Which Lead Tactics Work Best

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The worst number in business is one. If you have just one source of leads, it is only a question of time when the price per click goes up or the targeting options change or the viewership of the publication changes.

Because of this, you want to have several lead generation mechanisms in place. This way, if something happens to one of them, the other ones will continue working for you and generating new leads. This article will introduce you to five tactics you can use in your business.

1. Media Buying

Media buying is the process of negotiating and purchasing advertising time and space.

The secret to successful media buying lies in knowing your audience. One of the biggest mistakes a marketer can make is to advertise a niche offer to a broad market. The ad campaign will be expensive and the response will be small. This is not how you want to run your campaigns.

You need to know the age of your buyers, their gender, level of education, income, family status and interests. You also want to know what publications they read, how they spend their free time and what websites they visit.

Once you have this data, you can start making intelligent choices about how and where you can advertise to them. One of your goals should be to find media that are not obvious to your competition. This way you will be able to purchase space and time at reasonable rates (because the competition is not yet there) and be the only advertiser in your category in that media.

If there are certain media that you would like to use for advertisements, but can’t afford, call them or email them and tell them how much you can pay. Often, you’ll be able to get a last-minute offer if one of their advertisers pulls out and they have some free time or space. Many media are very negotiable as to how much they will sell advertising for. This is not something they advertise upfront, but if you negotiate, you will often be able to get a great deal.

2. Affiliates

Affiliate marketing is a great way to market products and services because in affiliate marketing you don’t have to pay for advertising upfront and you don’t have any risks.

Typically, you pay for advertising or lead generation activities first. These activities generate leads. Then, you have to do the work to convert the leads into paying customers. If the work is successful, only then you get your money back and a return on your investment.

This is not how things work in affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketers do all the work for you. In exchange, you pay them a percentage of the sales or a pre-agreed amount per sale for all the sales that they make.

The best way to use affiliates is to scale your sales systems that are already working. Nobody wants to pay money to test something that is not proven. While you may get affiliates to test your offers, if they lose money, they will not work with you again. If, however, you have a system that works and need more leads or need to convert more leads, then working with affiliates is a great way to go. You will make more money and your affiliates will make money, which will make them want to work again with you in the future.

3. Social Media Marketing

Today there are all kinds of social media, from Pinterest to Facebook to Twitter to LinkedIn. However, this does not mean that you have to be everywhere. You need to be where your customers are. If you are selling a consumer product, you probably do not need to be on LinkedIn. If you are a high-end executive recruitment boutique, then being on Pinterest may not be a good strategy for you.

Find out where your customers spend their time. Then, get in front of them.

The good news is that social media today offer a variety of tools and ways to reach prospects and existing customers.

Using Facebook Pixel or Google Tag Manager, you can mark everyone who visits your website or certain pages on your website. You can also create audiences based on sequences of pages that people visit, videos they watch, elements of pages that they click on and parts of the pages they scroll to. Then, you can retarget these visitors with custom ads on social media and other websites. The opportunities for marketers today are virtually unlimited.

4. SMS

SMS or text messaging can be a very effective way to target customer but you need to be very careful with how you use it. Today most people use text messaging to communicate with their friends and family. They don’t get a lot of advertising messages via text. For this reason, you want to only text them about something important. Reminders typically fall into the important category and work really well. For example, you can send a reminder about a webinar. You can also send a reminder about a demo or a sales call that you have coming up.

You can also offer your existing customers to notify them via text about special sales and events.

At the same time, sending regular updates and marketing messages via text messaging is probably not a good idea. Most people check their text messages very frequently and if you are sending them messages that they don’t find valuable, they may feel as if you are spamming them and interrupting them with no good reason.

5. Ringless Voicemail

Ringless voicemail is a relatively new technology, which is why it is extremely effective.

Ringless voicemail works only will cellphones. According to studies, over 90% of adult Americans own a cellphone, which means that you can reach virtually any person with ringless voicemail marketing.

Ringless voicemail works by completely bypassing cellular networks. It contacts the cellular provider directly via a business landline call and drops a message on the server of the cellular provider. The provider then moves the message to the server space of the recipient and notifies the recipient about the message. This way there is no call made to the recipient, no charges to the recipient and no interruptions.

When the recipient checks his or her voicemail, he or she can listen to the message. The message can be as long or as short as the sender likes. This means that you can create ringless voicemails that are really effective.

A ringless voicemail can have options that connect the recipient to a sales person or drive the recipient to a website. By using these options you can measure the ROI from your ringless voicemail campaigns and make sure that you are spending your marketing dollars wisely.

Why Video is Such an Important Part of a Media Campaign

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Running a successful and effective media campaign requires some careful forethought and planning, as well as a good understanding of what it is that you want to achieve and what your target audience expects. Different audiences will require different approaches to effectively convey your messages. They will respond to different forms of media in different ways and it is crucial that these distinctions are appreciated if your campaign is to be successful. However, regardless of the specifics of your media campaign, you will almost certainly need to incorporate video elements to effectively sell your message.

For this article, we have put together a list of just some of the reasons why video is an especially powerful and important part of any media campaign, an aspect that you can ill-afford to overlook when planning your campaign, and something that needs to be at the front of your mind throughout the entire process.

Universal Power

There are a number of reasons why video is such an effective and universally powerful way of conveying a message. Because it is a medium with such a broad reach, and almost endless potential, video has been used to convey all kinds of messages and has been very successful in instigating both large-scale changes, and changes in individual’s behavior. For proof of just how effective video is in conveying messages to entire demographics with great effect, consider public information campaigns.

Public information campaigns are used to inform large groups, sometimes entire nations, of changes that affect everyone. They have proven to be a highly effective way of doing so. To learn more about how media campaigns have been so effective in changing behaviors on a large scale, check out this article on behavior change myths.

Videos Boost Conversions

Videos have the potential to make you some serious cash and they are by far the most effective medium through which to advertise. Some studies suggest that they can boost conversions by as much as 80%. The effectiveness of video over other mediums is not as surprising when you consider that our most dominant sense is our vision. The majority of the information that our brain processes is visual, and it is visual information that we are most adept at interpreting.

They Offer an Excellent ROI

When questioned for a survey, over 80% of businesses said that the videos in their media campaigns lead to what they considered to be a good return on their investments. Producing a high quality, professional looking video isn’t cheap or quick, but it is incredibly effective and whatever money you spend you can expect to make back, and then some. Videos don’t have to be perfect in order to be effective. They only have to convey your message effectively and in a way that your audience responds well to.

Videos are an important part of any media campaign. When used well, they all but guarantee a boost in sales, as well as providing the best medium through which to convey your message. They are a worthwhile investment and one of the safest that you can make in the course of putting together your campaign.

First Impressions Matter Now More than Ever

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The idea that first impressions matter is a cliche, but it’s a cliche for a reason. While it may seem outdated to judge a person solely on their appearance and the initial meeting, business persons have long memories, and any biases after the first contact may well linger for a long time.

And now, in a world where anybody can start their own business and entrepreneurs can come from all walks of life, it is more important than ever that you can make an excellent first impression when it comes to meeting potential clients, customers, or investors.

The first impression can relate to anything from your appearance, your office culture, or even the way you conduct yourself around new and possibly more senior members of your company. By ensuring that you avoid the mistakes of the many when it comes to first impressions, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about, right?

THE YOU

When meeting someone for the first time, you want to look professional and serious. This is true for every situation in life and not just business. But, when first meeting someone who could very well have a massive influence on the success of your company it is much, much more than a life and death scenario.

Dressing professionally is Business 101. There is no point in wasting time discussing the proper attire for CEOs when first meeting investors or clients. However, while we all know about what to wear, some people often don’t know how to act. Firm handshakes, eye contact, a clear focus on what you want and a sense of humour will all go along way in convincing anyone who comes into your office will be the real deal.

THE OFFICE

Entering your office could very well be the first instance of someone experiencing what your company is all about directly. The first thing they will probably see is the reception desk, which will give them an immediate impression of what sort of office culture you are running.

Furthermore, the placement of such desks will demonstrate the sort of inclusiveness of the office. Is it within the office alongside salesmen and women? Or secluded in an independent room before getting into the main office? While it may not seem significant, these things matter to those who will matter to your company, should they choose to.

Once the initial meeting is out of the way, it is time to consider how the rest of the office will look to outsiders. While your company may have its unique way of doing things that make sense to you and your employees, to outsiders, it can sometimes come off the wrong way.

To ensure that this does not become an issue, it is wise to know exactly what might be questioned and have an acceptable and responsible answer to whatever might be thrown at you. If you can justify your office culture in a way that demonstrates you are working for the benefit of the business, many supposedly strange office quirks will be overlooked and sometimes even encouraged.

THE WEBSITE

With everything being conducted online in the modern age, having a fully functioning website is paramount to attracting the right people. Web design can be a hard and arduous process, and so employing the right people to do it for you can save a lot of time and effort.

For many, the website will be the first interaction with your business, and so it is essential to ensure that everything works. This is much more than merely clicking a few links, instead, going through each page with a fine-toothed comb will help avoid any embarrassing questions when trying to convince people to invest in your business.

While it may seem that it would take the world’s most nitpicky and pedantic investor or client to think of all of these factors when first interacting with your business, it is because of this nitpicking that they are in the position to make such judgements. Every day, more and more people are coming round to the idea that the 21st century business world is so unlike the past that it is almost recognisable, but ensuring that you make the best first impression possible is the key to your success.

It can be tough to recover from someone’s negative opinion of you, so don’t give them the opportunity and go along with what is expected. Once you have the support, you can shoot as high as you want, and eventually make other companies worry about their first impression when they meet you.

Why Your Premises Should Emulate Your Brand

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article
In the twenty-first century, offices are much more than a set of booths, each one with a tower computer and a waste paper bin. Working environments are now much more user-friendly with opportunities for collaborative working and they are designed to consider the needs of employees to a much greater extent. Your office should emulate the ethos of your brand, be an open, welcoming and bright space, and be the optimum area for the most productive working. Take a look at how you can create your perfect premises no matter what industry sector you work in.

Location

If you run an advertising agency, you need to be in the thick of a city center environment; close to the big brands, next to excellent transport links and amongst other like-minded businesses. Clients will be attending your offices for meetings, to view your latest presentations and to brainstorm ideas for their next marketing campaigns. It’s vital that they have confidence in your credentials the moment they work through the door. Your interior needs to be sleek, modern and a hive of activity. City center premises can be older and more traditional, or you could opt for an office in a more minimalist and modern building depending on the ethos of your brand.

Space

How you use the interior space is up to you. You could opt for a more traditional zonal system where you cater to those colleagues who need to knuckle down alone in more private spaces as well as providing meeting rooms for those brainstorming sessions and collaborative meetups. You may forego the tried and tested cubicles, for a more open, transparent office environment. If you’re implementing something new, you’ll need to utilize the services of an outfit like BCI Worldwide international logistics company who can kit out a brand new office without you having to lift a finger. They use intuitive project management systems and logistics platforms to track all tasks required throughout the lifecycle of your project installation. By outsourcing a project like this, you are tapping into external expertise and networking with fellow professionals to achieve your desired office environment.

Technology

For some businesses, the latest technology is vitally important. For others, it is more of a luxury. Don’t get too hung up on having the biggest, best and latest gadgetry. What’s more important is the staff team that you surround yourself with and the minds that you manage to merge together to think outside the box and create initiatives that enable your business to grow. Having an attractive premises and office environment will hook those perfect candidates attending an interview for a role within your company. They’ll be eager to work in a dynamic space and one that is conducive to being at the forefront of your particular industry.

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article

Your premises can reflect your brand in the most subtle of ways. If you are an honest, transparent and collaborative company, show this off in your office space. By doing this, you can reflect your company’s core values and promote your business vision effectively.

How You Can Make Your Blog a Business While Traveling the World

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Traveling is hard enough, without trying to run a business as you go! Arranging transportation, accommodation, trips and looking after your money is difficult to juggle – without the added pressure of blogging. A common problem is finding internet connection when you have important emails to attend to!

Thankfully, it’s clear to see nowadays that people CAN do it. Travel blogging is a huge industry, and we’ve got some tips to help you join in the action. After you’ve booked your tickets and sorted your passport and visas, use this guide to find internet fame and make money as your own online traveling show.

1. Start with the Essentials

To get going, you’ll need…

  • A blog (of course!) – easily create one with WordPress, make it look pro, link it up to your social media, and gain a following in no time.
  • A smartphone – a must-have for sending and answering messages on the go. You can’t conduct business without one!
  • A tablet or laptop – this is a risky one, because it’s large, easily breakable, and a target for thieves. Leave it in your hotel or hostel’s safe and never take it out of your room. If you can take one, it’s invaluable for working on your website and writing, otherwise you’ll be working from a tiny phone screen or internet café.
  • Internet dongle – so you’ll never be without wi-fi. How else will you post Instagram pictures from a mountain or the jungle?
  • A camera – again, this is tricky, because good cameras are expensive and could get stolen. But, unless your phone has a great camera, you won’t be able to take
    amazing pictures and entice people to read your blog.

2. Get Sponsored

Now you have your blogger kit, you’ll need to gain the attention of brands to partner with. They can send you free products to endorse, offer you experiences and even pay you to stay in hotels, in exchange for good reviews on your social media.

You then post affiliate links on your blog, pages and channels, and get paid some commission when customers buy the company’s products or services through your link. This is easy, passive income as you travel.

As your audience and engagement grows, companies will want to advertise on your blog – they’ll pay you to be exposed to your large readership. This of ten requires no input from you (e.g. you don’t have to make a video endorsing their product), but a banner is posted on your website sidebar.

3. Look After Your Finances

Whilst you’re traveling, the last thing you want is to run out of money, or worry about paying taxes and chasing invoices. This is where hiring an accountant would be an amazing idea (if you’re making enough money).

Luckily, you can find trained accountants all over the world – as far and wide as accounting services in Malaysia. As a professional blogger, you should consider yourself a small business – all of which need good accountants. This takes all the financial paperwork out of your hands, and leaves you free to enjoy yourself (while working hard)!

4. Make Money by Writing

As your blog grows, often magazines, newspapers, news websites and other blogs will pay you to write for them. You could write articles about traveling, reviews of places you’ve stayed or your personal journey of making money while traveling.

Pitch your stories to publications as a freelance writer for some extra cash. (As a freelancer you need to pay special attention to tax and invoicing – where an accountant comes in very handy!)

5. Blogger Meetups

Build a worldwide readership with meetups. Blog readers LOVE blogger meetups, either in the form of meeting with your fans or other bloggers.

Organizing meetups with other travel bloggers is a clever way of expanding your audience. Make a video together, and get exposure to their entire audience too. Send them a message when you’re both in the same country and suggest collaborating.

Meeting with fans is a nice way to build networks and connections, and get tagged in their social media posts too. As explained in point 2 of this guide, followers = money!