The Marketing Caddy: Small Business Marketing Specialist » Marketing Tactics

Your Best Weapon Against Local Competition is Video

Walt Goshert — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:04:13 +0000

Video marketing is big and if you don’t have a successful strategy in place, then you’re leaving money on the table. Find out how to out do the competition and get more customers.

Video marketing is one of the easiest ways to get ahead of your competition and sell your services to customers. The future of the Internet advertising is video and providing video on your website is an excellent way to convince visitors to buy your products. When you have a professionally done video, you not get more visitors, but your chances of sales increases. Moreover, getting professionally made Internet video ads is easier and more affordable than ever through a variety of services on the Internet.

When a potential customer searches the Internet for a service such as “Orlando plumber” Google and will first return a list of business that have been submitted to their local directory, followed by video search results, and then websites that have optimized for the search term “Orlando plumber”. In order to stand out, you need to make sure you have a presence on all three of these types of search results. The repetition of your business being listed at the top of a search engine result page will make you seem more relevant to your customer and get your site more visitors.

The other advantage that video provides is that it generates a lot of traffic. As you already know, the key to having a successful business website is getting traffic. Without traffic you have no leads and no sales. Think of all the great websites, they have become great because they have lots of traffic. They have done everything to become a familiar name on the Web and if you want your business to succeed, you must do the same.

When you create video and submit it to video sharing sites like YouTube, Yahoo! Video, Google Video, and MySpace you now expose your business and services to the millions of visitors who visit these sites. The video submission of your Internet ads can also be done professionally to optimize the visitors they reach and to target a specific audience.

By now you have realized that video is an importnat component of your advertising. Don’t procrastinate on implementing this strategy or believe that you cannot afford to produce your video. There are lots of resources available on the Internet that can help you create video for the Web. Get started today, so you can boost your bottom line.

Author Bio:

Aaron Rodgers is a freelance writer who writes for a number of U.S. businesses. For more information on video advertising for local businesses he recommends visiting SmallBizVids.com.

Add Video to Your Local Marketing Mix

Walt Goshert — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:59:54 +0000

"Video is, quite simply, where the growth is.

But how can a small business join the party?"

Paul Burani Clicksharp Marketing

Curious about how to use video to attract more local prospects, increase sales, and boost your cash flow?

Grab Paul’s excellent Free white paper report: Small Business Guide to Web-Based Video Marketing

Marketing Automation for the Small Business Budget

An Urgent Sense of Marketing

Walt Goshert — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:31:05 +0000

It begins when you feel a little pressure…

Then it builds…

It starts to get uncomfortable…

You start squirming in your chair…

You can no longer sit there at your keyboard banging away…

You gotta take ACTION Right NOW!

________“Inside the Ropes”________

Where Small Business Marketing Pros Play to Win

FREE E-Course “7 Simple Marketing ‘Secrets’ of the Pros”

__________________________________________

Image Credit: Flickr

In an Absolut World…

Walt Goshert — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:51:20 +0000

Yes, you CAN make viral video ads to market your small business that do NOT suck…

Zach Galifianakis Makes the Best Vodka Ads Ever

________“Inside the Ropes”________

Where Small Business Marketing Pros Play to Win

FREE E-Course “7 Simple Marketing ‘Secrets’ of the Pros”

__________________________________________

A Simple, Brilliant Sales Line…

Walt Goshert — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:30:15 +0000

Earlier this week, I was chatting with a business owner who clearly wanted to do something to improve his marketing, but I kept wondering if he was serious. He kept giving me one excuse after another about why he couldn’t afford my fees, why now wasn’t a good time, why he didn’t feel he had the right staff in place… blah, blah, blah.

Finally, I folded up my papers, closed my leather binder, looked him in the eye and said…

“Why not just do nothing?”

Shameless Shamus Brown is right. You wanna get to the core fast.

Why?

Why waste time with prospects who will do nothing at the expense of serving your current clients and marketing your business?

Try it. It works.

________“Inside the Ropes”________

Where Small Business Marketing Pros Play to Win

FREE E-Course “7 Simple Marketing ‘Secrets’ of the Pros”

__________________________________________

Just ASK… Boost Your Business

Walt Goshert — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:49:24 +0000

Asking is basic to your business success.

When you ASK, good things happen.

So, I’ll ASK you here… and at the end of this article.

Why not enroll in my FREE e-Course:

“Inside the Ropes”: 7 Simple Marketing ‘Secrets’ of the Pros

The Power of Asking; 7 Ways to Boost Your Business
by Jack Canfield

The gift called “asking” has been around for a long, long time. One of life’s fundamental truths states, “Ask and you shall receive.” Kids are masters at using this gift, but we adults seem to have lost our ability to ask. We come up with all sorts of excuses and reasons to avoid any possibility of rejection.

Yet the world responds to those who ask! If you are not moving closer to what you want, you probably aren’t doing enough asking.

Here are seven asking strategies you can implement in your business (and in life) to boost your results and your bottom line:

Asking Strategy #1: Ask for Information

To win potential new clients, you first need to know what their current challenges are, what they want to accomplish and how they plan to do it. Only then can you proceed to demonstrate the advantages of your unique product or service.

Ask questions starting with the words who, why, what, where, when and how to obtain the information you need. Only when you truly understand and appreciate a prospect’s needs can you offer a solution. Once you know what’s important to them, stay on this topic and find solutions for them.

Asking Strategy #2: Ask for Business

Here’s an amazing statistic: after giving a complete presentation about the benefits of their product or service, more than 60 percent of the time salespeople never ask for the order! That’s a bad habit, and one that could ultimately put you out of business.

Always ask a closing question to secure the business. Don’t waffle or talk around it—or worse, wait for your prospect to ask you. No doubt you have heard of many good ways to ask the question, “Would you like to give it a try?” The point is, ask.

Asking Strategy #3: Ask for Written Endorsements

Well-written, results-oriented testimonials from highly respected people are powerful for future sales. They solidify the quality of your product or service and leverage you as a person who has integrity, is trustworthy and gets the job done on time.

When is the best time to ask? Right after you have provided excellent service, gone the extra mile to help out, or in any other way made your customer really happy.

Simply ask if your customer would be willing to give you a testimonial about the value of your product or service, plus any other helpful comments.

Asking Strategy #4: Ask for Top-Quality Referrals

Just about everyone in business knows the importance of referrals. It’s the easiest, least expensive way of ensuring your growth and success in the marketplace.

Your core clients will gladly give you referrals because you treat them so well. So why not ask all of them for referrals? It’s a habit that will dramatically increase your income. Like any other habit, the more you do it the easier it becomes.

Asking Strategy #5: Ask for More Business

Look for other products or services you can provide your customers. Devise a system that tells you when your clients will require more of your products. The simplest way is to ask your customers when you should contact them to reorder. It’s often easier to sell your existing clients more than to go looking for new ones.

Asking Strategy #6: Ask to Renegotiate

Regular business activities include negotiation. Many businesses get stuck because they lack skills in negotiation, yet this is simply another form of asking that can save a lot of time and money. Look at your vendors and suppliers and see if there are areas where you can be saving money. Just ask.

All sorts of contracts can be renegotiated in your personal life, too, such as changing your mortgage terms and rate, reviewing your cell phone plan and requesting a policy review with your insurance agent. As long as you negotiate ethically and in the spirit of win-win, you can enjoy a lot of flexibility. Nothing is ever cast in stone.

Asking Strategy #7: Ask for Feedback

This is a powerful way to fine-tune your business that is often overlooked. How do you really know if your product or service is meeting your customers’ needs? Ask them, “How are we doing? What can we do to improve our service to you? Please share what you like or don’t like about our products.” Set up regular customer surveys that ask good questions and tough questions.

HOW TO ASK

Some people don’t enjoy the fruits of asking because they don’t ask effectively. If you use vague language you will not be clearly understood. Here are five ways to ensure that your asking gets results.

Ask Clearly
Be precise. Think clearly about your request. Take time to prepare. Use a note pad to pick words that have the greatest impact. Words are powerful, so choose them carefully.

Ask with Confidence
People who ask confidently get more than those who are hesitant and uncertain. When you’ve figured out what you want to ask for, do it with certainty, boldness and confidence.

Ask Consistently
Some people fold after making one timid request. They quit too soon. Keep asking until you find the answers. In prospecting there are usually four or five “no’s” before you get a “yes.” Top producers understand this. When you find a way to ask that works, keep on asking it.

Ask Creatively
In this age of global competition, your asking may get lost in the crowd, unheard by the decision-makers you hope to reach. There is a way around this. If you want someone’s attention, don’t ask the ordinary way. Use your creativity to dream up a high-impact presentation.

Ask Sincerely
When you really need help, people will respond. Sincerity means dropping the image facade and showing a willingness to be vulnerable. Tell it the way it is, lumps and all. Don’t worry if your presentation isn’t perfect; ask from your heart. Keep it simple and people will open up to you.

* * *

Are you ’stuck’ in this area?
Send me your most pressing question, then join me for our monthly
‘Ask Jack Canfield’ Tele-Clinic on Wednesday, July 2nd!
www.AskJackCanfield.com

If you missed previous issues of Success Strategies,
I keep an archive of past issues you can always refer to.

Jack Canfield, America’s #1 Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you’re ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

________“Inside the Ropes”________

Where Small Business Marketing Pros Play to Win

FREE E-Course “7 Simple Marketing ‘Secrets’ of the Pros”

__________________________________________

Like this post? Publish It On Your Own Blog

Advertising that Sucks: An Example

Walt Goshert — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:38:30 +0000

Danny Hatch blasts the latest Legal Sea Foods restaurant ads.

Drayton Bird nails this marketing nonsense calling it “creative masterbation.”

Funny how some of the other comments actually defend it.

Remember, if it doesn’t sell, it sucks.

No matter how funny or clever.

________“Inside the Ropes”________

Where Small Business Marketing Pros Play to Win

FREE E-Course “7 Simple Marketing ‘Secrets’ of the Pros”

__________________________________________

Landing Pages? On a Blog?

Walt Goshert — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:38:23 +0000

Hey, any time someone combines a marketing tip and uses a golf metaphor, as The Marketing Caddy, I gotta link to it.

Check out the Landing Page Tutorials and Case Studies at copyblogger.

Oh yeah, Sunday of The Masters…

Can Tiger pull off the comeback, or do we crown a brand new Major winner today?

___________________________________________

The Marketing Caddy…

Where Small Business Marketing Pros Leverage Hidden Assets for Exponential Growth

FREE E-Course “7 Simple Secrets of Growth Focused Entrepreneurs”

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Improving Perfection…

Walt Goshert — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 04:02:21 +0000

… A Viral Video Marketing “Playing” Lesson

First, I offer you…

The slow motion golf swing of Mr. Eldrick Woods:

“Pretty… pretty… pretty… pretty good”

Now, take a look at what Jacksonville, FL golf pro and swing guru Tracy Reed does with this video.

Tracy, golf clap to you for a beautiful marketing play.

You’ve taken a viral video of Tiger Woods (well, it’s viral in the golf world…) and turned it into tons of comments and buzz about your site. Great lead-in and credibility for your Ultimate Golf System program.

Now, let’s look at Tracy’s near-perfect play from a marketing tactics standpoint:

1. He borrows Celebrity Endorsement from the #1 Golfer on the planet, Tiger Woods… without paying Tiger a dime!

2. Tracy demonstrates his knowledge and positions himself as The Expert, a Golf Swing Guru.

3. The comments act as testimonials and re-enforce Tracy’s Expert status.

“Near”-Perfect?

He does three things so beautifully, just as Tiger does with his swing.

But, at the moment of impact, Tracy shanks it!

Yep, Tracy Reed, top-notch golf swing guru, looking to sell a $197 Ultimate Golf System DVD Program, you deliver a picture perfect “marketing” swing…

You got a free implied endorsement from Tiger Woods

You’ve demonstrated in detail your knowledge and understanding of the golf swing, positioning yourself as a Golf Swing Guru.

You’ve gathered glowing endorsements and comments, adding to your credibility.

You hint at a Ultimate Golf Swing Program. (the link under the video)

But, I’m sorry to say, at the moment of truth, you’ve lost tons of “marketing” juice.

Tracy let me step in as your “Marketing Caddy”…

Here are two “marketing” swing thoughts:

1. Make an Irresistible Offer

“Thanks for watching my Tiger Woods Swing Analysis. I invite you to leave your comments and questions. And when you leave a comment today…and today only… you’ll receive a 25% no-questions asked discount off my guaranteed Ultimate Golf System.

2. Have a clear, step-by-step Call-to-Action.

“Do you want to learn how to apply the Tiger Woods swing secrets to your swing?

Click on the Ultimate Golf Swing System link under the video… Right now, while it’s fresh on your mind… and discover how you can be a Tiger too!”

Do you think these two simple changes would help Tracy sell more Ultimate Golf Systems?

What would you suggest to Tracy?

The Marketing Caddy…

Where Small Business Marketing Pros Leverage Hidden Assets for Exponential Growth

Economic Stimulus Plan: 107 Free or Low-Cost Small Business Marketing Ideas

Walt Goshert — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 04:32:57 +0000

OiMax at Flickr

Recessions have a way of cleaning out the weak in business.

Does your business sell well, but not deliver on your promises?

A recession will crush you.

Does your business keep all promises, but can’t close the deal.

Again, look out… the Recession will clean your clock.

And… if you’re waiting around for the Government to help…

Good Luck.

Here are links to 107 Free or Low-Cost Small Business Marketing Ideas and Resources. These are solid marketing tactics and tools you can use right now. You’ll pick up marketing ideas that will help you grow your business… even in tough times.

It’s amazing that you can find this amount of small business marketing advice at the click of your mouse. Equally amazing is how much marketing crap you’ll bump into when you’re blindly surfing around.

Lately, lots of small businesses have asked me:

“So Walt, what’s the single best free or low-cost marketing tactic to get real results?”

Listen up here.

You gotta listen real close to hear this…

When you hear this you’re gonna brush it off saying…

“I know that Walt. I’m already doing that. In fact, that’s how I get most of my business.”

Great… good for you, but let me ask you…

Do you have a Referral Marketing System?

Do you leverage you most important business asset… your client relationships… with a Referral Marketing System?

A Referral Marketing System positions you to attract more new clients, have your current clients buy more often from you, and sell bigger, more profitable products and services.

More clients.

Clients buying more frequently from you.

Clients spending more money with you.

Would those three help YOUR business?

Now… on with the show.

Let’s go see who will help us make some money without a lot of money. (Two Recession Marketing Thoughts: Cash is King…and… Marketing Means Cash!)

WARNING: You’ll about to discover a variety of sites and resources. Some may or may not fit your particular business situation, but all these sites have a little take-away for nearly all small businesses. Some of ‘em are big and business changing.

1.Package an exceptional client experience and tell a great story.

2. Relentless Self-Promotion

3. 10 Low-Cost Ways to Market Your Business

4. Think digital

5. Blog like an “11″ when your competition settles for a “10″

6. Michel Fortin’s classic ebook, “The 10 Commandments of Power Positioning” (one of the first ebooks I recall downloading… and still use over 10 years later)

7. Skellie’s “101+ Resources for Creative Minds”

8. 12 Simple Ways You Can Promote Your Business

9. 13 Essentials for Thought-Leadership Marketing

10. Free Download Report: “13 Vital Customer Retention Strategies for Small Business”

11. 5 Steps to Never Getting a Raise (or Clients)

12. 5 Ways to Boost Your Profits Today