Sunday, December 30, 2012

Three Rules for Turning Stress Into Success

One of my favorite authors with an impactful article...

Three Rules for Turning Stress Into Success
Denis Waitley


1. Accept the Unchangeable - Everything that has happened in your life to this minute is unchangeable. It's history. The greatest waste of energy is in looking back at missed opportunities, lamenting past events, grudge collecting, getting even, harboring ill will, and any vengeful thinking. Success is the only acceptable form of revenge. By forgiving your trespassers, you become free to concentrate on going forward with your life and succeeding in spite of your detractors. You will live a rewarding and fulfilling life.
Your enemies, on the other hand, will forever wonder how you went on to become so successful without them and in the shadow of their doubts.

Action Idea: 
Write down on a sheet of paper things that happened in the past that bother you. Now crumple the paper into a ball and throw it at the computer screen. This symbolizes letting go of past misfortunes.

2. Change the Changeable - What you can change is your reaction to what others say and do. And you can control your own thoughts and actions by dwelling on desired results instead of the penalties of failure. The only real control you have in life is that of your immediate thought and action. Since most of what we do is a reflex, subconscious habit, it is wise not to act on emotional impulse. In personal relations, it is better to wait a moment until reason has the opportunity to compete with your emotions. 

Action Idea: 
Write down in your diary one thing you will do tomorrow to help you relax more during and after a stressful day.

3. Avoid the Unacceptable - Go out of your way to get out of the way of potentially dangerous behaviors and environments. When people tailgate you on the freeway, change lanes. If they follow you at night, drive to a well-lighted public place.
When there are loud, obnoxious people next to you at a restaurant or club, change tables, or locations. Also, be cautious of personal relationships developed via the Internet. With the massive number of individuals surfing the net, the number of predators increases in like proportion. Always be on the alert for potentially dangerous situations involving your health, personal safety, financial speculation and emotional relationships.

Action Idea:
 What is one unacceptable behavior you have or allow others to do to you that you will avoid starting tomorrow? Example: The way you drive, being around negative people, walking down dark streets alone late at night, etc.


Reproduced with permission from Your Achievement Ezine. To subscribe to Your Achievement Ezine, go to www.yoursuccessstore.com All contents Copyright YourSuccessStore.com except where indicated otherwise. All rights reserved worldwide. Duplication or reprints only with express permission or approved Credits. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Friday, December 28, 2012

The 10 Secrets to Marketing Success


The 10 Secrets to Marketing Success
David Kinard

In today's competitive world, there are many different beliefs about how to market a product or service. Regardless of approach, however, there are some core concepts that are found in every successful marketing program, effort and plan. By incorporating these traits into your marketing activities, you will increase the effectiveness of your marketing communications.


Commitment: No matter what your produce or service is, a solid commitment to the marketing process is required for success. Fervency, passion and dedication are all essential.
Investment: Famous author and critic of his day, Mark Twain once wrote that if you can't afford to advertise, place one last ad saying "Going Out of Business." Rather than thinking how much you "have to" spend on marketing, consider "what investment" you want to make to ensure your organization's future.
Consistency: Keeping in front of your customer's eyes and in their ears ensures you're also in their minds. Marketing is not effective when it is here today and gone tomorrow. A constant stream of messages increases top of mind consumer awareness.
Quality: Ensure your marketing is top quality. Your ads, newsletters, brochures-whatever you do-sends a message about your organization, product and service. If the visuals are poor, so will be the reader's perception. Your marketing must confidently go head-to-head with your competitors.
Patience: The rapid rate of technological advancement has tricked us into thinking that our marketing must be an instant and huge success. On the contrary, since our marketing is building a relationship and perception in people's minds, success comes much more slowly.
Assortment: Effective marketing uses a variety of tools to get the job done. There are many traditional mediums everyone uses, so sometimes doing something a little bit different may provide you the edge you need. Don't get fooled into believing that one size fits all.
Adaptive: Because our world is changing on a daily basis, so must our marketing efforts. Stay away from the "We've always done it that way" mentality and constantly ensure your marketing efforts are focused on today's customers-not last years.
Convenience: Elaborate and complex marketing programs or efforts tire people out. Make sure your communications or programs are simple and easy for the recipient to use or read. Successful marketing and red-tape don't mix.
Amazement: Seek to astound, amaze and surprise through your marketing efforts. Today, successful marketing is about differentiating yourself by the experience you provide your customers. Don't just try to satisfy, but amaze!
Measure: Successful marketing employs clear evaluative tools and check points to measure its efforts. Most everything we do in business has clear goals and evaluation processes tied to it. Measuring our marketing allows us to make course corrections as needed and provides confidence in the investment made.


Reproduced with permission from Your Achievement Ezine. To subscribe to Your Achievement Ezine, go to www.yoursuccessstore.com  All contents Copyright YourSuccessStore.com except where indicated otherwise. All rights reserved worldwide. Duplication or reprints only with express permission or approved Credits. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

In An Ideal World...Discovering Your Talents

 In An Ideal World …  
In an ideal world, what would you do for a living? How would you spend your free time? And how much free time would you have?
If the answers to those questions differ from what you’re doing now, I have a special treat for you.
My friend Brian Tracy – Success Expert, Best-Selling Author and Coach – has developed a special gift to help you move toward living your IDEAL life. But first, I want to share with you one of Brian’s favorite quotes from Benjamin Franklin:
"Do you value life? Then waste not time, for that is the stuff of which life is made."
You see, time is the real currency of life. Anything you obtain in life can be valued by how much time you've spent to acquire it.
Only by discovering your innate strengths...by developing them...exploiting them to their highest degree--can you ever fully realize the greatest amount of satisfaction and enjoyment in everything you do
Brian wants to help you discover how to increase your personal "return on energy" as opposed to "return on equity." Your most valuable gift is your ability to think, act and get results.
That’s where his special gift comes in.
"Discovering Your Talents," Brian’s powerful, 12-page special report, outlines precisely how to get the best out of yourself – beginning with deciding what you want to do, what you can do well, and what will produce the highest rewards for your efforts.
Because I’m a friend of Brian’s, he’s authorized me to let you in on this special offer – to get his special report absolutely FREE – no strings attached.
Here’s a taste of what it covers:
  • The definition of “personal strategic planning” and how to use it to produce more, and higher-quality, rewards for yourself
  • The role your personal values play when it comes to creating a plan for getting what you want in life
  • The one goal you MUST have when it comes to your work – and why accomplishing it will ensure you’re always paid well
  • The mindset you must maintain so you can determine your own future and your own fortune
  • 4 Questions to help you increase your return on energy invested (no more wasting time and energy on activities that aren't going to bring you success)
  • The key to a happy and prosperous life (good news: anyone can do it!)
  • And more!
I hope you’ll take a few moments to download and read this report – it has the potential to be the impetus for a new, more fulfilling life – and it’s Brian’s gift to you!
Get it here: Download your free report now. 
To your success,
Feel free to invite your friends to pick up Brian’s special report, but be sure to reserve your copy first, here: Download your free report now.
This report is absolutely FREE. There’s no obligation to buy from Brian, now or in the future. But know that if you do, I’m an affiliate of his and he may float me a commission. Get your special report here: Download your free report now.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Top 5 Reasons to Market with E-mail


Why Email Marketing? Five Great Reasons

by Michelle Keegan,  Constant Contact Email Marketing Expert
Email marketing is one of the most powerful marketing tools available to businesses of all types and sizes. No matter how you define success, you can achieve outstanding results with email marketing while investing only a small amount of time and an even smaller amount of money.
"54% of small businesses surveyed rated e-mail as the top online promotion to drive site visitors and customers to their web sites and storefronts." Source: DMA Interactive
"I think over time we'll see small businesses adopting e-mail marketing because it has the inherent advantages of being 'faster, cheaper and easier' to execute. Coupled with the potential to target more precisely than today's solo or shared mailers, there's a real win for the small business owner." Source: Neal Polachek, senior vice president of The Kelsey Group.

So, Why Email Marketing?

  1. It's Inexpensive
    Email marketing is an affordable way to stretch a tight marketing budget - and whose isn't these days? Unlike direct mail, there is virtually no production, materials or postage expense. Email marketing is 20 times more cost effective than direct mail, and can cost as little as fractions of a penny per email.
    "Previously, we were sending these kinds of mailings through first-class postal mail," said Robin Parker, owner of Studio: Dance, Arts & More. "With several hundred members and prospects, that really adds up quickly. Email marketing is much less expensive than sending out postcards or flyers. We save about $4,000 just in materials and postage."
  2. It's Effective
    Email marketing enables you to proactively communicate with your existing customers and prospects instead of passively waiting for them to return to your Web site or storefront. It is a highly effective way to increase sales, drive site or store traffic and develop loyalty.
    • Increasing sales
      "In response to our first campaign, WatchZone received 100 online orders - all from a segment of 15,000 current customers," said Shavi Mahtani, CEO of WatchZone.com, a leading site for fashion and sport watches at discount prices. "The average sale was about $150 per order. We were very happy with that result. Frankly, it exceeded our expectations."
    • Driving traffic
      "The increase in traffic was substantial," said Travis Erickson, controller for GolfBargains.com, online "Pro Shop" for golf enthusiasts. "We've noticed that even if the recipient isn't interested in, say, our golfing irons promotion, they'll think, 'Wow, that's a great price - I wonder what else they have on sale?'"
    • Building Loyalty 
      "We're technically not an e-business," said Robin Parker, owner of Studio: Dance, Arts & More, "but we're using email marketing to capture the names of site visitors so that we can provide them with information, news, and schedules that make their lives easier. That helps us build and retain loyal members. We believe email marketing will increase the lifetime value of our members by encouraging more frequent visits to the studio and strengthening our relationships with our members."
  3. It's Immediate 
    Email marketing generates an immediate response. The call to action is clear: "Click here to take advantage of this offer", or "to learn more about this service". Initial campaign response generally occurs within 48 hours of the time the email campaign is sent.
    "Orders pour in within 24 hours after I send my newsletters," said Emitations.com CEO, Au-Co Mai. "In an economy where most companies are suffering, I can't believe that I'm actually thriving and breaking revenue goals every month."
  4. It's Targeted
    You can easily segment your lists using a variety of criteria or interest groups so that your promotions go to the individuals most likely to respond to your offer.
    "Because many of our customers are collectors, they are only interested in hearing about the newest collectible arrivals," said Lars Mohlin, President, House of Ascot, a mail order gift and collectible business. "While others are looking for promotions, the collectors often dislike receiving mail messages offering discounts. We target email campaigns to our subscribers' opt-in interest categories, this has resulted in a 40%-50% jump in revenue."
  5. It's Easy 
    There are Web-based email marketing products for small and medium businesses. Most include professional HTML templates, list segmentation and targeting capabilities, as well as, automatic tracking and reporting. So, you are free to concentrate on your unique message.
    "This is definitely something a non-techie can do," said Shavi Mahtani, CEO of WatchZone.com. "It took us about 45 minutes - start to finish - to build and compose our e-mail. And each campaign since then has taken less time to set up."
    "I don't need a Webmaster or a technical person to handle my newsletters anymore," said Raphael Baekeland, general manager of Kuartos.com. "My product manager and I can do everything very easily."
    For more information and ideas tailored to you business, contact me or CLICK HERE

Friday, October 5, 2012

In addition to writing sales and marketing e-mail campaigns, I am now also working with Constant Contact to provide a wide range of additional services..
Check it out here E-mail and Social Marketing Services

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Headlines: What You Need To Know in 2012

What You Need to Know About Headlines 
Have you ever wondered why some marketing tactics just don’t seem to work for your business? You sit and watch a competitor’s website grow and business soar and you’re just not quite sure how they do it. After all, aren’t all marketing tactics pretty much the same? The answer is a resounding “NO”! Marketing tactics that work are not about rocket science. They are often very simple concepts but many online marketers fail to recognize them for the value they can bring to a business. Focusing on a business that brings high conversion rates and plenty of sales is a marketer’s dream. But it will only materialize when marketing tactics are successfully deployed. First of all, people want to find a solution to a problem. That’s why they’re searching for a particular product or benefit to begin with. So what do you have to offer? Headlines say it all
 Let’s be clear. Headlines are not just for print anymore. In the online world, when we use the term “headline” it can take many forms. Such as: A blog post title, an article title, an e-mail subject line, a Twitter or Facebook share or others. Anytime you need to get a reader’s attention to be able to persuade them to take the next step, the principals of a good headline come in to play When we are online, we are, by definition, task oriented. We are there to do something and anything that gets in the way of that will be ignored. We also tend to have a short attention span. We are there to do something. We want to find the most relevant answer to my reason for searching. So, don’t wait to tell them what’s in it for them. Tell them right away with your headline. 
Headlines can be one of the most effective marketing tactics you have to offer. The headline should always include a valuable benefit for the customer. Recent studies indicate that users decide whether or not to stay or leave a site within 5 seconds or less. Well-written headlines are critical. Using a headline to grab attention is one of the simplest, yet most effective marketing tactics available. People have a chance to quickly understand why they need to read further than the headline. Instead of clicking away from your site, (or discarding your e-mail, etc) they’ll be clicking through your information to find out more.
 Always follow-up a headline with some other compelling fact or value-added benefit of the product or service. Keep website visitors moving through your content by including one bit of important information after another in every sentence. Don’t use teasers that make them feel they have to keep searching for what’s important but be up-front and direct about the product’s value and benefits with each sentence. 
Market the benefits and value 
The headline is the best place to start marketing the benefits of the product. It’s also the best way to attract search engines that are seeking websites based on keywords used by online users. 
When the headline includes the words that potential customers are most likely to search for, the search engines will reward you by bringing more visitors to your website. Search engine optimized writing has many benefits Facts, statistics, and data that substantiate your claims of value are also important ways to increase the effectiveness of headlines. “48% reduction in costs with X product….” can be a real attention grabber. Don’t hesitate to use data to support your benefit claims. 
Advanced marketing tactics 
Headlines are just the beginning with marketing tactics. There are many more advanced marketing tactics that can make a substantial difference in conversion rates and sales. Knowing and integrating advanced marketing tactics into the overall marketing plan for your website and business can make a huge difference in your profits. Evaluate your current marketing tactics and make necessary adjustments by utilizing advanced tactics to support and grow your business. Time spent preparing effective marketing goals and strategies, supported with effective tactics, is time that will result in higher profits and a thriving business. And always remember – success starts with your headline!

Friday, September 7, 2012

12 Classic Personal Development Books PLUS Bonus

12 Classic Personal Development Books PLUS Bonus 70% off

Here's a package of best-selling personal development books that you can use to start an incomparable success library!
As you know, a first-class library is vital to any achiever's success. After all, it's the physical manifestation of all the ideas, thoughts, insights, views and advice that reinforce a successful attitude and life.
Now's the time for you to start your library, add to your library or help someone else get their library started!
Order this awesome package of 12 classic personal development books right now and get a special bonus! 

How to create a content calendar for your business blog in 5 simple steps

How to create a content calendar for your business blog in 5 simple steps

The A-B-Cs of SEO copywriting | SEO Copywriting

Here's a good one to bookmark...

The A-B-Cs of SEO copywriting | SEO Copywriting

Monday, July 23, 2012

3 Tips to Sell with Your Headlines

Tips For Creating Powerful Headlines That Sell

You have mere seconds to capture a prospect's attention.  One of the single most powerful tools you have to accomplish this task is your headline.  There are several keys to a compelling, and selling, headline and a few tips to help you get the job done. 

#1  Tap into Your Prospects' Emotions

According to psychologists our buying decisions are based first and foremost on our emotions.  Use headlines which offer your readers a strong emotional benefit or reaction.  Some possible emotions are:

For example, The 20-Minute Step that Will Make You a Business Genius taps into readers' desires to feel smart and powerful.

Other emotions you can tap into are a desire to feel:

1. Attractive
2. Sexy
3. Assertive
4. Confident
5. Energetic
6. Pampered
7. A sense of belonging
8. In control of their own destiny
9. Wealthy
10. Proud
11. Respected
12. Safe

#2 Make it Active

To compel it's important to use active language - language that shows movement and commands attention.

For example, "Stop Your Sugar Cravings Today With This Simple Step," is a fine headline however it doesn't command action nor does it really tap into any emotions.  However, "Conquer Your Sugar Cravings With This Simple Step."  Conquer is an active and emotionally powerful word.  Readers receive the benefit of feeling powerful and in control and it commands action.

#3 Let Your Reader Know They're Important

The word YOU is a very powerful word.  It let's your reader's feel as if you're talking to them specifically and interested in solving their problems, issues and helping them achieve their desires.  Instead of using I, Me or We in your headlines, use You.  Using the headline example above compare the two options
"Conquer Your Sugar Cravings With This Simple Step.
"Conquer Sugar Cravings with Our System"

People want to know what's in it for them and when they can assess that information in the headline, they're going to be compelled to continue reading your copy and making a purchase.

Here are three more ideas for powerful headlines:

* Make a promise - Earn $1000 a day
* Make it newsworthy - New program guarantees you'll earn $1000 a day. 
* Ask a question – Do you want to ensure your financial future? 

Three Simple Steps to Write Headlines That Sell

So now you have some ideas about what types of headlines sell, how do you begin to write those powerful headlines?

Step One – Get to know your audience intimately. What are their hopes, dreams, desires, and problems?  Understanding your audience will help you create an emotional and powerful headline directed specifically at your audience.

Step Two – Determine how your products or services are going to make your prospects' lives better or solve their problems.  For example if you sell fitness equipment and your audience struggles with feeling attractive then you can create a headline that highlights a specific benefit your fitness equipment offers to solve that problem.

Step Three – Write ten to twenty, yes twenty, possible headlines.  Not only will this give you practice writing compelling headlines, it'll help you hone in on that perfect headline.  And if you think you have a few winners you can always test them for conversion rates to find out which headline is more effective.

Marketing and copywriting experts consider your headline to be the most import element of any effective marketing piece.  Take the time to craft a compelling, and selling, headline and you'll reap the benefits for years to come.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

A “KISS” for Profits and Cash Flow


A “KISS” for Profits and Cash Flow
Simple Marketing Tactics that Drive Sales

The “K.I.S.S.” method has been a tried and true rule forever in many areas in life and business. For this article, The KISS method stands for: Keep It Simple for Sales!
Marketing tactics can be extremely complex or quite simple. Ironically, the simple tactics are the ones that are most effective and successful. Value-added headlines, informative content, and visual appeal are simple tactics that can drive conversions and sales.
For example, one simple tactic is to make it quick and easy for web visitors and customers to view information on your website. Allowing adequate white space, creating short sentences, and keeping enough space between words, sentences, and paragraphs will make your site more appealing.
In addition, the strategic use of keywords and keyword phrases will attract search engines and keep site visitors scanning your content. Words that demonstrate how your product adds value will capture attention and focus the reader on “what’s in it for them”.
And these are also valuable search engine optimization techniques that will drive visitors to your website.
Simple marketing tactics
A very important tactic is to make everything simple. Some recommended options include:
1. Bulleted or numbered lists (like this one)
2. Use of bold to highlight keywords or important benefits (use sparingly to ensure emphasis without over-use)
3. Subheadings to create a logical flow and to break large blocks of content
4. Titles and subheadings in ‘sentence case’ since capitalizing most words tends to break attention span and create confusion
5. Graphics or pictures that are clearly relevant to the product and that showcase benefits and value
6. Highlighting unique information, benefits and value by using ‘call out boxes’, ‘pull quotes’ and other design elements
7. Since people tend to scan web pages rather than read them, snippets or short phrases with important information become vital for website content. People need to get the message quickly without having to think hard about what is being presented. Making sentences overly long or complex tends to be a distraction and you’ll lose the site visitor’s attention quickly.
These are just some of the recommended options when creating website content.
Not only is it important to integrate many of the basic and advanced marketing tactics into your marketing plan, it is also vital to include methods of testing their effectiveness. Watching and monitoring statistics that indicate how long visitors remain on your pages, among other measures of success, will help you refine marketing tactics and improve your marketing strategy.
Once you deploy some of the more advanced marketing tactics that are proven effective you will begin to see conversions increase quickly. And increased conversion rates lead to higher sales and repeat business.
Advanced marketing tactics include options such as the use of powerful copy that attracts readers, inclusion of questions that help you lead customers toward sales, and using authority positioning to increase site integrity and credibility.
If you’re searching for ways to grow your business, you don’t want to miss an opportunity to evaluate marketing tactics that will put you on the super-highway to success. Evaluate what others have already tested and proven successful. Create the winning formula for your website and enjoy the success that comes from hard work and vision.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Positioning as an Authority for Marketing Success

Positioning as an Authority for Marketing Success


Online users are searching the Internet for information, products, and services every minute of every day. With the intense competition and wealth of information available on the Internet, people do not want to spend their time visiting a site that they do not believe is high quality, credible, and worthy of their time. They’ll allow you 8 seconds to grab their attention and that starts the beginning of a relationship – or breaks it.
Proven marketing tactics become increasingly valuable today with the increased competition and skepticism of many web users. If visitors do not perceive a site is high integrity, they quickly click their heels and scamper to another website because they know there are many more.
But people who believe your site has something valuable to offer and that is highly credible will stay around long enough to learn more. They’ll search your content for more information and as they become more intrigued by the content they begin to trust you and what you have to say. If you’ve deployed a marketing tactic that establishes your credibility, you are ahead of the race.
Think about your own buying patterns. If you do not believe you can trust a business, you are most likely to avoid stopping by to browse the products. It doesn’t matter if the business is offline or online. You want to know that you are talking to an expert in the niche.
And that’s how online web users feel too.
There are too many credible resources for them to waste their time on a site that does not meet their expectations of quality and credibility.
So, exactly how do you increase your credibility and attract a wider audience?
First of all, you must position yourself as an authority and as someone who truly understands what the customer needs. You must quickly develop a sense of authority by including valuable information, data, statistics, and compelling content on your website. It’s not just about the product you have to offer, but it’s about your own ability to respond to their needs and questions.
And it’s about your personal experience with the particular niche.
Having credentials related to a particular field can go a long way towards increasing credibility.
But so can experience and connections through a network of similar experts. Many marketers fear the mention of other experts in their field because they assume they will lose business to them. But people appreciate a marketer who is confident enough to talk about others who offer solutions. It actually increases your credibility and helps build a sense of loyalty.
When people know they can come to you for answers and that you will also redirect them to other credible resources, they are most likely to see you as a partner. Having relevant links to reputable websites that also offers information and solutions on a particular niche actually increases your credibility as an expert in the field.
In today’s world of technology, people have a vast array of resources available to them through the Internet. They don’t have to settle for one product or service anymore. They have freedom and flexibility to shop around and if they do not believe your site or products are credible, they will do exactly that.
Before you lose another customer to the click of a mouse, check your own content and information to see if it exudes confidence and credibility. If not, it’s time for an over-haul of marketing tactics that position you as an expert in the field.
Marketing tactics that include positioning yourself as an authority are more likely to land you at the finish line as the winner.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Creative vs Directional: Create Demand or Respond to it?

Both Creative and Directional advertising are important to the successful marketing and sales effort of any business or organization. Generally, with creative (TV, Radio,Newspaper, Billboard) you are "creating" the need by selling yourself. You need to have a strong, compelling, time-sensitive offer, and persuade customers to buy now rather than later or not at all. With directional (Search Engine Marketing,Internet Yellow Pages, print and online directories, Pay-per-click, Pay-per-action, direct response) you are "directing" an existing need by helping customers buy. You need to be found, then chosen.
I am firmly convinced that step one to any successful marketing platform is a strong directional advertising foundation. Before you need to worry about persuading or enticing a prospect to buy, you absolutely need to be able to allow prospects who are ready to buy right now...buy from you now. You need to be found, then chosen. You get found by where you are, you get chosen by what you say. The great part is that the very info you use to describe yourself (your uniqueness, what you do, how you do it and even why you do it) will automatically direct prospects who value and appreciate your approach, who "get you" to respond. It will probably also screen out those who don't think like you, but that's OK. You don't need everyone. The prospects who respond because they appreciate what you do and how you do it will spend more money, more often and be more enjoyable to work with over their lifetime value as a customer. They will also become more then just referral points, they will be advocates for you and your business.
Once you have that rock-solid foundation of directing ready-to-buy customers, THEN any creative advertising will be more efficient because the prospects whom you can't incentivize to act now, will hopefully at least, now have your name in their brain. When they have a need, your directional advertising can help convert them into customers
Here's a list I found regarding creative advertising and the number of times and advertisement is seen by a prospect:
1. The first time a man looks at an advertisement, he does not see it.
2. The second time, he does not notice it.
3. The third time, he is conscious of its existence.
4. The fourth time, he faintly remembers having seen it before.
5. The fifth time, he reads it.
6. The sixth time, he turns up his nose at it.
7. The seventh time, he reads it through and says, “Oh brother!”
8. The eighth time, he says, “Here’s that confounded thing again!”
9. The ninth time, he wonders if it amounts to anything.
10. The tenth time, he asks his neighbor if he has tried it.
11. The eleventh time, he wonders how the advertiser makes it pay.
12. The twelfth time, he thinks it must be a good thing.
13. The thirteenth time, he thinks perhaps it might be worth something.
14. The fourteenth time, he remembers wanting such a thing a long time.
15. The fifteenth time, he is tantalized because he cannot afford to buy it.
16. The sixteenth time, he thinks he will buy it some day.
17. The seventeenth time, he makes a memorandum to buy it.
18. The eighteenth time, he swears at his poverty.
19. The nineteenth time, he counts his money carefully.
20. The twentieth time he sees the ad, he buys what it is offering.
Thomas Smith, London, l885

Yes, from 1885! Creative works and can work BIG, especially with a good directional foundation

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

How to Succeed with Proven Marketing Tactics

Successful Marketing with Proven Marketing Tactics
Offline and Online marketing both are the result of ambition, determination, commitment, and a desire to succeed. It’s also dependent on successful marketing tactics that attract visitors, drive sales, and retain long-term loyal customers. Turbo-marketers are highly focused on advanced marketing tactics that enable them to successfully grow an online business. They are the leaders and winners in the world of online marketing and sales. The worlds of online and offline marketing can be very different, yet both rely on basic, proven strategies and tactics
The good news is that there have been many people who have tried, failed, tried again, failed again, and finally succeeded in identifying the most effective marketing tactics for an online business.  Learning from the mistakes and successes of other thriving marketers gives today’s marketers the ability to come out of the gate running -- and with some ambition and hard work, move ahead of the pack to become a leader. You never really want to be re-inventing the wheel, but you can creatively apply proven success techniques to your business
Establish goals
This makes it critical to envision the success of your business and know what you want to accomplish through your marketing tactics. Goals lead to strategies and then to tactics.
Before you take the first step on your online journey to successful entrepreneurship, establish your goals and objectives. Plant them firmly in your mind and envision yourself succeeding. Starting with a positive, ‘can-do’ attitude is the best way to start any business or venture. Once you have your goals for success implanted in your mind, it’s time to get started on the journey of a lifetime
Take action
One of the first rules of online marketing is to take action.
The web is a dynamic, rapidly-growing medium where businesses are created every day. If you sit and think about what you are going to do every day and never take action, you will never get where you want to go. Marketing tactics are useless unless you take action and execute them.
This takes us to the next critical point of online marketing. You must know and understand where you want to go before you begin your journey. Without a clear understanding of where you want to go, how do you know what you need to do? How do you create tactics and take action?
 Define your business
Starting your online business means understanding what your business is all about. What is it you want to accomplish? What do you need to do to reach your goals? What marketing tactics will help you succeed?
Success is heavily dependent on your ability to dissect and understand your business. You must be the expert in your niche and you must carefully evaluate what your customers want. Once you identify what they want, it is essential to determine how you can deliver those results for customers.
Basic marketing tactics
Now that you have your business firmly outlined and clarified, deploying basic tactics is next on the list. And that starts with knowing how to market what you have to offer. Basic marketing tactics include:
1.      Creating a ‘brand’ or identity around your product
2.      Creating a simple marketing message
3.      Establishing a credible website
4.      Creating a presence as an expert in a niche
5.      Defining the benefits or value of what you have to offer
6.      Deploying search engine optimization techniques (SEO) to attract and drive traffic
These are some of the early, basic marketing tactics that must be mastered. As your marketing plan unfolds, integration of more advanced marketing tactics will enhance your online presence and position. They will also further the growth of your business through the use of proven techniques that create a unique value proposition for the targeted audience.
Build your business step-by-step and do your homework to evaluate the most effective marketing tactics available. Learn from other successful marketers and save yourself weeks, months, and years of effort by taking advantage of proven techniques whenever possible.
The sooner you know where you want to go, the sooner you will arrive.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Marketing ROI through Customer Relationships

9 Tactics to Create Strong Customer Relationships
There is ONE absolute in the world of marketing. No matter if it is in traditional, web or social media. There is NO SUBSTITUTE for taking care of your customers. Your goal should not be to satisfy your customers, but to AMAZE them. If you do that one thing exceptionally well, every other marketing, sales, or promotional activity will yield efficient and effective results. Offline or Online users are always searching for something of value to them. Whether it’s information, products, or services, they are looking for an answer to a question or a problem. Online marketing tactics are especially important with the increase in competition across the world wide web.
One of the most important aspects of building any business is to create a business that values and appreciates customers and potential customers. This means marketing tactics that build a strong, trusting relationship with customers are important. Building trust starts with the first encounter with your receptionist, greeter and website and continues with every single subsequent interaction.
According to Nobel Prize-winning scientist Daniel Kahneman, we experience approximately 20,000 moments each and every day. A moment is the few seconds it takes for the brain to evaluate and record an experience. These experiences can be either positive or negative and your website, headlines, content, or responses can make a huge difference in how people record the experience – and their reaction also determines what people do next.
When people visit your web site, they quickly scan the headline to see if they want to read more. They continue reading if they are engaged and intrigued and they want to learn more about what you have to say. This is a great place to start building a relationship with customers. Be sure that you say what you have to offer and do not make false promises or you’ll lose customers quickly.
It’s important to build this connection with customers and website visitors to gain their commitment and loyalty. They will also become tremendous assets as their trust grows and they promote and advertise your website to their friends, colleagues, and social network.
Relationship marketing is a valuable marketing tactic for online entrepreneurs. It has been an important part of sales in the off-line world for decades and now it has found its way to the Internet.
But building a relationship online is different than having a face-to-face discussion and opportunity to persuade potential customers to make a purchase.
Some of the most effective tips and methods deployed to begin building a positive relationship include:
1.      Make every customer interaction count.
2.      Follow-through on commitments and claims about products or services.
3.      Offer benefits and product value that responds to the customer’s desires.
4.      Treat customers as individuals who are respected and valued.
5.      Listen to customers – even complaints can be a gift if handled properly and quickly.
6.      Be available and accessible when customers have questions, concerns, or comments.
7.      Surround your customers with valuable information by using emails, website content, social media, and other methods of outreach – but do not be invasive.
8.      Make your website user-friendly and easy to navigate for new and existing customers.
9.      Create a blog about your business where discussion is more casual and inviting.
Relationship-marketing is not just a fad. It’s here to stay and people want to know that they are valued and appreciated as an individual. Creating long-lasting relationships helps to ensure long-lasting customers and repeat sales. It also encourages existing customers to refer their colleagues, friends, and others to your website.
Don’t take a single customer for granted. Each and every interaction with a customer is a gift and should be valued. If it weren’t already a great “life principal”, treating people well and respecting them would be the best thing you could invent to do, to ensure marketing and sales results


Tuesday, March 20, 2012

DYR Catalog - Design Your Recognition

 I represent this company because they do an excellent job with awards and recognition products, great customer service and very creative


DYR Catalog - Design Your Recognition


btw..
I also wrote the product descriptions and case studies inside the catalog