Back to school. Back to work. Back to business as usual. Well, maybe not business as usual. What worked last year in your business isn’t going to cut it today. If you really want your business to improve this fall, then you should add the power of video to your marketing mix.
Here are the top ten compelling reasons why you need video – right here, right now!
1. Google Loves Video! And not just because they own YouTube. Video puts your SEO on steroids. With video, you can dramatically improve your search engine rankings.
2. Video is Personal. You can enhance your know, like and trust factor very quickly by appearing on video. Let your customers get to know you by seeing and hearing you!
3. Video is Immediate. Got an idea or a message? Got a webcam? Then you can make a video instantly and be online in minutes. (Try the “quick capture” function on YouTube).
4. YouTube Rocks! With an audience of 85 million viewers, YouTube is the place to be seen online. Not only is YouTube now the 4th most popular website on the Internet, it’s also the 2nd biggest search engine! Want a piece of the action? Create an upload your video to YouTube!
5. Video Connects. Nothing establishes a better connection with your clients and customers than video. Video creates that immediate bond.
6. Video is (mostly) Free! With a free account on YouTube and a $40 webcam, you’re good to go with online video. In fact, you can get a free account at Animoto.com and create a free video montage using just your photos!
7. Video gives you worldwide exposure, 24/7. Having videos online increases your visibility across the globe. Let your video work for you while you sleep!
8. It’s Easier Than You Think! New gadgets like the Flip Video camera and the new iPhone 3G with Video make it easier than ever to capture and upload video. Both the Flip and the iPhone let you upload directly to YouTube.
9. Video is Here to Stay. Video is way past the trend stage and is quickly becoming a mainstream marketing tool. The sooner you get up to speed with this valuable resource, the better!
10. Video Accelerates the Sales Process! The best news of all about adding video to your marketing mix is that it greatly accelerates the sales process. People buy from someone they know, like and trust – and video can rapidly speed that process. That means more customers, more quickly, and more coin in your pocket!
As you can see, it’s high time for you to swim with the tide or be swept away by the video tidal wave! Not sure where to begin? Visit http://www.OnlineVideoBranding.com for more tips, tricks and trends!
About the Author
Lou Bortone is an award-winning writer and video producer with over 20 years experience in marketing, branding and promotion. As an online video expert, Lou helps entrepreneurs create video for the web at www.TheOnlineVideoGuy.com. In addition, Lou works as a freelance writer and professional ghostwriter, with a ghostwriting site at www.GhostwriteForYou.com and a blog at www.GhostwriteGuru.com.
Category: Sales & Marketing
Article Contributed By Eric Gruber
What do you tell your prospects when they ask you “What makes you different from everyone else?”
Here’s what management consultant John Reddish does.
He tells his prospects to search the number of mentions he has on Google! Since John has hundreds of articles and other links, he looks like a rock star compared to his competitors!
I follow this strategy all the time. I actually have people calling me up asking – so does article marketing really work? I ask them if they’re by the computer right now. Then, I tell them to Google my name “Eric Gruber.” You’ll see hundreds of links with my articles.
If you do that right now, you should find on the front page my articles on Microsoft Dynamics, About.com, PublicityHound.com, SiteProNews.com and many others.
I, not only use this strategy when I am trying to sell to new prospects, but also when I am speaking live on stage or on teleseminars. It helps me build credibility with my audience.
Remember, every time you write and submit articles, you increase your credibility and visibility – and that can pay off in many ways! But in order for this to work you must follow a few basic rules.
3 Article Marketing Rules You Must Follow If You Want to Increase Credibility and Visibility
Rule #1: Write and submit articles on a consistent basis.
Article marketing will NOT work if you just write articles and submit articles every once in a while. You should write at least one article per month. If you need help generating article ideas – check out my Instant Article Writing Templates at http://www.StartWritingArticlesFaster.com
Rule #2: Submit your articles to the top websites and ezines that your audience is going to every day for information that you can provide.
Don’t get me wrong, submitting to article directory sites like ezinearticles.com is good. It gives you more links and the more links you get, the higher you will rank in the search engines. But the article directory sites will not give you extra credibility. Anyone can get published there as long as you follow the site’s editorial guidelines. It will not make you an expert in the eyes of your prospects. So find the top websites that your audience is visiting and submit your articles to those sites.
Rule #3: You must provide unique information that proves you are the expert.
If you provide the same, regurgitated information as everyone else – how is that going to make you any different from your competition? It doesn’t! So, provide your top, expert information. Don’t be afraid to give your best material. By giving great information for free, people will automatically think, “Wow! If I’m getting this kind of information for free, the information that I have to pay for must be out-of-this-world. I must get it now.”
If you follow this advice, you’ll increase your credibility and visibility. And, you’ll be able to answer the question,” “What makes you different from everyone else?”
About the Author
Article Marketing Expert Eric Gruber uses the power of articles to create online opportunities for Internet marketers, small business owners and entrepreneurs who want more publicity, prospects and profits. Now, you can get his instant article writing templates that will help you write your articles in 30 minutes or less. For a limited time, you can get 3 of his favorite article writing templates for free at: http://www.TryMyFreeArticleTemplates.com
Did you know that HOW you design your client payment plans can make the difference between your prospective client saying, “Yes!” versus muttering, “Let me think about it?”
This applies to services, programs and even products offered on your Web site. So it’s wise to understand what works — and what doesn’t! — so you can make it easy for your prospective clients to say “yes” to you.
Now, the problem is, most Soul-preneurs™ feel uncertain as to how to design their payment plans. Many rely on the simple “order now and save XYZ amount” strategy. And while that’s a good one, in this economy that alone is not compelling enough to motivate people to hire you or invest in your info product.
Which is why my Platinum clients and I carefully design what payment plan strategy is going to work best for each of their service or info product launches. It’s just too important to leave to chance or not get expert help creating!
The good news is that I’ve spent years figuring out what works in the area of pricing and money. Here are three SIMPLE strategies that will instantly help you design a compelling offer your prospective clients will love to say “Yes!” to.
Pricing Plan Strategy #1: Offer a Valuable Incentive For Paying in Full
You’ll be surprised at how many clients will choose a full pay option in order to save big or qualify for a special high-value incentive.
For example, in my new 2009 Platinum Program the full pay option is generously rewarded with a special “preferred client” coaching day with me on the topic of pricing and money. This is in addition to a significant savings. Together, these create powerful reasons for new Platinum members to not only apply for the program but to choose the full payment option.
Pricing Plan Strategy #2: Create a Reason WHY a Client Should Say “Yes” to Your Offer Now… Instead of Later
Most Soul-preneurs™ mistakenly give their prospective clients far too long to make their investment decision. This backfires because human nature is such that the longer someone has to decide the more likely they are to talk themselves out of making a “yes” decision.
That’s a shame because that means that’s someone you’re not able to help. So keep your cut-off dates more immediate, then use your marketing to create energy, excitement and a reason for people to say “yes” to you within this shorter time frame.
Pricing Plan Strategy #3: Aim to Make Your Bonuses Total MORE Than the Original Service or Product Being Purchased
Like you, I’m NOT a fan of offering a hodgepodge array of bonuses that look like someone just cleaned out the back of their closet. Instead, design bonus products or services that have real value to your clients and that if purchased separately, total up to even more than the original item offered. Even better, offer at least one bonus that can’t be purchased separately, emphasizing its appeal as an “exclusive” available only to your clients when they invest in your program or product.
Think Creatively When It Comes To Your Pricing Plan Options
While there are many more pricing plan strategies you can use, these three will get you started quickly and help you feel more confident in launching your new programs and products. Remember that the easier you make it for your prospective clients to say “Yes!” the more you’ll be able make a positive difference for them while making more money!
About the Author:
Kendall SummerHawk, the Million Dollar Marketing Coach, is an expert at helping women entrepreneurs at all levels design a business they loveand charge what they’re worth and get it. Kendall delivers simple ways entrepreneurs can design and price their services to quickly move away from ‘dollars-for-hours work’ and create more money, time, and freedom in their business. For free articles, free resources and to sign up for a free subscription to Kendall’s Money, Marketing and Soul weekly articles visit www.kendallsummerhawk.com.
I’m going to let you in on a very dirty secret:
There is one question that is being dodged by experts in EVERY market. Answer that question and you’ll corner the market, be worshipped forever and get more customers and sales.
If it was that easy, why aren’t other experts answering these questions?
It’s because they fear an informed audience. That’s outright silly! But, we’re not going to tell them that. While your competitors run scared, you’ll be getting more sales since you’re going to follow the steps I outline in the article below. You will educate your targeted audiences, get more website traffic, teach people how to buy from you and increase your sales.
Now, are you ready?
Step 1: Find the questions that are being dodged by other experts in your industry.
I can’t tell you what these questions are. It will vary from industry to industry. . So, how do you find these golden questions to answer?
* Go to Yahoo Answers and type in your keyword. Examine the questions carefully and see which ones keep popping up. If people are asking the same questions, that means that people have the same questions. There’s a need that’s NOT being fulfilled.
* Go to forums and watch what your audience is discussing
* Survey your clients, customers and list of prospects
Step 2: Answer the questions in as many formats as possible
For each question create a blog post. Do NOT date these blog posts – you will see why later on. Once you create your blog post, expand it into an article. Then, turn your article into a video, special report, podcast and audio interview. You should also create online press releases. If you need help with writing your articles and blog postings, I have templates that will help you write your articles in 30 minutes or less. Just go to http://www.StartWritingArticlesFaster.com
Step 3: Answer the Questions in As Many Places As Possible
* You should submit your blog posts to as many RSS feeds as possible
* You should bookmark your blog posts using Digg, Technorati and De.li.cious
* You should submit your articles to the top websites, ezines and article directories that accept article submissions.
* You should submit your videos to YouTube and Viddler. You may even want to think about investing in the TrafficGeyser.com video submission service
* You should post links to your blog, articles and videos on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace and Linked In.
* You should post your articles on social marketing websites sites like Scribd and Squidoo
* You should submit your press releases through PR Web or Webwire. If you use Webwire.com, all you have to pay is $20. But, I do suggest comparing the two services and see which one matches your needs.
* Videos teaching people how to buy from you or how to use your product should be on your website.
* When people opt-in for your special reports, ebooks or other free offering, you should have an auto-responder series that gets people to go back to your blog or website. If you have lots of blog postings that answers your prospects’ top questions – all you have to do is create a summary for each blog posting and send people back to your blog every day. This way each blog posting will get the visibility it deserves. And, by not showing the date, these postings become evergreen.
Follow these steps and you will increase website traffic and get more sales, because you’ll be educating your prospects, answering their questions and teaching them how to buy from you.
About the Author:
Article Marketing Expert Eric Gruber uses the power of articles to create online opportunities for Internet marketers, small business owners, authors, entrepreneurs and speakers who want more publicity, prospects and profits. Now, you can get his instant article writing templates that will help you write your articles in 30 minutes or less. Get 3 of his favorite article writing templates for free at: http://www.TryMyFreeArticleTemplates.com
StartupNation by Tom Now: If you are an online retailer or otherwise rely heavily on the holiday season for a good percentage of your sales, guess what?
It’s time to prepare your website for the holidays. Believe it or not, the time is now. In September. With no time to lose!
So, you’re probably thinking, “Come on, Tom. You’ve got to be kidding me. I can wait for at least another month before I need to be thinking about the holidays…”
Well, if you want to maximize your sales over the winter period, and if you want to avoid last-minute fire-fighting, panicking and compromising, there are a number of first steps that you should take right now.
These steps include the development of the following strategies, plans and initiatives:
Customer Acquisition Strategy: How are you going to win new customers? What is it that will make them purchase from you this holiday season, as opposed to anyone else?
Customer Retention Strategy: What specifically are you going to do to ensure repeat business from existing customers? What are you going to offer your current database?
The WOW Factor: How are you going to absolutely “Wow!” your website visitors during the holiday season?
Holiday Promotional Planning: What special holiday promotions will you run? What is the lead time that each promotion requires?
Website Infrastructure: Will you need any additional website functionality to support your holiday initiatives? If so, make sure you are acquiring the right technologies and securing technical resources now.
Marketing Integration Planning: How will you integrate your promotions and campaigns across your entire marketing mix?
Agency/Consultant Alignment: Have you already laid out a plan with any marketing agencies or consultants with whom you work? Collaborate with them now to build the perfect marketing plan, rather than blindsiding them the week before Thanksgiving with urgent requests…
Inventory Management: This one is rather obvious, but make sure that your inventory management is aligned with your promotional plans.
Testing: Be sure to allow sufficient buffer time to test new web pages, technologies and site functionality before going live with your holiday initiatives.
Post-Holiday Planning: And remember that the true “holiday season” extends well beyond the end of December. Look to leverage people’s natural urge for “renewal” in the new year. January can also be an opportune time to appeal to customers looking for bargains.
About the Author: Tom Now of Website Marketing NOW helps small businesses maximize their website results through Website Consulting, Website Audits and additional online marketing services.
To start learning how to create an amazing small business website that thrills your site visitors and drives your revenue growth, read Tom’s book Make ‘Em Scream “Gee Whiz!” – A Roadmap for Creating a Small Business Website that Ignites Your Sales.