For some reason, some people think that marketing online is different than a traditional brick and mortar business marketing offline. The truth is that marketing is marketing and what works, works. Independent of the tools you use.

Online marketing is simply direct response marketing.

If you have a traditional, offline business, you need to be looking at some of the tactics used online by marketers and apply them to your own business.

For example, many online marketers understand that they need to sell a product and then offer an "upsell" - a higher priced offer to the person that just gave them money. This tactic should be used offline as well. When someone purchases your product or service, are you offering an upsell? Are there other items or services you can bundle together and promote?

This is done very well by McDonald's - "would you like fries with that?"
If they can make money selling simple french fries for an extra few cents per order, then surely you can offer your clients something extra.

Marketing online is the same as marketing offline - just using a different form of media.

Everyone makes mistakes!  Even the "big guys".

It is part of what we do, we are people, we are not perfect.

The thing that sets the professionals apart is the way a mistake is handled.

There are a few different ways to handle a mistake.

One option that some people try is to pass the blame.  "It isn't my fault", "someone else messed up".  All this does is make you look helpless.  You are supposed to know what you are doing, you are supposed to be the expert.  But you are at the mercy of whoever made the mistake.  Not good.

Some people just try to hide and see if the thing blows over.  Very easy to do on the internet where things can be a bit impersonal.  Certainly does not make you very professional and won't gain you more trust from your clients.

Honesty is the best policy.  You heard it from your mother first - and it is still true in business.

I recently made a mistake on one of my websites - www.3dayfiresale.com. On this site, I offer for sale tools that marketers can use at great prices that can't be beat anywhere.  Once I send out the emails letting people know what is on sale, the sooner you buy, the cheaper it is.  The price goes up on it's own over time.

The mistake I made was very foolish but very serious.  I didn't double-check my download links.  Turns out I didn't have available all of the files I was selling.  So I sent out my email and people started to purchase - but they couldn't download the files.  Big problem.  What did I do?  Well, I didn't run away and hope people would leave me alone.  I didn't try to pass the buck.  I sent out an email to everyone and let them know there were some problems and we were working to resolve them.  To make a long story short, I was able to recover the main item I was selling but I was not able to provide the bonus that I had offered.  So I emailed everyone the main product.  Made it as easy as possible.  I didn't tell them to log in and download the product, I emailed it straight to them.  I also let everyone know that the bonus was not available and then I gave my customers 2 options.  Everyone had already received the actual product and now they could either receive a FULL refund, OR, they could chose a replacement product and have any one product that we offer on our www.3dayfiresale.com website. Now this was especially attractive since I had run this particular sale at a great discount and was now offering any other product as a replacement.  The result?  Well about 25% of the sales that day got refunded.  No problem.  About 30% of the clients chose another product to replace it.  That was great, I still made the sale.  The rest of the people were just happy they got the main product and didn't ask for either option.  Even better!  Sale made, mistake admitted and happy client.

One thing you don't want to do is over-compensate.  You see it online, someone makes an error and offers back the whole farm.  All this does is make you look like some cheesy salesman that can't be trusted or like you have some ulterior motive behind you.

All you need to do is be transparent, don't hide, admit your error and fix it.  People will trust you more knowing that they are sure to get value for their dollar and that they aren't getting ripped off.

That is the best way to handle your mistakes - and keep your client's trust.

Working with a partner can have its advantages and disadvantages.  Sometimes it's easier just to do things on your own and keep your own schedule.  That is one thing that appeals to a lot of entrepreneurs.

One of the upsides of working with a partner is the built-in accountability that this type of relationship provides.  For example I've started a new project with a new partner and am finding that goes along very well.  We have a phone call, review our progress and assign tasks to be done before our next call.  All of a sudden there is a task to be done and a deadline to be met.

When working by yourself it is much easier to get distracted and sidetracked with things that are just wasting your time.  If you really prefer working by yourself then you should take time to stop and map out a plan.  Assign your tasks and set your deadlines just as little you are working with a partner.  If you have a clear picture of what needs to be done and when it needs to be done then it is much easier and more efficient to move forward.  You will find your productivity increase and your results will increase as well.

Tags: article marketing, Jonathan Hook, internet marketing tips, internet marketing, website optimization

P.T. Barnum said, "Without promotion something terrible happens - nothing!"

It's true. Even if you build a better mousetrap, the world will not beat a path to your door if they don't know where to find your door.

In her book, "101 Ways To Promote Yourself'" Raleigh Pinsky reveals how to generate leads, cultivate referrals, develop your image, market effectively on the Internet and more.

The book is written in question-and-answer format, which makes it fun and easy to read. There is also a list of resources at the end of each chapter.

Known as the "Visibility Expert," Pinsky says:

"If you don't ask, you don't get."

Here are 5 ideas from the book that I personally have used to grow my coupon book business.

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Idea #7 - Audio Brochures

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Printed brochures often hit the circular file before they ever even reach your prospect. But a cassette or CD has an inherent value that most people just can't throw away.

An audio brochure need not be expensive. A friend recorded mine for $30. Then, I duplicate the CDs myself, using my computer, for less than one dollar each.

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Idea #20 - Give An Award

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I got involved in giving an award as more a way to solve a problem than to generate publicity.

My company publishes a coupon book called The Best Value Savings Guide. I found during my market research that coupon book buyers often feel mistreated by businesses when they redeem a coupon. So, I developed a method to virtually guarantee my customers would receive extra-special treatment.

Customers would vote (using a mail-in survey inside the coupon book) on which business they felt gave the "best value." Value was defined as superior quality and service as well as price.

I then custom-made a simple award for $50 called "The Best Value Award of Excellence." I presented the award at a Chamber of Commerce meeting to the business with the most votes.

As a side benefit, the local media covered the award ceremony, generating much more than $50 worth of publicity for my company.

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Idea #22 - Create A Contest

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To launch my coupon book, I held a contest at an annual festival in my city. Everyone who bought a book filled out a ballot for a chance to win $100 cash.

Then, two weeks later, I awarded the money to one lucky winner LIVE on television. It was a great way to boost sales and generate some excitement about my coupon book.

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Idea #66 - Broadcast Fax

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This technique never fails to produce big profits fast.

I created a simple, one-page sales letter on my computer. Then using fax software and a modem, I sent hundreds of faxes to my list of fellow Chamber of Commerce members.

I would punch the phone numbers into the computer before I went to bed and let it fax all night. When I'd wake up, there'd be tons of orders and requests on my answering machine.

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Idea #80 - Coupons

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Since I own a coupon book business, using coupons to promote my book was a no-brainer.

First, I print coupons on my computer offering a 25% discount off the cover price of my coupon book. Then when someone buys a book, I give them one of these coupons. The coupon is valid on their next purchase.

This generates repeat business when my customers buy books as a gift for their friends and family.

These are just 5 of the ideas I have used from Raleigh Pinsky's book "101 Ways To Promote Yourself." To see 96 more, get her book by going here:

http://www.amazon.com

Tags: article marketing, internet marketing tips, website optimization, internet marketing, niche marketing

Source: Karl Sultana

Tags: internet marketing, niche marketing, website optimization, article marketing, Jonathan Hook

Source: Karl Sultana

Tags: article marketing, website optimization, Jonathan Hook, internet marketing, internet marketing tips