Go Out and Testify!

by Kaye Z. Marks)

Testimonials are very significant elements in your marketing campaign. The testimonials you have in your marketing collaterals like brochures can help you gain new clients. When your prospects see that actual people have benefited from your brand of customer service, they would also be convince to buy your product or avail of your service. Whether you are marketing or selling your products and services, testimonials coming from your most loyal and satisfied customers can go a long way in convincing your prospects of your worth. It has been proven that people in general tend to imitate the actions made by their peers. Moreover, consumers often follow those that are within their category. Hence, if a prospect feels that your product or service has provided your clients with satisfaction, then he or she can also get the same thing from your business. Generating new leads is easy if you can reflect a testimonial that proves how many customers you have made comfortable with your services. When target clients read a certain level of comfort from your testimonials, then you would not have a hard time convincing them to try out your business. So how do you get effective testimonials for your printing brochures? You can start with these techniques: Always use real people. More than celebrities, your printed brochures can benefit if you put more of the real people who actually tried your offer and gained from doing so. Full names then are a must when you print your testimonials. Do not put John Doe or any other names that can elicit doubt and suspicion. Remember that what you want to achieve with your collaterals are trust and reliability that you can only get if you are ready to give only the truth and nothing but the truth. Emphasize on issues that your target clients can empathize. Marketing is about concentrating on what your target clients want and not on what you want. Putting focus on one or two basic concerns in your testimonials, raising some issues that need to be solved can help you get sympathy and understanding from your audience. Testimonials ranging from your product’s quality to your business’ quality service can gain you more customers that you can ever imagine having. Choose your testimonials based on your target market. Get quotes from popular members of your local organization if that is your target market. Remember that people generally follow those that are in the same category as theirs; so be sure to provide testimonials that are apt to the particular market you are targeting. Finally, emphasize your testimonials. In addition, put them all over when printing brochures. That way, your target clients would not have an excuse for not reading them. Testimonials are great ways to re-invent your ineffective collaterals. By integrating testimonials to your marketing campaign, you will have better chances of generating leads to your business, which in turn can do wonders to the profits you earn.

Aluminum Sports Bottles is the Trend in Promoting Your Business

by Amin Ramjee)

Instead of using pens and mugs to promote their business, more and more companies are turning to other means of promotional items and now, the use of personalized aluminum sports bottles as promotional gifts is growing into the latest and most popular trends. Though pens and mugs are great promotional gear and are still used, these items are suitable for indoor events--events that are more corporate and where the use of pens and mugs are needed. Sports bottles can be used for outdoor events and cater to a larger audience since sporting events attract a larger crowd. Aluminum sports bottles are probably the most popular around and most people prefer aluminum compared to plastic bottles. After an exhausting session, many sports enthusiasts would reach for an invigorating drink and this makes their bottles of refreshing drinks a "must have" item in their packs. Promotional aluminum sports bottles are the newest trend if you want to avoid liquid spills. Since sports bottles have become a trend, sports enthusiasts are on the look out for one that could be both useful and attractive. Sports bottles are a huge trend for several reasons apart from their being a utility. These sports bottles are affordable to the customers or end users as well as companies who want to get personalized aluminum sports bottles. Using sports bottles as your chosen promotional items will not burn a hole in the company's advertising budget since the price of a sports bottle range from 99 cents to about $1. By utilizing affordable promotional products, the company will be able to reach out to more people thus attaining a wider and far reaching marketing campaign with a fraction of the cost. Aluminum sports bottles are also all the rage because of their versatility. From trade shows to road shows, concerts to sports events, these bottles work great as they keep water cool, it looks great and it quenches your thirst. Sports bottles are designed to fit well into your pals, hence carrying them without slipping is not a problem at all. Some even come with slings so you can strap them to your back pack or just sling it over your wrist and can be carried anywhere and everywhere. These custom aluminum sports bottles are also reusable and durable. Aluminum lasts longer and is more durable than plastic and if a brand or logo is imprinted on it, it can be seen very clearly and the company message will be relayed to the target audience for a long time, as long as the bottle is being used. Unlike newspaper and radio advertisements, once the newspaper is read and the radio ad is aired most people would forget the company and its message--unless of course the advertisement is a memorable one.

Ban the Banners

by Michael T. Smith)

New webmasters often hold the mistaken belief, that the more banner ads they have on their site, the more money they will make. They blanket their sites with them, hoping, that the more banners people see, the better the chance, that someone will actually click on them. What they don't understand, however, is that they are actually driving traffic away, by making their sites unattractive and slow. The banner ads that were supposed generate income drive away potential customers. Do you like banner ads? Now, ask yourself the question: "Why do you think, that others would feel different than you do?" While large ads may be successful in magazines, newspapers and telephone books, what person would wants them to consume his or her bandwidth on the web? Isn't the Internet already slow enough? Why do you think that one of the most popular sections on our website is the one that covers programs to eliminate banners and pop-up windows? Many people are sick of obnoxious, in-you-face advertising. They are fed up with the useless clutter of ads filling most websites. No long ago, we removed all the banner ads at our site, leaving only text links. The results were that we saw dramatic increase in both traffic and revenue. Removing the banners increased both our popularity and our profits. Amazingly enough, not one person wrote back to us and complained about the banners being removed. Now you may be asking yourself, "Why do advertisers use banner ads, if they are so unpopular with the public?" The answer is simple: Name Recognition! The truth of the matter is advertisers don't really care if people buy from your site as long as at some point in time, people remember the product or service and buy it. Think about it. You annoy your visitors with dozens of ads about some dot-com, causing them to flee your site. Later on, the same visitors remember those ads and go to the site directly. The company makes a sale, and they don't even have to pay the person, who advertised it. There are some very popular sites on the Internet with huge affiliate programs. You can find their banners everywhere. You might think that it would be a cinch to make money off such sites by simply placing one of their banners on your site, but guess again. With so many ads, people don't need your banners to find them. Most people have bookmarked them already. To effectively advertise such popular sites, you need to target your readers with custom reviews or inform people about specific sales and promotions so that they feel compelled to click on the link immediately. Now, I am not here to tell you that removing the banners off your site will make you an instant success. Without compelling content on your site, you still may not see any changes in traffic. A site that is nothing more than a series of ads is unlikely to be successful, regardless of what form the advertising the webmaster uses. I am not suggesting that everyone should remove banners from their site either. Indeed, it would be foolish for the owner of a popular site to remove paid advertising that is generating income. If advertisers are willing to pay up front for banner ads, or if you have banner ads that are performing well, by all means, keep them! What I am suggesting, however, is that if you have banner ads that aren't generating income that you expected, you might think about removing or replacing them. Consider text-based adverting with compelling reviews about the products or services. Give your readers something more than just flashy slogans or pictures of beautiful models. Provide your visitors with reasons why they actually need a product or service, so that they buy it from your site now, rather than later.

RELEASE RELEASE

by Meredith Pond)

Each day newspapers, TV, radio, and ezines hand out millions of dollars in FREE publicity. If you have a good story or good information to share, an editor somewhere will jump at the chance to use your material. Your name and ideas can be spread to thousands of people over night. And the cost to you? Zero. Once you have finished your press release, here are some ways to send it to the media. 1. Start small. Think locally. Your best bet for getting media is right in your own home town. Editors and news directors love to do stories on businesses and individuals they can phone without placing a long distance call. In fact, when we send press releases to media across America, many editors say they ONLY do local stories. Find the contact information for your local media in the Yellow Pages. Call the front desk and ask who handles stories like yours. You might even try pitching your story over the phone before you send your release. 2. Send your release to a trade publication that covers your industry. The fact that you have created a way for silver coated milk cans to dent less easily probably won't get a second look from your local daily newspaper, but the dairy trade publication might put you on the front page. Be sure to send them a photo, with YOU in the picture. 3. Email your release to media nationwide. Most editors won't go for your release, but since you are casting a wide net, some will give you coverage. You can get addresses of media folks who have asked to received releases by consulting one of the reliable media directories like the Bacon Publicity Checker or the Media Directory at Gebbie.com. Since email is a dirt cheap way to distribute a release, write a second release to send media next month. Sometimes you have to send three or four releases before you become familiar enough for an editor to jump on your story. 4. Look for neighborhood or alternative newspapers that cover stories like yours. A policeman who had a story about abuse couldn't get his side covered by the local daily, but had a topic alternative newspapers loved. 5. Pay an email newsletter to run all or part of your press release. Ad rates are down around the Net and many fine publications will consider working with you if your release has good information their readers will appreciate. This same principle can apply to small newspapers and some broadcast organizations. You may get better results if you convert your release into an article or even into a long ad.

Find the Best Hotels in Toronto Here

 by Catalina C.)

There are scores of hotels in Toronto that cater to travelers from all over the globe. If you are thinking of taking a trip to Toronto, you have to make sure that your stay there is just right. And so, you need to find the best Toronto hotels that will provide you with everything that you are looking for while on holiday there. You can choose from the Toronto airport hotel which is in close proximity of the airport or you can pick from the many downtown Toronto hotels. There are so many Toronto hotels to choose from that you are sure to find one that suits your requirements perfectly.

Search engines normally provide you with a great option to find the best hotels in Toronto. If you use Google, Bing, Yahoo or your favorite search engine you will get millions of results. So how do you know which is the best Toronto airport hotel or any other kind of Toronto hotel that you might be looking for? Search engines basically follow algorithms while displaying the search results on top of the first page and the better matches are almost always at the very top. You might want to try the paid links displayed at the side as well. You can find some pretty good accommodation in Toronto this way as well.

Another great option for finding the best Toronto airport hotel or other kinds of hotels in Toronto is the article directories. There are plenty of these available on the Internet. Most of these article directories cater to almost any topic but there are also some that are related to travel alone. Since Toronto is one of Canada's most popular cities, a lot of the entries are dedicated to the Toronto hotels and since the articles are free, you can read them all and browse them without incurring any expenditure.

Besides, you also have blogs and forums where people will leave information about hotels and sometimes even feedback. The information here will be real user experience and is normally very accurate. You can easily identify the kind of hotels in Toronto that you would like to stay in. The Toronto airport hotel might be better for your stay if your activities are restricted to the surrounding area rather than having to stay at one of the downtown Toronto hotels.

Then you will also find travel books that give you all the details of a particular city. Lonely Planet books cover everything you need to know about the hotels in Toronto including the Toronto airport hotel but then you have to buy this. Why buy when you can get free information on the Net? It is very easy to find some really good accommodation in Toronto so get that mouse clicking and find the best of hotels in Toronto now.

Cheap Toronto Hotels for an Inexpensive Vacation

by Catalina C.)

Toronto is one of the biggest cities in Canada and has a lot to offer travelers visiting there. There are plenty of historical sites, lovely views and nature's bounty to experience and marvel at. You can enjoy all this and more without having to empty your purse if you find cheap hotels in Toronto. There are plenty of Toronto hotels that give special packages and huge discounts to tourists. Although the prices at these hotels are reasonable, the rooms provided are decent as well as the services and amenities.

There are plenty of hotels in Toronto that you can find on the Net or through airline companies. But before you select one make sure you know what part of the city your activities will be centered around. Surely you don't want to be traveling round the city half the day to get to your destination. So if your activities are going to be in places close to the airport it makes sense to choose from the Toronto airport hotel rather than one of the downtown Toronto hotels.

Toronto with all its museums, cafes, theatres, entertainment centers and opera houses as a lot to offer its visitors and is said to be among the cultural capitals of the world. Most visitors would rather spend their money on experiencing all Toronto has to offer rather than spend on some fancy hotel accommodation. There are quite a few hotels in Toronto that provide accommodation at great discounts. Airlines, too, provide package deals which work out quite economical. And today, with the Internet revolution, you can find all you ever wanted on the computer itself. So just Google for Toronto hotels and you will find exactly what you are looking for; there is so much of choice that you will surely find something to fit your budget as well as taste.

You can find accommodation in good Toronto hotels and inns for as little as $60 a night. Sometimes bookings for such cheap lodging in Toronto, may be available only online and it needs to be done well in advance. Such websites have the entire range of hotels in Toronto right from the five star hotels to the one star hotels to cater to just about anybody's needs of luxury to basic.

Most of the cheap Toronto hotels have all the amenities that one might need close by. If you are taking a business trip to Toronto, then you will find that there are hotels that are in close proximity to the best of dining restaurants, cafes, European bakeries, the CN tower and the Metro Toronto Convention Center besides others. If you are going on vacation along with your family, then you can choose from the hotels in Toronto close to downtown Toronto, the Metro Zoo or Lake Ontario and High Park with its boating and golf activities or Casa Loma or Royal Ontario Museum.

Historical Tour in India- Know Its Past Glory

by Neelam)

The rich and dynamic culture of India makes it a great tourist destination in all over the world. Every globetrotter likes to explore this mysterious country. There are no enough words to express the majesty, beauty, diversity, dignity and glory of India. It is rewarded by every traveler who visits India.

The wealth of India in form of rivers, lakes, mountains, vegetation, deserts, wildlife, glorious past, historical monuments and all generates an attractive mixture of sites to visit by the guests that makes it  a complete India Tours Package. India is famous in world for its golden history which is still its pride. Although each part of India has many historical past but the history of northern part is worth to explore. Delhi the present political capital of India has interesting history. Many wars have been fought time to time to retain its glory. Jantar Mantar, Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, etc are some historical structure in the city. To explore the dignity and pride of older days, one can take a tour to many museums of Delhi that preserve the essence of our golden past.
There are many sites to tour in Rajasthan in order to understand the royalty of Rajputs. Rajasthan is called as the "land of kings". It is the best place to explore the grandeur and royalty past of India. This is the land of Rajputs. One can still find many forts and palaces there which reflect the royal lifestyle of the kings and their royal women. There many majestic and massive forts in Rajasthan.
Some of the Place to visit Rajasthan inRajasthan is Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort and City Palace – in Jaipur, Jaisalmer Fort, Sam Sand Dune, Hamlets in desert- in Jaisalmer, Junagarh Fort in Bikaner, Chittorgarh Fort, Pichola Lake, The Taj Lake Palace, and Fateh Sagar Lake – in Udaipur, etc.
Apart from visiting these places tourist can enjoy wildlife heritage, cultural and tradition heritage, geographical diversity (deserts, mountains, hill stations) in India. To enjoy wildlife tourist can visit many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. India is very famous for housing so many tigers. To chase tigers visit Ranthambhore, Sariska and Jim Corbett national Parks. These are located in northern part only and you can easily visit.
Historical India Tours Package is incomplete without containing Taj Mahal in its itinerary. Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonder of the Modern World and is truly worth visiting. It was built in memory of Mumtaj Mahal by Shah Jahan. It is very beautiful structure and looks amazing during morning hour. Its interior architectural brilliance has incomparable beauty.

Banderollers and Vepor - World's Leading Banner Manufacturers

  by Clint Jhonson)

Advertising nowadays is expanding and not only it is seen or made on the television and radio, but now it is almost done everywhere. In fact, advertisers have various styles in promoting the business resulting to a huge competition among them. And with that, banners like the once made by Banderoller and Vepor , huge billboards, streamers, tarpaulins, and posters have significantly appear on the streamline and they are just some of the modes in promoting a business or a product. Through this mode of advertising, consumers are well updated of the new products out on the market.

However, online users are increasing and instead of checking out the latest through the huge posters, streamers, banners and etc. found outdoors, they would rather surf the net and look up through the online advertisements.  Usually consumers are attracted or sometimes urged by the advertisements on line since they are more creative and attractive. According to a survey, most of us would rather browse fair amount of advertising to visit some websites. Floating ads, out-of-frame ads, pop ups and many more have been visited by most viewers between one to five online ads as for free web content every hour. But no matter how effective the online advertising is, still, majority of the business owners and consumers would go for the outdoor promotion. Hence the old traditional way of advertising is still the most effective way of promotion and one of good example is the banner. What makes it more effective than the other modes of advertising? First, it is inexpensive. Second, it is simple and can have a striking appearance in exposing the message the advertisers wants to convey or the products wanted to be exposed outdoors. Outdoor advertising is still the huge trend in the world of advertising since not all individuals are using the Internet.

Banderoller is actually one of the respected names in the world of banner manufacturing particularly in advertising. They have a lot to offer. Their banners are created from 550 grams banderollers, with good durability and good color prints. Basically, banners are defined as the long strip of cloth or paper used for decoration or advertising. The banner offered by Banderollers comes with special eyelets that can endure extra stress.
Banderoller banners are made from the most durable materials that can withstand too much pressure created by various weather conditions.

If Banderoller is well known in outdoor advertising, Vepor is the leading name in in-door campaigns. One of their great masterpieces is the verpa - a thin permeable fabric made material that is commonly used in daily speech indoors that allows light. It is an ideal tool in promoting a brand or profile particularly in the book environment or stores. It is also commonly found in furniture stores and other public places. Choosing vepa means giving you a lot of options. Here you can also suggest putting the message at the back. But unlike Banderollers, vepa was made from lightweight materials, which makes it easy to set and carry. Plus, it has a perfect print quality. So having these two reliable names connected to your business, campaign or any kinds of promotion is definitely a wise move. Banderoller and Vepor, remember these names.

Banderoller and Verpo: the Inexpensive Tools in Promoting Your Business

by Clint Jhonson)

Many small businesses owners nowadays struggle in order to find ways to significantly promote themselves. In fact most of them would rather explore the internet; they create web sites about their businesses and put such sites on top. However, some of these local small businesses have very limited budget which makes the task more difficult. But there are actually several potential ways to promote your business either online or not. Although there are now millions of online users, still the traditional way of promotion is still a wise move. Some of the few good tools to expose your business names or profile are by using the Banderoller and vepor. They are commonly known as banners. This is why many banner agencies are sprouting from the streamline.

Utilizing the traditional Banderoller and vepor is one way of captivating potential clients and customers. It is actually one of the most prevailing forms of advertising as well as marketing brands. It pulls the consumers to buy your products. A banner or a banderoller comes in various sizes. It is intended to lay an immediate impression upon the observers' mind as well as to convince them to find the answers to their questions. Just like the banderoller, the vepor attracts the people by significantly incorporating very attractive and eye-catching components in it.

The banderollers are basically the super-smooth plate outdoors solutions. They come in simple and striking designs which are also an inexpensive tool to put on your message, product or even an event that you want to exposed outdoors for a very limited time. These banners are durable and provide good color print. They can be affixed on a fence or on trees. Banderollers are also available in special eyelets use for mounting that can withstand much extra stress. The vepor on the other hand is a type of banner that is used indoor. It is made up of thinner polyester that allows light. It is neat and an ideal tool that you can use if you want to raise your business brand profile, stores or product. A vepor is commonly seen on public places such as bookstores, perfume shops and many others. The materials that are used in creating such are light which makes this banner type easy to set and carry, however, you can also order a vepor that is made up of thicker materials.

3 Magic Words that Boost Ad Response

by Will Dylan)

3 Words that Boost Ad Response Key to success is avoiding hype For the small business owner, advertising is a critical expense that helps to drive customers through the doors or to a website on the Internet in the hopes that they will spend their money. With tight ad budgets, small businesses need their advertising to payoff every time. Ads that result in no sales are simply wasted money. There are countless online articles that tell you to use the words free, guaranteed, and limited time offer in your advertising to boost sales. They work, however the ongoing overuse of these words has reduced their effectiveness somewhat. When youre writing your next ad, keep the following advice in mind when if you plan to use these key advertising terms. Free Getting something for nothing has universal appeal and is a strong attention getter. Where most businesses fail is that they give away something that is essentially useless, leading customers to believe that your business falls into the same category (i.e. useless). For example, many websites give away free e-books, in order to entice potential customers to visit their site. The e-book itself is usually loaded with advertising and links to the website, and contains very little real, valuable information. If youre going to advertise a free giveaway, make it a legitimate, valuable item. If its an e-book, try not to make it a shameless self promotion piece that doesnt add any value to your customers. In fact do the opposite make it somewhat valuable. Use the quality and value found in your e-book to inspire your potential customer with confidence that you offer a quality product or service. A credible free giveaway of any kind that has value and contains no shameless self promotion will be a huge credibility boost for your business. Guaranteed Customers appreciate the safety and security that comes with a satisfaction guarantee. All reputable retailers and businesses have some type of return policy, because they know that it will encourage customers to buy, and only a small fraction of people ever bother to return anything. They key to guarantees is to be reasonable. A 100% money back guarantee is reasonable. So is an exchange policy or warranty against defects. Some of the more recent guarantees that have emerged in advertising, especially on the Internet, are actually a turn off to a potential customer. A double your money back guarantee usually makes customers wary of the seller. Why 200%? Is that what it takes to generate a sale, and if so, how good can this product or service really be? When it comes to guarantees, mirror those offered by the industry leaders in your business, and dont go too far. Limited Time Offer If youre going to offer your customers something for a limited time then follow through on your promise. Customers dont appreciate being lied to. If you state that your special offer expires tomorrow, then follow through on your promise and rescind your offer tomorrow, even if its only temporarily. When a business consistently offers limited time deals week after week, customers lose faith in the credibility of the business. Anyone who jumped on your offer believing that they only had a limited time to take advantage of it will now feel that you were not honest in your advertising and will not likely give you additional business in the future.

10 Ways to Get Your Flyers Noticed

An inexpensive way to promote your services is to create various flyers and distribute them wherever you go -- pin them to the bulletin boards at the library, bookstore, handout out at networking events, or playing tennis. Here are 10 tips on how to get your flyer noticed and remembered.

1. Include your picture. People like to connect with others visually. Color is great, yet black and white is fine too.

2. Hook your prospective buyers with the headline in the top line. For example, read about ______ as it really is! Give them a reason to read the flyer. Show those benefits!

3. Testimonials that appear authentic are very important. For some, testimonials that include a two or three-line quote with initials, last name, and a state are not perceived as authentic. Make this area two-fold by adding a call to action along with authenticity. You can use, "visit my web site for additional testimonials and live links to contact these people."

4. The flyer needs a call to action. What do you want someone to do once they read the flyer? Call? Visit web site? A common mistake is to omit the benefit they get for taking that action or to place it somewhere else in the flyer and not next to that request (call to action).

5. Add praise instead of testimonials. Praise does not necessarily talk about what the flyer topic is discussing. It can be for something else you do.

6. If selling a product, make it easy for them to purchase the product. Show how they can order online, via fax, or by phone. Here is a great example of some language: "3 Easy Steps to Order." Make sure you tell them when they can expect to receive the product. For skeptics, offer them a URL link to get more information.

7. If they can purchase directly from you and you have your product on hand, write that down on the flyer. Here are some of the things I write down: "You can usually find me at Borders every Friday between 3 PM and 5 PM if you want to discuss anything (or purchase the product)." I do one for the library as well. I place a flyer on their job board. It takes the library staff at least 3-5 days before they discover it.

8. The headline must grab the reader and the first paragraph must hold them. You have three seconds to accomplish this. If you are looking for a specific target market, find out what words/phrases will get their attention and write to that audience. If you are not sure change the hook for different target markets and leave the rest of the flyer the same. Experiment with several to see what works until you get the response you want.

9. Carry at least 25 flyers with you in a plastic sealed folder. This protects them from the elements and keeps them fresh. Place a piece of cardboard in front and in back for stiffness.

10. Use the blank side of the flyer to write notes. People hold onto them longer. Recommend a book, web site, or referral. You can write a code for a special discount or complimentary session. Give them a meaning for the code and ask that they provide it when they e-mail or call. You can even ask them to enter this method into other tracking systems. Design the codes so that they reference something to you. Like 10 for all those at a certain event or 20 for their target market match. Then you can put them together:

10 Ways to Get Your Flyers Noticed

Are You a Passive Advertiser?

by Pamela Geiss)

What kind of a marketer are you? There are many ways to advertise. Some we are very familiar with, such as hype. There is a LOT of hype on the Internet. And I'm not going to tell you that hype doesn't sell, because it does. You see it on TV every day. Someone yelling outrageous claims. And some people respond to that type of advertising. It moves fast and furious and tries to get to you through your emotions, hoping you will act BEFORE you have the chance to think it over. There are many infomercials that work this way. All of a sudden before you know it, you are caught up in the excitement of it all. And it works! But just because it works, is it really the way to go about it? Many businesses think so. They are looking at numbers. The more sales they bring in, the better the ad was, in their opinion. But if you did a study, how many of those who bought came back to the same place to buy again? How many were really satisfied with their purchase? Just because there were no returns, or few returns, is no indication that a customer was satisfied with his/her purchase. Many people just don't bother to ask for their money back, for one reason or another. The real "proof in the pudding" is how many of the customers refer their friends to that business? How many of them come back to make another purchase? The businesses who will ultimately survive are the ones who have repeat customers. Most companies who do infomercials aren't concerned with repeat buyers. Many of them offer one product that doesn't lend itself to repeat buying. So for them, hype works. I have always been of the opinion that if it takes hype to sell it, it isn't worth much. If you have a good product, you don't need to hype to sell it. And after a few customers buy, they will help to do a lot of selling for you by referring your services to others and by coming back to you to buy again. When you resort to hype to sell your product, you exaggerate what your product does, and in doing so, you will find customers who are not satisfied once they buy your product. Why? Because you made it sound better than it is and they expected more from it than they got. You may even find that you have a lot of returns to deal with. Returns will also be a factor if you "push" your customers into buying. Infomercials also work this way. "Buy within the next 10 minutes and you'll not only get this, but this and this, too!" Buy today and you'll get this special price only available today." When I have a sale on my site, I put the end date on it, so you know for sure it's a true sale and not a "push" to get you to buy today. Some sites say, "Buy today. Sales ends today." And they give a date, but if you bookmark it and go back tomorrow, you will see that the sale ends tomorrow. That's what a good software program will do for you. Just remember, if it's good, it will still be there tomorrow. Spend some time checking it out. Talk to others who have used it. When you are honest with your customers, they will appreciate it and learn that you are a person of your word. My Dad once said to me, "Your word is the most important thing you have. Never promise anything you can't deliver." Advertising is the same thing. Never promise anything you can't deliver. Let your product sell for you. You can get them to your site without hyping them: try different ads until you get one that is getting results; buy guaranteed visitors; advertise in different places. Then let your site sell for you. Don't hype your potential customers - be a passive advertiser.

Free advertising for your website

by Jamey Perkins)

Every day hundreds of people build a website with hopes of making a fortune off the Internet. They may be new to building websites and end up with something simple and plain, or they may even be an experienced web designer. No matter what the case, they build their website, and hope that millions of people come to buy whatever they are selling. This is where the reality of owning a website hits them square in the face. Nobody comes to their site. They don't get any traffic and they soon forget their dream, and go back to living the life that they have come to know. It doesn't have to be like that. There is a way to generate traffic to a website, and you don't have to spend a ton of money doing it. Most people that try to start a small business online don't realize the competition they are up against until they are knee deep in it. They try to put some ads on other websites to generate traffic, but soon find out that they just do not have the money that it takes to place an ad on a website that will generate enough traffic to make it worth while. They resort to exchanging links with anyone that will trade with them, and still nothing happens. It begins to get expensive and frustrating, and it doesn't take long until they give up on the idea. However, what they should have done was concentrate on their own website a little more. Not just how it looks and whether or not it has fancy little pictures and animation on it, but how it is structured, and how it looks to a search engine. When a search engine looks at your site, what does it see? Well, it does not see all of the pictures and time consuming graphics that were put into it. A search engine could really care less if your site has the most awesome looking logo that has ever been created. It only wants content. Content is what it craves, and content is what propels your website into stardom on the Internet. A little time in preparing your website with some  simple search engine optimization could have saved you a lot of time and money. It may have even helped you to create a website that would have made you the money you dreamed of. Content is what draws the attention of a search engine. Without it, your website is just a small little fish in a giant fish bowl. Search engines look for new content to be added, and then they watch for people searching for content that matches yours. That is how you begin to receive traffic to your website. It will not be just random traffic either. It will be traffic that was searching for what you have, and traffic that wants to see more of it. With any luck, they will like it enough that they will do some advertising for you. Maybe they will post a link to you on their website, or maybe they want to tell their forum buddies about what they found. Wherever they do it, it is free advertising for you, and a link on the Internet that just might draw another customer. You can still pay for advertising, and you can still ask other sites for a link. However, now your are doing it with the confidence of know that what you have to offer will be something that they will want to see, and something that they might even want to share. It is about creating something that search engines and visitors want, and it is about giving your visitors something to take with them when they leave. It is free advertising, and that is the best kind.

What Is The Spider Web Marketing System?

Promotional Keyrings Last a Long Time for Your Advertising Message

by Alexander Calvin)

A great idea for summer time promotional merchandise is a cooler with your business name and logo. Visit www.ideasbyet.com and look under the promotional bags section to find a wide selection of coolers available. Promotional keyrings could be just the thing to give to prospective customers to advertise your business.  Most people have many different key rings that they use for different things, depending on how many locks they use. Each time they reach for the key ring, they will see your company name, logo, and contact information. Its a good way to make sure that people see your name and company information from time to time. The promotional keyrings are a very affordable type of advertising for companies, big and small. If you can find a key ring that reflects the type of business you have, the memory of your services will be even more easily triggered. When you go about choosing your key rings, choose something that is similar to what your business is. If you paint houses, choose rings that look like houses or something related to homes.  Promotional keyrings can be handed out at trade shows and various events.  You can also keep them at the main desk in your building for potential and current customer to take when they visit. Key rings are rarely thrown away, since people tend to segregate keys, depending on their use.  This make a promotional keyring a popular choice for a giveaway. A great idea for summer time promotional merchandise is a cooler with your business name and logo. Visit www.ideasbyet.com and look under the promotional bags section to find a wide selection of coolers available.

Is Digital Signage Worth It?

by Richard n Williams)

The growth of digital signage is hard to escape with its implementation seemingly covering every sector, from retail to finance, industrial to transport, this new media seems to be everywhere. There also seems to be a myriad of different applications for USING LCD and plasmas Advertising is amongst the most widespread of these but it is also being used for information, point of sale, maps and location finders, warning messages and entertainment. But digital signage is not just about aesthetics of 'catching the eye' there is much more benefits in using digital out of home media (DooH) such as: • Grab a customer's attention and influence their purchasing decision even up to the point of purchase  • Less expensive than creating and distributing print ad campaigns.  • Flexibility to change promotions immediately  • Tailor messages for various products or particular customers  • Non retailers can sell advertising space  • Influence customer behaviour  • Provide important information  • Aesthetically, the technology creates a better company image  • Better visibility for warning signs or important information However, there are negative aspects of digital signage that every company should before implementing the technology such as: Digital signage software and hardware can be expensive so due consideration should be taken for potential returns of investment (ROI) Any LCD or plasmas has to be protected in outdoor and industrial areas this can easily be done by using an all weather or IP65 LCD enclosure. In conclusion only you can decide if outdoor advertising is worth your compan's investment but whether its to aid sales, inform customers or staff or just replacing the tired old information boards there is probably a digital signage solution available.

Conference bags for promotional merchandising

by Alexander Calvin)

People pick up a lot of goodies at a conference. A promotional conference bag is a handy item for them to use. A great idea is to advertise your company by placing your logo on the bag. You could keep the promotional space all to yourself or share the bag and the cost with other vendors.  Letting people know the agenda for seminars and classed always helps a conference go smoothly. Why not have that and other convenient items more accessible in a promotional conference bag. These bags can be previously filled with what you and other vendors want to add and ready for pick up as people walk in. One thing is for sure, your conference bag needs to endorse all aspects of your particular  convention. You can check out all the different types of bags out there. Some are made to last longer than others, you definitely want to find the best buy and quality for the money. Depending on what your vendors will be handing out at the conference, consider using plastic bags with logos on them. You may also want to offer nicer bags for a fee, or free, depending on your budget. Bags will be important to your conference attendees.

Do you make these 5 mistakes when writing your sales copy?

by Gary Glasscock)

Writing copy has sometimes been compared to an art. While it does take creative skill to write great copy that generates results, there are some mistakes that you should avoid to make sure that your copy is read and acted upon. 1.The copy is boring. Great copy will never be boring and will always get the reader to read the entire message. It is engaging and written in a conversational tone. It bypasses the readers mental resistance to being sold and will always generate results. That's why the best copy that you read, is always the ones that read like a good book. They tell a story and bring the reader along your sales process. 2.The copy is all about you. Copy that is all about the features of a product, or all about your service will fall flat on its face. The reader will not finish reading the copy and will in all likelihood toss the letter in the trash. There goes your marketing budget to the landfill. It would be more profitable to donate the money to a deserving charity and have a press release written about how you or your company is concerned about people's welfare. No, your copy must tell the reader what's in it for me, WIIFM. You must show the reader what the result of using your product of service will be of benefit to them. They could care less about you, so keep yourself out of it. Now, there are times when you must tell about yourself or your company. And that is used to generate credibility, not to make the sale, and it must come after telling the reader the benefits of using your service or product. Only then will the reader be interested in hearing about you or your company. 3.Has no clear call to action. You must spell out what you want the reader to do. If you want to reader to fill out your order form, give them specific instructions on how to do it. Tell them exactly what to do. Don't dawdle around and say, Just fill out the order form to get your... No, no, no. Rather tell them that they need to give you their name, address, etc. on the order form, and make sure you tell them to print on the order form, that way it will be easier for you to read. I'm not saying that prospects are dumb, but you must give them specific instructions on what action you want them to perform. 4.Has a week P.S. The PS is the second most read part of your sales letter. Restate the benefits the reader will enjoy by ordering your product or service. Throw in an extra bonus here as well. For example, Order in the next 5 days and you will also receive (fill in the blank). And if you want to make sure that you have a strong PS write it before you write the body of your letter. That way you won't be tired of writing and scratch out a hurried PS. 5.Has no testimonials. Without testimonials (and we're not talking about the Oh I just loved your service kind of testimonials) your copy has no credibility. Why should someone believe what you are telling them if there is nothing to back up your claims? Without testimonials your reader will assume that you are hyping them. That you are claiming to be something that you are not. You must have testimonials to help your reader/prospect believe in you. Survey your customers to get good specific testimonials so that you can sprinkle them throughout your copy. These are just a few mistakes that I've seen people make when trying to write their own copy instead of hiring a qualified copywriter. A really good copywriter will avoid these mistakes like the plague. Examine the copy you have on your website or in your sales literature. Does it make any of these mistakes? Chances are if it is making any of these mistakes then it is making others that will jump off the page to a well-trained copywriter's eye. Don't make these mistakes yourself if you decide to tackle writing your own sales copy. If you do, you will be doomed to fail at the outset and you will be wondering why your copy isn't converting more prospects. Link subscriptions, product data feeds and automated reporting files will be delayed during system maintenance window 6.4.2010 In conjunction with the scheduled system maintenance this weekend, all automated files scheduled for delivery on Saturday, June 5th, 2010 will be delayed. This delay will impact all link subscription files, product data feed delivery and any automated reports you have configured. We expect all automated files to be updated and delivered by Saturday evening. ----- View the Dads & Grads Offers - newsletter ----- Welcome these new advertisers to Google Affiliate Network Polar Home and Patio Decor Center SnapTotes SafetyWeb Paul Frederick Menstyle Rhino Entertainment Test Equipment Deport Aspen Publishers ----- Notice the new Links Beta? Check it out and provide your feedback in our Help Forum ----- Read more about the new Links Beta

Secret Money Making Strategy - Learn How to Write Powerful

by Michael J. McGroarty)

As simple as this sounds, 99% of all the business owners in the country just plain don't know how to design and write good advertisements. And that includes most of the biggest companies in business. If you have any intentions of operating a business of any kind, learning how to write advertising copy is the most important thing you must do. It quite literally will make or break your business. It is the difference between just barely hanging on, and profiting wildly. I don't how to tell you how important this really is. Looking back over everything that I have learned about making money, without a doubt, the one thing that has brought me the greatest amount of success, is knowing how to write powerful advertising copy. It really is, by far, the greatest money making skill I possess. I will gladly teach you what I know about writing advertising copy. We'll get to that a little later in this manual. For instance, just recently I ran a small advertisement in our local newspaper. It's not a big paper, only about 60,000 readers. The ad was 2 columns by 3" inches. At $38.25 per column inch the ad cost me $229.50 to run it just one time. It brought in over $4,000.00. That's 17 times cost! I challenge you to clip any ad out of your local paper, contact the merchant that ran the ad, ask him or her how much it cost to run the ad, and then ask them if it brought in 17 times that amount. If you can find a merchant that reports their ad is pulling at even 5 times cost I'd love to see the ad, because the truth is most advertisers are happy if their ad breaks even. They figure that as long as they recover what they invest in running the ad, the exposure they get makes it worth while. Although that may be true, what would you do if you had an ad that actually earned $2,000. profit every time you ran it? You would run it as often as you could, as long as it continued to make money, right? This is where business owners everywhere are killing themselves. Early on when their business is new they test different methods of advertising, if they are really lucky they get favorable results and will continue to advertise. But in many cases they don't, and they convince themselves that their business is not like other types of businesses, and newspaper advertising really won't work for them, and they never bother to test newspaper advertising again. It doesn't matter whether you advertise in newspapers, magazines, on billboards, or on the internet, the difference between your ad making really good money and being a total flop lies in how the ad is written. What offer are you advertising? Does the prospect understand what the offer is? Did the prospect even see your ad? Did you tell the prospect exactly how to buy? Each of these elements, plus a number of others determine how well your ad will pull. Many businesses survive for years and years, and the owner manages to squeak out a living, but how well would they do if they really and truly put forth a major effort to learn how to really write powerful ads. I can assure you the difference would be unbelievable. That's the problem. So unbelievable that most business owners just don't believe that it will make even a small difference let alone a major difference. They are so, so wrong! Learn how to write powerful advertisements and you will prosper for the rest of your life!