Business Expert

Increase sales and save some money by staying in contact with leads that are already “warm.”

A business can boost sales without having to spend more money, simply by working with the leads that are already active. Instead of spending additional time and money on yet another lead-generation campaign, why not go through the current database, to make the most of what’s already there? Like the majority of companies, there are probably a number of “warm” leads from previous marketing campaigns. People at these companies have expressed interest in your offered product or service, but for some unknown reason, they weren’t ready to buy at that very moment. They are most likely just lying idle in your database. If you need motivation to act on these leads, just consider that when this prospective customer is ready to buy, your competition may instead have a good chance at swooping in and closing the sale instead of you.

Unfortunately, it seems that most business-to-business companies who sell products or services spend about 90% to 95% of their marketing and communications budgets on enhancing their company profile or searching for new sales leads, while only 5% to 10% of their budgets are allocated for efforts to turn known prospects into customers. This is not the right approach to take.

We recently worked with a company that was successful in increasing its annual sales by 43%, all without spending a penny more than the allocated budget which they used before we implemented our recommendations. How were they able to achieve this?

First, we recommended specific advertising, public relations, direct mail, trade shows, database and Internet marketing techniques, all of which helped the company generate more high-quality sales leads per dollar of investment. Next, we allocated the money that was saved into programs which are designed to foster sales-winning relationships with existing and known prospects.

We also urged that the company consider targeting customers who had purchased in the past, but not recently. Sometimes it only takes a bit of follow-up to get these inactive customers back. It’s often a good idea to send a message thanking them for being a valued customer, while acknowledging that they haven’t purchased recently – this is a good opportunity to ask if they experienced some kind of problem or if some corrective action needs to be taken to bring them back. It may also be wise to consider making a special offer or discount on their next purchase.

To put it in another way: we were able to cultivate the sales leads which the company already had. Nurturing leads is simply the practice of keeping in good contact with “warm” prospects by hosting events such as webinars or seminars, sending direct-mail and e-mail business offers including white papers and reports, e-newsletters, and other marketing activities, until the prospect is finally ready to buy. For complex B2B products which have multiple influencers in the equation, this process can take months. However, the end result is well worth it, more sales and an ongoing, growing business to business relationship.

In the case of the company which we helped to implement the lead-developing and nurturing process, the salespeople and service representatives now spend far more time following up on existing sales leads with high-quality, ready-to-buy prospects who are in effect some what pre-sold on the company and its products. This is exactly how they have been able to turn more of these prospects into lasting customers.

Why We Don’t Use Myspace

Myspace is a social network.

People visit there to do just that very thing. Socialize.

My internet marketing friends, the first thing you need to really think about is your target market.

People socializing is not your target market if you are in an mlm or business opportunity even cash gifting does not work on my space.

The only way myspace or any social network can be useful is after you build painstaking relationships. This takes from 6 to 12 months of work on your part.

Believe me it is work, and that time is better spent in other places!

Why You Tube Does Not Work As Promised

Some of you reading this may have been misled into thinking youtube is a great place to market your mlm or business opportunity.

You tube can be used for cetain types of products or services but I can say from experience it will not work with mlm and business opportunities.

The reason why is the leads are so poor quality. You will get so many people in other money making schemes trying to cross recruit you it will make your head spin.

Do you really want to keep calling people who request more information just to have them try and sell you their program?

I sure as hell didn’t.

The second reason you tube is a waste of time is because most people go there to see funny videos or todays plane crash etc.

They are not on there looking to change their financial future.

The Truth about Craigslist Marketing Exposed

Can I make big money off craigslist. That question comes my way very often. I hate to shoot it down with both barrels but the answer is Not Really Anymore..

I was fortunate enough to be one of the last people to cash in on the craigslist boom. See back in 2003 to 2005 there was almost no way for craigslist to stop multiple posts.

I had an automated software program that cost me $400. I ran thousands of ads per day and had some ok results.

Then in 05 Craigslist starting making it harder and harder. Now it is almost impossible to post more than a few ads per day on craigslist.

Those are ALWAYS flagged within minutes and you are back to square one.

See the problem is craigslist was abused by unscrupulous mentors who did not help the people succeed in whatever business they sold them.

All these sour people still haunty craigslist looking to kill your dream of getting rich online.

It can’t hurt someone just starting out to post a few ads.

DO NO MORE THAN THREE ADS per Ip address and email.

The real issue I have with craigslist is the leads are so poor. The ones that did come through always had no money or were window shoppers.

I have no time for those people I would be hanging up on people quite often.

Blogs And Articles Work Wonders

The two solid ways to market for free are blogs and articles.

They are were I spend all my time online.

Using blogs and articles has enabled me to have High five figure weeks.

They are by far the most exception tool in your internet marketing tool box.

Use them and use them very often and you will experience a much higher level of success.

No matter if it’s  your online business or mlm or cash gifting program.

The Last Tip Is Consistency Week By Week Day By Day!

The thing that makes me successful is consistency.

It will also make you and your team members successful beyond their wildest dreams.

That problem is why 95% of people fail in home based business opportunities.

They are not consistent and give up way to early.

Do you really think any successful business was built off just one good advertisement?

It takes testing to create an effective marketing system. With any marketing internet or otherwise you should always be testing.

That makes it less boring to be consistent atleast!

I am living proof that if you do not give up success will be had.

Don’t give up your dreams.

Don’t let others talk you out of trying to live your dream life.

You know how many times people told me I shouldn’t join this or that and just to get a real job?

Now that those same people have seen me have five figure DAYS.

They no longer say anything about it.

The funny thing is now when they say not to do something, I do it and it ALWAYS works.

So if you are considering a home business or mlm or possibly a gifting program these tips will help you use your time more effectively.

Marketing your company or business online has never been easier now that social media like Twitter and facebook exist as virtual markets. Join “the conversation” and you’ll be surprised how many people will have great things to say about you, your products and your services.

These days, marketing your company or business online doesn’t stop at having a website. To get the results you want, you’ll need to understand how people use the Internet and figure out a way to leverage that knowledge into winning Internet marketing strategies.

Times have changed since the early days of the Internet. You might have come across some Web 2.0 marketing buzz words like “information sharing,” “interoperability,” “Twitter marketing,” being tossed around to describe what’s happening on the Internet today. Don’t be scared. All those buzz words boil down to a simple truth: The Internet is for everybody and everybody is on the Internet.

More people are using the Internet than ever before. And it’s not just the exclusive sandbox of youngsters anymore either. Of all the interesting statistics about how people use the Internet these days, the one I find most compelling is a report that says the number of Facebook users over the age of 55 has grown by an astonishing 513.7% during the 1st quarter of 2009. What does that tell you? Not only has the web become easy and friendly enough for typically techno-phobic seniors to join in, but our ideas about who’s online and where they hang out need to be updated as well!

So how exactly do you market a business online? Simple –Do it. Experience is a great teacher and the best way to understand how something is done is to take those first awkward steps. Before you start running with your Internet marketing strategies, you’ll have to understand that Web 2.0 marketing strategies in particular require active participation. You need to be involved as an individual and not just a representative of a company. People relate to other people, not to faceless companies. Why do you think Twitter marketing is so effective?

In terms of executing successful Internet marketing strategies, all the information you need is available online. Whether you Google the information you need or find a helpful mentor on a forum or website, trust that other people have gone through the same thing and are more than willing to share their expertise and experience.

In principle, all you really need to launch a successful marketing campaign online is a desire to engage your market in a dialog. Create accounts where people can easily find you on social media sites. Make yourself visible by commenting and participating in discussions and topics that interest you. This way, you’re effectively attracting people who are willing to meet you (and your marketing message) halfway. Help people by providing solutions and sharing your experiences. It’s all part of the ongoing conversation that leads to long-term success online.

The platform you use to engage in that conversation may change, but at the end of the day, it’s still about you and what you have to say, whether it’s through a social-networking site, video-sharing site, wiki or blog.