What Cost Can You Expect to Include On Advertising in Your Small Business Plan?
Filed under: Internet Business Plan, Online Coaching
- Image by ShashiBellamkonda via Flickr
One of the best advertising models that people fail to realize is the importance of “word of mouth”. In current times, many consumers like giving a company feedback or ratings, literally or figuratively. That is why many consumers tell their friends when they find a nice new store; one that is worth visiting, or a store that they had a poor experience at.
You should never discard the power of the customers that you already have. Not only will keeping your current customers satisfied, increase the chances of them coming back again, it also improves the chances of them recommending your business to those that they know. When working on your small business plan keep this important information in mind when reviewing your advertising costs.
Are you looking to market your business to the general public, or do you have a targeted market in mind?
Do You Believe You Should Be Advertising in Real Yellow Pages?
- Image via Wikipedia
Some people believe that real yellow pages do not receive response like other advertising methods do and this is true to some extent but not in totality. When talking about traditional yellow pages, there sure is a decline in number of people opting for advertising in it. According to a recent report, even the most attractive advertisement in a particular section is not getting the response from callers like they used to get before. On the contrary, the prices of placing ads in directories are on a rise, which speaks a different, story altogether.
In reality different categories are witnessing different rates of decline. Like the lawyers category is seeing the maximum decline, where as emergency service provider’s section has the same call rate. And sections like mobile phones, real estate and furniture are seeing a rise due to the increasing customer demand. Altering the size of the advertisement or changing the look cannot do wonders any more. Read more
Does Your Target Market Know How To Write a Business Plan? Part 4 of 4
Filed under: Internet Business Plan, Online Coaching
Image via WikipediaAs with any business plan, a lot of research is necessary to create an effective, successful business profile. Future projections are in part based on history within your company and/or history within your industry.
After analyzing the history of all events and important transactions, you need to understand the economic changes which are predicted for your industry. Government policy changes can have major impacts on a business, regardless of industry. The current economic slowdown is definitely affecting 2009 projections and at this point into 2010.
For the online presence using historical data of your current business to determine how to write a business plan,will not give you and accurate picture of your internet business plan.
Yesterday we walked you through some steps and helped you to understand the importance of researching your target market. It is at this point you will need to open the spreadsheet you created on the top 30 competing websites within your industry.
Using the demographics data of all the competing sites gives you a clear picture of who your audience is and it is this data that helps you to understand your target market, before you open the doors online. In your offline business it would cost you a lot of time and expense to get this type of information, if you were even fortunate to be able to have such information at all.
Most of you learn who your target market is in a general way, some of you may not care because your business is in a high traffic location.
In a high traffic location you may be more concerned about the buying habits of your customers determined by what merchandise sells best, which is in part related to fads.
Online we get to understand, for the most part, who our target market is before business opens as online it is all about unique traffic and that traffics interests in your subject. As an example if your business is selling ballerina shoes, I believe it is safe to assume this will be more of a female audience, ages 18+. Usually moms browse online for these types of purchases more so than the dads do. (another safe assumption)
So now let us say you are focusing all of your marketing efforts on dance forums and in this industry there are varying audiences here as dance is not just ballerina.
One of the forums you are Read more
Have You Completed Your Internet Business Plan?
Filed under: 30 Day Challenge, Internet Business Plan, Online Coaching, Social media
If you haven’t completed or even started your Internet Business Plan we can help you here. Throughout the next week we will be reviewing the key components to Internet Marketing which are directly related to your business plan.
During the first few days we will be paying particular attention to “The Plan”.
The Plan starts with one thought. The thought starts with you. You started the thought because there is something in your life you want or need:
- Financial Freedom
- Time with Your Family
- Special Trips
- To be an independent professional
- A New Truck, Car or Van
- Everyday to be like a day at the Spa
- A New Wardrobe or maybe New Shoes (perhaps both)
- Basically whatever your heart desires which is morale and legal
The magic question is how can you get whatever your heart desires?
Even though this is a great question, the answer is far from being a one liner, there are so many variables to consider:
The first one is you:
- What are Your Passions and Interests?
- What Knowledge do you have in Your Subject?
- How Committed are you to learning and building your online business?
- What Time Sacrifices are you willing to make?
- How Deep is Your Desire to Learning and Building Your Internet Business?
- Where Do You See Yourself by the End Of 2009? 2010? 2011?
If you are new to the Internet Community then you will soon realize an online presence has nothing to do with location. It has everything to do with your content:
- The Niche You Choose
- The Content You Write
- How You Speak To Your Audience
- What Words Are Your Prospective Customers using to find information in your niche? (Keywords or Keyword phrases)
- Who is Your Target Market?
- What are they buying?
Before you go any further you need to answer all of the questions presented here. Yes there are a lot of questions to consider so lets start with the questions about you and then we will move into the questions related to content.
Before creating your Internet Business Plan you need to search your heart to understand what has moved you to your current desire to create an online presence. No amount of teaching or instructions will help you to be successful unless you are passionate about the product or service you are building you business on.
For today we will stop here and tomorrow lets review the questions on content.
Regards,
Carl Tambeau
Founder of Pro Marketing Resource
Founder of Healing Music Emporium
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=fcb71e4f-19fb-49bb-b156-d50ce196f5d2)
Do You Want PLR Products as Part of Your Marketing Strategy? Part 4 of 9
Filed under: Internet Business Plan, Marketing Tools
Well as you guys no doubt know, to really succeed with our internet marketing careers, we need to have great digital products that convert all of our qualified leads into real, cash-paying customers.
For many people, coming up with products will involve them creating them on their own, or it may involve them commissioning other professionals to do the hard work for them, which makes it difficult to put this marketing strategy to good use.
Chances are though, like most smart internet marketers, you probably want to save a whole lot of time and money. After all, if you were to create your own e-book for instance, expect to spend tens of hours doing the research you need, and then writing the book itself – and that’s if you’re only semi-decent at writing.
If you’re a good writer, it will still take you hours and hours and if you’re terrible, well, forget it, because your e-book won’t sell! Now, you certainly won’t go wrong by hiring a good writer to create a really good e-book, but think about how much a good writer is going to cost you.
Wouldn’t you rather spend that money on getting visitors to your site so you can make more money?
I’m pretty sure, like me, you’re always looking for ways to save time and money on your internet marketing business. I’ll easily spend hours each week just reading up on the latest internet marketing happenings and news, in the endless search of improving the way I do business. Read more
What Are Your Plans With Your Internet Business in 2009?
Welcome to 2009!
May you have good fortunes and great health in 2009.
With 2008 now behind you – it is time to make sure your Business Plan is in place for 2009. Stick around and we can help you get things together to come up with a concrete plan for your Internet Business. Not only will it be something you will be proud of but if you need financing take it to your banker – they will be very impressed with your planning abilities.
Check back January 2 when we plan to start our 9 day series on creating your own Internet Business Plan and You Can Take That To The Bank! Here is a quick overview of what to expect:
- Goals and objectives for 2009.
- Who is watching you – lets look at analyzing your readers.
- Get the word out – Create a Marketing Strategy that works.
- You can’t run a business with no money – we will analyze your finances.
- Develop Internet Visibility.
- We will look at Competition and analysis data related to your competition.
- What will your website be about – Describe your site.
- What will you sell – What services will you offer.
- Site development – lets get the staff together and get things up and running.
Once again Happy New Year and we will see you tomorrow.
Regards,
Carl Tambeau
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=36275573-fc48-469c-9336-4670b8652b0f)
Do You Have The Right Knowledge For Online Marketing?
Filed under: eCommerce, Internet Marketing, Online Coaching
Who said Online Marketing is easy?
It is not just knowledge that you need for Online Marketing BUT the right knowledge.
- You need information on how to start a successful business based on your interests and passions.
- You need a proven market of eager customers where you can sell your chosen products and services. You need to know how to determine what products and services are best to focus on.
- We all want a great looking website – you need to know how to build a professional-looking website on a limited budget.
- Do you know how to write sales copy that motivates visitors to take action and want to buy your products?
- You need to have knowledge of how you would use fast, simple techniques to begin attracting tons of visitors to your website!
- What about setting up an opt-in offer – do you have the knowledge to not just set up but quickly set up and opt-in offer and start collecting a huge list of sales leads.
Can Social Blogging Make You Thousands By Next Month?
Since today is Christmas Eve day I thought it would be a great idea to take some out for my family. We have all been going our own separate ways for months now so a little family time was necessary.
We were on our way to visit some relatives and stopped at a local convenience store for a drink for everyone – the normal tradition when on a road trip. On my way into the store my daughter slipped and fell on some ice – no fault of anyone just teenager shoes in the wrong weather. Of course my daughter says the weather was suppose to be warm and sunny – to that I say “Sure everyone expects beach weather in December – I blame the staff at the weather forecasting centers!”
As I was helping her get up this well dressed senior couple was getting out of their vehicle and came over to help. Once we helped my daughter in the store, I thanked the couple and through a conversation with them, we found out they were Internet Marketers, currently using Social Blogging to further their success. Now I know this sounds a bit weird but bear with me… this couple has done very well financially thanks to the Internet. Read more
What is Happening With Market Research Analysis in Economic Downturn?
Filed under: Internet Marketing, Online Coaching, Web Site Analytics
When it comes to Market Research Analysis, you can’t afford to let the doom and gloom news of the current economic downturn get in your way. Your darn right there is a ton of bad news out there but if you look hard enough you will find the good stuff.
I just found out from my cousin he is 40% ahead of his target from last year in his maintenance business.
Why you might ask?
His clientelle is small to medium business‘ and they are referring other business to him as business owners are looking at our current economic situation differently. They can’t afford to waste money on things that don’t need to be repaired but they certainly don’t want obvious things falling apart. These things are what the client can see.
You walk into a business and you see things falling apart, needing repair, not clean etc you will not feel at ease with the business. If you don’t feel at ease then what you wonder – are you getting quality service and products? Read more
Do you have online social networks as a resource?
Who do you socialize with online?
Do you have business contacts on the internet?
What resources do you have with your online business?
Do you believe you can be successful online by yourself?
Would you prefer to have a reliable and trustworthy network of contacts?
All these questions and yes there is a point for asking you for all of this information.
You see I do have reliable and trusted online social networks and these people make a difference in my internet projects. You need to build a network of contacts, which will give you the opportunity to have a group of people to discuss strategies with as well, a group who will provide you with honest yet constructive criticism.
In my opinion this is necessary as a part of your online strategy. Your online experience is not always going to be a straight forward journey. You will have hurdles and roadblocks to overcome. You will be tested in ways beyond your imagination, to see what strategies you put in place to overcome these obstacles.
Who are you and what are you made of? Are you entrepreneur material? Read more
Subscribe To My Feed
-
Join me on Second Brain!
