Posts Tagged ‘Marketing’

Tips for Building a Successful Website

Having a website is virtually essential for the typical business. Based on my experience, there are far more websites that DO NOT make any money for their owners.  It boils down to this: Understanding the Basics of Marketing.

Here are some tips for creating a “successful” website:

1. TRAFFIC- Just having a website doesn’t mean that people will know it exists. You need to make sure it is “highly visible” to YOUR POTENTIAL CLIENTS. This involves generating traffic to your website.  The most common way of doing this is through Search Engine Optimization or SEO.  This is a key element to long term success. There are a number of methods to generate traffic to your site, such as:  (a) print and online  advertising; (b) using Social Media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Linked In to spread the word;  (c) building an e-mail list;  (d) blogging; (e) podcasting; (f) posting videos; (g) bookmark sharing; (h) article marketing; (i) buzz marketing.

But generating “visits” to your website is meaningless unless those “visits” are from TARGETED visitors who have a potential interest in what you have to sell.

2. CONVERSIONS (CONTENT)- Once at your site, you need to engage the user and have them take an action. Either contact you, remember you or make a purchase. This involves effective, convincing COPY. The words that will be used to sell or motivate your prospect to take action. These words can come in a few forms: a) written words b) words in a video you may have on your site. c) words in an audio on your site d) any combination of a-c.

The critical component of copywriting is something that most site owners forget about or do not budget properly for.  A good copywriter who can create engaging words and stimulate your site’s visitors to take action does not come cheaply. But they are often worth far more than what you pay them in terms of your long term return on investment.

Search Engine spiders love to see a site that has fresh and ever changing content. It shows that the site is alive and has activity.

3. FOLLOW THROUGH – So, you have your customer hooked on the line. They’ve found your site and been convinced to take an action. Just like in fishing, it isn’t over until they’re reeled in and on the boat in the cooler.
Let’s say you’ve come as far as capturing their name, address and phone number. How well do you respond to and treat that lead? This is the same whether you have a website or a brick-and-mortar business.

After the sale has been made, I’ve seen countless businesses lose a critical marketing opportunity by failing to Follow Up with the client and take some basic steps such as asking for referrals or getting a testimonial.  Even more businesses lose the opportunities afforded by developing a long term relationship with their clients. It’s a well known fact in the marketing world that

4. MEASUREMENT - I’ve been in marketing for a number of years and am constantly surprised by the number of business owners who have little clue as to how their customers came to do business with them and what their customers thought of the experience.

You need a system in place to measure your success and failures and analyze them, taking appropriate actions to constantly refine your methods to make them better and increase your rate of success. This will help insure that your website and your business will be there for the long haul.

In Conclusion, let me point out that I offer SOLUTIONS to all the pitfalls pointed out above. I’d love the chance to work with you to help create a long term success for your website and your business.

Online Marketing Perfection

Sometimes you have to lead by example.  I want you all to see how a brick-and-mortar business has made the PERFECT TRANSITION to marketing in the Online World.

It all started when I recently checked my e-mail and saw one of the typical “so and so is now following you on Twitter” e-mails.  Except this one said Maggiano’s.  It was different and it was a name that I thought I recognized. So, I opened the  e-mail to find out more about this new follower… Read more…

Marketing Database Development

Manage all hardware, software and operations activities for the largest databases of ethnic households and businesses in the nation.   Instituted  major emphasis on Data Quality and marketing database integrity that will contribute over $800K per year in revenues and savings. Established cross-platform leads generation contributing 2M new salable leads to the overall database with no cost to the company.

Employment Advantage Resource Network

Assisted a small firm in the preparation of a business plan for a nationwide employment service.  Developed a  scalable technical infrastructure plan to accommodate the dissemination of  large volumes of information.  Worked with owner to design internal systems, operational plan, marketing materials and financial forecasts.

ACCPAC Notepad

A product originally developed for internal use – it was subsequently enhanced and re-packaged for commercial sale. I developed the technical specifications, managed the development of the product, coordinated external advertising and creative efforts and helped introduce it at Comdex. This add-on to Computer Associates Accounts Receivable software allows the user to enter and categorize extended notes about a client. It was used internally to provide marketing information, historical service records and directions to a customer’s site.