by Doreen Harper | Mar 14, 2015 | Marketing
There are three reasons why you should publish an eZine.
- An eZine builds a targeted market audience for your product or service.
- An eZine allows you to share resources
- An eZine showcases you as an expert.
Before I explain why you should publish an eZine, let me answer the question what is an “eZine?”
Semantically “eZine” is a mash up of the words “electronic” and “magazine.” Today the term is so widely used it is synonymous with newsletter that is delivered electronically.
Now let’s answer the question why should I publish an eZine?
- Target audience – Publishing an eZine allows you to build a target audience. Place an email sign up option on your website. Periodically send out an invitation to sign up for your eZine through your online social networks. By doing this people who are specifically interested in your product or service are giving you permission to send them information.
- Resource – Publishing an eZine allows you to be the resource for your target audience. It is an opportunity for you to share reviews of products, recommend products and introduce your readers to useful information they may not have known about. Your target audience will begin to rely on you.
- Expert – By being a resource to your target audience you will be an expert in their eyes. You are demonstrating your knowledge. They will begin to see you as their “go-to-person” when they need your product or service.
Why should you publish an eZine? In the marketing industry it is said that consumers will purchase from sources they “know, like and trust.” If someone signs up for your eZine, they like your product or service. When you share resources with your target audience you are letting them get to know you. When your target audience relies on you as an expert, they trust you.”
by Doreen Harper | Feb 23, 2015 | Marketing
Everyone is trying to jump on the band wagon of Video Marketing. Each thinking wouldn’t it be great if their company became the next sensation. Or, the one topic everyone couldn’t stop talking about around the water cooler. It actually could happen if the marketing strategy and the message is right.
Video has begun to change the world in countless different ways, and web video has only made the revolution stronger. Sites like YouTube, Vimeo and Metacafe can transform an individual, or a company, from an unknown entity to the next sensation in the world. The power of viral video is well known, and many marketing professionals are busy trying to help their companies become the next big star. The trouble with most strategies that are being used by most of the marketing professionals is that they are missing the bigger picture. Your videos do not need to become the newest overnight sensation in order to reap the important benefits they provide.
Video Lets Your Voice be Heard
Words on a page are a dime a dozen, but video speaks volumes. We have all heard that a picture is worth a thousand words €“ the good news is that a video can be worth far more. With a well made video you can take the time to tell your potential customers your story and have them share your vision.
Videos Can Provide Long Lasting Results
A 30 second spot on television or radio is gone in a flash, but web videos can be kept virtually forever. Whether it is next week, next month, next year or years down the road your company’s voice will still be out there.
Videos Show Your Company in a Positive Light
Consumers want to build a relationship with the companies they buy from, and companies like Apple have made a fortune trading on their corporate culture as well as their products. Web videos are a great way to introduce your potential customers to your own corporate culture.
Video Provides an Important New Outlet for Your Marketing Talents
Marketing is as much an art as it is a science, and it is important to show off your artistry in a number of different ways. Modern technology provides companies with a myriad of ways to get the word out, from articles in trade journals and webinars at trade shows to blogs and articles on the internet. Web video provides another powerful outlet for company marketing.
Producing Quality Video is Not as Challenging as You Might Think
These days chances are good your five year old niece has a cell phone with a video camera and chances are also good that she knows how to use it. If a five year old has the talent and know how to create a video so do you. Many people are intimidated by video production jargon, but in the end if you have a camera and something compelling to say viewers will take notice.
Web video can provide many great benefits for your company, even if the videos you produce do not become the next internet sensation. Being the must see clip on one of the many video hosting sites would certainly be a bonus, but you do not have to go viral to go big.
by Doreen Harper | Jan 14, 2015 | Entrepreneurs
I was fortunate to attend a great conference for entrepreneurs recently. One of the many things that had me in awe was the vast range in ages. It was a day that was packed full of great information for those that were just starting their entrepreneurial journey as well as those that are already down that road but wanted to keep on learning and sharing. Not just the ages varied, the level of experiences ranged from “thinking about starting a business” to “sold my company for several hundred million dollars”. I took tons of notes and learned lots from my peers but what I want to share is an observation on the 3 most important skills that I noticed were a must have for an entrepreneur to succeed.
Dreaming – Like the Motley Crue song that starts off with “You know I’m a dreamer” all entrepreneurs are dreamers. It’s what we do. If you know an entrepreneur it might be frustrating at times but realize that our society would never have the progress it does without the dreamers. Most people see problems and complain about them. Entrepreneurs see problems and think how they can solve them, improve the quality of life for everyone. Eventually they start to think about how to make money from the idea but that’s never the genesis. It’s always about improving our quality of life and providing value. Some ideas might seem far-fetched and ridiculous and others hit you like hammer and you think “Why didn’t I think of that?”.
Self Starters – You’ve heard the expression “Ideas are a dime a dozen”. Well, I’m not sure they are still that inexpensive but the point is that without follow through on an idea, they really are worthless. How many times have you heard someone tell you that they had this or that great idea. They even had it before someone else. But they never took action. Successful entrepreneurs take action. They understand that it is okay to fail so they might as well get to success or failure as soon as possible. It’s in failure that we learn so much. The worst thing you can do is stand still. Since the world is moving so fast, standing still is falling behind. Failing and failing fast can be just the thing you need in order to succeed. Story after story I heard about entrepreneurs failing and out of failure came the idea or the learning lesson they needed to propel themselves to the next level. Clearly, successful entrepreneurs take action right away.
Relationship Building – Yes, that’s right, lastly, the best entrepreneurs are relationship builders. They get out of their basement or bedroom and interact with others. They go to networking events and meet new people. They call prospective customers and ask about problems they are having. Then they ask them if they can solve their problem would they do business with them. They show gratitude when someone helps them. Relationship builders know that it doesn’t cost a lot to send a thank you. Relationship builders get to know people and get to know about their family. Relationship builders know that the way to build a great team around you is to build relationships. People want to be in business with people they LIKE, KNOW and TRUST.
