7/22/2008
What Summer Slowdown?
 It’s inevitable. Every year, around February or March, people start anticipating a business “summer slowdown.” They’re the same folks who talk about a “slow December” starting sometime in mid-October. Then they put off doing anything of substance until mid-January because, they reason, things are dead for a good few weeks from start of the slow December. You can certainly talk a slowdown or a slow period or a lull in business into being, but why would you want to? Just like those who refuse to operate under the shadow of a recession (or whatever word they put on it), I, too, am not interested in focusing on all the potential slowdowns and lulls that can come my way. (Not to downplay high gas prices, unemployment records and everything else that is making times tough for people.) BUT….to me, marketing, and success in general, is about focusing on what you want and on where you want to be – not on all of the potentially not-so-great things that can (and, yes, do) happen. I’m not saying you, or I or anyone else is immune to significant trends or to anything else that affects the masses. But why base your life (or your business) on a fear-based approach? Why not expect the best? I do…and I get it, too – no matter what the season. productivity in business marketing business advice Labels: business, business advice, marketing, productivity in business |
7/16/2008
Affirmations Sell More Then Possibilities
 With all the information available online, the Internet has changed the way consumers make purchases. Nothing new there, but because of this, business owners and entrepreneurs have had to change the way they market their products and services. Customers have direct access to press releases, product reviews and your website which is filled with your marketing copy. They have access to this all before they even leave their home or office to make a purchase (and in many cases they may be making the purchase right there in their home or office.) It is therefore essential to ensure that your marketing copy is written affirmatively. Avoiding words like may, maybe, hope, wish, try, could, perhaps and strive is the best rule of thumb when writing copy to sell a product or service. They tell your potential customer that there is a possibility that your product or service will help them. Using words like will and can give your reader the sense of what your product can and will do to help them and to solve their problem. business writing copywriting internet marketing Labels: business writing, copywriting, Internet Marketing, making mistakes |
7/12/2008
Establishing Credibility, A Must In On-line Marketing
Even with the best product, incredibly well written web copy and a killer position on the search engines, your competitors are still just one click away. If a website visitor isn’t convinced of credibility, they will undoubtedly move on to another site. The best ways to establish credibility and convince visitors, your potential customers, that your expertise is valuable: • Provide your credentials. This will establish you as an authority in the market. • Use testimonials. Testimonials that provide specifics of your product or service from happy customers are the invaluable. They show you as a known and well-liked industry expert. • Add a guarantee. If appropriate add a guarantee, it will show you stand behind your product or service and you are confident in what you are selling. • Tell a story. Explain the story behind your business, but be sure it is relevant to your potential customers. The story needs to include the benefits to your customers. Labels: business advice, potential customers, web content, web copy, web traffic |