| Where
does Direct Mail fit into the marketing plan? |
The simple answer is "everywhere." Because,
direct mail enhances and supports all marketing efforts,
from advertising, public relations, selling, market
research, distribution and of course the Internet
and all electronic media.
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| Do You
Make Your First Impression Your Best Impression? |
Within the first three seconds of a new encounter,
you are evaluated… even if it is just a glance.
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| Don't
Think Branding. Think Brand Power. |
As a business owner, you are savvy enough to know
that branding isn't just for large multinational
corporations. However, when it comes to branding
there is still too much attention given to colours
and designs and not enough given to achieving brand
power. Visibility and repetition are the keys to
success and can even overcome average designs.
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| Simple
Techniques for Media Interviews |
Most of us have found ourselves in awkward situations
where we, or others, said something that ground communications
to a halt. Or, we've left a meeting wishing we'd
said more to advance our position but couldn't find
the appropriate transition to continue making our
points.
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| Professional
Firms are Scared to Talk |
One of the most noticeable changes in City life
in the past decade has been the willingness of professional
firms to put themselves about. When I started in
this business, accountants, lawyers, chartered surveyors
and actuaries were not even allowed to advertise.
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| The Importance
of Search Engine Optimisation/Search Engine Marketing
in business to business services |
Is Search Engine Marketing cost effective enough
to increase profits for B2B marketers? As you know,
B2B transactions differ from most consumer transactions
because these decisions require coordination between
a number of different personnel before the final
transaction is made. Therefore, the process requires
a period of time between researching the product
and placing the order. It’s an ongoing rather
than snap decision.
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| Understanding
Your Web Statistics |
Analysing your web traffic statistics can be an
invaluable tool for a number of different reasons.
But before you can make full use of this tool, you
need to understand how to interpret the data.
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| Own
a Colour |
In creating your logo and brand identity, never
overlook the importance of choosing the right colour.
When a customer looks at a logo, his/her mind goes
through a sequence of visual perception. The brain
first reads shape, then colour, then content. So
theoretically, the colour in your logo is more
recognized and potentially more powerful than the
company name or tagline.
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| A
15-Point Checklist for Your Ad |
- Does it follow the "Five-Second
Rule"?
Can readers immediately figure out what you're selling? You really have
only three seconds - because it takes two seconds to turn the page and
they will. Busy readers won't struggle to figure out your pitch. The Rule:
You have a total of five seconds to show them - clearly - what you're selling.
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| Get Me On Google! |
In this article, you
will find information about:
- Google PageRank
- Search engines & keyword significance
- Googlebots and freshbots
- Optimizing your pages
- Content updates: ‘a page a day will send
Google your way’
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| What is
Podcasting? |
Podcasting is quickly
becoming a buzz word among marketeers. So what is podcasting?
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| What is
Email Stationery? |
Email stationery consists
of an HTML template which fits into your Outlook or
Outlook Express package.
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| Interactive CD-ROM
Brochures |
Have you ever considered
the benefits of having a CD Brochure instead of the
usual and sometimes boring, glossy brochures that most
firms produce?
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| The Mysterious
Niche Market |
The Niche Market is a
shy creature. It hides away, watching for the opportune
moment to leap into your spotlight when its name is
called. Then it comes running. It's very friendly and
loyal when you get to know it. But treat it like any
other creature or call out the wrong name and it runs
away again into the shadows.
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| The
Science of Selling |
Many people seem to
believe that selling is the province of people with
the “gift of the gab”. Oddly enough,
nothing could be further from the truth. Whilst a
sales person needs to be a good presenter, which
can involve talking, it is more important that they
be a good communicator.
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| 10
Tips to Help Your Audience Fall Asleep |
Have you ever fallen
asleep when listening to a speech or presentation?
Sometimes a little nap during a
presentation can boost your energy for the rest of
the day. Speakers- if you want to be the one to send
your audience to sleep, so they will be fully alert
for other people’s presentations follow these
ten tips.
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| ‘We’re
gonna live forever’ |
The art- or is it science?
- of PR has long mystified many people. The latest
candidate for cheesiest press release of the year
comes from Worcester.
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| Relevant
Marketing |
In study after study,
customers have stressed that, regardless of the sender,
they’d rather not see adverts.
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| How Customer-Focused
is Your Website? |
You’re
at a networking event. The stranger next
to you strikes up a conversation.
It only takes
a few minutes before you realise: “This
person’s completely self-absorbed.” No
matter how hard you try, every topic leads
back to them. Soon, you find yourself inching
away.
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| Your
Business Card is a Marketing Tool |
You're at a networking
meeting and someone asks for your business card. You
hand them a fairly typical card with your company's
name, your name and title, and contact information on
it. What happens next? Do they get in touch with you?
Do they become a client? |
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| The importance
of keeping your web site updated |
According to Business
Link, in a report recently published, Britain’s
small businesses are failing to get the most out of
their on-line presence. Research by BT Openworld shows
that a quarter of small to medium size businesses are
at risk of losing customers by relying on out of date
web sites. The most common areas of neglect being news,
services information and up to date contact details. |
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| Pricing
Strategies |
The pricing strategy
of your business can ultimately determine your fate.
Business owners can ensure profitability and longevity
by paying close attention to their pricing strategy.
Commonly, in business plans, the pricing strategy has
been to be the lowest price provider in the market.
This approach comes from taking a quick view of competitors
and assuming you can win business by having the lowest
price. |
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| The Secret
to Attracting and Retaining Excellent Employees |
It’s no secret
that the challenge of finding high quality employees
in today’s tight labour market is on every business
owner’s mind. What does appear to be a secret
- given the typical response to this challenge - is
what to do about it. |
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| 7 Ways
to defuse angry customers |
It's the nightmare
that every businessperson experiences: a shouting match
with a customer or client.
Flush with frustration over something gone wrong, the
client or customer flies into an uncontrollable rage.
Complaints crescendo into shouts, accusations fly and,
sad to say, an occasional profanity slices what little
silence remains.
Although every businessperson needs a bucket of water
to douse these sorts of fires, it's hard to know where
to reach amid the flames. Here are seven at-the-ready
responses that may help tame even the most unpleasant
situation. |
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