12/18/2007
A whole new - and virtual - way to sell your expertise
| Very interesting article in the CS Monitor on a whole new kind of book tour. The great thing is that these tours can be applied to your books, e-books, special reports and information products. An excerpt from this article: "...marketing tools...have made it possible to orchestrate a virtual encounter, without the hassle or expense of travel. Publishers and authors are now touting books through podcasts, film tours, blog tours, bookvideos, and book trailers. Labels: Internet Marketing, low-budget marketing |
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Labels: low-budget marketing, marketing research, marketing survey |
12/16/2007
Bask in the perfection of our imperfections…
| You may (or may not) have noticed that our website looks and feels new and different. We are still working out the bugs and glitches, and I want to thank those of you out there who pointed out issues to me. I really appreciate your time and effort. This whole experience of trying to get a new site up with a seamless transfer from the old to the new got me thinking: I have been told I am a perfectionist (guilty as charged) and as such, I delay, stall and procrastinate with big steps, like a new website, because I never feel it's just right, perfect. So this time I decided that after three or so months, we would go live and tweak as needed. It's been a learning experience and one that has taken me out of my comfort zone. And to tell you the truth, I probably wouldn't allow my clients to follow in my footsteps (the "do as I say, not as I do" approach) but in this one instance, it was actually liberating to throw caution to the wind and just do it. What I have learned is that people - your clients, customers and basically anyone out there - will appreciate and respect you all the more for your honesty and human-ness (is that a word?). Even in your marketing, sometimes it is OK to doubt yourself and not be perfect. My favorite clients, vendors and business partners are, guess what…not perfect! So let's bask in the perfection of our imperfections…until someone else finds a glitch in the new site! |
12/13/2007
DRIP…DRIP…DRIP
| Have you ever heard of a DRIP campaign? It's a consistent, many times automated, way to keep in contact with new/former clients as well as prospects. Through the great tool of autoresponders, you can schedule (or "drip") groups of e-mails (or print communications) to your entire database or just to those that you choose. I always tell people to up the value of the content (advice, examples, tips, etc.) in these communications so that ultimately they are more memorable, credible and response-generating. |
12/11/2007
Get It In Writing Launches New Website Aimed at Educating, Serving and Connecting with Businesses, Web Professionals & Do-It-Yourselfers
| Get It In Writing, a leader in providing copywriting and marketing services, consulting and instruction to businesses and business people throughout the world, announced today it has launched a new website aimed at serving businesses, entrepreneurs, other marketing professionals and even do-it-yourselfers (DIY) throughout the world. "The new site was a 'pet project' of mine for some time," explained Allison Nazarian, Get It In Writing's founder and president. "I knew all along that our website was about so much more than a design or look. For me, it has always been about informing and serving our audiences, regardless of whether they come for information and then leave or they actually become our clients. My goal has always been to serve as a resource for end-clients and other marketing- and web-related businesses everywhere." The user-friendly site offers tools, resources and services that apply to businesses of all sizes, marketing and ad consultants and agencies, entrepreneurs, coaches and VAs (virtual assistants). "What I'm also excited about is our 'DIY' (Do It Yourself) products and tools," Nazarian added. "We offer e-books and teleclasses on copywriting and marketing, including our most recent Copywriting 101 and 52 Insider Secrets To Help JumpStart Your Marketing Efforts. These are tools designed to empower all kinds of business people to write their own copy effectively and stresslessly. This is just the beginning -stay tuned because there will be many more great tools to come!" Next in the works: a marketing guide for VAs, an e-book on writing and compiling a press kit and blog writing instruction. |
12/09/2007
What's Your Marketing Plan For 2008?
| As I was looking for an inspiration quote for this week's issue, I came across something that is incredibly timely and relevant: "I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure--which is: Try to please everybody" (attributed to Herbert Bayard Swope). As far as business and marketing, I applied this to defining a market and focusing on them rather than on the "throw it all out there and see what sticks" method of marketing I think we've all been guilty of at some point. Have you defined a niche or sub-market in your business? Sometimes it is scary to narrow down because we mistakenly think this will narrow down our business prospects. But the fact is you're actually increasing your chances for more and better clients - clients whose needs are perfectly suited to what you are offering. It's not enough to say that "anyone" or "everyone" can use and benefit from your services. Who are they? Where do they work and what do they need? The better you can speak to them - and not "everyone" or "anyone" directly - the better you will attract the clients who are desperately seeking you. So think about "niching" it and watch some great changes come your way. |
12/02/2007
Being A Better Client
| Have you ever heard that the best way to get the clients you are looking for is to be a great client yourself? Here are some quick tips to becoming an ideal client: Know what you want. If you waffle, or are uncertain, the end result will suffer and your provider won't be sure which way is up. Be involved. We know you are insanely busy. You hired this person or this company because you don't have the time or skill to do what they do. But this doesn't mean you are out of the process. Keep up with what's going on, respond when asked and respect the timeline. Picky is for kids eating vegetables. You hired this company or person because they are the expert at what they do. Know and accept that they know their business and can get the job done. Don't micro-manage, it serves no one. Pay what's fair and on time. Don't delay on payments and don't question prices. Respect the work, the fees and the payment schedule or you will get what you pay for. Praise and refer. Like what you get? Tell your provider what you like and what works. Refer him, her or them to others in your business and around town. Remember, what goes around comes around! |