Two kinds of Advertising for a Marketing Strategy
Advertising is the lifeblood of any business. If you do not learn how to advertise your products and services both efficiently and effectively, you won't be in business long. While the Internet has lessened or eliminated many of the costs normally associated with starting and running a small business, and it's now easier than ever, you'll never realize significant profits if you don't grow your business through effective marketing.
There are really just two kinds of advertising - that which you pay for and that which you get for free. And both should have their place in your overall marketing strategy. The problem arises when one does not understand how or when to use each.
Everywhere we look it seems that someone is claiming you can get rich online by taking advantage of the free advertising the Internet offers.
While it's a true statement, the misleading part is that it's almost always followed by something like, "We'll give you a list of over 984324874984 places to advertise for free!" They normally go on to explain how anyone can get rich on the Internet because all of the advertising is free, and if you just send them $29.95 ... well you know how it goes.
Unfortunately, as anyone who has tried posting zillions of free ads on the Internet will tell you it just doesn't work that way. What you really need to know about posting free ads online is that for the most part it's a waste of time - unless you're targeting other marketers - because an overwhelming majority of people who visit free ad sites are other online marketers like you who are trying to promote their own business.
Effective "free advertising" strategies do exist, but they aren't what the average online marketer thinks of when hearing this often hyped-up phrase.
Are you ready for the one concept that separates the men from the boys, so to speak, online? Here it is:
Free advertising is the laziest way to promote your site!
You don't really think that Yahoo became the most popular web site on the Internet, getting millions of visitors per day, by using free advertising strategies do you? Heck no. Among other things, they spend millions of dollars per year on things like buying advertising on other big sites and advertising on both radio and television.
Now before you say you don't have millions per year to spend on advertising, allow me to show you how you can apply these concepts to your business on a smaller scale. The good news is that if you use the right approach you can start with a few dollars. It doesn't really matter what you're marketing, but let's assume that you sell artwork at your web site. How could you utilize paid advertising profitably?
Now before I scare you off with the thought of having to spend lots and lots of money on advertising, there's something that you need to realize. And it's a basic concept you should be able to immediately agree with:
If you spend $50 on advertising and it generates more than $50 in net profits, that's a good investment.
Simple right? Well, through the use of proper testing and a "scientific" approach to advertising, there's no reason you can't turn your original $50 ad into millions of dollars in profits. It's just a matter of developing a system that creates a profit, and then reinvesting your initial profits back into your business in order to further expand your advertising.
Remember the artwork? Assume that through proper tracking of your website you're able to determine that 1 out of every 100 visitors to your site buys artwork. Let's also assume that on the sale of every artwork you make a $50 profit. Do you see that any ad you buy which delivers more than 100 visitors to your site per $50 spent is a profitable investment?
Promoting a site should be approached with this type of a scientific or mathematical attitude. Any advertising you do is either profitable or not, and you need to know which it is so you don't waste time and money.
Here's a somewhat simplistic strategy that you could use to get started:
Use a combination of free or low-cost strategies to promote your web site, generating initial traffic which will serve as a starting point. Through proper tracking of your site, determine the exact "value" of a visitor in terms of dollars and sense. This is absolutely critical. Utilize paid advertising that proves to be profitable according to step 2, based on the value of a visitor and the number of visitors generated. Through ongoing testing, tracking, and tweaking, try to increase the value of a web site visitor as well as response to your advertising. Repeat steps 2-4 as necessary - or forever. The power of this scientific or mathematical approach to web site promotion is that once you have completed the steps you will have an almost automated advertising campaign that can literally send you all the traffic you need. Rather than spending hours and hours each day promoting your site, you simply buy more advertising.
The bottom line is that there are only 24 hours in a day and there's only so much you can do during that time. Free advertising strategies can be effective, but normally, anything that's "free" is going to "cost" you time.
On the other hand, if you could spend $1,000 a day on advertising to make $1,000 a day in profits -- without spending hours doing it -- why wouldn't you just do that? It's not hard at all. Consider Overture.com for example, where you can buy click-thrus for as little as 1-25 cents.
That fits the formula quite nicely. Overture alone won't send you enough traffic to make you rich, but it's a good example of effectively promoting your site without spending much time doing it. There are lots of others.
Give this 2-step scientific approach a try. If you find you just can't seem to make the formula work, there can only be a few reasons for it - either you're not advertising in the right places, your web site isn't doing its job, your profit margins are too low, or your product or service itself is the problem. Figure out which it is and you can't fail.
Steven Boaze, Chairman, is The Owner of Boaze.com Corporate Web Solutions Which houses Web Development services. Steven is also the author of two successful Books along with numerous articles on Marketing and Advertising published by Boaze Publishing. http://www.boazepublishing.biz Copyright © 1998-2004 Boaze.com
 Google News Updated : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:49:07 GMT As Palin Brings Up Ayers, Obama Team Cites Keating - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Anne E. Kornblut and Michael Abramowitz The presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama for the first time criticized Sen. John McCain for his role in the "Keating Five" savings-and-loan scandal yesterday, saying the issue was fair game after a ... Video: AP Campaign Minute McCain ready for combat in 2nd presidential debate Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:17:08 GMT Plaxico Burress takes Giants to school with tired act - New York Daily News
New York Daily News - Plaxico Burress with his son after the Giants win Super Bowl 42. Burress will need to get his act together if the Giants are to repeat as champs. Burress Returns to Giants, With No Regrets Unapologetic Plaxico Burress returns to Giants Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:10:29 GMT Three Europeans win the 2008 Nobel for medicine - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - By Lawrence K. Altman The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded Monday to three European scientists who discovered viruses behind two devastating illnesses, AIDS and cervical cancer. Aids and cervical cancer pioneers share Nobel award Nobel Prize to HPV Researcher Highlights Importance of Cervical ... Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:50:01 GMT Injury forces May-Treanor to sit out this 'Dancing' - USA Today
USA Today - By Bill Keveney, USA TODAY Two-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May-Treanor may be sidelined from ABC's Dancing With the Stars, but she says she won't let a leg injury suffered during rehearsals stop her from competing in beach volleyball. Misty May-Treanor drops out of ‘Dancing’ May-Treanor vows torn achilles won't end her volleyball career ... Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:09:39 GMT China's Reputation On Product Safety Reaches a New Low - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Blaine Harden Even Burma -- where one of the world's most repressive and isolated military governments relies on trade with China -- has now warned its people to steer clear of all Chinese dairy products. Video: No Traces of Melamine in New Test of Milk Powder China vows overhaul of 'chaotic' milk industry Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:55:33 GMT Computer Chip to Monitor Teen Drivers - ABC News
ABC News - By LISA STARK, MATT HOSFORD and KATE BARRETT Car keys -- long perceived as the keys to teenagers' freedom -- may soon be the best way for parents to monitor their every move. Going Along on the Ride With Junior Ford: Key limits speed, stereo volume Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:16:34 GMT Rays roll over White Sox, punch ticket to ALCS - Sports Network
Sports Network - Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - BJ Upton hit two solo homers, and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Chicago White Sox, 6-2, to clinch their first berth in an American League Championship Series in franchise history. White Sox eliminated from post-season with Game 4 loss to Rays Rays Finish Off White Sox to Reach ALCS Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 02:14:13 GMT Make Money From Home |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Pop quiz! If you have to say goodbye to your... Read More Good business is about communication... not just what you say... Read More I had a telemarketer call me recently. Here's a rough... Read More "Both the market and the distributive channel are often more... Read More You'll always need to find new prospects for your business.... Read More When you place brochures from every mortgage company side by... Read More When conducting strategic planning for any company -- online and/or... Read More What's a small business owner to do if they have... Read More Business to business communications on the web are as stale... Read More Why does your business need to be in the Search... Read More There's just no time to waste in a cyber day;... Read More 1) They don't fully understand it.Perception: Marketing is advertising. Reality:... Read More Parents are always looking for free and easy ways to... Read More How many times has someone you've called said, "Why don't... Read More Joint venture marketing is a lucrative way of leveraging the... Read More We are all customers of one product or another. How... Read More The most important part of any marketing you do is... Read More Generation X"--the 40 million or so people born between 1965... Read More ©2004 Jeffrey DobkinIf you're in direct marketing, you're continually looking... Read More Step 1: Where Am I Now? Before you decide where... Read More No, that's not a typo in the title. Resolutions are... Read More Unlike any other marketing vehicle, newsletters give you the opportunity... Read More You'll be encouraged to know that the art of writing... Read More Without a doubt, if you asked me, Shane if there... Read More Once you have the attention of a business prospect, at... Read More
Adsense
websites
The Name Game
The Key to Success
Effective Tips For Telemarketers
Non Products Exist in this World
How To Recover Your Almost Customers
Loan Officer Marketing ? Why Realtors® Don?t Read Your Brochures
SWOT Analysis -- Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
Marketing Effectively to More Than One Audience
B2B Marketing Tips - Create an Interactive Online Experience for Clients
Why Do You Need to be in the SERPS?
Motivating Your Target
10 Reasons Why Businesses Fail at Marketing.
Free and Easy School Fundraisers | Elementary and High School Fund Raising Ideas
At the Speed of Light
Five Joint Venture Marketing Skills A Small Business Owner Must Have
Getting More From Your Customer
Writing Sales Letters That Sell
Why Market to Generation X?
Marketing Through Associations
Eight Steps To A Great Marketing Plan
New Years Revolution
Tackle a Newsletter and Come Out On Top
Successful Non-for-Profit Fundraising Letters Share Eight Qualities
How To Start With Absolutely Nothing And Create Wealth online in 30 days or less.
So What Do You Do?
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Case Study: How to Get a Big Boost in Response by Taking Your Marketing to the Extreme
Want a big boost in response and quick sales from... Read More
Direct Mail Strategy - Brand Identity Guru
1. Know your purpose: What do you want your direct... Read More
Inform vs. Excite
excite v. 1 a: to call to activity b: to... Read More
Increase New Customer Traffic to Your Business
One person tells another, who tells another, who tells another... Read More
10 Tips to Grow Your Business Plain & Simple
"Try not to become a man of success but rather... Read More
Corporate Cleavage
I enjoy cleavage as much or even more than the... Read More
Turbocharge New Sales with a Marketing Database
What is the most valuable asset your company owns? Inventory?... Read More
Creating Assets: Spark Your Thinking With These 16 Comprehensive Questions
Here are some questions to get your thoughts and cash... Read More
Top Web Site Blunders by Coaches, Consultants and Experts
Of all the web sites belonging to coaches, consultants and... Read More
Make It A Threesome
What if -- every time you had a networking appointment... Read More
Marketing Worksheet
Even the world's best marketing strategy won't work for you... Read More
Build Lifelong Networks With Your Own Barter Group
I don't know if you have ever seriously considered bartering.... Read More
Wife?s Marketing Prowess Helped Edison See the Light
It is well known that Thomas Edison was an inventor,... Read More
So You Want To Cut The Crap And Get Into The Money?
So, you´ve been around for a while, and maybe even... Read More
7 Proven Tips To Market Your Cleaning Business
Marketing your cleaning business is something that you will already... Read More
Basic Brand Building
A brand is the essence of who you are. The... Read More
How Architecture Rendering is Part of the Impact
Cartoons have gone from celluloid to digital. Movies have gone... Read More
Promotional Products
As a promotions director for a lot of super markets,... Read More
Where to Find New Customers Using B2B Direct Mail
The challenge in business-to-business direct mail is knowing where to... Read More
Tradeshow Booth Cures - Knick-Knack Knockouts
Okay, we were kidding about the smoke, but not about... Read More
Mailing Lists ? Keeping it Simple
The right direct mailing list targets people who want your... Read More
Five Mistakes Absolutely Guaranteed to Drive Away Your Best Clients
We all work hard to attract even one paying client.... Read More
Networking, iNetworking, What Is The First Rule?
Networking on the Internet is the same as networking in... Read More
Wooing Women With Packaging
In just one month three California vineyards have introduced new... Read More
Why Trying to Get the Appointment Can be a Recipe for Dis-Appoinment
Why Trying to "Get the Appointment" Can be a Recipe... Read More
Marketing |