Key Steps Before Implementing an Online Marketing Plan

You Have a Website; Now How Do You Attract New Clients?

Having a website doesn't do much for your business if no one visits it. Try these initial steps to marketing your website online.

Whether a big corporation or a solo-entrepreneurship, there is likelihood some form of online presence is necessary. And for anyone dealing in business to consumer (B2C) space, a website can even be the business.

So you get a new website build, but what about getting qualified potential customers to it?

The truth is, traffic is the life blood of any business website and not having any can be very harmful to the bottom line.

This is where on-site SEO, off-site SEO, paid efforts, content marketing and social marketing can all work together (and should) for a complete online marketing approach.

What makes one component necessary is often the ability of the business owner to perform it. That can mean hiring marketing professionals, taking the time to attempt it themselves, or having a solid budget for paid methods and experts to navigate them for you.

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Ideally you want it all so all bases are covered. Many businesses have none of these tactics in place, or have them done wrong and as a result are struggling to gain qualified leads and traffic.

This article covers what you need to gain traffic to your website and next week we'll get into more specifics of what to do once these preliminary steps are done.

Do These Three Things Before You Start Marketing

Social Network - Facebook Marketing

It's 2017 and Facebook is still the largest social network on the planet. With over 1.2 billion active users, out of which almost 65% log in daily to this gigantic platform, Facebook was not at all famous back when it launched. A decade ago, there were no more than a few million people using Mark Zuckerberg's experiment of a social network. A decade ago, nobody expected Facebook to be a global success.

Is something going to stop it from growing at an even faster rate? With the momentum Facebook has been having over the last 5 years, do you think anything will stop it? The shocking answer is "almost definitely no", because Facebook is here to stay. Any social network or online platform with a user base that large will probably never go down, but simply adapt, instead.

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Most digital marketers use Facebook to promote their products to the massive audience, and there's no better place to advertise than Facebook, because everyone's ideal market is using it 24/7. But you may wonder - how can one target Facebook users with marketing?

Ready to Use a Virtual Assistant? 24 Questions to Ask Before Hiring

Ready to use a Virtual Assistant? Great. Once you have shortlisted your potential candidates think about the questions you are going to ask.

Now, don't skip this step. It's really important that you take the time to get on the phone or Skype with prospective VAs. By talking to them, you're going to be able to tell if there's a 'connection' or not. And asking these questions will give you a better idea of where they stand on different things and whether they love what they do or not.

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Here are 24 questions to ask a VA before hiring them:

Nine Benefits of Web Blogging for Small Businesses

Small business owners often ask me, "Should I create a blog?" Or say, "I'm busy enough. And what should I write about?"

For my business, I've seen the difference that blogging makes to building trust, reputation, website visitors, and ultimately sales. And I'm not alone. Clients tell me that they've generated business from blogging as it's an excellent way to introduce your services while providing honest and valuable information.

What is blogging?
The word Blog is a short form for web log and is a frequently updated part of your website. It is a place to provide useful information related to your business, industry, opinions and passions. It's important to be regular and consistent, but don't aim for too much. Create the habit of writing a simple blog post per week or month (or get someone to do it for you) and build it from there.

Why should I bother?
Here are nine benefits of starting a blog for your business. Pay particular attention to the bonus tips at the end.

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1. Build trust. 

5 Steps to Get to Know Your Target Market

There is a big chance that the target market you are looking for is similar to yourself. After all, you are probably into a subject that really rings your bell and that's why you want to spread the word. Like us; we are learning about online marketing and defining our target market so that what we write, actually reaches the people who might find it useful. It really all comes down to these 5 steps to get to know your target market.

1. Who are they?

Since people are all over the place with their interests, and in the online world the common demographics are not that useful anymore, we must think differently. Bring your audience to life in your imagination. A good way to get a first feel for things is to think of their personality traits. For instance, you can use the DISC method to assess yourself and think about what pushes your buttons. Then compare this to who it is you think that will be your audience. See where you are at by finding a free online DISC test.

Keep asking questions. Are they young or old? What is it that makes your heart beat faster? Do they consider wealth and freedom the highest good? Are they more into health or sustainability? Would they have a specific skill set like computer programming, maths, painting, or singing?

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2. What do they do?

Why Is Video Marketing So Big?

Whether you currently possess or plan to start, a business online or off, it would be wise to incorporate marketing video into your marketing plan. Video marketing is taking the business world by storm and is only poised to grow.

Why Is Video Marketing So Big? Let's explore that.

Whatever solution you give, whichever products you sell, you simply should go where the clients are, and they are on the internet in astounding numbers. The internet has grown exponentially since it became a staple in homes in the 1990s. It has become an important, ever-expanding market, giving brick-and-mortar stores a run for their money, if not putting them out of business, sometimes.

Think about video rental stores (Blockbusters for example), along with book stores as well as music shops which have actually all decreased in physical numbers in the face of online competitors. Also, whether your business is housed online or off, chances are good that you have a website. Why does that matter? Websites need traffic, period.

It has been forecast that by the end of this year, three-quarters of all internet traffic will come from consumers watching a video.

Do I have your attention now? Video Boosts Conversions and Sales

In this technologically driven day and age, many consumers who use to read the local newspaper ads for product and price feedback, now look to the internet for pre-purchase information. Research suggests that at least 40% of all consumers will browse the world-wide web before making any financial decision to purchase an item either from online or from a store in your local high street or shopping mall etc.

A video is that influential.

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Top Tools for Optimising All Your Sales Funnels

Ready to start building out your sales funnels? I find that a lot of people are just lost when it comes to building out their funnels. There are a few things you need before you can get started. Here are some of the most popular options when it comes to putting together both free and paid funnels:

Leadpages - when it comes to building opt-in pages, LeadPages.net is one of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal. They've tracked and tested a variety of page styles to determine which ones convert best, and they make it easy for you to build similar pages for your marketing funnel. The reason people like Leadpages is because it has a drag and drop feature that makes building your opt-in pages a breeze. It does come with a fee of $25/month if you pay annually. So before investing, you'll want to be sure you can recoup your investment. 

Effective Email Marketing in Seven Steps

Email marketing is an effective way to keep in touch with your existing customers, prospects, and networking contacts. When partnered with a strong inbound marketing program (including local SEO and social media), it's a great tool to generate new leads and revenue, thereby growing your business.

However, in order to be as powerful as it can be, you'll want to design your email marketing campaign in such a way that it 1) gets through the spam and junk filters of your recipients, 2) is compelling enough to be opened and read, and 3) incites action and qualifies a lead (i.e., a phone call or email reply).

Below are seven easy steps you'll need to follow to make your email marketing campaign a success:

7 Easy Steps for Successful Email Marketing Campaigns

1. Define your campaign objective(s) as clearly as possible.

Business Planning - Do You Make These 5 Marketing Mistakes?

What is the one thing every business wants more of? Money! Are you struggling with how to take your business to the next level? Do you feel like you're stuck in a stagnant place and are unsure of what actions to take to grow? You are not alone! As a business owner, you are busy constantly. There is not enough time in the day for everything. Making mistakes with your marketing efforts can only magnify some of your struggles. Read this to figure out if you are you making these 5 costly marketing mistakes.

Mistake #1: Winging it

Ever hear the expression: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance? This ties right into your marketing strategy. If you want results, you have to put in the proper planning and formulate a strategy, then execute accordingly. This is why it is called a marketing strategy. It takes time, effort, and research to develop the necessary marketing plan. This is crucial to the success of your marketing efforts. Too many businesses "wing it" whether it be for lack of knowing how else to attack it or pure laziness. You worked too hard to get your business up and running. Put some effort and time into developing a formalised Marketing Plan. Figure out who your target customer is and the best way to market directly to that target audience. You may already be wasting effort and money on marketing to the wrong audience! Do your homework. We promise... you will save time AND headaches in the long run.

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Mistake #2: Giving Up Too Easily

How To Use Google+ For Business

An effective use of social media can be a huge boon to marketing for any business owner, but it presents special opportunities entrepreneurs particularly. Google+ is the second largest social network and boasts a user base of over 343 million people.

If you aren't sure how to go about using Google+ to promote your business, or if you just want to make sure that you're using the service to its best advantage, here are some tips on Google+.

• Create a page for your business. First, set up a personal account on Google+'s homepage at plus.Google.com. Once you have a personal account, click on the drop-down menu that says "home" and go to "pages." From there, click the link that says "create a page."

• From here, you have to begin the process of gaining followers. To start out, begin following other businesses in your area, both related and unrelated to real estate. Your business page can only follow other business pages. When other business pages add you to their circles, add them back to strengthen the relationship.

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The Top Three Ways to Split-Test Your Online Marketing

If you want maximum results with your marketing, the best way to stretch your marketing dollars is with “split testing.”

The main reason people do marketing online is to get more website visitors, because it’s usually the best way to increase your sales.

But email marketing is just like any other sales—it’s a numbers game. And for every 100 visitors you get to your sales page, only about three people will actually buy something…

In other words, at least 97% of your marketing dollars are probably being wasted. That’s why you should try split testing, because it gives you a way to test your messages against each other, pick the best, and reap the rewards.

The ultimate goal is to convert more of your visitors into customers. So with that in mind, let me explain the top-three ways to split test with your online marketing…

1. Test Your Headlines

Your headline is one of the most important parts of every sales page, e-mail, and advertisement — because it’s always the very first thing people see.

And you only have about two-seconds before the reader moves on, so it’s very important to regularly test headlines against each other. The difference in results can be HUGE for your bottom line, so keep testing your headlines against other variations, until you finally have a winner.

2. Test Your Leads

The Lead is the first thing people see after your headline. It’s the opening section of the sales letter.

The goal of the lead is to put the prospect in a good mood, make a promise about your product, and then move the reader along towards the offer.

3. Test Your Offers

Your offer has the biggest impact on making you money. Your offer should show the prospect what he’s getting for his money, and why you’re the person he should buy from.

It’s important to test all the different versions of your sales page until you have the winning formula, then the revenue will follow. You must stay consistent, every single day, tracking your marketing results, and writing great offers that sell, and you’ll start making money soon.

And if you want to get more done, filter out distractions, and make more money in less time, there is a good opportunity here…

How to go from an online “Rookie” to making a full-time income, working part-time, from anywhere.

This is the perfect and proven system for beginners, because most of the work is Done-For-You. You don’t have to sell anything or cold-call people, you don’t have to build websites, and you don’t need any marketing experience.

The system was created by Steven Bransfield, a 22-year-old who went from having just $206 when he started — to $1,376,421.03 in online commissions— in just two years. And he just released a free video explaining how you can do it too.

Watch the Free Video HERE. 

I have been through the system and I found it both easy to follow and easy to implement. And you are not alone. I had live one-to-one and group  training via Skype with two coaches while I went through the programme and now have another coach helping me get leads. Plus there is a wealth of training available if you want it, or you can use the done-for-you system. Your choice.

By Martin Goldthorpe – September 17

7 Things to Do to Position Your Home Business for Success

Running a home-based business takes a definite commitment of time and energy. Working from home involves putting in place a quality marketing strategy designed to build your customer base.

You must think like a corporate marketer in many ways when it comes to promoting your small business. It will thrive when you take definite steps to position it for success. Here are 7 things you can do now to build your home business:

1. Set specific goals

Understand what you want your home business to achieve. Don't start and then run your operation on a whim - hoping for the best. Set specific goals concerning sales, expenditures, inventory to carry, and such.

Precise goals help you budget properly. You find you use your resources more sensibly. Goals keep you from being distracted by unproductive activities that can hurt your business. Goals help you focus on activities designed to grow your business efficiently.

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2. Know your products and your customers

Do People Laugh When You Say You're A Home Business Owner?

One of the biggest challenges you can face when you run a home business is people not being taking your business seriously. You can have issues with family, friends and strangers alike. The good news is that there a number of ways to deal with these negative people.

1. Are You Serious About Your Home Business?

The first person you need to be serious with is yourself. Invest in your business education and learning, produce a business plan and take steps each day to make your plan become a reality. Develop a website with a domain name that either features your name or a relevant keyword related to your niche or industry. Write a regular blog to build your authority, expand your business and attract new customers.

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Do I Really Need a Landing Page?

One of the most frequently asked questions I hear must be "What is a landing page?" immediately followed by "Do I really need one?" A landing page (also known as a Squeeze Page or Opt-In Page) is a webpage that you land on after clicking on a hyperlink. However, the definition goes a little deeper when discussing landing pages as a marketing tool.

When we talk about landing pages in marketing, we are usually referring to a webpage that has been designed to focus solely on a single objective. The reason it focuses on a single objective is so that potential customers will also focus solely on that one thing. No distractions of sidebars or a navigation menu that can potentially take them away from the page with your intended conversion goal. They are basically really short versions of sales pages. So why should you use one? Simply put, they increase your conversion rate.

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Email Marketing: Are You Actively Engaging Your Customers?

In today's marketplace, you need to be a bit more creative than your competition to ensure you're driving sales. Let's face it, if you're selling tangible goods, from a retail storefront, you've got to do all you can do to make certain, those customers return.

Honestly, pretty much anything you sell, could likely be found online. And, quite often, the price of the goods will be less than what you are selling for, and can be shipped to their doorstep in a matter of days. So, other than instant gratification for the purchase, what are you doing to bring them in and keep them coming?

You may have an appealing looking establishment, great products and a friendly staff, which is all good, but, what else do you have going for you? You really need to engage your customers. One great way to do that is have an email signup sheet on the counter. Let them know that those on the email list will get special promotions, early notifications of sales and, at times, special discounts. Make certain that they know that you protect their privacy and will never share their information with anybody.

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6 Tips for Growing a Small Business

To succeed with growing a small business, it is essential to have great organisational and planning skills, as well as having a flexible approach to work. Before starting a new business venture, it is important to put in the time for initial planning before opening the doors. Here are a few things to consider for the greater likelihood of success in the future:

Get organised

In order to set up and grow the business it helps to be very organised. An organised person is that much better at staying on top of things and completing tasks. A simple strategy to achieve this is a to-do list. This can be updated daily to give a complete overview of what needs to be done on any given day. Also, this is a great way to avoid forgetting tasks or leaving things until the last-minute.

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Maintain detailed records