The Vahoo Info Connector

I am currently working on a site to feature my own personal design separately from my work with Form Creative . Despite just feeling a little better when I have a current and fully developed portfolio ready to go, I am going to be targeting businesses that are frightened off by the perceived cost of hiring an agency. It is a bit of a strange phenomenon, actually, and one that stuck in my mind as a great example how creative alone can be such a powerful force in marketing in any medium.

When we started Form Creative, our goal was to create a different kind of agency. A virtual agency that had embraced 21st century technology and leveraged it to bring together some really smart people at strategic thinking and tactical execution while skipping the big agency fees. This was in 2001 and at that time, that idea was not such a cliche’. We laid out our strategy and developed our materials, including our web site, to fulfill our strategy. In short order, we had grabbed some big business, at least in the context of our little agency.

Not terribly long after that, the virtual model really caught on industry-wide and we found ourselves competing with a slew of other very talented people and our new business opportunities began to diminish. We retained the lion’s share of clients that we had acquired but it was becoming harder and harder to win new business. There are multiple reasons for this (as any entrepreneur will tell you) but one of the consistent messages we heard was:
“We can’t afford to go with a big firm on this. We just don’t have the dough…”
At first we were all a little taken aback. What were these people talking about? Did they not read our materials? We are practically the champions of little guy! Bringing agency quality thinking and execution without the huge agency fees!!

Then we started to poll people. We started asking prospects their impressions of our materials. For the prospects that had passed us over in favor of another firm, the overwhelming and consistent response was:
“Oh we didn’t even go through your Web site. We all sat around my computer and hit your home page and realized we couldn’t afford you”
Certain people in our organization were elated at this, of course, as it’s a huge compliment to those who created the site. But we as the groups leadership, realized that we had missed our mark and that our own talents had outstripped our strategy. We had deployed the best graphic design we could to showcase our abilities in an attempt to illustrate that we were indeed as good as the larger agencies and in doing so, positioned the perception of our little slice of the web squarely in the big agency space. And we did it all with the creative - both the design and the copy. Won a few awards for it too, but had to redo it. The design was too slick. The copy overladen with industry catch phrases that made perfect sense to us, but scared off our prospective clients.

The Lesson for Creatives
Think hard about target audience and what message is being broadcast and how that message needs to be perceived . Apply the correct creative solution to the strategy. Favor ‘problem solving’ over ‘award winning’ and both may occur.

Could I design and develop a site that is fully Flash enabled with all of the slick animations and visually dynamic interface elements? Sure. But what problem does that solve? What is the perception that such a site would impart on the consumers of my material? It would certainly help me catch the eye of the designers and art directors that I am competing against but is it going to leave the targeted audience with the same impression? In 95% of the cases it is going to alienate them and distract them from why they sought me out in the first place - to solve their business problem.

The Lesson for Marketers
Great design is not measured by aesthetic value alone. It is measured by its ability to communicate a message using tactics that appeal to an aesthetic. When hiring a creative professional, be it a freelancer or mega agency, evaluate their commitment to purpose first, only then their tactical execution skills. Insist that they take the time to understand and work to fulfill your strategy. Don’t let them go off on creative tangents that do not solve your business problem or worse, leave your prospects with an erroneous perception of your business. Work perception into your strategy and stick to the strategic focus that you know is right for your business.

RSS feeds and blogs took Internet marketing by a storm in 2005. Every time we turn around there’s a brand new marketing vehicle speeding down the Internet highway. In the fast paced race of the virtual world, it’s easy to get swept away in the current of technology.

If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that computers have taken control of both our personal world and the business world. That’s a scary thought! It’s nearly impossible to even make a phone call without talking to a computer, much less try to find success in the marketplace without spending more time with your computer than you do your family.

Honestly, it wouldn’t be so bad if I could get my computer to do what I wanted it to all of the time. Unfortunately, there are a lot of days when I’m ready to pull my hair out in frustration because it refuses to obey my commands (usually screamed or hissed through gritted teeth). It’s then that I realize just how little control I really do have in this technological world.

Think about it… when a computer refuses to do what you want it to, what are your alternatives? You can glare all day, threaten to fire it, or get mad and use a few expletives. It just sits there, frozen, with the same error message on the screen - unintimidated and unchanging. (That’s when you learn to appreciate staff members who are at least upset when you get ticked off because they don’t do what you want them to.)

Don’t take me wrong. Computers are really the most amazing invention to ever be introduced to humans. Take a look at Federal Express. Every day millions and millions of packages pass through the company’s computer system. You can track your package with a few clicks of the mouse and know exactly where it’s at and when it will arrive at your doorstep. A perfect example of a company that is in control of its computer system!

Technology can advance your marketing goals as well. How can you take the reigns and make technology an asset rather than a master?

1. Take Control
Simply take control. Hey, I’m serious! How often do we find ourselves using computers for more than we intended to? Yeah, we find out what they can do and feel like we have to use them when we’re not ready. Don’t forget that you have the power to say, “No!” or even, “later.” Jumping into a project half prepared is the perfect formula for letting your computer take control.

2. Learn the Ropes.
Even the most skilled web designers and computer programmers were once newbies who had to learn which button turned the computer on. Don’t be intimidated. Take some classes or find someone to tutor you. Be confident that you understand before you incorporate a new program into your marketing campaign.

Computers may rule the world, but they don’t have to rule you and me as individuals. We’re free to use them when they meet the needs of our marketing goals. We’re free to boot them when they become troublesome… just don’t forget to make a back up!

Who is Allyn Cutts, and why should you care?
Allyn has spent over 24 years helping businesses like yours find new customers and increase sales to current customers. Allyn is a marketing and sales fanatic, providing measurable marketing solutions that drive huge results for small-to mid-size business clients. You can learn more about Allyn Cutts at www.AllynCutts.com and you can call 610.437.4106 between 10 AM and 4 PM Eastern Time Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Trade show magicians are one of the many ways to build booth traffic and separate your company from others on the floor.

At a trade show you not only have to compete against your competition’s sales reps but also you have to compete against all the ‘attention-grabbing’ strategies they use.

Louder doesn’t always mean more traffic.

One thing that really draws a crowd IS a crowd.

If you want to build a small crowd that grows larger, consider how magic works on people.

It is irresistible!

Even better, a good trade show magician understands his (or her) role on the floor and works for you to build an interested, feel-good crowd.

If you are planning to use trade show magic to draw a crowd . . . and it will, then you need to go one step further.

Just doing magic for the audience that will build in your booth is not enough.

You have to have a plan!

There are really two things you have to do to make this not just a good strategy but a great one.

First.

You have to find a way to engage people during or after the magic to find who they are. Look at your booth layout, train your staff and create some sign up tools.

But in some way you have to take advantage of the fact a large crowd has stopped at your booth.

Second.

You must ensure your key marketing message is incorporated into the act. Trade show magic is not really about entertaining people, although good magic does just that. People in good moods are easier to approach and build rapport with.

But this is a chance to add that EXTRA piece of having a larger group hear your key marketing message.

This will work great if your trade show audience is as laser-focused as your target market.

For example, if your target is dentists, and you are at a dental convention you don’t need to spend much time qualifying to discover if you have a dentist in front of you or not. They will be.

But if you are at a technology show, you may be talking to anyone from the VP to a programmer so you need to find out who they are.

So take this chance to get your message to your audience. A special offer at the end would do the trick.

Spend the time BEFORE the show during your planning sessions (you do do planning don’t you?) to use trade show magic to go to the next level.

Mitch Tarr is a trade show marketing expert and the author of The World’s Greatest Trade Show Marketing Guide. Learn more at http://www.tradeshow-marketing.com.

A back-end product is a product you attempt to sell your customers after they have recently purchased a related product from your business.

If you’re not trying to sell back-end products to your customers, you’re making a big mistake. It is easier to sell to existing customers than it is to sell to new ones who don’t trust your business yet.

Below are ten killer strategies you can use to sell your back-end products to your existing customers:

1. When you ship people the first product they bought, insert a flyer or brochure for your back-end product in the package.

2. Give customers a free subscription to a customers only e-zine when they buy your product. You could include your ad for your back-end product in each issue.

3. Send your customers greeting cards on holidays or on their birthday. Include a small advertisement inside the card for your back-end product.

4. After people order your first product from your web site, take them to a “thank you” web page and include your back-end product ad on that page.

5. Send customers a free surprise gift after they order your first product. You could attach another ad with the free gift for your back-end product.

6. If you’re selling an electronic product, like an ebook, include your ad for your back-end product somewhere inside the electronic product.

7. Give your customers a free membership into your “customers only” private site. You could include your ad for your back-end product somewhere inside the private site.

8. Contact your customers by phone and ask them if they were happy with their purchase. You could tell them about your back-end product.

9. Send your customers a thank you letter by mail or e-mail. You could mention your back-end product somewhere on the letter.

10. Ask your customers if they want to be updated in the future when you have new product offers. You could have them sign up to receive e-mail or snail mail updates.

Your business will have a greater chance of surviving when you attempt to sell back-end products to your existing customers.

About The Author:
Dan Brown has been active in internet marketing for the past 4 years. Dan currently is working with the Zabang search engine, introducing their new affiliate program which is due out July, 2005. http://www.zabangaffiliate.com/

Copyright Dan Brown - http://www.zabangaffiliate.com

The men’s silver jewelry market has taken off in the past few years with men in the mainstream comfortably buying sterling adornments historically worn by Hollywood stars and athletes. From sterling silver pendants to chunky link necklaces and bracelets, silver jewelry for men has come of age since the days when cufflinks were the only jewelry adornment offered in the men’s accessory department.

With the successful introduction of international brands such as the UK’s Hot Diamonds into the United States market, American men have given themselves permission to have fun with attractive necklaces, bangles and heavy link chains for the wrist, as well as an endless variety of sterling silver rings, key holders and cufflinks. Hot Diamonds was one of the first jewelers for men and women to enhance sterling silver with small round diamonds.

Another distinctive feature of the Hot Diamonds Collection is the very clean, contemporary design of the jewelry. For instance, the classic heavy link bracelet is brought up-to-date with a toggle clasp sporting diamonds on each end of the bar fastener. Patterns are repeated in cufflink, pendant, key ring and ring, offering attractive sets to give as gifts, as well as to wear.

Men also do not have to fuss about keeping their Hot Diamonds jewelry clean since every piece is given a bath of rhodium, making them tarnish-free.

World renowned Canadian jeweler, John Hardy, who lives and creates his line in Bali, will be introducing his first collection of men’s jewelry this fall called “Black Ice,” combining sterling silver with black sapphires.

Fred Bennett brings a vast array of sterling silver pieces for men into the market with his 2004 collection. With elegant silver dotted with diamonds, oxidized silver that produces bold stripes of black, sleek satin finish pieces or even a series of “scratched” finish designs, the Fred Bennett line offers men an infinite variety of ways to wear silver. Even black agate, tiger’s eye, enamel and resin are worked with silver to create masculine and bold patterns in the jewelry.

Very popular is the combination of highly polished sterling silver with matte-finished sterling, giving each piece texture and interest. Men are enjoying a way to bring individuality and style into their wardrobe without spending a fortune. Not only is sterling silver affordable, but it looks extremely fashionable with blacks, grays and the darker colors so many “mainstream men” choose to wear.

Men purchased $5 billion worth of jewelry last year, or 12 per cent of all jewelry sold. Much of that jewelry was purchased as gifts for wives and girlfriends. That is quickly changing as men are now on the lookout for their own personal jewelry and sterling silver is topping the charts as the metal of choice.

www.jewelrycrossings.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

For twenty-two years I have been involved in the gemstone and jewelry trade-first as the owner of an incorporated company in Singapore, then in Thailand, and for the last ten years in Northern California. Throughout my career my reward has always come from the knowledge that I have gone the extra steps to ensure my customers’ absolute

Managing and coaching the performance of customer service representatives is one of the most critical jobs for call center managers and supervisors today. Much time is spent training the theory and steps to satisfy customers; however it comes down to being able to connect the concepts in our heads to what comes out of our mouths-or as a colleague once shared, making that “five inch connection.” Spending one-on-one time with representatives to focus on behaviors, offer solutions, and model what the behavior sounds and looks like will increase confidence and productivity.

A successful coaching program involves a combination of immediate side-by-side coaching, as well as off-line performance reviews. Tools and technologies available today enhance tracking and calculating overall performance, but do not replace the important one-one time spent between coach and employee. A rule of thumb is to set an expectation that key supervisors and managers conduct coaching at least 75% of their time, with at least half of that time on the floor side-by-side.

Specific goals, one behavior at a time, are established for each employee. Follow-up coaching, within 48 hours, to listen to and note improvement will reinforce positive behavior. We know that taking inbound or making outbound calls is a stressful job; all the more reason to offer specific, consistent and clear feedback.

Put yourself in the shoes of a customer service representative experiencing the next 30-60 seconds of feedback. Which feedback would you best benefit from? And which do you think would get the best results?

Feedback #1: “I’m really concerned about how you’re missing great opportunities to sell more. You really need to work on improving sales conversions if our team is going to be successful. Your voice gets too soft, and you don’t sound like you really believe in any of the services-so how do you think the customer will? I want you to really talk our additional services up, and I’m counting on you to lead our efforts this month to reach our team goals. ”

Feedback #2: “I’ve just listened to your last three calls and noticed you’re having a difficult time sounding confident about the benefits of our additional services. The customer will pick up on this, and thus be less likely to purchase anything more. A hint that works for me is to remember these three points-safety, security and sanity. You can tie each service to one of these benefits. I’d like you to try using these three reasons-I’ll be listening over the next few days, and look forward to some additional sales from you!

In the above examples, #2 provides focuses on one specific behavior, identifies the “WIIFM” (What’s In It For Me) and WIIFC (What’s In It For The Customer), offers a model for what to do differently, and gives a specific time frame for expected change.

An additional hint is to remember to celebrate the growth of those we coach. It is a natural tendency to focus on only those things that are going wrong. When representatives begin to see the investment we’re making in them, they will no longer have a negative reaction to feedback, and often begin seeking and welcoming it.

Salehoo: Wholesale Tempered Chocolate
If you do a little bit of research, you will find products that are more expensive on eBay. So if you buy them from Salehoo and sell them on eBay, you will make some nice profit. Research is very important before you start buying or selling anything. So make sure that you know your market well. Salehoo is a directory that has a massive list of quality suppliers including drop shippers wholesalers and importers.

With thoroughly reviewed suppliers’ and amazing deals at Salehoo you can successfully run your own business with ease Always be up to date on what types of products are hot which products are staple products what merchandise sells in each season and the actual market wholesale and retail prices of the items you are selling. But finding a reputable and legitimate supplier is easier said than done

Salehoo Wholesale Bells Uk:
Trick #3: Make more money on shipping. When my wife sold on eBay about 80% of our profit was made from shipping charges. We kept our product prices low so they attract the buyer and charged a bit more on shipping. People understood and they always got a great deal. For us it was a no brainer. eBay does not charge you any fees on your shipping charges, just on the selling prices.

I first started trying to find items that sold well trying to locate wholesalers to work out what the profit would be and then if I could make any money. While this isn’t a bad thing this sounds pretty easy. See Salehoo.

Perhaps it was the dot-com hype or perhaps barriers to entry on the Internet are just way too low. Whatever the reason, intelligent and otherwise successful entrepreneurs continue to throw money at websites as if they were buying billboard spots on the strip in Vegas. And more often than not, placing good content on those sites is an afterthought.

It shouldn’t be. Here’s why:

Your website’s content defines your product.

Your website’s content is your location.

Your website’s content supports your price.

Your website’s content promotes your offerings.

In short, your website’s content is a microcosm of all things marketing. Your content should be the heart and soul of your web-based business unit, even if that unit is part of a larger offline framework.

There is a common denominator amongst all people buying something on the ‘net: they want relevant, timely information and they want it now. When a searcher lands on one of your business pages, it is because he either a) typed in your URL with a purpose in mind (to seek relevant information in a quick, efficient manner) or b) clicked over to your URL with a purpose in mind (to seek relevant information in a quick, efficient manner).

You cannot escape this dynamic, nor should you try by building a site around funky graphics, fascinating color schemes, or excessively long “resource” (i.e. links) pages. Searchers and the search engines they rely on are not looking for this kind of pseudo-content. Without the presence of easily retrievable and highly relevant information (read: “good content”), all the charm and good looks in the world will not make a website perform.

Creating good content takes a little sweat and a lot of dedication. Better rankings and more qualified traffic will not happen over night. However, the following time tested methods will help you build a content rich site that, in the long run, will bring traffic that is willing to spend:

1) Think about ways to make your site “sticky.” Produce or syndicate content that is useful, current, and demonstrative of your unique capabilities or offerings. Be sure to address your target market’s information needs in a way that is not easily duplicated. Write articles, give away a useful download authored by you or a colleague, or teach a skill. You will establish your credibility as an experta must on the weband enjoy more repeat traffic as a result. In turn, your target market will get to know you better and trust you more.

2) If you have time, motivation, and a love of writing or journaling, consider publishing a blog. However, I give this advice with caution because it islike so many things on the Internetvery easy to start and even easier to forget about completely. But if you are disciplined enough to post thought-provoking commentary on a regular basis, blogging may be your ticket to good content. Everyone from nine to ninety is doing it, and there is a good chance your target market is too.

3) As your mother said, you can’t please everyone all of the time. The answer: niche! When you target one or two highly specific markets, everything you do online has more impact, mainly because you get to know your audience more intimately. Think in terms of easy market researchspecialty forums and blogs abound. In turn, creating relevant content and sales copy will come more naturally and help you avoid the hard sell.

4) Even if you choose not to formally optimize your website for the search engines (although I hope you do), spend a few bucks and do some keyword research over at Wordtracker or KeywordDiscovery (.com). Then use your findings to brainstorm ideas for building relevant content. The idea is simple: give people what they want and they’ll keep coming back to you for more.

5) The search engines’ single most important goal is to return relevant content to searchers. That content is returned in the form of links to individual pages. Therefore, the better you are at mapping relevant content to strong themes on each of your pages, the better you will do in the rankings.

6) Do not write just for the search engines if you publish articles. Indeed, utilize key terms in your copy if they flow easily and are topically appropriate, but resist the urge to use articles as a vehicle for spamming. The search engines don’t take kindly to this; nor will your visitors appreciate your obnoxious writing style. Authenticity will take you a long way down the path to creating excellent content.

These exercises in targeted content building will jump start your Internet marketing success, forcing you to constantly review your offerings and the way you communicate their benefits and features. By staying on top of the content game, you stay in touch with your target markets, and that is always a win-win proposition for anyone trying to get noticed on the world wide web.

Karri Flatla is a business graduate of the University of Lethbridge and principal of snap! virtual assistance inc., a small business consulting firm providing business communications and online marketing services to solo professionals. Karri also produces Outsmart, the email newsletter for small business with big purpose. Visit http://www.snap-va.com for more information.

A common mistake you may be making in your advertising: Using vague statements in an effort to please everyone (while connecting with no one).

When dealing with new clients, I often receive this comment back, “Oh, if we say that, it will turn off so and so.”

Many people, when marketing their business, feel it’s crucial they don’t discourage “Mr. So-And-So” from buying from them. This is strange, because usually Mr. So-And-So is far from their ideal customer. Or he might make a fine customer, but he’s not so near to buying as Mr. Prospect.

I recently wrote an advertorial directed at unemployed people. I found out that 80% of the people this agency attracts are immigrants. So in the headline we stated…

Cambridge Immigrants Finally Find Jobs They Love

What about the other 20% who were born in Canada? We could try to pull back the focus. Include everyone. Something like…

Cambridge Residents Finally Find Jobs They Love

I doubt a struggling East Indian or Italian immigrant will not feel as pulled to that revision.

In fact, the entire advertorial we put together focused on the typical situation that occurs for 80% of the immigrants to Canada… They have high credentials. They come here. Their credentials aren’t accepted. They end up working as a telemarketer or at some other low-paying, high-stress job.

The interviews I conducted with the agency’s current clients confirmed this with riveting details. I used one of their clients’ stories as the lead-in for the advertorial.

Compare that to the ad they ran the year before, which simply stated, “What are employers looking for?”

By concentrating on a particular sector of your target market, you’ll be able to speak in their language and show empathy for their specific situation.

Also…

By choosing the most “hungry” part of your market,
you will have an easier time making a sale.

In a website I’m putting together for a custom framer I do this. Her most ready-to-buy customers are women 40-60 who have personal keepsakes they need framed. The entire site speaks to them in that voice, using stories and benefits that resonate with their main issues.

So how to go about putting this into your copy?

First, determine who are the most ready-to-buy, while representing a large percentage of your target audience.

Then conduct interviews with them. Find out what their situation is. How your services/product can help. How you can connect with them better.

Next take the invaluable information you gain from those interviews with the target market and translate it into a overt offering which you send back to the target market.

You see, your customers are your leading sales experts. Get to know them well.

John’s Natural-Persuasion Ezine is delivered weekly. It shows you the secrets to generating rising sales through “natural-persuasion” marketing methods. Indirectly persuade your prospects to purchase without sales-hype or budget-draining branding.

Subscribe for free at: http://www.natural-persuasionEzine.com
For non-hype copy that wins ideal customers visit http://www.natural-persuasionCopy.com

Scholarship essays are ones of the most important types of the
essays. Effective and well written scholarship essay can help to
you to resolve your financial problems and might change your
destiny.

Many students write this type of the essay and most of them in
my experience commit one important mistake - they treat
scholarship essay as though it was another academic project,
whereas it is not. The most important element of this type of
the essay looks more like an advertisement of your best features
and possibilities. Some students don’t underestimate the
importance of this type of essay and prefer to buy essay,
entrusting this assignment to professional writing services. We
will attempt to do it ourselves, following these guidelines.
First, you should make the list of your major achievements. Try
to list as many achievements as possible regardless whether you
have received some award or other recognition for them or you
still have not been rewarded for them. If you think that this is
an achievement in itself, that required much time, energy,
aptitude, skills and tenacity than make sure it is mentioned in
your list. When writing your scholarship essay try to make some
self analysis, which is usually based on several important
factors such as what events, individuals or some books, movies
have influenced your life. If you have a favorite play or movie,
try to answer why you like them.

It might not be so easy to answer this question as it may look.
Sometimes you can like some movie, though not always understand
why you like it. Try to analyze what features of this movie make
it so appealing. In order to impress scholarship board one
should state clearly what do you intend to do in the future and
why you would like to do it. Some of the scholarship boards try
to understand how the knowledge you are going to acquire will be
used. Apart from pure academic achievements have achieved
something in sport or music? If you have any hobby you should
mentioned it as well. Try to describe why you evince the
interest in these activities. Once you have decided on the topic
you intend to write about you can start amplify your essay. The
final advice - your scholarship
essay, despite the fact that it should enumerate as many
advantages as possible - should be succinct and must not be too
long.

Rushessay.com - Custom
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