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The Importance Of Marketing Tools In Developing A Marketing Strategy

30 Jun.
Posted by peter27 in Marketing | No Comments

Businesses today are very different from those of the past. Business today is far more aggressive in their pursuit of success. With the growth of the Internet, competitiveness has gone global. Millions of businesses compete everyday, and it is necessary to arm your self with the right tools to close the sale.

A business that wants to remain competitive and be profitable will need to understand the products that their target market is looking for. This kind of information only comes from marketing research. Not only will they need to understand what products should be brought into the market, but also the success of their current products. Information on what they are doing right and what could use some improvement is vital to a businesses success. It is only with the correct data that a business can create a marketing plan or adjust the one they already have.

For market research to be useful it must contain a detailed plan on the method that will be used to collect the information and how that information will be analyzed. This will ensure that there is applicable information that allows management to make the correct decisions. When the research is completed the resulting information is given to the marketing group or managers of the business. All of this information will aid the marketing team in creating the correct promotions and marketing strategies to gain the market share they are after.

There are two different types of research that is conducted when marketing research is being gathered. The first type is secondary research. This refers to information that is already available. A database is typically created to contain information related to the competitors, the market demographics, rate of use, population, lifestyle patterns and behaviors of the market audience. With this information the database can be used to create situational scenarios that will help the business determine their overall strategy.

The second type of research is called primary research. This is information that is generated through current sales and how the current marketing plan is working. The plans that the company is already working will be measured against the sales to determine if changes must be made. The effectiveness of competitors in the market is also analyzed and communicated with primary research.

The methods used to collect the data can fall into two categories. The first method is quantitative and uses an analysis that is mathematical in nature. This method uses a very large sampling of the population.

The second method of data collection is qualitative. This method uses one on one interviews to gather information about the personal beliefs and values that the user of the products has. This information is the basis of quantitative research.

In today’s competitive business world it is important to have the right data to properly develop a marketing plan. Without a plan to market products a business is set up to fail. Marketing methods and tools are the basis of the marketing strategy that a company will use to rise to the top of their market.

Peter Geisheker is the CEO of The Geisheker Group marketing firm. Peter develops and implements strategic marketing programs for businesses of all sizes. For a no-obligation quote, contact The Geisheker Group marketing firm today. http://www.geisheker.com

Why a Compelling Press Release is Your Company’s Best Friend

30 Jun.
Posted by marshafriedman123 in Branding | No Comments

Chances are that whether you are the owner, manager, or public relations director of a company, you are always looking for ways to be in the public eye. While advertising is important, it doesn’t provide the credibility that PR can. Al Ries, marketing guru and strategist says in his book The Fall of Advertising and the Rise of PR, “For most companies today, PR is far too important to take a backseat to advertising. In many ways the roles are reversed, PR is in the driver’s seat and should lead and direct a marketing program.”

A smart way to apply Ries’s advice is to secure valuable publicity for your company by appearing as a guest on talk radio. It’s a great vehicle for speaking directly to thousands (and sometimes millions) of listeners tuning in to hear what you have to say! In the enthusiastic words of one of our clients Dr. Cass Ingram, “Our sales have grown into millions per year from talk radio interviews alone! Regular, consistent radio publicity really works!”

Imagine that being your success!

Appearing as a guest on talk radio is a fantastic marketing medium, but if you are not media savvy it is difficult to know where to begin. The first step would be to know how to write a powerful press release for this specific medium.

When it comes to press releases most people believe they just can write one, email it to a list of radio stations and sit back and wait for the avalanche of phone calls. But as time passes and no producers are beating down their door, they make a few phone calls to the producers and hosts only to discover that no one even read the release in the first place. So, all of that time and work goes down the drain bringing you back to square one.

How to Get Started

The most challenging part of writing anything is getting started. Looking at a blank page with a head full of ideas can be frustrating. Which one do I use? Which one will get the response that I need?

The first step is to understand that you’re writing to radio hosts and producers who are inundated with press releases and phone calls every day. They are looking for the hottest show ideas that their listeners will enjoy.

So, come up with a show idea. Easy? Well not necessarily easy, but it is your chance to flex those creative muscles. Think about how you can tie your product, service or message to a newsworthy story that would grab the attention of a producer. Think outside the box a bit: some of the best radio show ideas live there!

Now that you have your show idea there is something else to consider: why should a producer interview ME? The answer is simple: Radio shows need experts, not unqualified guests sharing opinions.

And, you are an expert! Think about it: who knows your product better than you? You can talk about the problems your product solves with more knowledge and enthusiasm than anyone else out there.

With a good show idea that ties your message into the news — combined with your experience and expertise on the subject — you now have the tools to start working on a radio release that will get producers calling you!

For 20 years Marsha Friedman has been a leading authority on public relations as CEO of EMSI. Go to http://www.publicitythatworks.com to claim your free “Power of Public Relations” video today!

Some Important Points on Direct Mail Marketing

30 Jun.
Posted by comlev in Direct Mail | No Comments

Direct mail marketing is at times branded by the technology leeches to be boring, slow, and ineffective. They reach the point of misunderstanding the real effect of direct mail marketing. Because of the boom of the internet opportunities, they somehow bury and forget the good old style which has been known to mankind since time immemorial.

There are some reasons as to why most businessmen today have forgotten all about direct mail marketing. First, they reason out that technology has a lot to offer and doing direct mail is out of the question. Second, direct mail will have to take more time to reach the recipient. Third, the response from the recipient will not travel fast so the coming of the profit is left to idle. Fourth, that it is expensive.

While these points may be true, it is only safe to assume that the effect of such is always on a case to case mode. No one can really tell if direct mail marketing will become unsuccessful. Or can there be someone to justify that all positive traits are only endowed to the use of its counterpart.

Nearly everyone hates receiving spams in their email inboxes. They get irritated and annoyed with these stuffs. Direct mail marketing works on a very different light though. While junk mails may produce a negative effect, direct mail marketing is actually a personalized version of advertising. When the recipients get hold of their mails, they can’t help it but take a look at it. The only bad point to it is when helpers happen to misplace these direct mails and forget to inform their employers about the letters.

When looking at the positive side of direct mail marketing, you can take these pointers for consideration:

Not all of the sent emails are treated equally. As mentioned earlier, spam or junk mails are very common these days. There are websites that collect and sell email addresses to those companies who send out spam messages. Now the bad part is that innumerable messages will be flooding the inboxes of these victims and their privacy will then get invaded. As with the case of direct mail marketing, the vendor starts building the list of potential customers and eventually works out on sending them direct mails.

Junk mails give the recipients headaches as they can really become too distracting. Whereas direct mails do not produce the same effect. There must be a demarcation line between ethical and unethical marketing. The first talks about legal method and is endowed with genuine intentions while the latter talks about violating the norms on human values.

Direct mail marketing puts in enough objectivity to the process. You have to take note that direct mail marketing is both a science and an art. You’ve got to pay particular attention to the manner of conceptualizing prices and making up attractive offers. Direct mail marketing allows you to experiment with the right pricing until such time that you come close to its perfection.

If you are able to do it right then you’ll certainly get lesser complains. It is all about doing direct mail marketing the right way. The techniques must be carefully thought about. Tricks to take advantage of the customers must be minimized at the most.

You are the one who tailors your success. If direct mail marketing is your chosen field, then be sure that you do it right.

Daegan Smith Is And Expert Online Marketer
“Wanna Lean The Secret To Making $85,147,717
Per Month While Quickly And Easily EXPLODING
Your Network Marketing Organization by 7,141
People Without EVER Buying Or Calling a
Single Stinking Lead?” Free CD Explains All:http://www.easymlmprofits.com

3 Important Parts of an Attention Grabbing Press Release

30 Jun.
Posted by marshafriedman123 in Public Relations | No Comments

Most people seem to believe they can write a press release, mail or email it to a radio or television station, and sit back and wait for the avalanche of phone calls. But as time passes and no producers are beating down the door, they make a few phone calls only to discover that no one even read the release.

The following are components of radio and TV press releases that will make your show idea come to life for producers and hosts, and also position you ahead of the pack.

1. Headline! Headline? HEADLINE!!!

Arguably the most important aspect of your press release, headlines are so vital that entire books and seminars are dedicated to the art of constructing the most effective ones. Now, don’t let this scare you. Writing a killer headline is definitely a skill that can be developed; all you need is a clear and concise overview of your topic.

Write down your show idea and look it over. Now look it over again, remembering that it should be an idea for an interview that relates to your book but most definitely not a summary of the book’s theme or content.

What is your key message? Is your show idea newsworthy? Are there any well-known people you can tie into your topic? Do you have any impressive statistics that are relevant? Does anything controversial tie directly into your subject? The answers to these questions will help you develop a headline that will capture the attention of producers and hosts.

First and foremost, your headline must instantly communicate the topic of the show. The test is, if you can envision what the conversation will be about just from the headline - you’ve got it!

Generally, headlines should be no longer than one sentence. As this is a lot of weight to put on a single sentence, sometimes you will need a subhead to support it. The result is that anyone who reads the headline and subhead together will immediately click on the concept of the show.

Here are two examples of the successful headline and subhead combination:

Global Economic Chaos?
Expert Reveals Predictions on Grim Future of US Economy

Are Personal Conflicts Ruining Your Life?
How to Successfully Resolve Squabbles in Everyday Life

2. Topic Summary

This is your chance to present a concise summary of your show topic. It should continue naturally from the headline and expand on it. The headline gets the attention, and the discussion topic gives the reader more.

The discussion topic component of your press release should be two or three sentences, tops. Again, try to tie your topic to current events, big names, big money, or controversy. Don’t be worried about repeating yourself in different sections of the press release. After all, you want to get a cohesive point across! Tip: Try writing the headline and topic summary together.

Here is an example of a headline with a topic summary.

Global Economic Chaos?
Expert Reveals Predictions on Grim Future of US Economy

The United States is about to move into a period of major economic chaos and poverty that will wake up people to overthrow the rule of money in society in a ballot-box revolution. Let an internationally renowned expert reveal predictions on the grim future of our economy.

3. Talking Points/Question

These are an absolute must for radio and TV because they are the shaping tools that guide the host through your topic. Often, hosts read directly from press releases during an interview. This not only makes them look knowledgeable; it saves them heaps of time. So why not have them ask you questions you’ve created, enabling you to get your specific message heard? This makes you look knowledgeable and makes for a great interview!

Yet again, you will need to tie in current events and any controversy that will stir interest. Generally, it is good to give no more than 7 or 10 of these conversation shapers. For instance, here are a few questions that were used in a release for a radio show on “How to Find the Perfect Pet for Your Lifestyle”:

* What are the primary reasons people decide to get a pet?

* What criteria should people follow when choosing a pet to make sure it fits into their lifestyle?

* What can families do ahead of time to determine what type of pet is best for them?

* How can families prepare children for the responsibility of caring for a pet?

* What are some of the things people need to consider before adopting a puppy or other young animal?

If you do get invited as a guest, your interviews will generally last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes for talk radio and 3 to 5 minutes for TV. So, concise is a word you should keep in the forefront of your mind.

Remember: The more you focus your questions on the topic of your book, the more interested listeners will be in it.

For 20 years Marsha Friedman has been a leading authority on public relations as CEO of EMSI. Go to http://www.publicitythatworks.com to claim your free “Power of Public Relations” video today!

How You Can Make Media Relations Effective

30 Jun.
Posted by kevin03 in Public Relations | No Comments

With media relations, remember that journalists have to be accountable to their editors and to their readers. For journalists, the most important thing they’re trying to accomplish is to put out a newsworthy story. Does that mean you can get a fair chance at getting your own story across?

Many are misinformed about the press. In fact, many people believe that the media is in fact out to get them and that you have to be careful of what you say. This can also be true in the reverse. In those cases, people believe that the media wants to write good things about some people or organizations, perhaps to the detriment of reality. In fact, the truth usually exists somewhere between these two extremes.

If you want to get the best out of the media, first, appreciate that the media is going to need a good story. On the other hand, you as the hopeful positive target want some free publicity so that you can reach out to your audience and customers.

What’s the best way to make this positive for both parties?

1. Make It Newsworthy

Your story should be something the readers are going to be interested in and perhaps even love. If this is true, you’re probably going to have a good experience with the press. Of course, you as the company may have a message to deliver; if possible, make it valuable to the people who are going to see your story.

What you want to focus on is the value that your company brings.

In addition, journalists also want to know what the next new trend is. If you can let them know that the industry is heading in a certain direction, you’ve won half the battle. Or if you can offer breaking information on news that’s not been reported previously, this, too, is going to be newsworthy.

2. The News Has To Be Valuable to Your Audience

If your company is introducing a new product, focus not just on its innovative features (which may be of benefit to your users, true) but on the benefits users will get from the product and from those new features.

For example, one of the most important things for products these days is that they are environmentally friendly. If your product is among these, this is going to be newsworthy.

3. A Prepared Speech Is Fine, but Make It Personable

Of course, you see many people on the news these days reading prepared speeches. This is understandable, because most people (even experienced speakers) need at least some notes to follow when they’re trying to present certain points.

However, if you read from a prepared speech, make your points clearly and have them back with facts. If you have an opinion, that’s fine, but remember that the media and the people listening will also want to hear the facts. If you can do this, you can make a good impression.

4. What If You Have To Do a Television Interview?

It can be stressful if you have to do a television interview, because this presents many new things to think about. Do you look good? If you’re nervous and go blank, this is also a common problem for many. And doing an interview instead of a prepared speech will also probably take more time.

However, if you need to do a television interview, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Because your audience can see you, make sure your body language matches your words. If you’re nervous, again, this is understandable. However, try to be as casual and comfortable as you can. As you go along and the interview goes well, too, it’s likely that you’ll relax and simply become more natural. When you respond, look at the interviewer and not at the camera.

In addition, your responses should be as short and precise as possible. Don’t ramble, but do make complete points as much as you can.

One of the best things you can do to help improve future interviews is to record yourself and watch to see how you appear during the interview. This can help you correct anything you see that you’d rather not repeat and improve upon what he did for future interviews.

When you go on television to do an interview, people can see you, so that your enthusiasm and style is also carried across visually. This, in turn, gives you a bigger impact.

5. How Do You Get the Best Out Of Media Relations?

One of the necessary parts of business is to do media relations. However, instead of looking at journalists with a wary eye, keep in mind that they have a job to do (as do you), and that their presence can actually help you.

Typically, journalists are well informed and do their research. They call upon relevant sources, as they need to. Journalists want information that means something, and it also has to be authentic and true. They want reliable insights from you that will get attention from the audience.

If you understand their needs, you can adjust your interview in such a way that there’s news in it for journalists who will find it useful. In turn, their readers will also find it informative and valuable. When journalists know that you want to work with them, this will make things a lot easier for them.

With this said, you might still have some trepidation. That’s fine. However, speak with conviction and authority as only you can about your subject. Know what you’re talking about so that people will find you authentic. If someone has prepared something for you or you are repeating something you simply read, it’s going to show.

Once you start on the interview, you might be surprised to find that you’ll become very comfortable in a very short period of time during it. This is especially true for a topic you understand well.

Developing a good relationship with media relations lets you reach out to investors, the public in general, customers, and even your own employees. Don’t be afraid of doing so, but instead use it for something positive. If you appreciate it and handle it so that it provides a win-win situation for both you and the media, it’s all positive.

Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of Be Successful News, a site that provides information and articles on how to succeed in your own home or small business. http://besuccessfulnews.com/

SEO Marketing Strategies You Can’t Afford To Miss

27 Jun.
Posted by seomul in Marketing | No Comments

In the Internet, SEO marketing is the way to go if you want your business to be seen and heard. There is such a thing as an SEO marketing specialist who aids clients and website owners in their quest to have bigger sales and more traffic to the site.

The Aim of SEO Marketing

SEO marketing has only one aim and that is to bring traffic to a certain site. Traffic is seen as prospective buyers and clients of the site owner. Therefore, traffic is a much needed “commodity”. Many Internet users visit sites that they have been redirected to or sites that have been presented by search engine results, and they get hooked into these sites. In other words, some users do not specifically seek out that particular site but they might have been led to it by it being in the top ten high ranking sites presented during a search conducted via a search engine.

Now you see how important getting high ranking is during searches. Sites that rank in the top ten are most likely visited by more users than those that are ranked lower. Many users do not bother to look for more sites if they find what they are looking for in the first few sites presented in a search. This is why many sites employ search engine optimization methods to encourage higher ranking and to achieve successful SEO marketing.

The Value of SEO Marketing

The value of SEO marketing is that people who work to market your site know what they are doing and may be objective about what your site requires. SEO marketing is also a way of fully understanding how the search engines work and what is needed to meet the requirements of being in the top ten pages of a search engine.

SEO Marketing Tools and Strategies

There are many ways of getting your site in front of many Internet users. These strategies are all included in search engine optimization and website optimization. Most sites are optimized to suit the requirements of search engines. Many search engines index and catalog sites in accordance to the data and information that the site owners have submitted and the data and information that the search engine crawlers have gleaned from the web site. The way that the data and information are placed in the site is important and so is the submissions that are given to the search engines. It is the role of the SEO marketing expert to be able to fully recognize the right data and information to supply for the site and submit to the search engines. Many SEO marketing companies hire SEO marketing consultants to accommodate the increasing demand for quality SEO marketing experts that can handle search engine optimization and SEO marketing for various sites

Among the many SEO marketing tools that can propel a site to the first page of a search engine result is content. Content that is relevant to the site is what sites need to make it stand out from others that have irrelevant content and improper web design. This is the importance of keyword or key phrases that are integrated ion to the article used for the site. These articles carry the information that robotic crawlers need in order to properly index a site according to what it contains and what it can offer to users.

SEO marketing strategies also include designing the web site in such a way as to make it easier to use and for the texts and images to load quickly. It is important for the web site to be quick loading in order to hold the attention of the users. Sites that take too long to load or have large images that hinder quick access to the texts will most likely be abandoned by the users in favor for a much faster site. Part of SEO marketing is to meet the demands and needs of the people by providing a web site that has relevance and the information that the users need.

The problem with SEO marketing is that there is a fine line of distinction between black hat and white hat methodologies. Some SEO experts employ underhand methods to gain high ranking for their clients’ sites. Many overzealous SEO experts might integrate a few well placed codes and hidden texts that could raise the ranking of a certain web site. Human users will not be able to see these codes and text but the robotic spiders and crawlers used by the search engines to help index a site will be able to read these and gather these as relevant information regarding the site. The results of these actions will lead to the site being banned from the search engine and the SEO company might be included with this. It is best to practice white hat methods of SEO marketing to have long lasting results.

Seomul Evans is a search engine optimization specialist for Dallas Internet Marketing Services company
SEO 1 Marketing Services links:
http://www.seo-1-marketing-services.com
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/site_promotion/article_1650.shtml
http://www.seo-marketing-guide.org

The Keys to Developing Successful Marketing Strategies

26 Jun.
Posted by comlev in Marketing | No Comments

A successful marketing strategy is judged by how effectively it can be used. Many people know that a successful marketing strategy puts a lot of different factors into consideration and uses these factors as a collective.

There are, however, five main keys to developing successful marketing strategies. Every successful entrepreneur will tell you that these five always play a part in the development of a successful marketing strategy:

1) Strengths - A successful marketing strategy always considers the various strengths that a company has. These strengths should be present within the company and the company should be able to use it in order to achieve the desired goal. It is clear that every company has strengths which it could use to gain advantages over the competition. These strengths could range from having more resources to having more experience. The strategy must utilize the strengths to the maximum. Every effort expended should be directed towards the achievement of the goal.

2) Weaknesses - Just as every company has strengths, every company also has its weaknesses. A successful marketing strategy needs to take these weaknesses into account and help people overcome them. A successful marketing strategy should be realistic regarding its weaknesses in order to truly be effective.

Successful marketing strategies have often turned potential weaknesses into strengths. Anything is possible with the right manipulation of a company’s strength. By taking account of the potential weaknesses, a company will be able to find ways of coping for those weaknesses. They could actually remedy those weaknesses and make sure that they will not be the downfall of the company.

3) Opportunities - Successful marketing strategies have always taken advantage of every available opportunity for advancement. By taking account of existing opportunities, a company will be looking at the various stepping stones that it can use in order to achieve success. Various opportunities are always available in a market.

However, these opportunities are often shrouded and need a keen eye and a good sense to take advantage of them. In taking advantage of opportunities, however, the company must not lose sight of the main goal through which it can measure success.

4) Threats - Since the market contains opportunities for the company, it should also be mentioned that it does contain threats. People should be aware of any potential even that could bring a company to its knees.

Successful marketing strategies have always included methods of riding out these threats and adapting to them in such a way that they will endure them. The most successful marketing strategies, in fact, have actually been able to turn these threats into opportunities. Take BMW for example: when it was faced with the threat of being forbidden to manufacture airplanes, it took to manufacturing cars. That’s a great way of turning a threat into an opportunity.

5) Implementation - A marketing strategy needs to be implemented in order to be successful. The implementation is the final test of how successful a marketing strategy actually is. It could be clever, it could be simple, it could be cunning, and it could be obvious. The successful marketing strategy is always implemented. Without this final test, the marketing strategy is just a marketing strategy. Success is determined by the use, not by the design.

These are the five keys to a successful marketing strategy. Mark them well, for they might help you to achieve success someday.

Daegan Smith Is And Expert Online Marketer
“Wanna Lean The Secret To Making $85,147,717
Per Month While Quickly And Easily EXPLODING
Your Network Marketing Organization by 7,141
People Without EVER Buying Or Calling a
Single Stinking Lead?” Free CD Explains All:http://www.easymlmprofits.com