Stimulate Sales

The Little Known Marketing Secret Weapon That’s Free For The Taking

By Yanik Silver
www.SurefireMarketing.com

===================================

By now we’ve all become accustomed to the “bonus pile on”
that’s almost a required part of any online offer. But even
though it’s quite common place, never forget that adding
extra value to your offer is essential – especially when
you’re selling information products.

This bonus concept is so important, I have frequently taken
something out that I was originally going to put into the
product just so I could use it as a bonus. Bonuses really
do sell (if you handle them the right way)!

Most people put some lame bonuses in that have been “around
the block”. A bonus can’t just be an afterthought. It’s got
to be part of your initial offer strategy.

I know a lot of people struggle with bonuses so here’s an
easy way to develop bonuses with high perceived value. Just
look for public domain works you can repackage.

I love public domain bonuses for many reasons. First,
they’re completely free – you don’t have to pay anyone to
write them. Second, they’re often truly unique – with
millions of pages of public domain material available,
you’re bound to find a “sleeper” on a great topic.

And best of all, they can jazz up just about any old
information product. Even a commonplace how-to course can
seem extra special when you’ve added some “vintage gems” as
bonuses. Talk about an underutilized marketing secret
weapon!

Here are just a few ways to use public domain materials as
bonuses…

Software – Believe it or not, many software developers
don’t copyright their works because they want them to be
free for public use! Check out what’s available by typing
“freeware” in your favorite search engine. Don’t forget to
clear the rights with the author first.

eBooks – Even if you can’t find a public domain work on a
related subject, inspirational and motivational topics go
with just about anything. There are thousands of public
domain works that fit into this category, from words of
wisdom to prayer books.

Government publications – US Federal works (and some state)
are in the public domain, and they are an absolute gold
mine. For example, when I created an anatomy drawing book
for artists (also in the public domain material!), a little
quick searching revealed government lists to grants for
artist. People love free money, making this an awesome
bonus with a high perceived value!

Diagrams, patterns, technical spec sheets – While finding
these may take a little more digging, they’re perfect for
marketing to hobbyists, crafters, or collectors. If you’re
selling a how-to guide to hand quilting, just a couple of
vintage quilt patterns will make your audience swoon. Or
what about diagrams or specifications for antique car parts
or vintage airplanes? Here’s one instance where your
audience might grab your product simply to get the bonuses!

Drawings and photos – The copyrights on many old
illustrations and antique photos have expired – or they
were never copyrighted to begin with. Bundle these graphics
into themed sets to complement your product. While scanning
in old artwork may be a bit time consuming, this is one of
those “work once, reap the rewards forever” products.

Finally, here’s a bonus for YOU. Remember that the more
unique your public domain bonus is, the more likely you can
package or even sell it in its own right! Sometimes
something as simple as changing a title can give your bonus
even more perceived value.

What a great way to breathe new life into those old
forgotten works… and pile on value-added bonuses that
justify a premium price tag for your product!

(c) Surefire Marketing, Inc.

==========================================================
Yanik Silver is recognized as the leading expert on
creating automatic, moneymaking websites…and he still
doesn’t know how to put up a website.

He is the author, co-author or creator of several best-
selling online marketing books and tools, including his
definitive guide for finding and profiting from public domain:
http://www.PublicDomainRiches.com/?55370
=========================================================

Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

KISS Marketing – Knowledge & Imagination Stimulate Sales

Marketing on a Shoestring Budget–this article is not about money. Instead, it’s about identifying and using free and low-cost tools and resources to tell the story about you, your company, your products & services, and the value you provide your customers.

Marketing is everything you do to promote your business, from the moment you conceive it, to the point at which customers buy your products or services and begin to patronize your business on a regular basis.

So, marketing is not just about advertising and spending big bucks – it’s really anything you do, anything that people see, anything that people experience about you, your products and your company!

Here are some freebies (or almost free) tools you can use:

• Your products and or company name – create a compelling name that helps prospects to see/anticipate the benefits of buying from you
• Your phone greetings – don’t oversell–just provide a brief, but enticing and informative, message
• The way your staff greets customers – should be pleasant, friendly, you’re happy to see them
• Establishing yourself as an expert by speaking, writing articles, volunteering, etc.–in other words, demonstrating to people that you are an expert.
• Use the principles from the Law of Attraction. Develop a positive and happy-to-do-business-with-you image/culture in order to attract the same types of customers you want
• You–your appearance
• The quality of your work and your products
• Word of mouth – motivate satisfied customers to pass the word!
• Network, network, network! In person and through online social networks.
• Develop a powerful ‘elevator speech’ that quickly establishes the benefits you provide, who you provide them for, and who you are. This message is crucial…so, make it work for you so that people are begging you for more information!
• Establish and nuture your brand.

There are many more free or almost free marketing-on-a-shoestring-budget tools, but this will get you started!

SEND ALMOST-FREE COMPANY ADS WITH YOUR EMAILS

KISS Marketing Strategies: Knowledge & Imagination Stimulate Sales

A great KISS marketing strategy is ‘email enhancements’.  According to an article in the May 2009 Inc Magazine, the average employee sends 38 emails a day.  As the employer and business owner, this may sound distressing since it means the employees are sending emails instead of the work they are being paid to do.  But, what if you could turn these ‘messing around on the job’ activities into a marketing opportunity.  Because face it, if an employee’s job requires them to use the computer and they have access to the internet, the chances are great they will sneak in a few – or 38 – emails throughout the day!

So, why not turn this wasted time into marketing opportunities?

WrapMail is one of several services that insert a company’s advertising into emails.  These ads end up going to vendors, potential customers, existing clients, colleagues, and friends.  As a result, you and your employees become de facto members of the sales team.  Companies create banner ads, add them to a template and specify which web page should appear when someone clicks on an ad.  With WrapMail, employees don’t need to install anything; the ads are automatically added after the person hits ‘send’.

Recently, other services and products have been introduced, including mailPrimer, Exclaimer Signature Manager, and BrandMail.

I think this is a great KISS marketing tool to use – especially if you have employees.  According to a survey conducted by Forrester Research, 77% of people say they are more likely to trust information sent to them in emails from people they know.  This means recipients are more likely to pay attention to your ads that they receive from their friends or colleagues.  And even if they don’t want to receive the ads, recipients can opt-out.

With WrapMail, the cost is attractive, and fits into the low-cost KISS marketing strategy.  For companies with 200 or fewer employees, the cost is only $5.00/user/month.  So, bottom line, ‘email enhancements’ are definitely an easy, low cost way to get your ads in front of current and potential clients.  See if this works for you.  Check out their sites:  WrapMail.com.

An important KISS (Knowledge & Imagination Stimulate Sales) marketing strategy is to make sure that all of your published materials reflect the company’s positioning,  brand and image.  This includes your business cards, which can be one of your low-cost, high-impact ‘little’ marketing tools.

***

For many entrepreneurs, business cards are an overlooked, under-exploited, and grossly underrated marketing tool.

But they’re making a comeback! (And for so many great reasons.)

If yours isn’t a critical component of your marketing arsenal right now, here are 6 reasons it should be… and why a great business card can do so much more for you than a mediocre one.

1. They’re inexpensive – That’s right. Business cards are one of the most inexpensive, cost-effective marketing tools you’ve got. That means they’re capable of delivering incredible return on investment. At just pennies a piece why have a weak one, when a great business card can deliver many times the response?

2. Ultimate Versatility – Give them to anyone.  Attach them to anything. Use them in countless high impact situations. They can cater to new prospects, current customers, or referral sources, and they can vary for whatever particular promotion you need them for. Compare that to most ads that run once, in one place, and they’re done for good.

3. They’re portable – Business cards are a marketing tool that you can carry around with you everywhere you go. And frankly, you never know when the next golden opportunity will present itself where it will serve as your first impression and reminder. A great business card gets the job done in this situation. A weak one gets thrown into a pocket where it’s quickly forgotten.

4. No red tape. No commitments -  Let’s face it. Most marketing mediums require a lot of red tape – like sales agents, deadlines, contracts, and a host of other things most business owners prefer not to deal with. Business cards on the other hand couldn’t be more flexible or commitment free.

5. Staying Power – How many people do you know that keep ads and put them away for safe keeping? Not many. How many people do you know that hold on to great business cards, or stash them safely in a book for future recall? A weak card may get lost or forgotten, but a memorable one has a tremendous amount of staying power and can generate business for you years after you give it out.

6. Referrals. Referrals. Referrals. – You’d be amazed how many great ways your business card can be used to generate referrals. Plus, it’s super easy for your current customers, business associates and referral sources to transfer your card to someone who needs it. But that doesn’t mean they will. A great business card gives your recipients a reason or incentive to share it with others, or it’s original or compelling enough that they share it with friends and associates anyway.

Any way you slice it, there’s no reason to walk around with a weak or ineffective card in your wallet. A great business card makes a bigger impression, is remembered longer, and gets more people to use it… or share it!

“Great business cards generate more business!” says expert Alan Saltz. Isn’t it time yours made a bigger, more lasting impression? Check out this site for response boosting business card secrets, examples, and unique business card ideas that are sure to get noticed, and get results.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_873640_15.html