Barbara Demarest

12 Ways to Drive More Traffic to Your Blog

Guest Author — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 02:43:01 +0000

Guest Author: Jessica Swanson

Imagine that you’ve taken the giant leap to start a blog to bring more brand awareness and exposure to your small business.

You’ve taken all the necessary steps to build your blog platform and now comes the day when you make your very first blog post. You spend hours crafting a post that is educational, inspirational and positions you as an expert in your field. You are as proud of this post as if it truly were your own flesh and blood. And, most of all you can’t wait to share it with the world.

So, you hit “publish” and wait for your readers to react to your nuggets of wisdom. (And, you wait and wait and wait….)

Why aren’t you generating any comments? Why aren’t people emailing you thrilled that you have shared your expertise with them?

It’s called “lack of traffic” and if there’s no traffic to your blog, no one will ever see it. Period.

So, how can you begin enticing readers to visit your blog? Here are twelve quick ways to generate a flow of non-stop blog traffic:

1. Create great content.

Obviously, this goes without saying. But, your content needs to educate, entertain, inspire or offer a solution to your reader’s problems. You want to try to accomplish at least one of these tasks with every blog post.

2. Keep your posts short.

We are living in an age where short attention spans are the norm. Keep your posts under 500 words so that you don’t lose your ADD readers.

3. Get your blog indexed in Technorati.

This is the daddy of all blog catalogs. Make sure that you go through the very simple process of submitting your blog RSS feed to Technorati.

4. Submit your blog feed to other top blog catalogs.

Blog catalogs and RSS feed catalogs are where readers go to find blogs to read. You want to make sure that your blog is there. To make the process even easier, you can use a service such as SubmitinMe to manually post to the catalogs for you.

5. Entice your readers to subscribe to your blog.

Offer your readers a free goodie (such as a downloadable ebook, whitepaper, audio class, etc.) if they subscribe to your blog.

6. Let your social networks know about new posts.

Whenever you post to your blog, Tweet it out to your followers, update your LinkedIn status and let your Facebook friends and fans know about it. If it’s a good post, they will pass it on to their community as well.

7. Get involved in the blog community.

Blogging is a social activity. Read other blogs, comment on other blogs and refer to other blogs within your own blog posts.

8. Comment back.

When your readers make comments on your blog, make sure that you comment back to them. You want to encourage a natural back and forth dialogue between you and your readers.

9. Participate in a blog carnival.

A blog carnival is a blog event that it is dedicated to a particular topic and is published either weekly or monthly. Each edition of a blog carnival is in the form of an article that contains links to other blog posts on that particular topic. Blog carnivals can be a wonderful way to produce awareness around your blog. Read the rules and regulations of the blog carnival and get involved.

10. Offer to write a blog post for a high-traffic blog.

Research various blogs within your particular industry. Read the blogs, comment on the blogs and interact with the blogger. Once you’ve established a relationship, send them an email politely letting them know that you would be willing to be a guest blogger for them at any time in the future. Include a link to your own blog so that they can check out the quality of your work.

11. Use your blog posts in your ezine.

Instead of writing a brand new article for your weekly ezine, send out the first few paragraphs of one of your past blog posts. Then include a link for the reader to continue reading the post on your blog.

12. Include your blog URL in your email signature.

Develop an email signature that you use whenever you send an email. Of course, your email signature should include a link to your blog.

Once you implement these twelve strategies, you’ll certainly notice a spike in traffic and begin generating comments and interaction from hundreds (even thousands) or readers in your particular industry.

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Jessica Swanson, “The Shoestring Marketer,” has helped entrepreneurs, all over the world, explode their businesses using cutting-edge, proven and completely free marketing strategies. To receive your FREE Shoestring Marketing Kit, which has helped thousands of entrepreneurs, just like you, learn the exact techniques for marketing their businesses for no-cost, visit: www.ShoestringMarketingKit.com

3 Steps to Twitter Time Management

Guest Author — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:38:37 +0000

Guest Author: Jessica Swanson

So, you’ve jumped on the Twitter bandwagon and have embraced the experience wholeheartedly.

You’re doing everything that you should be doing, Tweeting out industry tips, quotes and strategies, connecting with targeted followers and spreading the word about your small business.

But, there’s one problem. You’re spending hours a day on Twitter. You don’t have time to write your blog posts, you aren’t sending out press releases and worst of all, you haven’t spent the time that you should on your small business.

So, what’s a Twitter-lover to do?

Here are three quick and easy ways to manage your time on Twitter:

1. Consolidate.

Your Twitter home page isn’t configured for time-management. It’s cumbersome and requires you to click back and forth between screens in order to access your Twitter stream, replies, and messages.

Instead, use a software application such as Tweetdeck to organize and categorize your Tweets all in one place. The best part is that it’s a free application that no Tweeter should be without.

2. Automate.

There’s no reason why you need to log into your Twitter account several times a day, just to send out industry quotes and tips. There’s software that can do the job for you. My personal favorite is Socialoomph and it allows you to preload Tweets and schedule to send them out at a later date.

I’ve actually gone so far as to load dozens upon dozens of small business marketing quotes into Socialoomph and drip them out to my followers over time. That way, my followers see me and my small business pop into their Twitter stream several times a day (and most don’t even realize that the process is completely automated). It’s the perfect way to generate massive visibility around your brand.

3. Communicate.

Of course Twitter is a social network and it won’t work if you depend solely on automation. Therefore, get involved in the conversation and ask and answer questions, retweet interesting posts and interact with your followers. You should strive for a few minutes of personal involvement on Twitter about three times a day.

Even though Twitter is a fantastic marketing platform, it is only one of many marketing tools that you should be utilizing to spread the word about your small business.

Therefore, put these three tips into play to ensure that you’re not wasting valuable time and energy Twittering away your day.

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50 Powerful Call to Action Phrases

Guest Author — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:29:59 +0000

Guest Author: Jessica Swanson

Are your prospects doing what you’d like them to be doing? Are they ordering your ebooks, opting into your website or clicking on your links?

If not, you’re missing out on one of the top-secret weapons that copywriters have used for years to get their prospects to act accordingly.

So, what do master copy-writers do to move prospects to action? They ask them to act.

That’s right. You simply need to ask your prospects to do what you want them to do. It really is that straightforward.

But, most landing pages, sales pages and emails don’t utilize this bizarrely simple technique (which is also why most ad-copy performs so poorly).

According to usability expert Jared Spool , when visitors find powerful action words on a landing page, they are successful at completing their task 72% of the time; if the action word isn’t on the page, they are only successful 6% of the time.

Obviously, it’s in your best interest to ask your prospects what you want them do, how to do it, and that you want them to do it immediately.

Here is a list of 50 powerful “call to action” phrases that you can use in your future ad-copy:

1) Click here.

2) Click here to find out all the details.

3) Download now.

4) Immediate download.

5) Reply today.

6) Try it free.

7) Start your free trial now.

8) Sign up for your free trial immediately.

9) Your free trial is just a click away.

10) Join now.

11) Start now.

12) Talk to an expert.

13) I invite you to…

14) I urge you to act at once.

15) I can’t wait to hear from you.

16) We’d like to hear from you.

17) Just hit Reply and we’ll email you the details.

18) Sign up online at ____.com

19) Learn more about us at ______.com

20) Order now, while there’s still time,

21) Place your order now, while everything is still in front of you.

22) In a hurry? Call 555-1212

23) For even faster service, call 555-1212.

24) To place your order, call us toll-free at ____________.

25) Just reach for your phone.

26) Mail your order today!

27) Send in your application today!

28) We’re waiting for your call.

29) I urge you to send for our free brochure.

30) Send for our free catalog.

31) Mail this convenient coupon today!

32) For more details call 555-1212.

33) Please don’t hesitate to call us.

34) Why not give us a call to find out all the details?

35) Call us this week to schedule an appointment.

36) It’s important that you respond promptly.

37) Offer expires March 1st.

38) For a short time only.

39) Order now and receive a free gift.

40) See it in action.

41) Get it now!

42) Request your FREE quote today.

43) Free Shipping

44) Money Back Guarantee

45) Best value

46) Limited availability

47) Expires at midnight tonight.

48) Act quickly.

49) Reserve your spot now.

50) Sign up now, while you still can.

So, there you have it. A list of fifty powerful “call to action” phrases to use in all of your future ad-copy. The results will astound you.

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Positioning Presentation Nov 2011

Barbara Demarest — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 22:18:09 +0000

I had the chance to present some thoughts on positioning yourself, your products and your business in the marketplace recently. If you are interested, I’ve attached a pdf of my presentation notes here. The notes are half pages, so when you print them out, there are 2 per page for a total of 4 pages.

Essentially, I outlined why I think it is important to start with who you serve. So many times, we get caught up in very generic expectations of what we should be doing to market ourselves thinking that we have to conquer the entire world. In reality, most of us need to reach a steady, committed set of clients with whom we can be connected over time. Mass marketing can be very effective, but it is also very expensive. And even when you are engaged in mass marketing, you are really carefully targeting your audience.

So when in doubt, start with thinking about your ideal client. Focus on who is a good client or customer for you and you may find that you can be much more efficient with your time and talents.

Positioning Presentation 7Nov11

3 Simple Tips for Writing Your About Page

Guest Author — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 01:22:38 +0000

Guest Author: Jessica Swanson

Did you know that the “About Page” is the 2nd most popular page on your website? The main reason so many of your website guests pay a visit to this page is simply because they’re interested in knowing the “person” behind your small business. They just want to connect with an actual human being. (Is that truly too much to ask?)

That being said, hopefully your “About Page” isn’t a tiresome dissertation of mind-numbing facts about your small business.

Here are three simple tips for putting together an “About Page” that will stun your visitors:

1. Avoid stock photos.

Stock photos are just not going to cut it when it comes to depicting your small business. Your visitors want to get to know you. They really don’t care if you’re fat, skinny or somewhere in between, they’re just trying to make a connection.

Your visitors want to get to know the “real you,” not the slick and polished picture of Mr. Joe Clipart.

2. Don’t use wearisome industry jargon.

There’s nothing worse than an About Page that drones on and on with industry jargon that only your mother would care about.

Here’s an actual “About Page” paragraph that I read the other day:

“XYZ Marketing Solutions is a recognized leader in online and offline marketing solutions. Dedicated to providing the highest level of marketing expertise, XYZ Marketing Solutions delivers unparalleled support, superb customer service and superior education to their discerning clients.”

Yawn…are you sleeping yet?

Here’s the deal. When visitors read about your small business, they don’t give a hoot about your high level of expertise or superior education. They simply want to know how you can solve their problems.

I rewrote John’s “About Page”:

“If you’re looking for ways to create more visibility, generate more leads and make more money, XYZ Marketing Solutions will produce maximum results for your business.”

3. Include your contact information.

If you operate a small business, then there needs to be an easy way for prospects, customers and clients to contact you. Obviously, you don’t need to give out your home phone number. You can simply use a 1-800 number that redirects to your cell phone (i.e. Grasshopper is a low-cost, professional choice.)

And, the same is true for providing a simple way to email you. If you don’t want to use your personal email account, but want a low-cost email solution try Zendesk.

So, make sure that when visitors land on your “About Page,” you give them something to remember. It’s as simple as that.

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Guide for Boomerang Parents Receives Review

Editor — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:15:21 +0000

The slow to no-growth economy and high unemployment rates have kids of all ages returning to their parents’ homes as they transition from college to work or from lost job to new job. Co-authors Joyce Richman and Barbara Demarest have been getting some attention for their guidebook, Getting Your Kid Out of the House and Into a Job, which they wrote to help parents deal with these times of transition in their children’s lives. Steve Sumerford recently reviewed the book in the Greensboro News & Record the title is Tips for dealing with kids who say, ‘I’m coming back’ and we republish it here.

–Editor

Tips for dealing with kids who say, ‘I’m coming back’

People all over the country are finding solace, encouragement and a passel of practical tips from a small paperback written by two Greensboro authors, Joyce Richman and Barbara Demarest. With decades of executive and career coaching between them, the pair teamed up to address a very timely topic, “boomerang kids,” a term coined a few years ago to describe adults, who, for a variety of reasons, have to move back in with their parents.

A recent CNN Money story reported that 85 percent of last year’s college graduates say they would move back home with their parents if they couldn’t find a job.

Even more disturbing is that the boomerang kids these days might not just be recent grads. During a recent interview with the authors, Richman told me that she’s “getting calls from parents saying that it’s their 40 or 50-year-old child who has moved back home because he or she is unemployed. This can create extraordinary stress for the whole family.”

All of these parents need to get their hands on “Getting Your Kid Out of the House and Into a Job: A Parent’s Guide to the School-to-Work Transition“ (TheCoachingAssociation.com). In less than 70 pages Richman and Demarest have created not only an excellent toolkit of tips and exercises, but they have also packed it with insightful stories that will help parents better understand and deal with the intense emotional dynamics of the situation.

: Getting Your Kid Out of the House and Into a Job

“The stories are also there,” Demarest told me,” to say to the parents, ‘Your problem is not unique, you’re not alone.”

Demarest and Richman point out that often the parents’ own dears and career experiences can interfere with their ability to provide the most effective support and objective advice. When the child moves back into his or her old bedroom, the parents may begin to worry that there will be “eternal dependency, financial difficulty, community embarrassment and no privacy.” The boomerang child, they point out, has exactly the same concerns.

Because she is a well-known career counselor, Richman regularly gets calls from parents. “I’ve always gotten these kinds of calls but the tenor of them has changed in recent years. I hear more stress and fear in their voices,” Richman said.

The crisp writing style of “Getting Your Kid Out of the House and Into a Job” makes it very readable and useful for any parent. The tips are down-to-earth and practical, such as what not to eat if your potential emploer takes you to lunch (stay away from messy food; don’t order expensive items). The guide is also peppered with exercises — how to role-play the interview with your child or help create an “elevator speech” (a two-minute overview of the child’s education and qualifications).

The authors remind readers that it is important for the parents also to have an elevator speech, so that they will have a strong answer when concerned friends and family repeatedly ask questions like, “Well, has your son found a job yet?”

Richman and Demarest aren’t family therapists, but i dare say that if parents followed the advice in this guide, not only will they help their child get a job, but their relationship with that child will be closer and family ties will be stronger.

You can pick up a copy of “Getting Your Kid Out of the House and Into a Job” at any branch of the Greensboro Public Library. And, don’t miss the opportunity to meet the authors and have an informal conversation with them at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Central Library, 219 N. Church St.

See you at the library.

Steve Sumerford (steve.sumerford@greensboro-nc.gov) is assistant director of the Greensboro Public Library. Decimal Points is a regular feature of the Books page.

Avoid These 5 Twitter Mistakes

Guest Author — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 01:16:44 +0000

Guest Author: Jessica Swanson

I admit it. I’m a Twitter gal and I absolutely love what Twitter can do for small business owners. It produces massive visibility, it’s a top-notch lead generation tool and a powerful networking platform.

Unfortunately, Twitter continues to mystify many small business owners who aren’t quite sure what all the fuss is about.

The good news is that Twitter doesn’t have many rules. It’s by in large all about using common sense, being polite and exercising good judgment.

But, that being said, here are five ways to ensure that your Twitter experience is a tragic disaster:

1. Toot your own horn too much.

Obviously, you are passionate about your small business and want to let the world know about its strengths and virtues. However, Twitter is not an advertising platform. It’s a social community. When you constantly shout sales pitch to your followers, they’re going to unfollow you. Instantly. Instead, try to immerse yourself in the Twitter community and join the conversation.

2. Use the default Twitter profile.

If you’re using Twitter as a marketing tool for your small business, then you need to avoid the default Twitter profile. That cute, little default cloud background is certainly not doing your small business any favors. Take a few minutes and put together a customized Twitter profile and brand your small business by utilizing all of that valuable advertising space. (And no excuses, you can even do this for free at MyTweetSpace.)

3. Tweet once a week.

Your followers have hundreds, if not thousands of Tweets flowing through their Twitter stream on a daily basis. If you think that your weekly Tweet is going to get noticed, you need to reset your thinking. Twitter works best when your followers see your Tweets flow through their stream again and again. Repeated exposure is the only way to get noticed on Twitter.

4. Don’t interact with your followers.

There are all sorts of nifty Twitter automation tools that can help manage your time on Twitter. And I’m a big believer in sending out a few automated Tweets. But, if you want Twitter to work, you actually need to personally log into your account and send out Tweets. Answer questions, retweet your followers, make conversation. Your followers want to see a real person in front of your small business. They’re not looking for a bunch of automated, impersonal Tweets.

5. Give up too soon.

This is one of the most common problems of Twitter. In fact, Twitter has one of the highest “drop-out” rates of any social networking platform. And, it’s a shame. Small business owners everywhere, start on Twitter only to drop out a week later. Twitter isn’t an instant fix for your business. It’s a relationship tool and relationships take time to develop. So, give Twitter the time that it deserves and it will reward you.

Whether you’re a Twitter newbie or a seasoned Twitter professional put these five tips into play and make your Twitter experience one that truly benefits and grows your small business.

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50 Tantalizing Free Offer Examples

Guest Author — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 01:08:11 +0000

Guest Author: Jessica Swanson

One of the most efficient ways to build a robust email list of interested prospects is to offer them something so mouthwatering and so appealing that they’ll do whatever it takes to get a hold of it.

But, here’s the catch. What you’re offering your prospects isn’t going to cost them a dime. It’s what Mark Joyner calls The Irresistible Free Offer, and it’s your job to create something that your prospects feel is beneficial and extraordinarily valuable.

Sound impossible? It’s not. All it takes is a little creativity and resourcefulness. Here are a few tips before you create your tantalizing free offer.

1) It must be top-quality.

Even though it’s free, your offer can’t be a conglomeration of useless junk. This is your chance to showcase your product and services, so make your free offer shine.

2) It should reach out and grab your prospects’ attention.

There’s a lot of competition in your industry, so it’s your job to cut through all the noise. Present an offer that seizes your prospect’s attention and leaves them begging for more.

3) It should solve an urgent, pressing problem.

Before you assemble your offer, make sure that you have correctly identified a pressing problem that your prospects face. Of course, you must offer the solution in whatever “free offer” you deliver to your prospects.

4) It must be related to your small business.

This is the first impression that your prospects have of your small business, so it’s important that your free offer is directly related to your small business. It should give your prospects a clear sense of who you are and what your business represents.

5) Collect your prospects names.

This may seem obvious, but you need a form on your website to collect the names and emails of your interested prospects so that you can continue to market to them again and again.

Therefore, without further ado, here are 50 “free offer” ideas:

1) Ebook

2) Tip booklet

3) Special report

4) Mini ecourse (delivered over time)

5) Industry report

6) Sample chapter of your book

7) How-to guide

8) Cheat sheet

9) Tip sheet

10) Checklist

11) White paper

12) Warning or cautionary report

13) Ezine subscription

14) Downloadable kit

15) Written interview (transcribed)

16) Buyer’s guide

17) Template

18) Quiz

19) Survey

20) Audio class/lesson

21) Audio course (delivered over time)

22) Audio interview

23) Live teleseminar

24) Recorded teleseminar

25) Podcast episode

26) Video

27) Video course (delivered over time)

28) Slideshow

29) Live webinar

30) Live webcast

31) Recorded webinar

32) DVD

33) CD

34) Product sample

35) Demonstration of your product

36) Consultation

37) Free trial offer

38) Discount coupon book

39) WordPress plugin

40) Mobile application

41) Free mystery gift

42) Free “set-up” or “assembly”

43) Free hotline service

44) Free customer support

45) Pamphlet

46) Brochure

47) Informational packet

48) Free class or lesson

49) Free seminar

50) Free breakfast or lunch

So, no more excuses. You now have fifty options to create an enticing free offer that will bring you massive visibility, build your list and eventually make you more sales.

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12 Tips for the Social Media Newbie

Guest Author — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 01:02:12 +0000

Many small business owners are silently watching social media marketing from the sidelines. They’re intrigued, interested and attracted by this new marketing channel, but don’t feel quite ready to join in on the game. But, no worries.

Here are twelve simple tips to help get your social media marketing in top form.

1. It’s not too late. Many small business owners think they’ve missed the boat when it comes to jumping on the social media bandwagon. But, nothing could be further from the truth. Social media is in its infancy and still considered a newborn in the marketing world.

2. Have a plan. You certainly wouldn’t jump into a new business without a plan of action. The same is true for social media marketing. You should know exactly what you are trying to accomplish before you get involved.

3. Start slow. There are hundreds of social media platforms out there. But, limit your involvement to Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Once you’ve mastered these three, then you can broaden your horizons.

4. Be realistic with the time-commitment. If you’re going to fully succeed through social media marketing, then you’re going to have to commit some time and energy to making it work. As with all new marketing adventures, it always takes longer in the beginning.

5. Use automation. There are dozens of automation tools to help you manage your time on social media. Use them wisely and in moderation.

6. Get personal. Don’t rely entirely on automated tools. You need to interact with your friends, followers and connections. Social media doesn’t work if you aren’t interested in forming real relationships.

7. Don’t outsource from the start. Although eventually you can outsource some of the tedious social media tasks, it’s in your best interest to be personally involved in every aspect of social media so that you can understand exactly how it works. Then, once you have wrapped your brain around it, you can outsource.

8. Don’t expect a miracle. Social media is a tool. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s never going to fix a broken business.

9. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. There’s not a “rule book” for social media success. Go ahead and get started, if you make a mistake, it’s not the end of the world.

10. Don’t overcomplicate. Social media is mostly a mixture of common sense, interaction and dedication. Don’t make it more complicated than it is.

11. Have fun. At the end of the day, social media is, well, social. So, wipe that frown off your face and have a little fun Tweeting, updating and posting.

12. Just do it. The most important tip of all is to just get started. You’re never going to learn to swim if you don’t jump in the pool.

There’s still plenty of time to get involved in social media marketing for your small business. Once you get started and find success, you’ll never look back.

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21 Shoestring Marketing Secrets for Small Business Success

Guest Author — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:55:16 +0000

Guest Author: Jessica Swanson

Unfortunately, many small business owners believe in the motto, “it takes money to make money” in the world of small business. The good news is that nothing could be further from the truth.

Here are twenty-one shoestring marketing secrets that will provide you with the right frame of mind so that you can begin the process of building a thriving small business without spending a dime on marketing.

What every small business needs to know is that Shoestring Marketing is:

1. Low-cost. In today’s internet and social media age, there are now more low-cost marketing options than ever before. Not only is it possible, but absolutely doable to substantially grow your small business on a shoestring budget.

2. Commitment. If your marketing is going to eventually take hold, then you need to make a strong commitment to see it through until it sticks. Don’t give up in the early stages.

3. Patience. The fruits of your marketing labors don’t happen overnight. You need to plant your marketing seeds and tend to them regularly before your marketing garden blooms.

4. Branding. Your clients and customers need to have a clear picture in their minds as to who you are and how your product or service can solve their most pressing problems.

5. Consistency. Marketing is much like breathing. It’s the life of your small business and should be a regular part of your daily business activities.

6. Domination. If you want to explode your small business profits, then you must dominate a small part of your market. You need to become the “go-to” person in your particular niche.

7. Customer-focused. Your primary job is to clearly identify the problems that your prospects face and offer them the obvious solutions.

8. Identify your target market. It’s crucial that you know exactly who needs your product or service. Mass marketing doesn’t work in today’s business environment. Not only does it force you to water down your marketing message to please the masses, but it’s much too expensive for the shoestring marketer.

9. Elicits confidence and trust. Create experiences and situations that boost the level of confidence from your prospects. At the end of the day, people buy from those whom they like and trust.

10. Massive visibility. Since your prospects are exposed to over 4,000 ads every single day, you need to ensure that your small business is utilizing as many marketing platforms as possible. Your prospects should come across you in as many places as possible.

11. Repetition. Research suggests that prospects need to encounter your small business between seven and twelve times before they are ready to purchase. So, put yourself in front of your target market over and over again.

12. Ease of use. If your sales process, marketing materials or any other part of your business is too complicated, your customers will become confused. Confused customers simply don’t buy.

13. The WOW Factor. What are you doing to get noticed? How are you different than your competition? The fastest way to small business failure is to blend in with the crowd.

14. Quality. If your product and/or services aren’t top quality, then you won’t get repeat business. Your long-term success depends on satisfied customers who spread the word about your business and purchase from you repeatedly.

15. Education. Position yourself as an expert and educate your prospects as to why your small business can offer them the remedy to their most pressing pain points.

16. Relationships. Create real relationships with your prospects and customers. Answer their questions, solve their problems and help them if they’re stuck. Your prospects want to know that there’s a real person in front of your small business.

17. Increasing the lifetime value of customers. Over 20% of your existing customers will purchase from you again (since they already know and trust you), so create additional ways for them to make purchases.

18. Automation. We’re living in a fast-tracked society that doesn’t work using old-fashioned marketing methods. So, embrace automation tools such as landing pages, email autoresponders, shopping carts, customer management software, etc.

19. Tracking your results. It’s essential to your overall survival that you have a clear understanding what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to your marketing. Use link tracking software to track your ROI (even if your only investment is your time).

20. Flexibility. Things change quickly and you must be willing to adapt. When the next “great” marketing platform emerges, be willing to jump on board and embrace it with excitement. If you are a flexible marketer, you’re always miles ahead of your competition.

21. Everything that you do. Marketing isn’t just about your advertising campaigns. Every single interaction that you have with your prospects promotes your small business. So, be careful how you answer the phone, respond to your emails and treat your customers because all of it makes an instant and lasting impression on them.

So, there you have it, twenty-one Shoestring Marketing strategies that will literally transform your small business from “just getting by” to “flourishing.” And, the best part of all is that you can do it all on a shoestring marketing budget.

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