly and make them want to know more.
2. Immediacy
M
uch like a blog or an RSS feed, you can get access to the people that use Twitter regularly. In some ways, this is like making sure that you can reach them no matter where they are, and you will find that this is very important when you want to make marketing one of your biggest priorities. You are making sure that they have all of the latest updates to what you are doing and what’s going on by simply sending a tweet their way.
3. Everyone’s Doing It
In many ways, Twitter is a social program more than it is a marketing one, and you’ll find that using Twitter can help you feel a great deal closer to your client base and other’s in your online community. If you are looking to make sure that they see you as a person rather than as simply a company or service, you’ll find that Twitter encourages them to think of you as someone they can get to know. This can be very important when it comes to establishing a customer base and customer loyalty.
4. You Get to Hear a Lot
Remember that it goes both ways; you can put information out on Twitter and you can also learn a lot too. By following other’s Twitter accounts, especially if it looks like they have a lot to offer, you can keep in the know about various products, services, and other happenings online. This can be a great way to keep an eye on what is going on in order to keep yourself in the know of your industry.
5. Make Them Laugh
You can also use Twitter to tease people a little bit, in a fun way, of course! When you use Twitter, you have to keep your messages short, and in many ways, a little mysterious. Pique their interest, joke around, and you’ll find that you gain a lot more followers and hopefully website traffic and customers as a result.
Be warned, just as with any other social networking site, Twitter can quickly become addicting if you let it. Don’t go overboard and get so involved in all the tweeting that it takes away from your intended purpose. Used wisely Twitter can be a great and powerful marketing tool to help create online business success.
Want to create a killer twitter campaign or host a Twitter Party promoting your product or service? Let us help.
Follow us on Twitter ? Http://www.twitter.com/brandreadymedia
Have you found the missing peice for your marketing strategy?
Let’s face it — Marketing can be tricky. There are several variables to consider when creating your marketing plan. It is much more of an art form rather than a perfect science. If you feel like you are not getting the results you should be, here are some tips on how to review and revamp your marketing strategy.
The first thing to look at in your marketing strategy is whether or not you are targeting the right market. Your target market is the group of people you are trying to promote your product or service to. For example, if you have created a nursing bra, your target market would be new mothers who are breast feeding. If your marketing efforts are not hitting that target market, you are probably not going to be seeing much response.
Another thing to consider is the color of your website and your ads, as well as the graphics that you use. Choosing colors in complementary tones will work best. If your website consists of harsh colors or colors that do not match, your visitors may click away before they even finish reading your advertising.
People enjoy seeing graphics on a page as it helps to break up the wording and adds visual stimulation. However, the pictures you choose should be easy to see and convey the proper message about your product or service. If the pictures are blurry or out of focus, or if they contain potentially offensive material, your website visitors will click away and they may not come back.
You may also want to re-evaluate your sales copy. Your copy is the advertising message that you communicate to others. You will want to make sure your headline is catchy and that you cover the benefits the customer will receive from your product or service. Many people are only concerned with what’s in it for them. If you do not clearly specify the things they will receive, they’ll move on. It is a good idea to be honest and keep things simple and concise. Avoid any hype or exaggerations.
Along with the actual wording of your copy, the layout should also be reviewed. Many people simply skim websites rather than read them from top to bottom. You can use a larger font for the headline, in order to draw the reader in, and then you can use things such as bulleted lists to highlight the important parts of the copy.
Finally, you will want to look at the amount of exposure your ads are getting. If you had a certain sales goal that you are not meeting, you simply may not be reaching enough people to meet that goal.
If you need further help or would like a FREE Consultation on revamping your marketing strategy — don’t hesitate to contact us!
