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Let's make a two-fold pact for 2007:
One - We will not be swept away by all the hype on the Internet.
Two - We will primarily use tried and tested, successful Internet
marketing techniques that won't cost us a fortune to use.
To help you off to the right start in launching your own
cost-effective marketing strategy for 2007, I want to share some
valuable ideas that I've used to grow my own business. These marketing
concepts are genuinely affordable, truly simple to implement and have
honestly helped me gain generous exposure, which has resulted in new
clients and increased sales. My top fifteen favorite effective and
inexpensive Internet marketing tactics are listed below:
1. Article submissions to online e-zines, directories and
newsgroups, and off-line magazines and newspapers (don't worry about
the duplicate content issues ... just get as many one-way links to
your site as possible to boost your Search Engine ranking). Writing
and submitting free reprint articles is a resourceful way to generate
increased exposure and will drive traffic to your web site.
2. Create and market your own affiliate program using low cost
tools on the Internet, which incidentally, there are numerous tools on
the web that are very affordable. Offer affiliates your articles for
reprint and allow them to use their affiliate link in your byline. But
don't stop there ... submit your program to affiliate program
directories so that prospects can find it readily.
3. Write and submit press releases to both paid and free press
release sites. Let your target audience know about your company, new
products and services you're offering and also about special company
events or promotions. If you're concerned that perhaps your writing
talents are a bit rough yet, hire a ghostwriter to draft your release
for you. And yes, there are many talented, professional writers who
work on a freelance basis and accept both one-time and ongoing
projects at an affordable rate.
4. Register with and actively participate in forums that target
your ideal client or customer. Check in at least once a week and offer
helpful advice to other forum participants seeking assistance and
information in your area of expertise. Be sure to craft and use a
compelling signature that will get added to your posts. With just a
small investment of your time, you can establish yourself as an expert
within your industry, which can result in generous exposure.
5. Offer legitimate comments and articles to blog owners who cover
your topic area and target your audience. Create solid and productive
relationships, offering to make blog postings for them in return for a
byline with a live link to your site. The fact that you're willing to
offer blog owners something of value upfront will make them eager to
reciprocate.
6. List your teleseminars, e-zines, live events and books on
Craigslist in cities and sections that have appeal for your target
audience. Sign-in and repost your listings on a regular basis to keep
them current.
7. Research opportunities to be a guest on teleseminars, podcasts
and webinars. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the number of
opportunities available if you simply take the time to look for them.
Keep a list of questions and potential topics ready for your pitch.
Keep track of your guest appearances and promote them on your web
site.
8. Actively participate in online social networks such as MySpace,
Ryze and LinkedIn. Write compelling copy for your profile and be sure
to have a good picture and logo to add where permitted. Including your
photo allows people to feel a connection to you, simply because they
can put a face to your name.
9. Join and participate in associations and non-profits that
attract your perfect client. Find relevant associations by searching
for your keyword + association in search engines and visit the
American Society of Association Executives. Involvement in
organizations such as this, as well as local civic organizations,
offers valuable networking opportunities.
10. Place paid advertisements in e-zines that target your audience.
If possible, purchase the advertisement when the publisher is running
one of your articles in order to gain maximum exposure with this
strategy. There are three types of common advertisements available in
e-zines: classified, sponsor and solo. Chose the most inexpensive
position with the greatest exposure.
11. Write or hire a ghostwriter to create a short e-course that you
can give away so long as people provide you with their e-mail address.
Make certain that your e-course is relevant to your target audience
and not full of fluff and fillers. By offering solid value in your
e-course, you can benefit from readers who take notice of your other
work/articles and will often seek out additional work you've written.
Be sure to include a privacy policy and notify those who give you
their e-mail address that they will be subscribed to your e-zine.
12. Downloadable white papers are usually longer versions of
articles and often include graphics and links to resources. As with
your e-course require people who want the white paper to register for
your e-zine. Encourage people to send the registration link to their
colleagues, friends and family who share a similar interest.
13. Create your own blog, update at least every other day and
include links to your web sites. Ping blog directories and Search
Engines every time you make a post for verification that your blog is
turning up results.
14. Sponsor contests and submit them to contest directories. Give
away a book a month or an hour of your services and encourage people
to register for your e-zine. If your business involves selling a
product rather than a service, you can offer specific products for
prizes with contest entry automatic when people signup for your e-zine.
Be creative with your contests, but always make the winning prize
something of value that is relevant to your business.
15. Testimonials and referrals can be obtained from the same
people. Offer to include a picture with testimonials and a live link
to your client's web site. This strategy is a win-win marketing tactic
for both you and your client. No satisfied client would refuse such an
opportunity! Instead of e-mailing referrals send a professionally
written letter via postal mail with some of your most popular articles
and invite recipients to call you for a free fifteen minute
consultation.
There are dozens of free marketing techniques in the online and
off-line world. These fifteen are not the only ones I use but they are
my absolute favorites and have been used successfully by thousands of
people, including Internet gurus. Don't fall for every new marketing
scheme; instead, spend your money selectively on marketing products.
If you are pressed for time hire a virtual assistant to handle the
free and low cost marketing techniques listed here and carve out some
time in your schedule every month to research and evaluate new
techniques.
Happy Marketing!
© 2007, Davis Virtual Assistance
| Bonnie Jo Davis is an experienced and successful
article marketer and author who built her entire business marketing
with articles. Hire her to teach you how to exploit the power of
article marketing or join her affiliate program by visiting
Write Your Way To Profit. |
| published by www.inspirationalessay.com |
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