Is Your Client Anyone Willing to Pay You?
By Maria | August 19, 2008
Many business owners market to everyone and anyone. The “think” this will get them more business.
How wrong they are!
Do you describe your clients as…
Willing to pay.
Breathes
Has skin
Anyone
Everyone who..
When you market to everyone you’ll attract “clients from hell.” They’ll eat up your precious time, they won’t trust you, they’ll nickle and dime you AND they either won’t pay you on time OR they will run out on you without paying.
Here’s the thing. If you work with every prospect that comes to you; you’re not working smarter — you’re working harder. You WANT to tell people who aren’t ideal “no”.
You WANT to attract great clients.
No one wants to create an ideal client profile — until they feel frustrated and resentful at the type of clients they are getting. No one wants to work dumbly, but if you don’t have an ideal client profile, I can tell you that you’re doing just that.
Corporations have them and small businesses can have them, too. Create your ideal client and you’ll market smarter and make lots more money.
Come listen to Carma interview me about Ideal Clients during her Turbo Charge program. The teleseminar is free and will be held on August 28. Visit the Elevating Your Business University now.
Can’t wait? Click here to learn more about creating your ideal client profile today.
Topics: Articles & Tips | No Comments »
It’s not JUST about the money!
By Maria | August 18, 2008
Recently, I received an invitation that really caught my eye…and in a minute I’m going to
pass that invitation on to you as well. But first, let me tell you how this came about…
a woman named Suzanne Holman, who has been following my work,
contacted me to see if I would like to be interviewed in her new
Living YOUR Million Dollar Life TeleSummit.
I decided to participate and here’s why…
I was really impressed with the remarkable lineup of successful…
AND highly respected professionals in a wide spectrum of disciplines…
Nancy Michaels
Ellen Britt
Debbie Allen
Bill Losey
Maria Marsala
Marcia Reynolds
Alexis Martin Neely
Robert Middleton
Alicia Forest
Suzanne Falter-Barns
Elizabeth Boyle
Mari Smith
Secondly, the theme of the program was compelling;
it isn’t just another interview series but offers something more.
Suzanne is inquiring into what these speakers have been doing
over the years that has brought them to their Million Dollar Lives,
fully expressed and making a difference in the world.
How they have faced life challenges and gone beyond them to be where they are today.
Reserve your online pass now at:
==> http://www.suzanneholman.com/Maria
Living YOUR Million Dollar Life TeleSummit is the 12-week program that
Business Coach and Mentor Suzanne Holman has created to give you
exclusive access to some of the world’s leading experts.
Suzanne brings her own wisdom from over two decades of
mentoring, teaching and coaching as well as her life experiences.
These well known speakers have promised to reveal
THEIR personal strategies that will help you to achieve the kind of life
you envision for yourself…
YOUR Million Dollar Life…and it’s not JUST about the money!
What’s incredible is that the entire 12-week TeleSummit is available to you for
NO COST. You’ll receive weekly notices of the scheduled calls with
information to phone into a conference call line or listen via a webcast on the internet.
With the webcast, you don’t even need to pay any long distance…
no matter WHERE you are in the world!
Reserve your free online pass now at:
==> http://www.suzanneholman.com/Maria
LIVE in-depth interviews!
Our speakers will be teaching you cutting edge information on how you can:
*Get your message to the people who can most benefit from what you offer
*Have a successful business and still have a life you love
*Get the support you need so that you can concentrate on your unique strengths
*Upgrade your money beliefs to allow for greater financial success
*Develop strong, supportive relationships in all areas of your life
*Use new social networking venues to connect globally in an innovative way
*Connect with corporate sponsors to support your work
*Handle stress without compromising your health and happiness
*Develop your passion even if it is not your primary business
*Leave a legacy in all aspects of life…financially and in every other way
…and so much more!
The Living YOUR Million Dollar Life TeleSummit begins
Thursday, August 21st at 8 PM Eastern/NY
Get this written into your planner now!
Seats are limited so reserve your place early…
and did I mention that for a limited time…..
the Million Dollar TeleSummit is…
totally FREE! Sign Up Now At:
==> http://www.suzanneholman.com/Maria
Here’s to your turbo charged success!
Maria Marsala
P.S. If you can’t make the live calls on Thursdays,
Register anyway…all calls will be recorded for your later
listening…but only if you register!
Plus.. you can also listen via the internet.
NO long-distance telephone calls required!
Topics: Events | No Comments »
Do you work with affluent women?
By Maria | August 14, 2008
For the first time ever, Annette Bau is offering her “Double your Income Working with Affluent Women” webinar to business owners who are not in her training program.
When I spoke to Annette this week, although she’s like me — has a financial service background, this offering will also assist those outside the industry — especially if you want to work with affluent women.
If you want to work with affluent women, this may be the most
important and valuable two hours you’ll ever spend! I hope to hear you there!
Join us on August 21st, 2008
2:00–4:00 p.m. PDT (and Arizona)
3:00–5:00 p.m. MDT
4:00–6:00 p.m. CDT
5:00–7:00 p.m. EDT
To register , click here
Can’t attend? No problem- each paid participant will receive an audio download of the call.
This insightful webinar provides the highlights of Annette Bau’s 8-week, Affluent Women Training Program and draws from my more than 20 years of experience working successfully with this rich niche market.
The first 90 minutes of this career-changing webinar will dramatically increase your ability to attract and succeed with some of the most sought-after clients in the financial services industry.
You’ll learn all this and much more:
• How to determine which type of affluent woman you’ll be most successful with
• How to market to affluent women based on the unique ways that they make decisions
• How to use the Ask-Learn-Riches questionnaire process to become the advisor of choice for your clients — and their referrals (It’s a fact that 70% of affluent women fire their advisor within three years of their spouse’s death.)
• What products work best with the different affluent women types
• How to automate your relationship and follow-up and better leverage your time
• Examples and strategies that you can begin using right after the webinar to build your business and start making you money.
Join us on August 21st, 2008
2:00–4:00 p.m. PDT (and Arizona)
3:00–5:00 p.m. MDT
4:00–6:00 p.m. CDT
5:00–7:00 p.m. EDT
To register , click here
Can’t attend? No problem- each paid participant will receive an audio download of the call.
The final 30 minutes of the webinar will be a Q&A where you can ask your questions to marketing expert Annette Bau.
Still not convinced? Here’s what some of the advisors have said about this fast-paced, fact-filled event:
“Excellent webinar! Your passion came through loud and clear…This was probably one of the best and most well-organized webinars I’ve ever attended. Kudos to you!”
– Sherry K., Sr. Vice President (Major Broker Dealer)
“The value of Annette’s marketing expertise is second to none. She has the ability to look at marketing both strategically and tactically. The systems that she teaches and implements give you the tools to retain clients and maximize your referrals…automatically!”
– John Cabello, Cabello Home Loans (Mortgage Officer)
To register , click here
“Excellent and inspiring.”
– Peter P., (Insurance Agent)
“Annette is a dynamic speaker, leader, and powerful woman of wisdom
and insight…When in her presence, listen carefully — you will be inspired.”
– Kyra Baehr
“Great webinar!”
Darrin S., (Financial Advisor)
“The benefits I received from the webinar were, the value of choosing to be branded or generic, finding what your niche is, understanding and knowing the personality of your clients, making sure that the activities are income producing and not just paper shuffling, the flow of the seminar was great, it wasn’t too fast paced and I was able to take good notes, to always look to network with others and have bonus’ available to offer prospects, all the moderators complimented each other very well and gave great information and insight from their perspective
Altogether it was a very, very good seminar – I walked away even more excited about all of the possibilities/opportunities of doing this business.”
Pat Beasley (Assistant to Financial Advisor Coach)
-Clear flow and process
-Great actionable suggestions - from Google alerts to read Keith Ferrazi (we worked together at Deloitte, BTS) to SOC
-One of the best points is to really know your audience and meet them where they are
-Love your anniversary idea
-You come across congruently and in integrity
Nalini Indorf Kaplan (Financial Advisor-Owner ProReNata)
“Thanks for such a great call! This was great practical information on how to reach this affluent market. I have had an interest for some time in developing this niche but needed a more practical “how to” approach. You certainly provided that and I appreciate it!”
Laura C. Collins (Financial Advisor Provident Financial Security, Inc)
Join us on August 21st, 2008
2:00–4:00 p.m. PDT (and Arizona)
3:00–5:00 p.m. MDT
4:00–6:00 p.m. CDT
5:00–7:00 p.m. EDT
To register , click here
Can’t attend? No problem- each paid participant will receive an audio download of the call.
To Your Continued Success,
Maria Marsala
We help business owners earn more and work less by creating business systems that work when you aren’t! Learn more at http://www.ElevatingYourBusiness.com
Topics: Events | No Comments »
Does Your Marketing Lack Luster?
By Maria | August 14, 2008
Let me ask you a couple of questions:
“Does your business attract all the clients and customers you want and need?”
“Do many of your clients and customer buy from you again and again? Maybe even becoming your raving fans?”
If you answered “No” to either of these questions, I think I know something that can help you out.
I’m participating in a special two-week teleseminar series featuring myself and five of the world’s leading experts in understanding your market and creating messages that speak to their greatest pains and most cherished desires.
And you can listen to us for FREE!
To learn more, click here.
To Our Success!
Maria Marsala
http://www.ElevatingYourBusiness.com
PS: Would you believe this is only the beginning? Click here to find out more.
Topics: Events | No Comments »
Ten Ways a One-Page Business Plan Helps Expanding Companies
By Maria | August 11, 2008
If your company is expanding or just starting, this planning article is for you.
Know that you already have a plan. It’s in a place where it’s causeing you more overwhelm and mistakes then it’s helping you. It’s time to take your plan from your head and put it in writing and I have the process for you to do just that.
This business plan process is strategic and tactical. IT NOT complete unless you take the plan you’ve created and turn your actions into results that can be monitored.
Know that the results of this simple planning system isn’t used to go after funding — if that’s what your company really needs. However, if you are seeking funding to start or expand your business and the thought of creating a 30-page plan is overwhelming, this plan is for you. AND prospective investors don’t read longer plans when you meet them; they want you to tell them something in 2-5 minutes and require something shorter and to the point, and this is a great short tool.
When you create a plan for the first time, what you’re really doing is taking what’s in your head and putting it down on paper for you to see. A very good thing, but not the whole story if you’re looking to grow your business.
Using the book, you’ll update your plan 3-4 times after meeting with those business owners who are supporting your business with their input. Done this way, the process should take you 20 or so hours to complete your plan. Then a couple of hours to create a scorecard fro your objectives and a project management system for your action plans.
Just creating a first draft will help you, no doubt about it, but it’s not the optimal. Seeing what’s in your head is important. You’ll be able to do what I did the first time I created a plan. I saw that I had great stategies and objectives — but they weren’t working for me.
When you work with a certified one-page business planning consultant, they’ll be much better able to help you take your plan to even higher levels — they’re training in the methodology. Through brainstorming, questioning and bringing in new ideas. Then they’ll provide you with accountability each month as you execute your plan. (Yes, I’m a certified consultant)
Use software called Point, Click, Plan! and your draft is completed in between 90 and 120 minutes. Your one-page consultant will provide you with the software. The software provides you with templates as well as 40 objectives and strategies to consider as you create your plan. The software helps you to think differently. Many times, those changes are necessary because you’re creating your plan go do business differently. Using the software and a consultant, you can create your first draft in less than 2 hours and perfect it in less than 10 hours.
As you see, when time is tight, using the software and a certified consultant to create your plan will cut the time it takes to create a plan in half.
Home based or micro businesses, create this type of plan “bring the boss back into the business” since most solo-business owners end up being employees more than the boss.
Small to large companies and corporations use this type of plan in a variety of ways, and I’ve created a list of ways below.
Executive Teams use it to take the level of communication up many notches when these plans are shared because everyone has a real clear picture of what each member is doing. And when a company uses the online system for performance management (to monitor their objectives and action plans), no longer will meetings start with “where are you at” instead they’ll start with “how can we help you get to ….” or “what do you need to help you”. Why does it change? Because each member has access to each members plans.
10 Ways to Use the One-Page Methodology
1. Create a company plan
2. Create department/unit/division plan.
3. CEO creates a plan for their positions within the company.
3. Employer creates a new position within the company.
4. Problem employee creates a plan for their position with sign off of their manager.
5. Employees to create their job descriptions and responsibilities.
6. Create a plan for big projects.
7. Future business owner to determine the viability of creating a business.
8. Create a company exit strategy.
9. Create plans for the short term - 1 year
10. Create a plan for a new service or product.
As you can see, there are many ways that business planning can help you grow your company today.
(c) 2008 Maria Marsala, Elevating Your Business Maria is available to help companies get focused and be accountable by creating a one-page business and marketing plan 1:1 or through a group process virtually or at your next business meeting or retreat. Contact her at 360-271-8418 or via http://www.ElevatingYourBusiness.com
Topics: Articles & Tips | No Comments »
Book Review: Go-Giver
By Maria | August 9, 2008
I first heard of Bob Burg years ago, and I’m pretty sure it was either on Warrior Forum or Blake Forum. He was offering copies of his book that was in it’s third printing — for free. I’m not the type of person to say “no” to a free business book, especially when it’s on a marketing topic. The book as “Endless Referrals”, excellent book by the way, consider getting it, too, but that’s not the one I’m reviewing here 
This year I had the honor of taking his 3 or so hour seminar in Seattle and part of the fee paid for his new book “Go-Giver“. The book was kinda thin (I thought to myself) as a read the back cover (and the description sounded intriguing) and before he signed it.
But because it was a thin book as far as business books go, I figured it wouldn’t take long to read it; very true. You’ll agree with me that not all business books are good bedtime reading, but I’d recommend you read this each night before you go to bed. I actually wish I had someone to read it with! I had the greatest sleep!
The book gets you thinking about the “Laws of Stratospheric Success”, and I’d recommend going to sleep on one law a night. But at the end, you might do what I did. I though I knew what the ending would be when there were 10 or so pages left. My eyes wanted to close, but I said screw it –I kept on reading.
Now, I’m not going to ruin the book for you, however, I’ll tell you it’s not your usual type of business book. Like the “Emyth Revisited” and “Who Moved my Cheese” it’s a story that happens all the time in life or business.
Joe, the main character, does business the way most business owners do — they become lone rangers. Then he learns quite a few life changing lessons about business and life called the “Five Laws of Stratospheric Success”. They’re simple concepts and I bet you’ve heard them all, but now you’ll get to see them in action. Great reminders of what life and business is all about.
I highly recommend this book as one that is thought provoking, makes you look inwards, and is gentle business reading. It makes you take a look at how you’re running your business and life — or not!
Sometimes good things come in “thin” packages! Read Go-Giver” and then come back here and comment on it.
The Go-Giver, A Little Story About A Powerful Business Idea, By Bob Burg and John David Mann
Listen to Anna Farmery interview Bob as he talks about the book here.
Topics: Articles & Tips | No Comments »
How Much is Your Computer or It’s Information Worth To You?
By Maria | August 2, 2008
Two years ago a laptop was stolen from a NYS agency that included my personal information. For months I didn’t know it had happened — not until they sent me a letter. And to rectify the problem months after an article hit the newspapers about the theft, the agency paid for 1 years membership for thousands of people to monitor our credit reports, costing them thousands upon hundreds of thousands of dollars.
You’ve probably heard of other situations like this; maybe your information was taken, lost or “whatever”.
With more of us dragging around our laptops AND with so many home businesses AND with acts of God happening more and more, it’s possible you’ll loose all your business information at LEAST once if your lifetime.
What’s a business owner to do?
For many years, I protected my information the hard way.
First I have to say that I have computer files going back to 1981 — true! (Although I don’t think I’ve used any files in the past year that were more than 6 years old)
My old system for safekeeping looked like this: Records transferred from floppy’s to hard floppy’s and then to CDs.
Where do I keep it all?
a) One of my best purchases is an external hard drive. I keep no document files ON my desktop or laptop. Having everything in “one” spot is a good thing when you have more than 2 computer; and EVERY business owner should have TWO computers and TWO printers — at least (one as a back up)
b) I have two sets of CDs with all my old information. One set is with a close friend across the country (for when mother nature hits, I didn’t want all my records to be kept locally). I send her 1 new CD once a year or every six months when I remember. (Which I admit is NOT often enough).
That’s a lot of work and thought to keeping my business files safe.
Today, thank goodness, we have Mozy. For free, you can test out quite a bit of space, 2 gigs. Consider trying it on for size. And learn what it’s like to have peace of mind no matter what happens to your computer.
Then once you’re ready to spend the $5 per month! (yes you read that right) on your documents safety, put aside two hours and upload all your files. It will take your computer time to upload the first time; but afterwards, if you only upload changes or new files every other day, or daily, it can be done without you realizing it’s being done. Just schedule it!
Give Mozy a try.
Topics: Articles & Tips | 1 Comment »
Roadmap To Accelerated Business Growth — Free Event
By Maria | July 23, 2008
Roadmap To Accelerated
Business Growth
It takes a One Page Plan
Attention: Entrepreneurs, Professionals and Business Owners
Are you ready to a Turbo Charge Your Business? How would you like a step-by-step comprehensive business and marketing program to chart the growth of your businesses all on just One-Page?
The big secret is out! 250,000 CEOs, presidents, founders, executives and the “best” managers use it. It’s a tool to help small business owners with millionaire minds. Its what big companies like Disney, Morgan Stanley, State Farm, IKON Office Systems, Tillamook Cheese and the YWCA use and you can use it to grow your small business too!. Now you can write a clear, concise and understandable business and marketing plan—simply, easily, and all on one page.
Join Maria Marsala, Business Strategist and former Wall Street Trader, on July 29, 2008, at 4pm PST/5pm MTN/6pm CST/7pm EST and you will:
ü Discover 9 ways a business plan can help all you — whether you’re seeking funding or not!
ü Visualize a comprehensive planning process that provides focus on what’s important, and helps set daily priorities.
ü Learn the five simple questions a business plan needs to answer that help save time and money.
ü Leave the call with a well thought-out draft of a vision statement; and
ü Understand how to design business objectives that are motivating and produce results.
More About this event:
Marketing strategist, Andrea Blackwood-Harriott has put together an ‘A’-list of 12 of the best marketing experts who are spilling the Secrets on how to Grow a Business, Build Income and Design an Extraordinary life. One of the experts is Maria Marsala.
Learn what small business owners like you, who have created their own plans with Maria’s help are saying
about this planning process below…
Learn more and register to attend at
http://www.mentoringtomastery.com/maria
Your one day planning program, along with the many insights and business therapy you provided, helped me see the forest through the trees. Thank you for the really great thought-provoking day.
Ahmad Mohazab, Principal, Architect
TECTA Associates, San Francisco, CA
http://www.Tecta.com
“It helps to have a plan. I’ve accomplished more in four months than I did the entire
previous year. I feel so much more focused and my income has doubled.”
Joan Runnheim, Career Strategist
Pathways Career, Hudson, WI
http://www.PathwaysCareer.com
“… an educational, thought provoking and fun business day! You did a great job of thinking from the frame of mind of each attendee. The marketing strategies you recommended are both affordable and doable. Your style is easy to learn from and I look forward working with you in the near future.”
Jodi Macko, Senior Florist
Woodland Florist, Duvall. WA
Senior Florist, Woodland Flowers
http://www.woodlandflowers.com
“Using the planning resources I was able to quickly create a draft of my business plan prior to the event. At the event you provided much additional information which helped me refine my plan and your personal insight and input was greatly appreciated.”
Kee Nethery, CEO,
Kagi, Berkeley, CA
http://www.kagi.com/index.php
Topics: Events | No Comments »
What causes webinar attendees to bail….?
By Maria | July 20, 2008
http://www.marketingsherpa.com/1news/chartofweek-07-15-08-lp.htm
While I have questions about the survey results, it’s a good first start of learning what others feel are bad webinars.
Topics: Articles & Tips | No Comments »
40 Ways To Drive Pre-Qualified Visitors To Your Website – And Keep Them Coming Back!
By Maria | July 4, 2008
In 1998, promoting your Web site was a very easy process. You placed three lines of code called “meta tags” on the top of your home page and submitted your site to the free search engine (Yahoo) or online directories. Fast forward to the present. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) – yes, they have their own names now! - have become a time consuming project; There are software programs that reportedly help you increase your rankings and an entire field has cropped up of practitioners who call themselves Search Engine Optimizers.
However, it’s not enough to just drive traffic to your web site. You must make your web site “trustable” or all that traffic will disappear. The ideas below will provide you with some ways to help you both bring traffic to your site and keep your ideal clients coming back for more of your services or products.
It’s also not enough to drive “any old traffic” to your site. You want pre-qualified potential buyers. When your ideal client (target market, niche) visits your web site, you want them to feel special — to know that they have arrived at the place that will help them overcome a problem they’re having. So make them feel special. Target your marketing directly at them.
Before you spend money on software, learning about SEO, or on specialists, see which of the these less complex ways can help bring traffic and business to your site.
1. If your web site sells high-end services or products, but the site itself looks like you took MS Word and threw something up “just because,” people will leave your site, no matter what you’re selling. There are many hosting programs that will help you create a first professional looking web site. Not a programmer? Look for hosting packages that include wizards or content management programs to help you create a more professional looking site. (Although I do recommend hiring a professional as your best choice.). Heck, I can show you how to create a simple website, a first website, in 48 hours for less than $125! Click here to learn more http://www.ElevatingYourBusinessU.com
2. Remember that the most important part of your web site is “above the fold.” It’s first section of your site someone sees when they visit. So grab their attention with emotional headlines that tells them they’ve come to the right place and you’re the best company to solve their problem.
3. OK. If you’ve created a web site and have no way for your visitors to become part of your community and learn from you, you are better off NOT creating a site. What good is all that traffic if they leave your site and forget you exist? The answer is to place a subscription box above the fold for your visitors to join your newsletter. Include an offering of a free report, assessment, audio, ecourse or something else that will help them learn something new and get more importantly, something that helps them learn more about you and your company, too. Oh, forget about providing a link on the page that makes visitors click to subscribe to your newsletter. Remember, the more clicks someone has to make to do something, the greater the chances that they will move on.
4. Don’t create an online newsletter (ezine) unless you’re willing to send it out at least once a month. Never any less. Best is once a week or every other week. If you’re not a writer, stick to black & white newsletters and write a short tip and use an article you obtain for free at article banks. Hate to write? Learn how you can get free articles at http://www.ArticleBanks.com
5. Swap Ads: Find another ezine published who has the same ideal clients as yours and see if you can place an ad for your ezine in their ezine for free, and they would then place an ad in your ezine for free. Just make sure that the person who owns the other ezine isn’t your direct competition. Instead, look for companies that compliment your service or product.
6. Ask your webmaster to name each of your pages using a keywords that describe what’s on the page. The keyword is the most important word on the page. They’re words the search engines will use to find that page. Example: www.YourDomainName/WhatIsOnThePage.html If you’re ready to learn more about Search Engine Marketing, email me. I’m considering teaching a class on the subject. I’ll put you on the announcement list as soon as I choose a date for the program mailto:maria@elevatingyourbusiness.com?subject=SEM_Class
7. Offer added values that make sense to your business and ideal client. This can include articles or tips, affiliate programs, ebooks, resources, and books. For books, be sure to choose a source company that provides you with additional income if someone purchases a book from that site.
8. Add a “add to favorites or bookmark this site” script to some of your pages.
9. Add a “Recommend This Site” on your web site. If someone visits your site and knows someone else who may appreciate it, this feature will e-mail the page’s link to a recipient.
10. If you have pages on your site that you update monthly (like an articles page or recommended links page) say so on the page. Even offer an email list especially for those who want to be kept updated when you update the page.
11. Provide a subscription box to your online newsletter on all your pages, or at least your most viewed web site pages. You never know which page someone will find when they conduct a search on their favorite search engine. They may find you on a page inside your website and they’ll never know that you have a newsletter unless you tell them.
12. On large Web sites, create a “What’s New Page” or, even better, design a “Site Map” (a listing of what’s on the most important areas of your web site) for your visitors. You can see a sample site map page here www.ElevatingYourBusiness.com/sitemap/
13. Make it easy for everyone who visits your site to contact you. Way too many web sites have forms or email addresses posted but when you click on them, they don’t work! OR get this. Some website have graphics instead of email addresses. When you try to click on the link to email them, nothing happens! These are either lazy or unknowledgeable business owners. I say that because there are ways to protect your email address from spammers and harvesters; it just takes a little more work and knowledge. I recommend that you create an email address just for your web site and have a contact form created so that potential clients can contact you. Have the form encrypted, making it harder for the “harvesters” to gather your email information and if you start getting spam, change your email address and the encryption on the form. Learn more about how to encrypt email addresses here http://www.CoachMaria.com/articles/index2.html
14. Search engines look for certain things - titles, heading, meta tags - so it is crucial to make sure your site is “search-engine friendly.”
1. Title tags: Title tags should be 60 or so characters and include keywords.
2. Header tags are numbered from 1 to 7: some search engines recognize header tags, so make sure you use these tags for each of the titles on your page.
3. Keyword Meta tags: Add no more than 15 to 20 keywords to keep the search engines from flagging your site for keyword spamming. Prioritize your words. The best way to submit to search engines is to submit to each engine individually.
4. Use keywords in the text area of each page. They are especially important at the beginning of sentences and closer to the top of the page.
5. To learn more about meta tags, titles and other Search Engine Marketing tips email me and I’ll put you on the announcement list for my next SEM teleseminar mailto:maria@elevatingyourbusiness.com?subject=SEM_Class
,
15. Search engines do not find your site unless you submit your site’s information to them.
a. My best recommendation is that you submit to search engines individually (this is the way I do it and it works great, but is time consuming)!
b. Some people prefer to use a free service to submit their sites to search engines. If you do this, I highly recommend that you open a free e-mail address to use when you do “anything” for free on the World Wide Web.
c. You can pay for a program that will assist you to submit and critique your site.
d. You can also hire a Search Engine Optimization expert to handle your search engine submission.
16. Visit these search engine information sites and learn more about search engines: http://www.searchenginewatch.com and http://www.searchengineguide.com
17. Find easy and secure ways for your clients to pay you. A shopping cart and a secure way to accept checks and/or credit cards is your best bet. Just using PayPal as a 3rd party merchant account is not enough. Some people want something different. Instead, look into having two 3rd party merchant account or a 3rd party merchant account and your own merchant account as alternatives.
18. Check your links regularly to make sure they all work. Use a free link checker like Xenu, which I’ve been using for years. It’s available at http://home.snafu.de/tilman/xenulink.html.
19. Provide bulletin boards (forums) or blogs to build relationships and community. You’ll find resources for both at www.TheResourceQueen.com
20. Conduct periodic contests and announce the winners in your newsletters. This will get you new subscribers because your readers will tell their friends about the contest.
21. Offer a free e-book or e-report on your site. Its size doesn’t matter if you’re providing it for free and it’s specifically for your ideal client.
22. Write articles, post them to your site, and submit them to article banks. Learn more about these banks at http://www.ArticleBanks.com
23. Build a strong, solid business foundation. Design a business plan, marketing plan, ideal client profile, and 30-second elevator speech. Why? First and foremost, these tools will help you recession proof your business. Secondly, you’ll be very clear and focused on your business and its message and your web site will reflect that. Third, the words you place on your foundation pieces could be used on your web site and you’ll have consistency in your message. Read articles about plans, ideal clients, and elevator speeches at http://www.CoachMaria.com/articles/index2.html
24. Design some quizzes or surveys. Statistics show that visitors love online quizzes and assessment tools. Make sure that you have a way to capture email addresses and provide the visitor with the results of the form, too.
25. Participate in online forums or bulletin boards as an expert, moderator, or member. You get to “quietly” promote your business in your 3 or 4 line signature. For bulletin board resources, visit http://www.TheResourceQueen.com
26. Place your web site address on all your printed literature — business cards, brochures, newsletters, letterhead, ads - everything!! but only if you have a web site that is viewable. Don’t follow this suggestion if your web site is under construction! Instead of helping your business, you’ll annoy folks who come to visit your site.
27. Promote your web address in your signature for e-mails and change your signature regularly to highlight something new you’re promoting.
28. Teach classes or speak to groups about subjects relating to your service or products. Bring a sign-up sheet for your newsletter to the event.
29. Attend networking events locally to bring people to your site. Be careful when networking online. It can start getting addictive. Make sure that all your online marketing produces results. If not, use an idea that will leverage your time better.
30. “Permission Market” by gathering, in writing, the e-mail addresses of students, or an audience, as part of your evaluation forms. Create index cards so that you can invite your friends, networking partners or associates to join your list. Keep any papers involved in this process for at least a year or two so if you have to prove that you have not “spammed” someone, you’ll have the back-up.
31. When your web site is launched, updated, or you write a free e-book, send a press release to the media, your clients, friends and associates.
32. If this list of promotion ideas seems overwhelming, visit your favorite search engine to conduct a search for Search Engine Optimizers and Consultants or ask others who they use and recommend.
33. If you want people to register to gain access to free information on your site, know that freebie seekers don’t like doing this, which is great for you! Who goes into business just to give away the shop? But if you do it right, your ideal client will be happy to join your newsletter. If you want to increase the odds that people register for your free content, offer valuable information and don’t create a form that asks for their life story.
34. Tailor your site to the disabled and those with very slow computers. When placing a graphic on a page, Include “alt” image tags with a written description of what the picture represents. When possible, use keywords in the description, too.
35. Include a site map. Site maps help some search engines to find you. At the very least, they help your visitors learn more about you and your services which, in turn, means they’ll stay on your site longer.
36. Scrolling: Ever gone to a website and had to scroll to the left to right because someone made the page too wide? Most likely you scrolled your way to another site. People don’t mind scrolling up and down for good information or products. But they never like to scroll left and right on a page. No way, no how!
37. Pay per click (PPC) This is a whole other field of advertising on the web that is worth looking into. Google and Overture are the most well know in the PPC field.
38. Blogging. The search engines like blogs because they like pages that are updated often. To learn more about blogging, http://www.theresourcequeen.com/favorites/websitetools.html
39. Attend networking events and provide some sort of postcard advertisement that will bring others to your web site. Maybe give out a sample. Or a gift card. Or even a notice of a free audio they can download from your site.
40. Promote your newsletter or services in Craig’s List under Small Biz Ads
Do I use all of the above? EGADS No! However, if you visit my website you’ll see plenty of the suggestions you’ve just read. Main thing is that it’s extremely important to market to your ideal client and not all of these suggestions may “hit YOUR target market.” The choice is yours to choose (and monitor) which forms of marketing online will bring your “ideal clients” to your website. If what you’ve done work, so be it. If it doesn’t work, I’ve give you plenty of other ideas!
Remember, it’s not just traffic that’s important to bring your website. Anyone can figure out ways to bring traffic. What you want is to attract quality visitor. What you want to do is attract your ideal clients to your website and it’s the relationship you build with them that counts. Because those relationships will turn readers into clients. And since we are all FOR PROFIT businesses that’s really what we all want. More great clients and the cash that comes with having them!
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© 2008 Maria Marsala, founder of Elevating Your Business, and a Business Strategist, Speaker and
Author draws on her Wall Street trading experience and 30-plus years of business success to help
business owners nationwide. Her specialty is helping business owners build bigger, better businesses
by streamlining the parts of business they choose to ignore—planning, administration, marketing.
Maria’s written more than 200 business and Internet articles and has appeared on TV & radio shows on
both coasts. Her most recent venture is the CD series “Corporate Secrets for Small Business Success”,
a self-coaching system in a box. Visit us at http://www.ElevatingYourBusiness.com and
http://www.BusinessAndMarketingPlan.com
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