Home Wealth Project
Extensive Research On How To Build Wealth From The Comfort Of Your Own Home.
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, I’m My Ideal Client After All
Jun 27th
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, I’m My Ideal Client After All
This content from: Duct Tape Marketing
I believe that most businesses are uniquely suited to serve a narrowly defined ideal client.
Determining just who that is, and making their description a central theme of all of our marketing communications, is one of the foundational elements of good marketing strategy.
There are countless ways to research, measure, analyze and theorize about your ideal target client, but experience tells me most firms don’t have to look very far to find a thorough profile of their ideal customer.
I’ve found that most small business owners, independent practitioners and even salespeople tend to attract people with whom their share common characteristics.
In other words our ideal customers are often people we simply like and understand. Over time it’s simply too hard to build relationships with people you don’t enjoy spending time with or don’t share the same view of what service, value and fairness looks like.
I’ve said repeatedly on this blog and elsewhere that the definition of marketing is getting someone who has a need to know, like and trust you and when you accept and apply this notion to every element of your business building you come to realize this is best viewed as a two-way street.
Quite often, clients are ideal because we know, like and trust – or at the very least respect – them as well.
So, as you begin your quest to define and sketch to ideal client profile as a primary plank in your marketing strategy, start by spending some time in front of a mirror and then answer this question – would you buy from you? Does your marketing speak to a narrowly defined ideal client in ways that let them know that you get them?
So, what’s your experience in your business tell you to date? Does this have some truth for you?
View full post on Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing
Okay, I’m Creating Content How Do I Get Someone to Read It 2
May 18th
Okay, I’m Creating Content How Do I Get Someone to Read It 2
This content from: Duct Tape Marketing
This post is one in a series of five guest posts authored by the super star bloggers pictured below. As part of a celebration of National Small Business Week we are asking readers to match all five guests posts up with the contributing blogger to be entered for a chance to win an iPad2. Read all five posts in today’s series and come back each day this week for five new posts in this great educational series and another chance to win.
Okay, I’m Creating Content How Do I Get Someone to Read It 2
We say it all the time, if you don’t have something interesting to say or to sell, who the f is gonna read or buy it? For a blog, lots of comments means someone is reading and engaged; for an email, clicks means someone is interested. The more clicks and comments the better. So how do you get people engaged?
Make It Good
Here’s what makes great content:
- Humorous stuff
- Behind the scenes stories
- Controversial, political & religious
- New happenings
- Tips & tricks, hints, lists, how-tos
- Reviews
That’s the type of content that can draw readers in and engage them, especially if it’s relevant.
Plus, snappy headlines or email subject lines are a must! And don’t make your content too long, don’t use great big paragraphs, have easy to read fonts and bullets are key. Also, break up thoughts and subjects with subheads so your reader can scan. This goes for anything online!
Get People TO Your Content
If you’re writing a great email newsletter and you’ve lured them in with your snappy subject line, good for you! We’ve had success when we give a “taste” of the content in the newsletter, then drive them to a site or blog for the rest of the story. This way you potentially get them to look at other content you’ve written as well.
When you create your content whether it’s in an email, blog or website, let the world know! Publish it to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. And submit it to StumbleUpon and Digg at the very least.
One more thing, include the keywords that you optimize your site for. When potential readers are using search engines, you’re going to want your content as high in the rankings as possible.
Get Readers to Know YOU
The first thing I do when I get to a blog is research who the writer is. I want to know that the person behind the words has credibility and is passionate about what they write. So make sure you publish your bio somewhere on your site so your readers get to know you.
Another great way to get people to know you is to comment on other blogs. Not only will your comment and your information be displayed, but the blogger you’re commenting on may end up following and commenting on your blog too. And if you like something you see on Twitter follow them and retweet (RT) their content. If you find content on Facebook interesting, click the Like link.
Finally, write the way you speak. Your readers want to read what you have to say so just say it and let your personality shine through!
View full post on Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing
Okay, I’m Creating Content How Do I Get Someone to Read It 1
May 18th
Okay, I’m Creating Content How Do I Get Someone to Read It 1
This content from: Duct Tape Marketing
This post is one in a series of five guest posts authored by the super star bloggers pictured below. As part of a celebration of National Small Business Week we are asking readers to match all five guests posts up with the contributing blogger to be entered for a chance to win an iPad2. Read all five posts in today’s series and come back each day this week for five new posts in this great educational series and another chance to win.
Okay, I’m Creating Content How Do I Get Someone to Read It 1
Let’s take a step back. First and foremost, is this content you’re creating remarkable? Does it offer something valuable? The first step toward getting eyeballs to view your content is to appeal to your target audience’s wants and needs. Are you delivering your points in an interesting way that makes it enjoyable to read/watch/listen to? You can create content day-in and day-out, but if it’s no good, people won’t be coming back to you for more.
Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s take a second look at the content you’re creating. Is it optimized for search engines? Did you use the right keywords that will draw in the types of readers you’re hoping to attract? If someone conducted a search in Google using a keyword by which you want to get found, would that person come across your content? Remember: the key to making your content visible in search engines is optimizing it.
Okay, so now you’ve got remarkable content that’s been well optimized to gain some traction in search engines. Are you promoting it? How are you promoting it? Be sure to share links to your content in social media. “But I don’t have any followers,” you say? Start building a following so your content has the potential to reach as many readers as possible. Add social media sharing buttons to your blog articles so people who read and like your content can easily share it with their followers. The great thing about social media is that your content is not only limited to the eyes of your followers, but can also reach the eyes of others’ followers.
Once you’ve got all that down, keep on creating! Regular content creation is the basis for any successful inbound marketing program. If you want to continue to get found online, you need to generate a constant flow of fresh, remarkable content. The good news is: inbound marketing success is relative to the size of your brain, not the size of your wallet, so the possibilities are endless!
View full post on Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing
It’s Official – I’m Helping Write a WordPress ‘Dummies’ Book
Jun 19th
My good friend Lisa Sabin-Wilson, author of WordPress for Dummies (where iThemes, my company, is mentioned), myself, and three others of us will be writing a 900-plus-page book called WordPress All-in-One Desk Reference.
Actually … we’ve been writing on it for two months now. It’s been hard work but also a blast. And by being a part of this book, I’ll be living out a childhood dream.
Stay tuned! The book is scheduled to be published in early spring 2011.
Read more about the project on Lisa’s site here.
Related posts:
- Business Validation and Getting Mentioned in ‘For Dummies’ Book
- 5 Thoughts on Blogging Your Very Own Book
- Aside: WordPress Theme Design Book
View full post on Cory Miller | Adventures in Entrepreneurship
20-Plus Links to Business Content I’m Digging
Mar 19th
I’ve been opening my browser for the past two weeks and it’s just filled with tabs for awesome content I’m saving …. so I just decided to make a big list post. The topics are wide ranging … but mostly concerned with marketing, entrepreneurship, work, motivation and the like …
Here Are the Links to Things I’m Digging ….
- 3 Tips for social Media Community Management
- 31 Ways to Grow a Business
- 10 Questions on Customer Servce & ‘Delivering Happiness’ with Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh
- Blue Sky Factory’s Skit page – I like their blog too
- Ribbon Hero – a game developed to help people learn Microsoft Office (see Flow book below)
- Stop Selling Scarcity – I find myself going back and rereading this – it’s deep and impactful for businesses
- 5 Predictions about the Future of Work
- The End of Big Website Builds
- The 3 Greatest Survey Questions Ever
- How Social Media is Changing Travel
- 10 Essential Social Media Tips for B2B Marketers
- Lead Generation in a Social Media World by Chris Brogan
- 8 Ways Great Service Prevents Chargebacks
- 5 Ways to Build a Team that Builds Itself
- Teaching Your Business to Market Itself
Here Are The Books I’m Reading or Recently Read:
- Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience – foundational, awesome, so many applications
- Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us – love taking this back to our team … “Autonomy,” “Mastery,” and “Purpose.”
- Engage: The Complete Guide for Brands and Businesses to Build, Cultivate, and Measure Success in the New Web
- Honest Seduction: Using Post-Click Marketing to Turn Landing Pages into Game Changers – suggested by a new businesss friend, slow reading
Related posts:
View full post on Cory Miller | Adventures in Entrepreneurship
