Archive for the ‘Marketing’ Category
Testimonials build your credibility like nothing else can. Online this is especially true if you include a photograph, name and contact information like a phone number or web address. Most customers probably won’t follow-up and contact your source. However, the fact that you’ve given them that option makes them feel much more secure.
Make sure that they don’t get lost in the rest of your copy. Mike Capuzzi, a well-known copywriter, recommended in a webinar I recently attended to insert testimonials in a screen box and using a handwritten font to dramatically increase response.
In previous blogs I’ve talked about the best way to get a good testimonial – while they’re hot. If you provide excellent service you’ll get positive feedback and that’s the IDEAL time to get a testimonial from them.
If you haven’t been regularly obtaining testimonials you can always backtrack and contact customers you know are happy with their results. In this case call or email them and ask if they would like to participate.
Give Them a Formula
If they agree send them the following formula to help them get started. (Take a few minutes and personalize this formula for the best results.)
1. Please share any sincere and enthusiastic expressions of the benefits and results you’ve enjoyed from my service/product. What stands out in your mind? How is my service/product different?
2. Before (hiring me or buying my product) what were the biggest challenges or problems you faced?
3. Please share the three or more significant improvements (if you can be specific please include the number of clients/ revenue growth/increased productivity etc.) thanks to (my product or service).
4. (This is completely optional; let me know if you want to include the following line.) If anyone has specific question or wants to know more about the value of your (service or product), please have them call/e-mail me. I’ll be happy to talk to them about it. (List name, company name, e-mail, website and phone.)
People have the best of intentions but are often busy. Tell them that they can jot down their ideas in an informal format and you will edit their testimonial and send it to them for their final approval.
Have you had success getting testimonials? Please post a comment, I’d love to hear your suggestions.
Tags: testimonials
Posted in Copywriting, Internet Marketing, Marketing | No Comments »
Regardless of what’s happening in Wall Street today—who can keep track—the entrepreneurs I know and love are carrying on with business. One trap you never want to fall into is to stop or slow down your marketing. Marketing doesn’t have to be expensive and it’s always important to keep business streaming in.
What’s great is that there are a lot of simple and inexpensive marketing solutions.
1. Article Marketing - Write informative articles and post them on article directories. According to Charlie Page, the owner of the Directory of Ezines, there are over 300,000 ezines out there and an estimated 90% of them use free articles in their ezines.
2. Press Releases - Get some free publicity—what small business owner doesn’t want that? As an extra bonus using an internet distribution service will give your website a traffic boost since these sites rank high on search engines.
3. Amazon - Amazon provides terrific opportunities to promote yourself and your website.
4. Signature Line - Another easy tip is to include a call to action following your signature line in every email you send out - visit my blog, sign-up for my newsletter, take a look at my new e-book.
5. Testimonials - We all love getting testimonials but it’s also a great idea to give testimonials. It’s a simple way to market yourself as an expert in your field and include a link back to your website.
6. Flyers - If you have clients that come to your place of business make sure you have marketing materials visible. For example, you can post a flyer announcing a special promotion or have current newsletters available for them to pick up. If your only interaction is a monthly invoice, take advantage of the opportunity to slip in some marketing material like a newsletter or flyer.
7. Ezines - One of the best and most inexpensive ways to communicate with clients is email. There are inexpensive programs that will allow you to automate the process and send your clients regular email newsletters.
8. Blog - Regular blogging will increase the frequency with which search engine “spiders” visit your site. A blog also helps you position yourself as an expert in your field.
9. Squidoo - There’s no charge to set-up your own page on Squidoo. I know SEO experts who rely heavily on Squidoo to generate website traffic.
10. Social Networking - Facebook and LinkedIn are two of the most popular sites out there. Social networking is not just for teenagers anymore. The biggest marketing experts are on there and you should be too!
It’s easy to put marketing on the back burner, especially if that’s not your “thing”. Instead of getting overwhelmed try picking out a couple of the solutions—that will work best for you and your business—and then schedule some time to put them into action. Get some momentum going and you’ll generate results.
Tags: Add new tag, article marketing, blogs, Internet Marketing, press releases
Posted in Internet Marketing, Marketing, Uncategorized | No Comments »
We buy from those we know and trust. Think about your own experiences buying something. The really good salespeople establish a rapport before they even try making a sale. If they’re REALLY good you not only purchase the product…you don’t regret your purchase later.
There is an even greater need for rapport when you’re selling a product or service online. The internet is impersonal by nature. Here are a few suggestions that will help you establish that rapport with potential customers:
1. Make the person reading your copy feel as if you are writing directly to them. Use the words “you” and “I”.
2. Say “you” more than “I.” In fact, go ahead and count how many times you say “you” versus how many times you refer to yourself or your company. It shouldn’t even be close. Save the “I” or “we” for the About Us page on your site.
3. When writing have a specific person in mind and write it for them. Try to think of someone you know that is in your target market but knows little or nothing about your product.
4. Be authentic and sincere. Let your personality shine through. You won’t seem like a salesperson, you’ll come across as a real person.
Tags: Copywriting, rapport with customers
Posted in Copywriting, Marketing | No Comments »
If you’re a coach, therapist, or any kind of “expert” in your field, Amazon provides terrific opportunities to promote yourself and your website. The first step is to set-up a profile where people can learn more about you. Be as thorough as possible—post your picture, a bio, and of course your website.Â
Find a descriptive name for yourself too—for example I might call myself Jen Odear, The Internet Writing Pro. That makes it clear my area of expertise because Jen Odear by itself doesn’t mean a whole lot, at least to most people…
There are three ways you can generate some buzz within Amazon and encourage visitors to click on your profile:
- Book Reviews - Write a book review. I’m not talking about just any book you’ve read, I’m talking about books related to your expertise. Books that your target audience is interested in reading.  When they find that book they find you, because your book review will show-up on the page. Give an informed opinion on what you like—or don’t like—about the book.  People who are interested in what you have to say will scroll over your name and a window will pop-up with your information—very cool!
- Create Listmania Lists - Listmania allows you to create lists of Amazon books or products that you recommend. It’s an effective way to show that you’re a “well read” expert in your field. Give your list a catchy name but make sure it’s obvious what category you’re covering. This is a great way to get yourself listed throughout Amazon.
- So You’d Like to . . . Guides – This is another great area to post any “how to” articles you have relating to your field. Make them informative and interesting, this isn’t free advertising but it will help your target audience find you.
There’s also a new feature that allows authors who sell products on Amazon to send their blog posts to readers who have bought their books on Amazon or have signed up to receive their posts. Something authors should definitely check-out.
If you have any tips on using Amazon as a marketing tool please share them with me! Also contact me if you’d like more information on how to implement these strategies - www.internetwritingpro.com/contact.
Posted in Internet Marketing, Marketing | No Comments »
I just finished listening to a teleseminar for copywriters by the famous Joe Vitale. It was interesting to hear his distinction between manipulation and persuasion in copywriting. He said the difference lied in your personal belief. Do you believe the product or service you’re writing about will truly benefit the target audience? If the answer is yes, then your copy is persuasive. If the answer is no, then you’re being manipulative.
Copywriters obviously spend most of their time writing about their clients’ products and services.  Do you need to believe in the value of the service or product to write persuasive copy? Yes, you do. Many of my clients seem to be aware of how important it is to find a copywriter that’s truly engaged. I’ve observed when they’re in the process of hiring me that they are often looking for my honest impressions. That’s smart!
When you hire a copywriter, or any kind of a marketing professional, find out what they think about your service/product? This might take a bit of probing but it’s worth the effort. You want someone who is going to be authentic and sincere in their writing.
A few times I’ve declined projects for that very reason. I knew my heart wasn’t in it and it wouldn’t be fair to this potential client to let them hire me so I referred them to someone I thought would be more appropriate. Some writers or marketing professionals might not be that upfront with you. So take it upon yourself to find out what they really think. Your reward will be authentic, persuasive copy.
Posted in Copywriting, Marketing | No Comments »
