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5 TOP Proven Ways Of Driving Traffic To Your Website As Practiced And Used By Successful Internet Marketer Around The World
copyright reserved @ 2005 Ben Tiew Would you like to get in on one the Internet's biggest secrets to getting visitors to your website for free? There are many “hidden” secrets that big-hitter "gurus" use to drive traffic to their website and...
Affiliate Program As It Should Be
Every off- or online business has a target of growing its market share. Under all other equal conditions the percent of the market, occupied by a company, means certain level of recognition, brand, exposure and, therefore, sales and income. ...
At Least 7 Success Tips For A More Profitable 2004, Online
"I learn something new every week - do you?" Well that's how I started my first Success Tips article in 2003, after my very first successful year online (2002), as a full-time affiliate marketer. Whilst 2003 has been a challenging year...
Fight For Online Visibility
Would you like to prevent Internet users from visiting your website? You may feel that you're asked a silly question. But then think about why so many investors are silently watching how their web projects are doomed to invisibility from the...
How cloaking your links can save you both time and money
How cloaking your links can save you both time and money
(c) 2005 Hannes Johnson
You've most likely seen them in ezines, websites, etc. and quite
possibly clicked on a few of them. If you've been in affiliate
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How to Drive More Targeted Traffic and Sales than Mini-Sites and Gateway-Pages Combined – Anytime
Many top gurus promoted mini-sites as the cheapest and easiest way to make a profit from an affiliate program. Nevertheless, in spite of good intentions, it’s well known that true-lasting success with the search engines, (Google, Yahoo, MSN,...
How to Enhance Quality in Your Business
Every business must strive to provide quality products and services to customers. To achieve that objective the company must draw well thought out policies and procedures to ensure 100% achievement of the targets. Here are some tips to ensure...
How To Make The Most Out of a Business Networking Event
You’re not alone. Most people are uncomfortable walking into a roomful of strangers. But networking at business events can help you grow your business, as well as allow you to do hands-on marketing research. Learning to mingle and to...
Real Estate Development Marketing - A Specialist Article For Those Interested In Real Estate Development
From the desk of Colm Dillon ... Author of "Residential Development Made Easy" Real Estate Development Marketing! When do you start? As soon as you open your 'baby blue eyes' every morning! "The Easy Part of Property Development is...
What Rich Internet Marketers Know That You Don't
Thirty years ago, I sold information via small classified ads in "ad-sheets" on how to make money teaching others how to make money. We sent out these packets of flyers called "Big Mails." We sent them to people who answered out ads and sent us...
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How to Get Your Small Business to Succeed
When I’m in Omaha on business, I stay with an old friend, Richard. This is how our day begins. “I’m going for doughnuts,” he says. “What would you like?”
Much as I hate to begin my day with doughnuts, I also love to begin my day with doughnuts … and it can’t hurt once every six months or so.
“Where are you going I ask? Krispy Kreme? Dunkin’ Doughnuts?”
Richard tenses up. “Corporate doughnuts?” he glowers. “No way. I go to 5 AM Doughnuts.”
Richard is a small businessman and one of his principles is to patronize other small business owners when he possibly can.
Take Advantage of What You Know
Did you ever think about this? If you run a small business, you know many things:
·How hard to you work.
·The exceptional service and products you offer.
·How hard it is to compete with major chains, corporate “stores,” and discount franchises.
·That, therefore, you must be exceptional.
·That you offer a better product for a decent price, better service, and a greater value.
·That if people don’t patronize your business, you’re not going to make it, and your neighborhood will lose a great asset.
It happened in the town where I live overnight. For years we had been patronizing “locals.” There was a wonderful book store with a quaint name and unique appearance. The woman who ran it was the owner’s son and had taught elementary school for more years than I had been alive. When I went in there with my son, in elementary school at the time, she lavished attention upon him. She would go and get a book she recommended and place it in his hands. She would tell him why he would like it (or tell me why it would be “good for him”) with glowing eyes and enthusiasm in her voice.
She knew her stock, she loved books, she loved children, she knew parents … and when the store went under, when the big book stores moved in, our community lost a great asset. My son and I felt the loss personally.
There are ways in which small businesses can’t compete. It’s hard to get the price down to the rock-bottom that larger chains offer, but sometimes there are much greater benefits, and you will get more value for your dollar. That woman had a knack for picking books for a 10 year-old boy that helped feed a lifetime love of learning. Yes, I was teaching this at home, but you know how it is – confirmation from someone other than “Mother” works well.
Your Policy as a Small Business Owner
If you have a small business, consider making it your policy to patronize other small businesses. Look for the local book store, local hardware store, and yes, the “5 AM Donuts” store on the corner.
From your website, to photography, to clothing, to the corner pub or ethnic restaurant, you can often get a much better experience at the local level. Small business owners are free to meet the specific needs of the community, and sometimes a lot more interested in doing so.
In marketing and graphics, especially, you will often get a far better deal with an independent owner. Having worked both on my own, and for marketing companies, I saw what went on behind the scenes. A website designed by a talented individual who cares has a special feel to it – the personal touch that’s needed for selling on the Internet. When you contract with a large operation, your account may be signed over to the lowest person on the totem pole, and you’ll get a cookie-cutter product churned out by someone under time pressure, not free to reach for excellence. There are incredible deals on website design out there from individuals working alone, and this
is just one example.
The Stores
Small business owners often staff their store themselves, or with family. It is rare that the owner isn’t around a lot – either actually working, or just hanging out to make sure things go well, and to greet customers and get to know their patrons.
If you think about it, there are still some areas where you simply don’t see franchises. I could be mistaken, because I live in South Texas and haven’t been everywhere in the US yet, but I’ve never seen a franchised Greek restaurant. In my town, at least, the local Greek restaurants are absolutely superb, including the totally best French fries and salads in town, not just the “Greek food.”
They are all family-owned and either staffed by family, or the owner is always there, and his family is often sitting at one of the back tables, the children doing homework, the wife “pitching in.” With such attention to detail, you know things are going to work well, and if there were some incident needing addressing, there’s no trouble “talking with the owner.” He or she is right there, in your face.
Small business owners are heavily invested in their own businesses and this often produces a high level of excellence. If they don’t, they won’t make it. We expect a higher standard from them, and we get it.
It’s no secret that it particularly shows in the staff. It’s common to walk into a major chain and find salespeople who are not familiar with the products, not well trained in either sales or people skills, and decidedly disinterested in serving customers or making a go of the concern. Also you may not see the same salesperson twice in a one; the turnover is high.
Small businesses don’t have the huge advertising budgets large chains do. They’re dependent upon word-of-mouth and it shows. They can’t afford to alienate a customer who makes it into their store. You are noticed and valued.
“Texas” Candy
I had out-of-town company this week, and was playing tourist in my own town with her. In one stretch of highway crammed with “buy here” stores, we stopped at “Texas Candy.” This was my friend’s request. She wanted a “Texas experience,” and yes, we got one.
The woman behind the counter in the small and divine-smelling store, had put out samples of everything they sold. Except the cinnamon rolls which we could smell and which, she said, were warm from the oven. Could we resist buying some?
Beyond the samples, we were an “event” in the small store. Company had come! She chatted with my friend and gave us a warm experience, with superior product well-presented. We would’ve missed so much if we’ve stopped at the store that begins with an S and is on every highway in the US.
My friend is still talking about how “friendly” Texans are!
Patronizing other small businesses makes a statement, and shows your commitment. At the same time, you learn. A small establishment which manages to make it – restaurants particularly having a high failure ratio – is doing something right, something you need to know about it you want to succeed.
The TAKE HOME POINT AGAIN: If you want YOUR small business to succeed, patronize OTHER small businesses, and let others know.
About the Author
©Susan Dunn, marketing coach, http://www.webstrategies.cc . Ebook writing and launch, web strategies, marketing and promotion, press releases, web design, writing copy, brochures, article-writing and submission. Full-service, consultation and implementation, advice and resources. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for free ezine, put “checklist” for subject line.
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