How an Internet Marketing Expert could Help your Business

Marketing your business successfully is vital if you wish it to be as profitable as possible. Hiring an internet marketing expert is an ideal way to ensure that you do this correctly and attract new custom to your site.

If you want to make a real go of your business and to have as much success as possible then online marketing will be necessary. If you have little experience in this area then you may find that contacting an Internet Marketing Expert could be incredibly beneficial to you. Perhaps the main reason for needing to focus so much on internet marketing is that this is how so much of the world functions these days and if you want to get an edge over your competitors you need to follow suit.

1. Why Use an Internet Marketing Expert?

Research shows that these days around a third of the people that have a computer and internet connection will make purchases online, so this is a key way of targeting potential customers. It also means that you can find custom from all over the country and the world rather then just the area that you live. Internet Marketing Experts can help you to connect your website to the people that will be most interested in what it is that you have to offer; therefore helping to give your website the extra edge that may be required.

It is not simply enough to just set up a website or post a few adverts online; you need to make sure that your website ranks well with search engines and really stands out from all the rest. It is for this reason that hiring an Internet Marketing Experts could be a good move since they have the expertise to advise you on how to make the most of your business and advertising and attract the right customers. In order to do this a number of techniques will be employed including SEO, creating eye catching banners, setting up a regular blog and also using something as basic as trading links. By utilising these techniques you can increase the popularity and number of visitors to your website thereby increasing traffic and hopefully sales.

It is important that if you do choose to hire an Internet Marketing Expert that you find one with a good reputation and plenty of experience so that you know you can trust them to do a good job.

Should you Hire a Business Consultant to Help Your Business?

If you are new to setting up a home business then you may not be aware of the role a business consultant can play in helping to make your business a success. In fact a business consultant will often specialize in dealing with a variety of different company matters. Often their main role is in advising companies, be these large or small, in making the correct decision to help their company be profitable.

1.Why Hire a Business Consultant?

Business consultants are normally hired to see the issues a business may have from a wider perspective. They are often experts in their specific field and can therefore provide sensible, logical advice and guidance to a business that may need a little help. By having a different perspective it can help a business to establish any areas of concern that may have gone unnoticed, allowing them to attain the best solution.

Business consultants tend to specialize in certain specific business fields in order to meet the specialist demands of each business. For example a management consultant can help to advise on the different areas of corporate businesses such as the marketing and finance. There are also technical consultants able to provide more technical advice for those activities considered as non-management. No matter what field of business you are in you will be able to find an experienced and suitable business consultant that can help to advise on the running of your business.

If your business is relatively new then you may consider hiring a business consultant to help you in the early stages so that you can meet your initial targets and stick to your original plan. They can also help to formulate a business plan as well as advise on the best course of marketing.

2. Business Consultants are Available to All

Many people assume that a business consultant will only be of real use to a larger company but this is not true. Perhaps one of the main reasons for this is that it is assumed that hiring a business consultant will be costly and therefore unaffordable for the smaller business, but this is not always true. They can be equally effective in helping a smaller business to get up and running. If you are just starting out or feel that your business needs some help then a business consultant could really help to improve your current situation.

Video Blogging and Internet Marketing

If you are looking for a new way to advertise your business then why not consider video blogging? This article explains why this method of advertising can be so effective and what you need to get started.

Creating a video blog can be a great way to let people see what it is you do as well as getting to know the person behind the business. This is a relatively new way of internet marketing and not one that is used perhaps as much as it could be. Initially it may require you to make a small outlay for equipment but the benefits often outweigh the cost. Internet marketing with a video blog is a powerful tool and is essentially like creating your own television advert but for free.

1. Why Use Video Blogs?

What makes video blogging such a useful way of advertising is that your potential customers get to see the products that you sell or produce so that they can get a better idea of what is involved. By posting something such as a video blog you are more likely to catch people’s attention as you can do something a little bit different and it is more entertaining for your target audience. Reading through standard blog posts and articles can get a little boring after a while and if what you sell can be demonstrated then this is more appealing to the consumer.

2. Getting Started

In order to get started with this type of internet marketing you will need a web camera, a microphone and some good software in order to edit your video later. You may find it worthwhile investing in a decent web camera in order to give you a better quality picture that will look more professional to those viewing. Make sure that you present whatever it is you sell in the best light to make it more enticing! Once you have created your video you will need to edit and you can find a number of applications that are good, even if you have little or no experience of this.

Although video blogging is a great form of internet marketing there are some drawbacks. If your video requires a certain specification of software to run then some people may not be able to view it, they may also find that it runs slower on their computer if it is very high quality and will therefore switch off. However despite this it is still worth pursuing video blogging as a way to promote your business as it offers a fun way of advertising by showing others the benefits of what you do and therefore can lead to sales. To help you maximise your opportunity a Lutterworth Marketing Company could help you pull this together.

Creating Press Releases to Help Market Your Business

Marketing your business is incredibly important but to begin with you may not have the funds to advertise as much as you would like. This is why creating free press releases can be a useful way to bring your business to the attention of a wider audience, without having to spend a lot of money.

If you have no experience of writing a press release, or perhaps have not seen one before, then you may be wondering what they are. A press release is simply a way of announcing a product, event or business to the press and other areas of the media. Perhaps what makes them so useful is that they look incredibly professional and are therefore a great way to draw people’s attention to your business.

1. Writing your Press Release
Writing a press release may sound scary if you have no previous writing experience but it need not be. As soon as you have written a couple you will soon become at ease in writing and submitting to various sites. It is important that you keep the tone of your press release professional as they are viewed as being an official statement. To make yours stand out from others that have been submitted it is vital that you create a title that will catch people’s attention and include a summary of the contents.

When it comes to the content it is wise to only include what is relevant and to keep it concise. If it is too long then people may get bored halfway through or be put off from the start and not read it at all. State what it is your do, how long you have been working, the experience you have and any other information relevant to your industry. Be sure to include contact details including a phone number, email address and if you have one your website link as these are key for internet marketing.

2. Placing your Press Release
Once you have written your press release you will then need to make sure you place it on websites that receive a lot of traffic. It is a good idea to submit your press release to a number of different sites to enable you to gain as much marketing exposure for your business as possible. Be sure to complete all of the necessary boxes when submitting your press release and think of ways in which you can make yours stand out to readers. Jenkinson & Associates Ltd provides marketing consultants to companies looking to grow their sales and profits.

Tell More . . . Sell More . . . 10 Timeless Copywriting Tips!

1. Plan Your Writing
All successful writers think before they write. What are you selling? What are its benefits? Why should people buy from you? What is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?

2. Create a Benefit-Laden Headline
Five times as many people read the headline, over the body copy, so if your benefit isn’t in the headline, then 90% of your audience won’t see it. It really is worth spending time crafting a great headline. One copywriter I know of, won’t start focussing on the ‘body copy’ until he has come up with at least 100 potential headlines!

3. Why AIDA Has Become AIDCA
You’ve probably heard of the Copywriter’s Friend, AIDA, which stands for: Attention; Interest; Desire; Action. In these challenging times, maybe we ought to add Credibility as well. So AIDA has become AIDCA. Following on from your headline, your first paragraph needs to address these points in order.

4. Write Simply and Effectively.
This is not the place to show off with fancy or complicated words. Use simple language. Imagine you are telling a friend about your product, service, or business. Write for an audience of one and your copy will speak to everyone in that target group. And use emotional words rather than intellectual words for added impact.

5. People Buy Benefits.
Your audience is ONLY interested in what you can do for them. The fact that your company has been in business 20 years might add something to your standing, but when it comes down to selling, focus on benefits rather than features. A cosmetic dentist, for example, will focus on the benefits an attractive smile brings, rather than the procedures for fixing crooked teeth!

6. Recognise and Address the Five Basic Objections Your Readers Will Have.
1. I don’t believe you.
2. I don’t need it.
3. I don’t have enough time.
4. I don’t have enough money.
5. It won’t work for me.

Your copy should acknowledge and overcome these main objections.

7. Good layout and type will enhance your copy.
Graphics, fonts and the right layout will make your offer more appealing, but don’t use pretty pictures just for the sake of it. Sub-headings and bullet points are also effective for breaking up copy and making it more readable.

8. Offer a Satisfaction Guarantee
Some businesses are afraid of offering ‘no quibble’ guarantees in case customers take advantage. In fact, the opposite is true. Less than 2% of customers will ever ask for their money back and offering a ‘no questions asked’ money-back guarantee will give your customers added confidence about doing business with you.

9. Testimonials are like Gold Dust
Whenever you buy something on a website like Amazon, don’t you find it helpful that the products and the sellers are customer-rated? This means it’s less likely that you will end up with a product that will disappoint and it also means you can buy from reliable vendors, according to the feedback provided.
Wherever possible, ask your customers for testimonials and feature the best on your website and sprinkled in your sales copy.

10. Tell your readers what you want them to do next.
There’s no point in spending hours crafting great copy if you don’t tell potential customers what to do next! Try to offer as many alternative ways to order from you as is practicable: post, phone, website, fax. Wherever possible include a personalised order form as it’s been proven to increase consumer response rates significantly.

Website copy is important for maximising your opportunity on search engines. If you are looking for SEO Leicester try the SEO Expert.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet Marketing

If you are looking at advertising your business then internet marketing is definitely the way forward. However there are a number of factors that you should consider before taking the plunge!

These days nearly all businesses will have some kind if internet marketing as it is fast becoming the most popular way to keep in touch with people. However the truth is that it is not always as simple as people may first think and it requires a lot of planning to make it successful. For example you need to make sure that you have realistic expectations regarding what you wish to achieve and then plan how you can meet these. One of the benefits to internet marketing is that it is a powerful tool and can really help put you on level ground with some of the larger businesses that are around.

1. Advantages

One of the main benefits to internet marketing and being online is that information about your business and any online shop you may have is available 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. It also means that customers from all over the world and not just locally can see what it is you do.

Internet marketing can be incredibly cost effective as the cost of sending emails is virtually nothing when you consider the quantity you can send. This will work out much cheaper then sending newsletters by post!

Another advantage is that you can update the subscribers that you have immediately via email. Any visitors that click on to your website will also have the most up-to-date news and offers; providing of course that you take the time to update this regularly!

2. Disadvantages

Of course online marketing is not completely free and you will need to factor in the cost of software, hardware, and designing and maintaining your website. The more of this you can do yourself the cheaper it will be.

Not everyone will want to buy online or for that matter will have a computer so you will still need to pay care and attention to other forms of offline marketing.

There is a great deal of competition within the business world and especially during the current economic climate. You will therefore need to make sure that all of your internet marketing such as websites, adverts etc all rank highly in searches. To help you with your internet marketing an internet marketing consultant will be able to provide the resource and assistance you need.

How to Target your Marketing at the Right People

Marketing can be incredibly effective provided that you are targeting the right people. This short article will give you a few ideas on what you should consider before you get started.

When you are considering how to tackle the marketing for your business venture it can be a good idea to take a look at a number of different areas before deciding which is most suitable. You really need to have a good idea what it is you want to achieve as well as working out who exactly your target market will be. Whether you choose to carry out your marketing online or offline the rules in general will remain the same.

Different Marketing areas

Demographics
The first area that you need to consider is your demographic, which could be for example by age or gender. Consider what it is you sell or do and who would most likely need your products or services. For example if you create and sell items for the baby market then most of your marketing will likely be at females of a certain age rather then those who do not fit within the major age group for having children. Similarly you should understand the lifecycle of a person which indicates that consumers will often require different products or services depending on the stage of life they are at.

Interests
One important area to consider depending on your line of business is aiming your marketing at the correct job sector. If for example your line of business involves building or selling items related to a specific trade line of work then you will only need to contact people who are going to have an interest in what you have to offer. Sending out marketing regarding cheap building materials will be of no interest to someone that works in an office for example. It is also worth considering if your area of business could be considered a speciality and if so targeting your marketing just at those who will have an interest in this.

By adhering to these rules it will mean that your marketing is much more effective and gets to those who will be most interested. It can also help to save you time and money that may have been wasted targeting those of the wrong age group etc. Advice can be sort from marketing consultants who will be able to advise you.

Simple Tips to Improve your Organisational Skills

Running your own business can be time consuming and it can be all too easy to forget commitments. This short article gives you a few tips on the areas you should focus on to make your business a success.

In order to run a successful business it is vital that you are always organised otherwise you could find yourself unsure of what you need to do and missing deadlines. It will also mean that you have greater control of your marketing and advertising to help generate work.

1. Organise your Paperwork

Make sure that your files and your filing system are up to date and where they should be to make finding invoices and job information much simpler. Should you find yourself with a lot of files then you may find that implementing some kind of colour code system may help you to find them easier. Keep all of your marketing paperwork together and updated and make sure that you look through it regularly to make sure that you are offering deals and promotions regularly to attract new custom.

2. Creating Lists

You may not be a big fan of lists but the truth is they can really help to keep you on tract and ensure that all tasks are completed on time. It can be all too easy to forget a task that you needed to do so making a list regularly, be it each morning or each week can help. Be sure to add your marketing onto your list regularly to make sure that you keep on top of adverts etc You might even find that ticking off completed tasks is quite satisfying and that it provides you with the motivation to keep going.

3. Organise your calendar

Having a calendar is vital, especially if you have a lot of commitments or a tendency to forget a deadline or meeting. Make sure that you keep it up to date as soon as you get a new appointment or deadline and set yourself a reminder if you are using your phone or computer. This helps to reduce the chance of being under prepared and allows you to make the best of your business. You could even include updates for marketing to make sure that you keep on top of this important task.

Running Your Own Small Business Franchise

Running a small franchise can be a great way to have your own business but with a little extra security. However it is worth being aware of some of the pros and cons to this type of business.

For those who have decided that they would like a home business or would just like a new business venture, you may find that setting up a small business franchise could be the answer.

It is however worth bearing in mind that with any type of business there are pros and cons and you need to make sure that you handle your marketing well. Be aware though that not everyone is suited to running a small business and you can never be guaranteed of its success, so choose something that interests you and that you will be good at. You should make sure that you always investigate the market thoroughly first to ensure that there is a demand for what you will be offering and minimal competition.

1 The Positives

Often with a franchise business you will be able to begin trading with a short turnaround time although this will depend upon the nature of the business. You should also find that if you have selected a name that is well known this may give you a good head start. The marketing will in many cases be organised and run by the franchise themselves which may include promotions, discounts etc. If you require a supplier for regular deliveries and good deals then being part of a franchise could help finding someone much easier as you have the reputation of the franchise to rely on.


2 The Negatives

Perhaps one of the main problems with this is that you may not have ultimate control of the business and will often need to meet the rules and regulations given to you by the franchise. It is also worth bearing in mind that you will need to give a percentage amount of your sales over to the franchise which means if you struggle one month you may not make a huge profit.

Should you decide that perhaps the business is not for you and is not as successful as you would have hoped, you could find that you have been tied into an agreement and will need to work this before you are able to leave. As far as marketing is concerned you will not be able to have much say in the types of deals or promotions on offer which can be a problem for some people.Choosing the right franchise business which suits you is key. Help from a business consultant could help define the right choice.
You can also find more information and ideas on my marketing ideas blog.

Working With a UK Marketing Consultancy Firm

If you've never considered utilising a marketing company in the UK when trying to improve your business, you may be surprised at what you can achieve. Every business sees success when a campaign is utilised to bring in more clients. However, there are a few companies that believe they can create their own marketing campaign without the need for consultation or advice from marketing professionals. And whilst some businesses will have success with a self-made marketing plan and implementation, most businesses would benefit from a little help.

What Can a Marketing Professional Do for Your Business?

This is probably the first question that comes to mind when a company or individual considers investing in professional marketing services. What can it do for me, and will it really work? There is no simple yes or no answer. It all depends on your desired outcomes for your business. The main outcome most companies want is to increase profits and gain more clients. You may also want to increase your online presence or become better known in your local area. No matter what you need, a marketing consultancy firm should be able to help you meet your goals.

Some of the things a marketer can help you achieve are higher rankings in the search engines for your website, a proactive marketing plan and implementation protocol, greater sales and profits from an increase in business, and the building and managing of an online business. A marketer will also advise you on steps you can take to improve your business, if it's already doing well but could use a little tweaking.

How to Choose the Right Marketer

So once you've decided to use a professional marketer, how do you know which one to choose? It's useful to research a handful of professionals rather than just picking one out of the phone book. Get suggestions from business friends who have had success with a specific marketing firm, and perform some online research to find professionals who offer what you believe you need.

Once you choose a few marketing professionals, start by giving each of them a call. You can easily tell if you want to work with someone by the way they handle themselves on the phone. Do they call you back promptly and seem easy to speak with? Are they in a rush to get you off the phone and move on to the next client, or do they take time to listen to your business concerns? After a short phone interview, schedule a time to meet with them and discuss in-depth their suggested strategy for your business.

The marketer should be willing to listen to your ideas and not just press their own. Make sure everything is agreed to formally. Once you have ironed out all the details, allow the marketing consultancy firm to work their magic.

Small Business Marketing - Trends That Can't Be Ignored

In our current market, changes are being seen everywhere and that includes in small business marketing. Small businesses realize that if they want to be truly competitive they must keep up with the trends and the main aspect of marketing that is getting a lot of attention is social media. Social media has completely changed the way that small businesses relate to their customers. It is becoming more and more obvious that small businesses need to adapt their marketing to become part of their customer's lives instead of intruding on their lives.

Small Business Marketing is Meeting People Where They Gather

Once, marketing meant finding your way into people's lives by intruding into their regular lives - while they were watching televisions, listening to the radio, or even the using the public washroom. It meant finding a way to get in front on them where they couldn't get away. Marketing is changing, though!

Businesses are realizing that there are other ways to get their message in front of people without being intrusive. In order to do that though, businesses have to go where people gather. Today, that means getting involved in social sites. Sites like Twitter and Facebook were created to connect people - old friends, classmates, and family. Businesses have realized that they can interact with people on social sites in a way that is almost like the relationship between friends.

Sharing Information and Giving Advice

Businesses are doing more than just getting a message across on these sites. They are developing relationships with their customers. How? One of the main ways is by sharing information and giving advice. People who interact with businesses on these sites are doing so because the businesses involved have something to offer them.

Businesses are not selling things on social media - instead they are giving away what people really want. They are giving them ways to use their products more effectively, ways to make comparisons, and ways to make decisions. By doing this they are building relationships. By building relationships with customers and with potential customers they are increasing the trust factor, which goes much further than just selling a product.

Small business marketing is taking advantage of every tool at their fingertips and the trends are all pointing at social media. Social media enables businesses to build trust and trust lasts longer than any sales pitch that a company can make. Businesses looking for marketing companies in the UK can find a number of experts to market their business in the UK.

Providing Great Customer Service

It is vital that you provide each and every client with outstanding customer service so that you can ensure they leave feeling satisfied with your work. This article will give you a few key areas to focus on which could see you needing to do less marketing in the long run.

No matter if you are working for yourself or someone else, one thing that you should always remember is that you must provide your client with good customer service. Failure to do so may mean that they choose to take their business elsewhere and may also result in bad reputation for you. By providing good customer service you also help to improve your own marketing as you will often get repeat custom and recommendations. Make sure that when you take on a job you are sure that you are 100% committed to it and carry out the project to the clients specifications.

1.Communicate

One area that you should always try to maintain is your communication with your clients. By remembering to do this your client will feel that their project is in capable hands and they will be able to keep track of your progress. It is important to remember that good customer service and communication go hand in hand.

You should also make sure that you let your client know the hours that you usually work so that they are able to contact you if needs be. It is important to make sure that the client knows exactly how you work and when they can expect the work. In some cases it may be necessary to explain exactly what you will and will not do and when you expect to be paid etc so that everything is completely clear to the client.

2.Be Amenable

If you want to really make a success of your home business then you have to make sure that you cater for a wide range of clients. This can mean being available to travel to meetings or simply answering phone calls and emails as required. Ultimately it really is about going that extra mile to make sure that you provide excellent customer service and commitment to your client.

3.Always Obtain Feedback

This may seem like an obvious one but you would be surprised just how many people with their own business neglect to obtain feedback. This is one of the most important parts of the service as you need to know if you went wrong anywhere and if the client is completely satisfied with the work. By taking the time to do this your client will realise that you are committed to your job and that you care about making sure that they are happy with the standard of work. If you do find that there are parts of your work they are unhappy with then you can rectify this situation. Often this may encourage repeat business and also means you are more likely to receive additional work through recommendations without costly business marketing

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