Business Tips Guides

Bad marketing is worse than no marketing at all. On top of that, it is incredibly expensive! What exactly is bad marketing? Here are six common marketing blunders that need to be avoided and eliminated:

1. Impatience ranks at the top of the list. Hard-working, well-meaning business owners often sabotage their own marketing efforts when they expect instant gratification from their advertising. INSTANT and RESULTS simply do not go together. Give your advertising messages a chance to breathe!

2. Ego ranks at the top of the list along with impatience. This personality flaw surfaces when a business owner or manager who is an expert in one or more areas (finance, real estate, law, vehicles, etc.) ASSUMES that their personal expertise in whatever automatically transfers to marketing. It rarely does.

Ego-centered business owners and managers often design their own ads, write their own ad copy, and create their own websites . . . usually based on their personal opinions and tastes rather than those of their prospects and customers. You often see these people pitching their own products on TV, radio or in print. Sometimes they connect with their audience. Most often they do not.

3. Next in line are those time-worn axioms, word of mouth and everyone already knows all about us! No one can control what comes out of other the mouths of your customers and in reality, darn few people have ever heard of you or your business. You need to constantly tell them and never rely on them to tell others.

4. Another personality defect that can do major harm to your business is the belief that you already render the finest service or sell the best product possible. Lose these kinds of thoughts immediately. There is always room to improve.

5. Add conceit to the list of personality blemishes that can do serious damage to the marketing efforts in your company. I call it the big-me-little-you disease found in those who practice rudeness and bluster.

If you have someone on your team that is a carrier, know that they are turning people off faster than anything you can do on the marketing side to turn them on. If you cannot change an ego maniac, furlough them to practice their arrogance elsewhere.

6. Majoring in minors ranks high on the list of marketing impediments. Yes, you do need to know a lot about your product and service but you need to know the most about your prospects and customers . . . Not just as a group but as individuals. If you plan to make it on todays Main Street, you better be well along on constantly collecting personal data about your typical customer.

Talk with them. Listen to them. Reward them for filling out simple questionnaires. Visit THEIR websites (great way to get personal insights!). Meet them where they live and where they hang out. Make yourself available to them.

If any of the above sounds weird to you, step back from your alligator pond and carefully examine your present marketing strategy and the people who carry it out.

Get out of the past and get in touch with the future: information about your prospects and customers.
A small customer-centered business knows what their target market likes, what they read, what they watch and listen to, what excites them, what turns them off, where they shop, how they perceive your business . . . tiny details that make the difference between a one-time buyer and a lifelong customer.

Information is king in the business climate today. If you are not in the customer information collection game, change your strategy and get started. While you are at it, be 100% certain you and your team are not making any of the Bad Marketing Blunders listed above.

Bob Schumacher books and articles give entrepreneurs a clear coffee-shop English perspective on how to steer their business or profession into the top 20% who achieve 80% of the business and profits. Visit http://www.20do80.com for a complete directory of his articles and books.

Many companies have found tremendous value in offering logo merchandise to customers and employees. If you are interested in promotional products, make sure you choose a reputable company who can do a great job at putting your brand on the right merchandise.

Advertising is incredibly important to promote a business. If no one knows about your company, you will never make the impact you need for your business to succeed. Many business owners struggle to find the perfect avenues to promote their business. Not every business can afford to advertise on television or on the radio, nor will mass media always reach the market you want to attract.

Good advertisements should encourage your customer to buy your product. An effective marketing plan should outline ways of advertising your company or build your customer base and the budget you want to stick to. Many owners find promotional products a cost-effective way to advertise their business.

You can take objects, such as clothes, bags, pen and other objects and transform them into very special branded merchandise. You can place a logo on these items and hand them out to your clients, which is a form of advertising.

There are many promotional products that you could use for any business but make sure these products are good quality. There’s nothing worse for people than to use a pen one day and have it dry up ten minutes later. Make sure you choose a reputable firm which sells quality products and can help you find ones that will help you promote your business.

What is equally important is choosing a logo to represent your company. When a client sees your logo, they should be immediately reminded of your company and the products you provide. Logo merchandise is one way to advertise your business and ensure your masses recall your products or services.

If you decide to get branded merchandise, find a company with a lot of experience in this process. Don’t try and print your logo yourself or hire an amateur. You want your merchandise to look as professional as possible.

One of the hottest new giveaways is computer memory sticks or USB flash drives as a way to promote a brand. Most people need memory sticks and they are fantastic useful products to have your business name on.

Every time someone needs to save a document, they will see your logo and company name on it. In addition, you can put your logo on promotional CD cleaners, mouse pads, cases and other computer accessories.

Another hot product line is anything that is green or eco friendly. Those individuals passionate about saving the environment will take more notice of eco friendly products. Many eco friendly products are made from recycled, eco friendly plastic or anything that is biodegradable or made with organic materials. They are a great way to show everyone that your company is cares for the environment.

Many companies will give you great custom promotional products at great prices and low quantities. Logo merchandise can be a great way to get your name in front of your audience. Make sure you find a reputable company with a lot of experience in creating and planning logo branded merchandise.

Logo merchandise branded with your business name can boost recall and retention. Choosing the right product and message for your target audience is essential for your campaign to succeed. Contact a consultant to help you plan your creative campaign at www.logo411.com.

Advertising is incredibly important for any business. If no one knows about the services or products that you provide, you will not be able to maximize your sales and profits.

There are ways of advertising that make your business memorable and ensure the masses know about your business.Some individuals advertise their business via radio or television. Although this can be an effective way of advertisement, this media may not reach your niche market.

What happens if your niche does not listen to the radio or watch television regularly? Also, many business owners do not have the budget to advertise on the radio or television. Many are looking for find unique ways to promote their business.

Advertising specialties are an inexpensive, yet powerful, method of creating brand awareness and name retention. Advertising specialties include branded merchandise like key chains, coffee cups, t-shirts, or any promotional object with your name or logo printed on it.

Many advertisers purchase promotional objects to give to potential clients. Sometimes called “novelties” or “souvenirs”, advertising specialties are increasingly being used in advertising promotions, public relations events or tradeshows as handouts and giveaways.

There are many promotional products that you could use for your business but make sure they are good quality and highlight your services well. Try to give away quality pens instead of cheap ones. Make sure you choose a reputable company that sells quality products and can help you find the right one to promote your business.

Many advertisers choose to disseminate computer related products, such as mouse pads or memory sticks. Some other items that are also popular include buttons, coffee mugs, glasses, calendars and more. Others also choose to give out hats and t-shirts.

Most of these items can be branded with company information. It is very important to place your up to date phone number, email address, mailing address and other information on your products.

Some choose to pass out pens or pencils with contact information to potential clients. Remember that there are only so many words that you can put on a pencil or pen without it seeming cluttered. You can also use green products or environmental friendly products to promote your business. This may appeal to environmentally conscious people who care about protecting the environment.

In addition, you can hand out t-shirts with catchy phrases that encourage the client to visit your website, send you an email or give you a call. Some advertisement specialists will help you find ways to advertise your company. Sticky notes can be a great way to also promote your business. Many individuals love using sticky notes regularly to organize themselves.

Advertising specialties can be used to foster customer goodwill and retention, build traffic at tradeshows, improve public relations at events, generate new customers, introduce new products, promote customer referrals and in market research campaigns. In political campaigns, advertising specialties can be used to promote candidates and causes or in fund raising and awareness campaigns.

All business people should advertise their business in order to maximize profits. Working out a marketing strategy will make sure your product receives the right amount of exposure. You may find it necessary to work with a company that has extensive experience in not only formulating a marketing plan for the company, but also can recommend unique ways to advertise the business.

A promotional consultant can help you plan your marketing campaign, offer advice or guidance on choosing the right advertising specialties for your promotion and target audience. For a professional consultant to help you plan a creative campaign, visit www.logo411.com.

Many individuals are using business gifts as a way of rewarding their employees or those who they aim to impress for the future. Choosing an effective product can definitely deliver a professional image for your company. Businesses in most all industries have discovered that using business gifts to reward employees can be instrumental in your company’s success.

For example, you may want to get a personalized present for your boss or some of the members of your Board of Directors to show them your appreciation. You can give them a personalize gifts to express your gratification.

You can even add your name, a message and a company logo so that the recipient always remembers which company gave them the wonderful gift. You can get the person a nice plaque, trophy or piece to place on the mantle. A nice business gift that is professionally engraved can leave a lasting impression on any recipient.

If you are on a budget, you may also want to get the individual a personalized gift that is just as thoughtful but less expensive. Some choose to get personalized clothing, such as screen printed t-shirt, embroidered hats or jacket.

Apparel is one of the easiest products to put your logo on and among the most popular and traditional logo media. And of course, the recipient would also advertise the company on the personalized clothing to others while walking around.

Also always popular is a refrigerator magnet - but not just any magnet. Many new and interesting designs are available: custom shapes, frame magnets, clips, and more. Or you could give the recipient a fancy metal or plastic key chain to show your gratitude.

A nice pen can also be a favorite for many people. Make sure your business gift can draw the client to your contact information and that everything printed on your gift is accurate. An appropriate product can:
* Improve traffic at trade shows
* Motivate staff
* Thank a customer
* Increase safety awareness

Many individuals love receiving memory sticks because they are very useful during daily life. Every time someone needs to save a document and transfer it to another computer, then they will look at the stick and remember the company name. In addition, you can offer promotional computer accessories such as mouse pads.

For those businesses that are a bit more environmentally conscious, you can offer eco friendly products as a promotional giveaway. Those individuals that are passionate about saving the environment will appreciate your eco friendly products.

Many products are created with recycled, eco friendly plastic or biodegradable products with organic materials. Some people give out recycled key chains or organic shirts, bags, hats recycled pens, pencils and mugs and solar powered accessories.

Giving away these products is a great way to show everyone that your company is environmentally conscious. Many companies will give you these great custom promotional products at great prices.

Business gifts can be a great way to promote your business and also reward those clients you want to impress. If a business owner chooses the right promotional products, they will definitely get the attention they deserve, while also impressing key clients.

Business gifts and awards are a memorable way to reward employees or impress potential clients. Choosing the right business gift is important to make the right impact. Find a promotional consultant to help you choose the right gift at www.logo411.com.

Voice broadcasting is broadcasting a marketing message to phones from an automated calling list. Using voice broadcasting in a marketing campaign is like cashing in on the natural desire for one person to connect with another. The human voice is the most recognizable sound to any ear, and voice broadcasting makes good use of this fact. Voice broadcasting magic comes when the voice is practiced, and the message polished.

Being polished and practiced doesn’t mean you need to hire a professional announcer or voice celebrity to produce your voice broadcast, but it does mean you need to layout and plan your voice broadcast campaign. Along with a good message, presentation is important to the voice broadcast campaign. Virtually any voice will do, but like acting, getting a spot on performance takes practice.

Everyone has heard a voice broadcast at some point. Politicians use voice broadcast to get the vote out, schools use them to get school closing information out and you can use them to increase lead generation and pump up sales. But can you remember a voice broadcast that prompted you to action?

Chances are the voice broadcast coming to your mind met a few important criteria. First, the message was something you had an interest in. Second, the message caught your interest quickly. Finally, listening to it was not like listening to fingernails grated across a blackboard. Addressing the first two hurdles comes with targeting your audience and writing good copy, both lengthy topics in their own right. The last item, the listening appeal of the voice broadcast, is something I can give you a few tips on in this article.

The character in a voice broadcast comes from; you guessed it, the voice. Picture it like this. You go to a theater, lay your money down and watch the movie. Wouldn’t you feel a little bit taken if the actors stumbled across their lines, missed deliveries and generally botched the story up. Almost everybody would notice and the movie would flop. That’s why actors rehearse. When they get in front of the camera they know their stuff cold. From rehearsing the basics they put their craft in play and create movie magic. That’s kind of how you need to think about a voice broadcast. You need to rehearse the lines to get the magic to happen.

I like to read sales books by a guy named Zig Ziglar. In his book “Secrets of Closing the Sale” he has an entire section about voice training. Ziglar is a very successful entrepreneur so I take what he says pretty seriously. His message on voice training works in all aspects of sales, and voice broadcasting is no different.

His biggest suggestion and I agree, is to record yourself as you read your voice broadcast copy. Recording is the best way to get a feel for how you’re doing. Listen to your voice broadcast recording and notice voice inflections. Like grammar, inflection carries a lot of meaning in the spoken word. Also pay attention to the tenor in the voice broadcast. When you play it back does it sound the way you want it to? Compare your recording to a voice broadcast you consider successful and think about how it stacks up.

Putting together a good voice broadcast is not rocket science, but it does require planning and preparation. Part of that preparation is rehearsing the script. If you take the time to listen to the message in the broadcast and critique it, then you’ll be well on your way to getting a quality voice broadcast delivered to your audience.

Craig Bradburn specializes in teaching people how to start profitable home-based businesses using Voice Broadcasting. Get free access his most sustaining strategies and resources.
Email: craig@craigbradburnmarketing.com
Site:http://www.bestleadsexposed.com
Office: 1-866-617-8631 (toll free)

As I sat down to write this article I got a voice broadcast message on my phone. I let the machine grab it because I was busy. A couple of things came to my mind as I replayed the voice broadcast. First, the voice broadcast copy was pretty good. Second, the voice broadcast connected to me with neither the caller nor myself actually on the phone.

Let’s talk about the voice broadcast copy for a minute. The voice broadcast subject was about vent cleaning and the caller made a compelling argument to have him clean my vents. But the voice broadcast did this in a specific format. In the voice broadcast’s first few words I was told that my homes vents contained dust, dirt and maybe even mold which could make my family sick. That caught my attention.

The voice broadcast made me picture my homes heating and cooling vents blowing this sickening stuff throughout my house. The picture was vivid as if I was actually looking into a section of vent myself and seeing the crud. The voice broadcast succeeded in creating a sense of urgency in me. Next, the voice broadcast clued me into some features and benefits of having my vents cleaned.

The body of the voice broadcast let me know that all was not lost with a dirty vent. In fact, vent cleaning was a common procedure and doing so would greatly improve the air quality in my home. The biggest feature offered was the scrubbing and cleaning of my homes every vent. All the lurking crud would be gone. My family would be healthier and my heating and cooling system more efficient. It was as if the caller was standing with me in person selling me the company’s features and benefits. Finally, the voice broadcast gave me a solution.

The voice broadcast introduced the caller and explained his company’s professionalism and quality truck mounted vent cleaning equipment. The caller told me about radio dispatched trucks ready to cruise to my home and solve my dirty vent problem. He gave me contact information and then the call disconnected.

Just like a real person to person sales call the voice broadcast made me aware of a need, told me how to solve that need and then explained his particular solution was the best to satisfy my need. The voice broadcast did this all in thirty seconds. It was pretty efficient. There’s one more thing I want to say about the voice broadcast. That is I listened to it.

The fact that I let the machine grab the call did an important thing. It disarmed my pre-programmed response to hang up on a strange caller. That it was an automated message helped in this respect too. A voice broadcast is highly effective because the tension of person to person communication is resolved. I listened to the message at my leisure and because of that I was more interested in what the voice broadcast had to say. I think the detachment was important.

Some voice broadcasting providers even tout this detachment as an advantage. People seem to be more relaxed without the feel of another person at the other end of the line.

So I thought the voice broadcast was pretty effective. I did take the number down, and I’ll talk with my better half about our vent problem. If I decide to have my vents cleaned guess who I’m going to call.

Craig Bradburn specializes in teaching people how to start profitable home-based businesses using Voice Broadcasting. Get free access his most sustaining strategies and resources.
Email: craig@craigbradburnmarketing.com
Site:http://www.bestleadsexposed.com
Office: 1-866-617-8631 (toll free)