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Everyone in the marketing field is faced with this daunting task of reaching everyone on the planet simultaneously, on a daily basis. Lets say we have a brand new product, extremely viral, unique, and most importantly never before seen. A whole new dilemma stares you in the face as you need massive amounts of people viewing your offer before “the cat is out of the bag,” in order for you to maximize your profit.

Realize that what we are asking for is the exact same thing every single internet marketer, every single guru, every single business, is trying to achieve? That is to reach mass amounts of people, all at the same time.

• The short answer is to be able to email everybody. How about everyone on a list who’s seeking make money opportunities, diet and health products, or a specialty service. If you can swing interest with some who’s got a list, fine, otherwise there’s the usual like blogging or article posting.
• Write such an interesting article that everyone wants to publish it, that’s quite fast if you can do it.
• Publish a press release that is so interesting everyone wants to publish it.
• Do a deal with someone with a long list.
• Use advertising offline like craigslist, or online like USfreeads.
• Get your site really search engine optimized, then publish an article to as many article sites as possible. When Google reads them, and they will often, Google will also index your site through the link on the article, and then seo takes over.

All of the above take time, but we are all trying to get our message out to everyone that we can. Using these tactics are beneficial and just a great common practice.

The so called “Guru’s” get it out quickly because they have a boat load of affiliates who do it for them and they have a huge list of people to send it to. It’s much easier to have a “New Launch” when you have built a reputation and have a large following.

A solution for the common marketer

For the common marketer, a really great way is to rent a list of names, or buy a list of names that has been collected on opt-in subscribes actively searching for your product or offer. That involves using a list someone else owns and marketing to them. There’s usually a fee and the bigger the list the bigger the fee. Let’s focus on this technique.

I’ve seen many quality lists on specific niches well into the 100,000’s and very reasonably priced. Many will even offer the free emailing software compatible with their list formats. Finding the lists are relatively easy. Search engine dietary affiliate program seekers or MLM opportunity seekers, and you will find huge lists. Just make sure your mailings are CAN - SPAM compliant when marketing this way and the possibilities are endless. A helpful tip is to add the name, email address, IP address, and the date they filled out their opt-in subscription to the bottom of your mailings also. If you get a good quality list, you can expect it to contain all of that information. A quality emailing software will also let you utilize that information seamlessly.

My suggestion is to go after the huge lists. If you have a good product and can offer something of worth to them, they will respond appropriately.

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Looking for Legitimate Ways to Prosper On-Line? Visit Mark Tyner’s website at YourHomeBiz-Direct Or look in on his latest Business Opp | Retail-Auction.com

Tags: Marketing, opt in list

The Internet is like a pie, and anyone who has put any content on the Internet owns a piece of it. Some companies own the majority of the Internet because their services are in such high demand. Most people own such a small fraction of the pie that their share is not even worth a penny. Where do you stand?

Whether you own a big chunk, or just a sliver, the truth does not change. The more high quality content you put out into the Internet equates to more ownership of the Internet. If you want more exposure and more people to know what you or your company is all about then you need to create a ton of fresh quality content. If you are pumping out content like a factory pumps out products you will start collecting visitors, and ultimately the more income you will make.

What are some ways you can create content and visitors to that content? Let’s dive right in.

1) Start your own website. Again, the more web pages you have on the Internet translates into owning more of the Internet. So the more web pages the better. Instead of trying to get your search engine optimization perfect with keywords and tags, try creating multiple pages with different variations. The websites that dominate the Internet have a mind boggling amount of pages. For example Social Networks like MySpace the users create the pages, all Myspace does is provides the service. If you can find a way for users to add content to your site for you then more power to you, otherwise always try to keep adding more content packed pages onto the Internet.

2)Start a blog. This is one of the easiest ways to start adding content to the Internet. One free blogging service is Blogger. Write on a regular basis to keep your content and site fresh. If your blog does not already do this automatically for you, make sure to use a service like Ping-o-matic to ping the search engines so that they know you have updated your site.

3)Dive into Social Media. Social Media sites are huge and can help you create and distribute content easily. Start using social bookmarking sites like Digg, StumbleUpon, and many others to bookmark and share your content with others. Use Twitter and Social Networking sites like Facebook and MySpace to create pages and connect with other marketers. Use Squidoo, HubPages, and others that help you create pages that get indexed into the search engines really well already.

4)Write Articles, E-books, etc. Like I’ve said many times, no matter who you are you are capable of writing content that other people will find valuable. Manually submit articles to article directories or get a service to do it for you. If you write an e-book or free report you can have people download it and that will attract more people to you.

An important note I’d like to make is this. Just creating a bunch of useless content will do you no good. It doesn’t matter how much content you have if people don’t care for it, want it, or need it. However, if you focus on helping spread knowledge and quality content onto the Internet then you will be a contributor, and contributors are rewarded.

Still, a simple fact is that if you are not creating any content then your ownership is not growing. One major critical factor that everyone who is successful has is the ability to adjust. If you don’t know how to do something then there is no better time to learn than now. Adjust to the market and to what people need. If you do you will find that success is actually attracted to you.

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Darren Olander is dedicated to teaching others how to create a success online through internet network marketing strategies. He is a site owner, article writer, coach & marketing consultant enjoying the benefits of working full time from home. Learn more about him at http://www.darrenolander.com

Tags: Business, Marketing, seo

Develop a Clear Mission Statement

One of the most important steps is one most business owners consider obvious – but few truly do thoroughly. Make sure that your business plan is simple, clear, and workable before you invest your capital. Have you planned out the next five years intensively? In how much detail? The more narrowly, specifically, and intelligently you articulate your business mission, the easier it will be for you to construct a cost effective budget and to keep your company in the black.

Search for Used/Free/Discounted Equipment

When you’re establishing a new company, you need not indulge in purchases of state-of-the-art furniture, Aeron chairs, and a slate of the latest company iPhones. Indeed, you can save yourself tremendous upfront capital by finding great deals on used/give-away office furniture and equipment. Businesses selling used or cheap equipment are becoming more widespread, and there are many resources online. For instance, Craigslist, a national internet site, posts hundreds of ads for used/cheap furniture every day.

You can also remodel used furniture yourself to save money. An old beat-up wooden table, for instance, can be transformed into a semi luxury furnishing with just a little sanding and painting. You can also call offices in your area to find out whether or not they might let you have or lease furniture at a discounted rate.

To keep costs low, figure out exactly what you need, and only get those items. Psychological studies show that shoppers who make lists and stick to them spend less.

Reduce Your Use of Mail: Increase Your Use of Email

While the US Postal System, FedEx, and other major carriers do a grand job delivering for small businesses, these services can get quite expensive, particularly if you use them regularly or ship bulk materials. Cutting out paperwork can make filing easier, save on staff resources, and cut your postage costs.

If you do convert your business records and transactions to “virtual transactions,” however, be sure to keep duplicate records. You can get accounts through sites likes Yahoo! and Google to store business emails online for free. You should also create a ghost copy of your hard drive to back up critical data.

Negotiate Costs with Vendors and Clients Whenever Possible — Don’t Be Shy

Just because your small business doesn’t qualify for bulk discounts doesn’t mean you can’t use your status as a “lean and mean” organization to your benefit. You may be able to get better deals on supplies by paying early, agreeing to a long-term contract with a supplier, or simply by hard-nosed negotiating. Frankly, one of the best ways to get a good deal is simply to ask. Know your market’s prices before you make offers – you obviously want to neither insult vendors nor overpay. To bone up on how to negotiate better, read books on the psychology of negotiation. Dr. Robert Cialdini’s book “Influence” is a classic in the field.

Shop for Insurance

A good insurance plan can not only protect your business from potentially catastrophic contingencies but can also give you leverage to grow your company. Research what you minimally need before you shop policies. Business owners can choose from literally dozens of types of policies, and every business owner’s needs will be different. Talk to several neutral sources before pricing plans.

Limit Your Energy Use

With oil prices spiking and the energy markets uncertain, you can’t afford not to consider the costs of fuel and power. There are many ways to reduce your consumption of energy without compromising your business model. Use fans instead of central air to keep your building cool during the summer. Replace traditional light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs (those odd, corkscrew-shaped bulbs you see at the hardware store). Energy saving bulbs can slash your energy costs, and they last much longer, too. If possible, do business out of your home to reduce the amount of gas you burn driving to and from the office.

Budget Conservatively

As a small business, you likely don’t have a huge margin of error. Budget brutally and honestly. Figure out your company’s assets and its anticipated liabilities. It’s natural to be optimistic about the future of your business. However, if you set your expectations at a modified level, you’ll have a far greater chance of staying within budget and thus succeeding. Be mindful of the fact that you may have to survive several months without making a profit in order to get your company up and running. Budget both your personal and business expenses carefully in preparation. You can use a number of support systems to improve/refine your budget as you go, including professional accounting consultants and top end software.

Learn From Other Successful Small Business Owners

By forging relationships with other like-minded entrepreneurs, you will simultaneously network and get feedback on key tactical issues which may arise as you move forward with your business plan. You may be entitled to a multitude of excellent tax write-offs. You may also qualify for discounts at bulk big box retailers like Costco and Sam’s Club. Subscribe to trade journals to find discounts and tips to get around fees and other business hassles.

Barter For Services

By trading for discounts you not only save money, you also build brand loyalty with potential vendors. If, for instance, you are starting up a web graphic service, you can likely trade your expertise for discounts on shipping, equipment, and other future favors. You may also be able to offer additional services to your clients to lower costs and build relationships.

Mark Madson of Metro Hi Speed is a leader in Internet fax solutions for any sized business. Less expensive and more reliable than traditional fax services - you’ll enjoy the convenience and well as the cost. Visit us today for more information on our small business and corporate fax solutions.

Tags: Business, business owners

Nothing excites the mind more than receiving automatic online income, day-in, day-out for all 365 days of the year. A true marvel to behold and the perfect solution to all your money worries.

It is totally liberating.

It gives you the freedom to pursue your life’s goals, no matter what they may be. It gives you the freedom of mobility; you can live anywhere in the world. Moreover, it gives you the time to do the THINGS you want to do, whether it’s sailing solo around the world or staying home to raise your kids.

Simply put, it gives you choices, plenty of choices. You are no longer tied down by a 9 to 5 job. You are your own boss. You decide when you work or even how much work you do.

But is automatic income from the web a myth or fact?

Are there really people making money 24/7 while they’re sleeping, enjoying a delicious restaurant meal or even while on vacation?

The answer is YES!

Computers and the Internet are relatively new inventions. Like anything new, many people don’t fully understand how they work or what excellent opportunities they offer. Most people just can’t comprehend how someone can earn automatic income from the web.

To understand how this income is possible, you must first understand how the Internet works. Basically, at its very core, the Internet is simply information. We use the web to find information. We use it to find what we’re looking for - whether that “something” is in the virtual world or in the so-called real world. Whether it’s a pizza with the works or the theory of relativity explained in full… you can find it all on the net.

We use the Internet to solve problems, find a friend, buy a condo, book a vacation, write a book report… and the list is endless. But how do you earn income from the web, automatic or otherwise?

Again, the answer is quite simple, you just have to give web users what they’re looking for and in most cases that “something” is information. They want information, neatly packaged and accessible at all times. They want things explained and pointed out to them in a direct manner. They want easy solutions to solve their questions or problems.

Information Is The Key

If you want to earn income from the web, you must place your website or sites squarely into this “information mix.” You must offer something of value to your site’s visitors, whether it’s how to make the perfect angel cake or tips on buying a new laptop. You must offer valuable content, special deals, bargains… you must give people a good reason to use your site. They must benefit from using your site.

Just look at Google; they have built a billion dollar company by simply telling people where they can find information on the web. Their homepage is one of the simplest pages on the web and hasn’t changed much since they started in 1998. But they offer the visitor valuable content/information which is needed and appreciated.

Granted you’re not Google, but even the smallest webmaster can offer valuable information to their visitors. Everyone is an “expert” on something - just take your favorite hobby or pastime and run with it. Build a site, offer tips, give advice, gather information… create an online presence for your chosen topic or hobby and you’re in business.

Once you have built a reputation for useful content, the search engines and your visitors will spread the word about your site’s content. Then it is simply a matter of monetizing that content with affiliate links or thru advertising, such as Google Adsense.

There are countless ways or models of making automatic income on the web. The above example is just one of the simplest ways of earning income from your website. If you have your own product and an army of affiliates, then the above scenario is multiplied a hundredfold.

Automation Is Your Friend

You must keep in mind: computers and the Internet are tailor-made for automation. Once you create your sites and content, they run 24/7 without any help from you. Once you set up your follow-up autoresponders, they run 24/7 without any help from you. Once you set up your affiliate links and/or Adsense Code, they run 24/7 without any help from you. Once you have set up your viral marketing systems, such as free videos, free buying guides, free downloads, free articles and ebooks, they run themselves 24/7 automatically.

Of course, it is a good idea to monitor your site and your whole online operation. Plus, it would be wise to keep adding valuable content to your site or sites on a regular basis. But once you have set up your automatic income streams, they pretty much run themselves without much help from their creator.

Then you will see for yourself that regular automatic income from the web is indeed possible and not a myth. You will earn revenue, like clockwork, day-in, day-out; it is a true beauty to behold. Besides, there is no greater joy than coming back from a computer-free vacation only to find you have earned enough money to pay for your vacation and then some… all the while you were away enjoying the sun and the company of friends.

That’s just one of the many joys having an automatic online income will give you. Many more await you…

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The author is a full-time online marketer. For the latest web marketing tools try:www.bizwaremagic.com If you want to create your own automatic income from the web, try these free courses from Ken Evoy’s SiteSell: www.bizwaremagic.com/Free_Marketing_Courses.htm Titus Hoskins. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Tags: Business, online income

Is your website a unicycle, a vehicle that requires much training and skill before it can be used? While there are so many “beautiful” websites online, some simply don’t make sense. Have you ever found yourself on a website that seems quite impossible to use? Even worse, landed on a website after doing a search only to wonder why you are there at all?

Site usability is possibly one of the more important factors of a top performing website. While so many will argue that the site is nothing without a genuine web presence, I will argue that some websites rely purely on offline marketing. At the end of the day, if your website is impossible to use, nobody will be able to (or even want to) use it. Points to ponder when designing your website:

1. Navigation
2. Login/Signup
3. Onsite search
4. Flash and other multimedia
5. Bookmarks/Favourites

1. Navigation

This may seem like an obvious point but as most visitors are more likely to find your homepage, are they able to navigate to the section of the website that best relates to their needs? Simple text navigation will also make it easier for the search engines to index the individual pages of your website (where have you heard the design the website for a human visitor before?).

2. Login and Signup’s

Does your website require that visitor’s to login; do you want new visitors to signup for your newsletter (or other services)? If so, is it possible to do so from the homepage? While you may not want to place a login on the homepage, a link to a login page will suffice. Again the key is to keep it simple and clear as to what you expect of the visitor.

3. Onsite Search

This is crucial for any website that offers a large quantity of information or products. Can you imagine trying to find an item among 2,000 by going through a product list 10 items at a time? I didn’t think so. Offer you visitors what they are looking for by adding a simple search to your website. This should help speed things along. Many websites have a quick search option towards the top right-hand corner of the homepage (sometimes this spans the entire website in all the headers). Keep it simple, visible and obvious. Make sure that the average visitor knows that this is a search function.

4. Flash and other Multimedia

Okay so Flash is a pet hate of mine. But the same could be said of all multimedia that simply clutters a website. Remember that while multimedia and other interactive agents can at times seem really cool or even a good idea, some visitors don’t have advanced updated browsers. That said, sometimes the best way of doing something is through the use of these tools. Make sure that these are placed on well marked pages with an explanation of what they are about. This way, if the visitor is unable to view the contents the at least know what it is about and why they can’t view it. Otherwise they will simply think that the website doesn’t work and leave. After all, what use is a website that is broken?

5. Bookmarks and Favourites

If you want returning visitors (who doesn’t?) then it is usually a very good idea to offer a “bookmark this page” or “add to favourites” button. I’m pretty sure we are all in agreement that traffic is valuable so there is no excuse for letting it get away. The “favicon” is a useful way of separating your website from the others. Once made a favourite this icon will be found next to your websites name. This is an ideal spot to promote your logo and brand.

6. Contact

Even after making the site as foolproof as possible there will still be occasions where even will all that planning something will come along that you hadn’t factored. When this occurs make it as easy as possible for the visitor to contact you. Be it by making your contact details (phone, email and fax) available on each page, or by placing a quick contact us form that is accessible from each page. Again, you’ve worked hard to drive the traffic to your website; don’t let it simply get away.

Remember simple is best, leave no room for mistaken functions. Signups, Logins and searches should be clearly marked so as not to confuse the visitor. Make it as easy as possible for your visitors to find what they are looking for. With a well structured website you will notice that the conversion from visitor to customer will increase. At worst the few questions on where to find something or how to use the website will decrease. Your website is after all supposed to make your life easier as well as save you time.

Robert Cerff is a search engine analyst and marketing consultant in South Africa for Prop Data Internet Solutions. He has ten years experience in e-commerce, online marketing and web development. http://www.propdata.co.za

Tags: Business, webmaster

Why Merchants Fear the Dreaded Guarantee. The same psychological principle of the fear of loss that causes buyers to hesitate on making a purchase causes merchants to often be reluctant to offer a guarantee.

What the merchant fears is having to act on this guarantee when a product is returned. A return is often a psychological blow for merchants, especially when selling their own self created products.

Rather than seize the potential of increased sales from offering a bold guarantee, merchants dread the likelihood of increased returns, and the feeling of rejection they might get from having to deal with such a return.

This feeling is almost always foolish. A bold guarantee may increase returns, but the overall increase in sales usually more than makes up for this.

A merchant starting out with no guarantee may make 50 sales a month and see 3 returns. By advertising a guarantee he may see his sales rise to 80 a month and see returns rise to 10.

His sales rate is up 60% but his return rate is now up over 300%! Is this is a wise decision? Yes! His overall sales are now 70 rather than 47.

One might fear that this scenario may cost the merchant his reputation due to increased returns. This is not true.

Customers will rarely hold a grudge against a merchant if a return is handled properly.

We have received emails from people who have bought our products and returned them, telling us it was not right for them, but also saying they would recommend it to their friends.

If you’re afraid to make your guarantee bold - understand that part of your fear may be purely psychological and like the physicians in the Kahneman Tversky study, you’re operating on a natural human instinct.

You are more concerned with the fear of loss (in this case the loss of a customer when he returns your product) rather than the anticipation of gain. This is an instinct you have to suppress to make a good business decision.

Create the strongest, boldest promise you can offer to your customers and publicize it everywhere.

Unless you have a genuinely rotten product you have nothing to worry about. Bold guarantees will create more overall sales, happier customers and yes, even fewer complaints.

How a Bold Guarantee Can Boost Your Sales

People hesitate on buying from you because of one of the following reasons:

• They are afraid they might make the wrong decision and spend money (a limited resource) on a product that won’t help them satisfy their need.
• They are afraid the cost of the product is not worth the benefit.
• They are afraid the quality of the product may not be as advertised.
• They fear being “taken for a ride” - cheated by unscrupulous sales methods.
• Buyers purchasing a product for a business or organization fear that by purchasing the wrong thing they will look bad in front of their colleagues or teammates.

At the same time, you must understand that a motivated buyer WANTS to own your product, but these fears, all of them expected, keep buyers from moving forward with their purchase.

There is no better time to close a sale than during the emotional “I want it now” moment after a customer first reads your sales copy. Allowing the customer to hesitate will likely make you lose the sale.

This is where the guarantee comes in. A good guarantee will protect the customer against all 5 fears mentioned above. Take a look at the guarantee we offer for this book.

Return on Investment Guarantee:

You have a full 90 days to try all the tactics. If this product does not pay for itself by 500% within 90 days of purchase, just return it to us for a full refund.

Best in Field Guarantee:

Furthermore…we GUARANTEE that you will not find a better book, seminar, CD, or DVD on ecommerce at or below this price. If you do, simply return the book to us within 90 days for a full refund. We truly believe this book to be the best of its kind.

A guarantee effectively attempts to ease each of the customer’s potential fears for not making the purchase. In addition to the usual “30 days to try and return” we expand this to 90 days.

Furthermore, we guarantee that the customer will not find a better a book, seminar, CD, or DVD on ecommerce. A customer looking to shop around will likely spend hours on the net researching various ecommerce products before settling on the right one.

We’re guaranteeing that customers have found the right one and we’ll allow a return and a full refund if they find anything better (they won’t).

What could be fairer than that? A bold guarantee makes it easier for people to feel safe when they consider your offer. You give them a compelling reason to buy today without the fear of looking bad tomorrow.

You thus make it easier for people to buy from you and you’ll find your profits increasing dramatically.

Author: Bjorn Brands is a successfull enterprenuer who transitioned from having his own building company to a great online business. Check out his site and see for yourself how he can help you do the same at http://www.moneyacces.com

Bidding on your own company or brand name in a pay per click campaign is an issue that gets raised from time to time with my clients. It’s an important issue because a good percentage of traffic to many websites is generated by company name or brand based phrases, and often this traffic converts very well. However, many businesses are reluctant to pay for visitors that are already looking for their website. One client described it as feeling like they are paying twice for the same visitor.

More often than not visitors using the company name in a search are responding to an offline promotion, a word of mouth recommendation or are trying to find a site that they did not bookmark the first time around. Whatever the source, these are highly qualified visitors that have a higher chance of converting to a sale than visitors using other search phrases and every effort should be made to ensure that they can easily find your website.

Should your business bid on its own company or brand names? If your business experiences any of the following scenarios then bidding on your company or brand name may be a worthwhile strategy;

1. Your company name or brand is a generic and popular phrase.

If your business has a generic name or brand that is similar to a popular search phrase then it may be very difficult to secure the top spot for a company name search in the natural listings. If this is the case it may be that visitors looking for your site end up clicking through to a competitor’s site instead. In this scenario I would recommend bidding for a top 3 placement in the paid search listings so your site appears above the main natural search results. This would significantly increase the chance of visitors finding your site rather than your competitors.

This could be an expensive strategy depending on the popularity of the search term. However, not only will you be securing a top position for your company or brand, you will also be securing a top position for a highly targeted search phrase. So this strategy should result in a healthy ROI.

2. Your company name is not a registered trademark and your competitors are bidding on it.

A common paid search strategy is to bid on competitor names and brands in the hope of picking up some of the visitor traffic that was destined for their sites. This is clearly an attempt to cash in on a competitor’s brand equity or offline promotional spend, but it is a perfectly legal strategy if the company name or brand is not a registered trademark.

Even if you have the No 1 position in the natural listings in Google for your company name or brand it is still possible for a competitor to secure a spot in the paid listings that would site just above your site listing. The danger here is that many people don’t distinguish between paid and non-paid listings and may click on the first link they see, especially if the company or brand name is used in the competitor’s ad listing text.

In this scenario, securing the top spot in the paid listings above your competitors should be straightforward and relatively inexpensive. This is because the main search engines reward better performing ads with higher positioning and your ad listing will almost certainly have a higher click through rate than your competitors listings.

3. Recently launched websites.

A new website may not get listed in the natural results for its company or brand name for several weeks after launch, this is especially true in Google. If this is the case, and you are spending money on offline promotions with the objective of driving visitors to your new website, it would be a good idea to include your company and brand name in a PPC campaign until the search engines index your new domain.

In many ways bidding on your own company and brand names could be considered a defensive PPC tactic. However, it’s important to remember that these are your visitors and your bookings and this may be the only way to ensure that they don’t both end up with your competitors.

Author:  Mark Scriven is founder of Turismotec Ltd, a search marketing agency that specialises in the travel, tourism and leisure sectors. Turismotec publish a travel marketing newsletter called etravel success.

A press release is many things. It is a marketing tool. It’s a way of getting your name out there. It’s a way of getting links to your site if you’re distributing it online. It’s a means of getting your company into newspapers and on news sites.

However, most importantly, a press release is news. Unlike articles, which are timeless pieces, press releases must be relevant and timely. If it’s been a week or longer since the “news” happened, it’s not news any more.

A critical mistake that some people make is assuming that they can get away with writing a press release that doesn’t actually have any news in it. Press release distribution services don’t like this, and newspapers hate it.

“But…but…how do I find newsworthy topics?” you may be asking. Well, never fear. If you’re running low on PR ideas, here are a few places you can look for topics.

What is your business doing?

At first glance you might not think that your business is doing anything newsworthy, but think again.

• Have you won any awards or broken any records recently?
• Are you celebrating any anniversaries?
• Are you launching any new product lines or reviving old ones?
• Have you hired anybody for a prestigious position?
• Are you launching a new website?
• Are you moving to a new location or renovating your old one?
• Do you have any upcoming events that you’re sponsoring?
• Will your business be helping out with any major local events?

That’s just a short list, but look seriously at everything your business is doing. You can find a number of potential press release topics just from that.What is your industry doing?

Pay close attention to the news in your industry, particularly at new studies and technological advances. You can provide commentary on these advances and to better help people understand what’s going on and how it could affect their lives.

If a study shows of a special benefit that comes from using your product, or shows a major problem that your product solves, then comment on that. There’s nothing like scientific studies to back up the assertions you’ve been making in your sales material.

What are relevant trends you can offer advice on?

Look at relevant industry trends. Not only can you provide commentary on these, but you can also offer advice on how people can incorporate that trend if they so desire. For example, if there was a particular trend in the interior decorating industry that meshed with your product, you can give them tips on how to decorate their room or house in that trend.

What season is it?

Sounds silly, but there it is. If you sell football bedding, set up a tips press release to coincide with the beginning of football season. Sell hunting clothes? Have a press release ready for when hunting season starts. Do you help college graduates manage their credit? Have a press release ready for graduation time in May and December.

It’s not necessarily the most newsworthy thing, but if all else fails, it could provide you with enough of an angle to get your release out.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a press release is newsworthy just because you wrote it or just because it’s about your business. Find something that lets people know why it’s current and relevant and why they should be reading it. By making sure your PR topic is newsworthy, you’ll make it easier to write and much easier to get distributed. And that distribution is what you really want.

Author:  Jessica Cox and Michelle Pierce are graduates of the University of Oklahoma’s College of Journalism with a background in Internet marketing and writing for the Web. They currently provide PR services at Xeal Precision Marketing. Sign up for a free 25-point website evaluation and pick up crucial tips at Xeal’s free Thursday webinar at http://www.xeal.com/webinar.

Raise your hand if you have a website for your small business. Now keep it raised if it is generating a significant volume of prospects or sales. Not holding your hand up anymore? You are not alone.

Just a few years ago, small companies flocked to the web in droves, rushing to post their first website, anxious at the prospect of low-cost instant exposure. The web was going to be the great equalizer, putting small business on par with the big brand names, dangling the promise of visitors flocking to a company’s site to purchase its wares or partake in its services. Sound familiar? Unfortunately, for most small businesses and organizations, the promise fell short and company sales did not skyrocket from an unending march of site visitors.

So, what happened? For one, the web quickly became ultra competitive. Millions of sites sprang up in every business category making it virtually impossible to be found in the search engines. What little bit of traffic the businesses may have enjoyed when the site was first launched began to dry up. Also, as the web evolved to become a more interactive user experience, it became more technologically complex and many small business websites did not keep up.

The other part of the problem was in the approach; not understanding that just putting together a website, even a pretty one, and finding some faceless company offering cheap web hosting services is not likely to make you the next great success story. A large hurdle that many small business owners and managers face is the tendency to compartmentalize the web into a few oversimplified tasks: grab a cheap domain name, find a budget small business website design and development person, look for some impossibly low-priced website hosting, and then expect their website to magically appear on page one of Google. Unfortunately, this ends up being a waste of time and money.

A Solutions-Based Approach with Professional Guidance
To create an effective web presence requires a solutions-based approach with clear ideas about what you want to accomplish and who the audience is you are targeting. The right elements have to be present; a well orchestrated website design with cohesive branding, solid technical acumen, clearly defined objectives for the organization, reliable small business web hosting services and some method of marketing your site and tracking the results. The web is constantly evolving and search engine competition is fierce. Being successful on the web requires consistently evaluating the site’s effectiveness based on your objectives, understanding the latest technologies and trends, having a dynamic website marketing plan and constantly fine tuning.
While you don’t have to spend a fortune to create real value on the web, you should also be realistic. Understand that being successful will require an investment that you should plan for and a clear vision of how your website fits into the goals and objectives of the organization. If you don’t have the experience and technical resources in-house, working with a professional web solutions provider, preferably one specializing in small business web design and development can provide great benefits. A good starting point in the process is to have an understanding of the core elements that are part of a successful website strategy and how they fit together.

The Elements of a Web Solution
So what’s the best way to find a great web or information technology services partner to work with and then get the most out of that relationship?
1. Domain names

Choosing the right domain name is an important branding decision which impacts how your organization is perceived and also how it is found in the search engines. Purchasing from a cheap bulk registrar or choosing can spell trouble.
2. Website Design & Development Services

Find a provider that specializes in small business web design and development. An organization that offers a solutions-based approach can assist your company in doing thorough needs analysis and in designing all of the elements to work well together. First impressions count!
3. E-mail Management

E-mail is a key communication tool for your business. The right system will help you maximize communications within the company, on the road and with your customers..
4. Social Media

Social media such as blogging, Podcasting and other web 2.0 tools can greatly enhance customer communications. Your web services company should be able to help you evaluate how social media tools can best benefit your web presence and business objects.
5. Small Business Website Hosting Services

All web hosting is NOT created equal. There are many nuances and technical consideration involved with hosting solutions. It is best to stay away from budget hosting companies. Look for a managed hosting provider who can help you select the right plan for your web solution goals, get your website up and running and support you as it grows and evolves.
6. Website Maintenance

How will your site be maintained and updated? Having both small business web development and managed web site hosting as a package is immensely helpful for maximizing web server resources, identifying problems and keeping the site maintained and updated.
7. E-Commerce

Will you be actually selling on your site or using it for lead generation or information dissemination? If you are selling products, who will create and maintain your product database. How will transactions be handled? What about web server requirements? Working with a professional can help ensure you make the right choices for your e-commerce site.
8. Business Process Interaction

(database development, customer relationship management, integration with your business management systems) – A website needs to be more than just an ad on the Internet to be effective as a business tool. There are many ways the web can be used to improve your business processes and integrate with your existing systems such as accounting or contact management.
9. Website Marketing

How will people find you on the web? Will you optimize your site for organic search or employ paid marketing techniques or a combination? What directories should you list your site in? Search engine marketing has evolved to be a complex specialty. It’s critical that you understand the tools available for driving traffic to your site and if needed, know how to evaluate and engage a web marketing specialist.
10. Website Analytics and Conversion

Having a great site isn’t enough if your visitors aren’t doing what you intended; buying something, contacting your company or using your site for an information source. Does your site have usability issues? What kind of reporting will you use to track site visitors? What do you need to know and do to convert your visitors into action-takers?
11. Can I still do it myself?

Working with a good provider of information technology services doesn’t mean you can’t do anything yourself. In fact, a reputable and innovative IT company should educate you on how to better manage your technology needs and investments. There are still a lot of day-to-day tasks you can and should do within your organization, depending on your skill level, time and desire. The point is to keep your computer support services partner in the loop and use their expertise and input on major technology decisions.
It’s a Process and a Work in Progress

While there is certainly a lot to think about, creating the best possible website solution for your business doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Your website can and should be a work in progress, evolving as your business grows. Because most small businesses do not have an internal IT staff to handle the technical elements of web development and planning, working with a web solutions provider that specializes in small business website hosting services and small business web design and development is a good start. Such an organization can help you identify your goals, manage the technical aspects of your site and guide you in your marketing efforts. They can also help you work within your budget to develop a plan that combines all the elements into a cohesive whole for creating and maintaining a successful web presence.
Conclusion
The web has grown up to be a terrific marketing medium for small businesses and organizations. Done right, it can be the most cost effective and powerful marketing and communication tool in your arsenal. The promise is still there. However, to truly leverage the power of the web, it is important to take a good, hard look at the website you currently have or the one you are thinking about creating. The elements of a successful web presence: small business web hosting, website design and development and web marketing are only the framework for a well thought-out web solution designed to reach your customers and truly benefit your business.

Author:  Ilene Rosoff is the president and founder of The Launch Pad, a 15-year-old Florida-based technology services company specializing in small business web hosting services, small business web design and development, and business information technology solutions for local and national clients with zero to sixty employees.  Recently named in “Breaking Entrepreneurial News” by Inc.com, Ilene has contributed to many publications including The CEO Refresher, WebProNews, Lockergnome and Work.com and speaks throughout Florida to small businesses, schools and non-profits on best practices on using information technology solutions in their organizations. The Launch Pad helps small businesses grow and succeed with technology and on the web. Visit www.launchpadonline.com to request a technology or web assessment for your organization or for a custom proposal for web or information technology services

Unlike most charitable organizations Kiva.org doesn’t give away anything to anyone. They exist to create connections between entrepreneurs in impoverished countries and people in the developed world who are willing to lend them money to expand their operations. This is a revolution in lending. No longer is the micro-lending process tied up in bureaucracy (i.e. the United Nations). Kiva makes it simple. If you are willing to lend Kiva has an established way to administer the distribution of your funds to credit worthy borrowers in many impoverished countries all over the world. This isn’t some internet scam…Kiva.org has received positive media coverage from the WSJ and NPR as well as BusinessWeek.

There are various estimates of the size and growth potential of the microfinance industry worldwide. Unfortunately, the demand for micro-credit services among the world’s poorest is still largely unmet. Agencies spend between $800 million-$1 billion per year, but they only manage to reach between 13 and 16 million impoverished people. This represents only 4-10% of the world’s poor. The microfinance industry has grown 25-30% annually over the past five years, and is expected to show continual growth. But, there is a lack of capital available to microfinance institutions. This represents a great opportunity for Western societies to redirect capital for distribution as micro-loans, many of which are repaid at rates of 95% or higher.

What is unique about the Kiva.org story is that Kiva is the first micro-lending Web site designed to connect people with people. Founded in 2004 by Matthew and Jessica Flannery, Kiva’s goal is to reduce poverty in developing countries by giving entrepreneurs the ability to build their businesses through flexible loans with six-to 12-month terms. Kiva allows individuals to act as a “micro VC” by loaning directly to entrepreneurs with feasible business plans. In other words, they have democratized the lending process. They are looking into expanding into the US market but, as I understand it, there are legal roadblocks to their providing micro-loans in the US at the present time.

Making a loan through Kiva is easy, secure and personal. A potential lender simply goes to www.kiva.org, registers in a password-protected section, browses through the business section to review available enterprises in need of funding, learns how much funding the enterprises are requesting, and then chooses one or more businesses to which to loan. Loans are made via PayPal, a globally recognized online payment service. Kiva accepts loans as small as $25 and can integrate funds to customize loan sizes. Lenders can stay abreast of the progress of creditor businesses via a blog-site regularly updated on the Kiva web site. Lenders may correspond with the business owner through a Kiva partner representative in the native country.

If you are wondering how to change the world, Kiva.org gives you a way. Helping people help themselves is a fundamental principle of democratic freedom. What better way to show the world just what we, as Americans, and our capitalist system, is really all about, than by demonstrating it by lending through Kiva. I really believe that Kiva.org has the potential to change the world. Ordinary people helping other ordinary people without the insulation of an entrenched bureaucracy…We no longer need the bureaucrats, the internet provides us with the ability to connect in a way that would have been inconceivable even 5 years ago. People can now unite and work together for real global change without leaving their home office.

The take away from this is: With the power of global communications, and electronic distribution, we can conquer global poverty ourselves, person to person, one click at a time.

Author:  Wayne Silverman lives in Philadelphia with his fiance and a cat named Angela. He works in Public Relations and Advertising for a nationwide franchise company and as a freelance copywriter/editor . He is a popular contributor to several online sites and can be contacted at fractalshift -at- gmail.com