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Latest from WebProNews
Posted by Abby Johnson
October 2, 2009:
Colby Cavanaugh of Exact Target discusses the challenges that entrepreneurs and big companies alike face in the fast paced evolution of internet marketing.
Posted by Abby Johnson
October 2, 2009:
Colby Cavanaugh of Exact Target discusses the challenges that entrepreneurs and big companies alike face in the fast paced evolution of internet marketing.
Using Creativity to Grow Your E-Mail List
Advertisements
Articles, News & Views
Joel Therien's FREE Video Marketing System
From BigSkyMarketing
Posted by Wayne Morrison
September 22, 2009
Posted by Wayne Morrison
September 22, 2009
All experienced marketers know that “the money is in the list" and internet marketers have developed opt in lists in many different ways over the years. We've all seen, and most of us use, an auto responder opt in program like AWeber to offer a free product encouraging our readers to subscribe to our lists. In recent years the singular email opt in took a giant step forward with the introduction of software that requested the first recipient to forward the same offer to a few of their friends in order to receive the free gift, bonus ebook, discount offer, or other giveaway. This approach took list building into the expanding world of viral marketing. It allowed a single email to be blasted exponentially to huge numbers of recipients as each person forwarded to their friends.
Enter The Web2.0 World
The most recent trends in the network and internet marketing industry is the Web 2.0 world of micro blogging (i.e., Twitter), Social Media (i.e., MySpace, Facebook, Forum Communities, etc.), integration into mobile devices (i.e., iPhone), and of course, YouTube.
Although Google hasn't put even a small dent in the $1.65B price they paid for YouTube, the omnipresent embedding of videos in all types of websites has fast become an industry standard. Video is without a doubt the most favorable and profitable "go to" method of branding, creating trust, forming relationships, building lists, and selling.
The hype on video is now woven into the fabric of almost every marketer's pitch. We see it all the time..."get on video now or be stampeded by your competitors", "it's video or die", "don't eat the dust of your competition, get video now"... Nonetheless, and regardless of the hype, it’s all true. Profitable internet and affiliate marketing today means producing and publishing quality video presentations.
Are You Ready For Viral Video?
The truth is that most online marketers are not ready for video marketing, and I don't mean just newbies. In fact, even those who have been at it for a couple years or more are not up to the challenge of producing, editing and publishing high quality video that will capture subscribers and create customers. First and foremost, the desire of video producers and users should be to instill KTL in the viewer for the purpose of establishing and building relationships. KTL is "Know, Like and Trust" and without focusing on this principle video marketers will gain nothing for their efforts.
Enter Joel Therien, CEO of Global Virtual Opportunities
Joel is a hugely successful Internet Marketer based in San Antonio, Texas. He has created and launched an exciting new service product called Easy Video Producer (EVP).
EVP takes all the fear out of video production and replaces it with a simple and easy system by which anyone can make top quality videos for their marketing machine. Easy Video Producer is a unique program because the actual software is offered as his own free giveaway. EVP is, in fact, a “tell-a-friend” list exploding system. This is an extraordinarily easy to use video generating program that builds and posts your personally produced video and information in capture page form for installation on any website or blog. EVP even includes a fully integrated subscriber management system for organization and management ease. What's the price of this unique software? Well that's the really awesome thing about it, it's FREE.
Now, I could blather on and on about Easy Video Producer, but I'm not going to do that here. The saying used to be "a picture is worth a thousand words" but this is 2009 and so now "a video is worth a million words." I'll let Joel speak for himself. Just click the banner below to sign up now for FREE, or to learn more about why you need video and, in particular, why you need Easy Video Producer. Remember folks, it's FREE to join.
Enter The Web2.0 World
The most recent trends in the network and internet marketing industry is the Web 2.0 world of micro blogging (i.e., Twitter), Social Media (i.e., MySpace, Facebook, Forum Communities, etc.), integration into mobile devices (i.e., iPhone), and of course, YouTube.
Although Google hasn't put even a small dent in the $1.65B price they paid for YouTube, the omnipresent embedding of videos in all types of websites has fast become an industry standard. Video is without a doubt the most favorable and profitable "go to" method of branding, creating trust, forming relationships, building lists, and selling.
The hype on video is now woven into the fabric of almost every marketer's pitch. We see it all the time..."get on video now or be stampeded by your competitors", "it's video or die", "don't eat the dust of your competition, get video now"... Nonetheless, and regardless of the hype, it’s all true. Profitable internet and affiliate marketing today means producing and publishing quality video presentations.
Are You Ready For Viral Video?
The truth is that most online marketers are not ready for video marketing, and I don't mean just newbies. In fact, even those who have been at it for a couple years or more are not up to the challenge of producing, editing and publishing high quality video that will capture subscribers and create customers. First and foremost, the desire of video producers and users should be to instill KTL in the viewer for the purpose of establishing and building relationships. KTL is "Know, Like and Trust" and without focusing on this principle video marketers will gain nothing for their efforts.
Enter Joel Therien, CEO of Global Virtual Opportunities
Joel is a hugely successful Internet Marketer based in San Antonio, Texas. He has created and launched an exciting new service product called Easy Video Producer (EVP).
EVP takes all the fear out of video production and replaces it with a simple and easy system by which anyone can make top quality videos for their marketing machine. Easy Video Producer is a unique program because the actual software is offered as his own free giveaway. EVP is, in fact, a “tell-a-friend” list exploding system. This is an extraordinarily easy to use video generating program that builds and posts your personally produced video and information in capture page form for installation on any website or blog. EVP even includes a fully integrated subscriber management system for organization and management ease. What's the price of this unique software? Well that's the really awesome thing about it, it's FREE.
Now, I could blather on and on about Easy Video Producer, but I'm not going to do that here. The saying used to be "a picture is worth a thousand words" but this is 2009 and so now "a video is worth a million words." I'll let Joel speak for himself. Just click the banner below to sign up now for FREE, or to learn more about why you need video and, in particular, why you need Easy Video Producer. Remember folks, it's FREE to join.
For more Internet Marketing tips please visit our Blog
3 Steps to Building a Successful Online Business
From Midnight Software Mart
Posted by Alison Wood
October 2, 2009
Posted by Alison Wood
October 2, 2009
If you have been considering trying to make a profit online for a little while now you will probably have now been bombarded with all the many ways people tell you how easy, easy, easy it is. You will then purchase their subscription, go off on another tangent and end up at the end of another long month with as close to zilch as it is possible to get.
This was my story until I started to wake up to the reality of what it means to make money online. Possibly I was lucky because I came across a couple of people who weren’t all about hype, but who pointed me in the right direction. The funny thing is that what I learnt from these people is that making money is actually quite easy. No it’s not easy in the sense that many gurus tell you, but it is a simple process and once you have mastered a few skills you can start to make some money and once the first few dollars roll in there really will be no looking back for you. Read More at Midnight Software Mart.
This was my story until I started to wake up to the reality of what it means to make money online. Possibly I was lucky because I came across a couple of people who weren’t all about hype, but who pointed me in the right direction. The funny thing is that what I learnt from these people is that making money is actually quite easy. No it’s not easy in the sense that many gurus tell you, but it is a simple process and once you have mastered a few skills you can start to make some money and once the first few dollars roll in there really will be no looking back for you. Read More at Midnight Software Mart.
Business Building Opportunities
From BigSkyMarketing
Posted by Wayne Morrison
September 28, 2009
Posted by Wayne Morrison
September 28, 2009
Google Does Not Use the Keywords Meta Tag in Web Ranking.
I know, this sounds like old news that everyone should already be aware of...but are they?
How many webmasters have clients who still insist that keywords are a top priority? How many webmasters themselves still push the concept that somehow the keywords meta tag is going to rank their sites higher? How many people spend countless hours analyzing and testing keywords to stuff into their site code? The answer to all three questions in a word is Tons. Why all the blood, sweat and tears over something that Google has ignored for years and couldn't care less about? Yes, some of the relatively obscure search engines out there may still use the overstuffed, often spammed keywords meta tag but really folks, who cares?
I could blather on about this subject but rather than ask you to indulge me, I offer you the official video blog of Google Software Engineer Matt Cutts. When asked the question, "how much do you use the keywords meta tag in your main search results?" Mr. Cutts cuts to the heart of this lingering issue. Click on the video below to listen in. If you wish to read more visit the official Google Webmaster Central Blog.
How many webmasters have clients who still insist that keywords are a top priority? How many webmasters themselves still push the concept that somehow the keywords meta tag is going to rank their sites higher? How many people spend countless hours analyzing and testing keywords to stuff into their site code? The answer to all three questions in a word is Tons. Why all the blood, sweat and tears over something that Google has ignored for years and couldn't care less about? Yes, some of the relatively obscure search engines out there may still use the overstuffed, often spammed keywords meta tag but really folks, who cares?
I could blather on about this subject but rather than ask you to indulge me, I offer you the official video blog of Google Software Engineer Matt Cutts. When asked the question, "how much do you use the keywords meta tag in your main search results?" Mr. Cutts cuts to the heart of this lingering issue. Click on the video below to listen in. If you wish to read more visit the official Google Webmaster Central Blog.
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From The Total Package, Issue #830
Posted by Bob Bly, Guest Contributor
December 29, 2009
Posted by Bob Bly, Guest Contributor
December 29, 2009
Using direct mail to promote consulting services
and professional practices
and professional practices
For dentists, consultants, attorneys, accountants, advertising agencies, public relation firms, and other organizations and individuals offering professional services, direct mail can be an effective means of generating a controlled quantity of highly qualified leads quickly and at low cost. However, the majority of professional practices are unsuccessful with direct mail - largely because they do not understand how it works or how to use it. Following are some suggestions on how to successfully use direct mail to generate new business for consulting or professional services:
1. DEVELOP A PRIMARY OFFER.
The main reason direct mail for consulting services fails is the lack of a specific offer. Lamely ending a letter with “Looking forward to working with you” or “I will call in a week or two” is certain to depress response to almost zero. If you tell people you will call them, they then have no incentive to call you first.
1. DEVELOP A PRIMARY OFFER.
The main reason direct mail for consulting services fails is the lack of a specific offer. Lamely ending a letter with “Looking forward to working with you” or “I will call in a week or two” is certain to depress response to almost zero. If you tell people you will call them, they then have no incentive to call you first.
Far better is to identify the next step in the sales process and then tell the reader to take it. Most consultants want the mailing to result in an initial meeting with the prospective client. Therefore, the letter might offer a “free, no-obligation initial consultation.”
Being more specific about the nature of this exploratory session and attaching a benefit to it will increase response. For example: “We will analyze your current insurance coverage at no cost and make suggestions that will reduce your annual premiums by 10 percent - or more.” Or: “Free exam.”
2. DEVELOP A SECONDARY OFFER.
The primary offer will attract those prospects who are most eager to do business today or in the near future.
However, this represents only a small fraction of the potential market. Therefore, a secondary offer is needed to attract those prospects who are not ready to meet right now but may have a need in three or six or 12 months.
This secondary offer is usually a free booklet, special report, brochure, fact sheet or other printed information the reader can send for by calling or mailing back a postpaid business reply card. I usually stress the primary offer in the body copy of my letter and the secondary offer in the P.S. For example: “P.S. To receive a free report explaining our four-step Market Planning Process, complete and mail the reply card today.”
Typically, from 50 percent to 90 percent of those who respond request the free information (secondary offer) rather than a face-to-face meeting (primary offer). Calling those who request the free booklet only and “selling” them on the benefits of a free consultation will reveal that 10 percent to 25 percent of the booklet requesters have genuine interest and can be talked into a meeting.
3. ENCOURAGE BOTH PHONE AND MAIL RESPONSE.
Always include a business reply card in mailings; its absence can depress response to almost zero. Some consultants feel that using a business replay card in a personalized mailing aimed at executive prospects is somehow unprofessional. This is nonsense.
Stress that the reader can respond either by mailing the reply card of calling. To encourage telephone response, mention the phone number in the letter copy, even if it appears on the letterhead. Omitting either one of these two basic response options (mail or telephone), will depress response.
4. ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY.
Prospects want to deal with consultants who are experts in their field. Here are some techniques that can build this sense of credibility into the direct mail package:
* Enclose an article you have written that deals with the topic of the consulting service being sold. This will help convince the prospect of your expertise.
* Enclose a recent article written about you. This establishes that you are a recognized authority.
* Mention some of your clients - especially well-known names in the prospect’s industry. If this would cause the prospect to worry about confidentiality, mention that you have obtained permission to list the names.
* Enclose copies of letters of referral written for you by your clients. Testimonials are extremely effective; they make prospects feel comfortable and confident in your ability to serve them successfully.
* Create a separate brochure that answers any questions the prospect might have about your service and lists your credentials. This kind of “full disclosure” alleviates anxiety and creates the impression that you are reliable and professional in your dealings.
* Include your photo on the brochure, unless you think your appearance is a negative (e.g., you are extremely young-looking or odd in grooming or dress). A photo gives prospects the feeling that they know you before they even meet or talk with you.
5. USE OTHER PROMOTION TECHNIQUES TO BUILD YOUR REPUTATION.
Direct mail is effective for generating immediate leads, but it is not the primary tool for enhancing credibility.
To build a professional reputation, you must engage in an ongoing program of self-marketing that includes such activities as: writing articles, writing books, newsletter publishing, speaking engagements, teaching, seminars, networking, and being active in industry organizations and local business clubs.
Performing these activities will lead to a higher response to direct mail because the recipient will have already heard of you when he receives your letter. Without these ancillary marketing activities, your name will be unknown, and response rates will be significantly lower.
This article was first published in Clayton Makepeace's The Total Package. To sign-up to receive
your own FREE subscription to the The Total Package and claim four FREE money making e-books go to
The Total Package or click the banner below:
Being more specific about the nature of this exploratory session and attaching a benefit to it will increase response. For example: “We will analyze your current insurance coverage at no cost and make suggestions that will reduce your annual premiums by 10 percent - or more.” Or: “Free exam.”
2. DEVELOP A SECONDARY OFFER.
The primary offer will attract those prospects who are most eager to do business today or in the near future.
However, this represents only a small fraction of the potential market. Therefore, a secondary offer is needed to attract those prospects who are not ready to meet right now but may have a need in three or six or 12 months.
This secondary offer is usually a free booklet, special report, brochure, fact sheet or other printed information the reader can send for by calling or mailing back a postpaid business reply card. I usually stress the primary offer in the body copy of my letter and the secondary offer in the P.S. For example: “P.S. To receive a free report explaining our four-step Market Planning Process, complete and mail the reply card today.”
Typically, from 50 percent to 90 percent of those who respond request the free information (secondary offer) rather than a face-to-face meeting (primary offer). Calling those who request the free booklet only and “selling” them on the benefits of a free consultation will reveal that 10 percent to 25 percent of the booklet requesters have genuine interest and can be talked into a meeting.
3. ENCOURAGE BOTH PHONE AND MAIL RESPONSE.
Always include a business reply card in mailings; its absence can depress response to almost zero. Some consultants feel that using a business replay card in a personalized mailing aimed at executive prospects is somehow unprofessional. This is nonsense.
Stress that the reader can respond either by mailing the reply card of calling. To encourage telephone response, mention the phone number in the letter copy, even if it appears on the letterhead. Omitting either one of these two basic response options (mail or telephone), will depress response.
4. ESTABLISH CREDIBILITY.
Prospects want to deal with consultants who are experts in their field. Here are some techniques that can build this sense of credibility into the direct mail package:
* Enclose an article you have written that deals with the topic of the consulting service being sold. This will help convince the prospect of your expertise.
* Enclose a recent article written about you. This establishes that you are a recognized authority.
* Mention some of your clients - especially well-known names in the prospect’s industry. If this would cause the prospect to worry about confidentiality, mention that you have obtained permission to list the names.
* Enclose copies of letters of referral written for you by your clients. Testimonials are extremely effective; they make prospects feel comfortable and confident in your ability to serve them successfully.
* Create a separate brochure that answers any questions the prospect might have about your service and lists your credentials. This kind of “full disclosure” alleviates anxiety and creates the impression that you are reliable and professional in your dealings.
* Include your photo on the brochure, unless you think your appearance is a negative (e.g., you are extremely young-looking or odd in grooming or dress). A photo gives prospects the feeling that they know you before they even meet or talk with you.
5. USE OTHER PROMOTION TECHNIQUES TO BUILD YOUR REPUTATION.
Direct mail is effective for generating immediate leads, but it is not the primary tool for enhancing credibility.
To build a professional reputation, you must engage in an ongoing program of self-marketing that includes such activities as: writing articles, writing books, newsletter publishing, speaking engagements, teaching, seminars, networking, and being active in industry organizations and local business clubs.
Performing these activities will lead to a higher response to direct mail because the recipient will have already heard of you when he receives your letter. Without these ancillary marketing activities, your name will be unknown, and response rates will be significantly lower.
This article was first published in Clayton Makepeace's The Total Package. To sign-up to receive
your own FREE subscription to the The Total Package and claim four FREE money making e-books go to
The Total Package or click the banner below:
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