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Freebie or No Freebie – What’s Best?

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I’ve been reading a ton of discussions recently about whether it’s a good idea to offer your target audience a “freebie” as a means of growing your list …

… the folks you want to build a relationship with away from your blog — those wonderful email subscribers you want to nurture — the prospects you want to market to.

Giving away (even just a portion of) your expertise to potential customers or clients may not be the best way to fly.

It may even come back to bite you in the butt … big time.

Brian Clark from Copyblogger says, “Free is not a business model”.

Kinda makes your ears perk up, doesn’t it?

Armed with all the information I’ve devoured lately, I’m seriously considering removing the freebie offer from my site.

Here’s why …

The WRONG PEOPLE are opting in, which isn’t helping me one darn bit to grow a list of potential “paying” customers.

Oddly enough, rarely does a member of my target audience request my freebie.  Sound strange?  Well, believe it or not, this isn’t just happening to me.

So who’s opting in for the freebie?  Online marketing colleagues, fellow bloggers, curious looky-loos, and the proverbial tire kickers (Ya gotta love THAT crowd!).

Many of them opt in — grab the freebie — and immediately opt OUT.

It’s almost laughable.

Only I’m not laughing.

I’ve even got a few well-established online marketing “experts” who are simply “spying” on me under an alias email address.  Isn’t that a hoot?!  It wasn’t easy to figure out who they are, but I did.

Here’s the risk in offering a freebie …

Hardcore freebie seekers are out there in droves.  We’ll never experience a shortage of people wanting something for nothing.

They will never purchase ANYTHING from you — even if it’s priced at bargain-basement cost.

Once you give them something great for free, their expectation is that the free stuff will just keep rolling in for eternity.

Not cool.  You’re in business — not the “giveaway” business.

I’m convinced freebies may actually do you and your small business more harm than good.

The blog post that influenced my thinking and definitely had the greatest impact on me was from Ameena Falchetto. 

What’s your opinion?

  • Is your freebie rockin’ your business?  
  • Or are you rockin’ it without a freebie?

Photo credit:  alexanderdrachmann

Filed Under: List Building Tagged With: , , , ,

Help Me Fill “The Brag Bag”

By 34 Comments

Did you know your target audience EXPECTS you to brag?

It’s true!

No one wants to work with a loser, right?

Bragging the right way will help you build relationships while you increase sales and revenue.

Everybody likes to hire professionals or purchase products or services they can brag about.

Your potential customers and clients want to hear about …

  • Obstacles you’ve overcome
  • Success stories of clients you’ve worked with
  • Awards you’ve won
  • Contests and challenges you’ve entered or sponsored
  • Your sales volume for the month
  • Those glowing testimonials from happy customers
  • Successful collaborations with colleagues
  • Charities and causes you support and believe in
  • Products or services you offer that help change people’s lives
  • Business-building tools and software you love
  • Coaches and mentors who have helped you succeed
  • The blog post that earned you 100′s of comments
  • Your proudest moment as an entrepreneur
  • Times you’ve been in the spotlight
  • Your secret sauce for success

So don’t believe it when someone tells you “bragging” is bad.  

It’s just the opposite – it’s good for business — and it’s essential to your success.

So …
If you could choose just ONE thing to “brag” about today, what would it be?

Post it in the comment box and let’s see how fast we can fill “The Brag Bag”!

Filed Under: Bragging, Brand yourself online, Building relationships online Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Merry Marketing! Share Your Holiday Offer

By 56 Comments

Before the jolly bearded man in the red suit comes down the chimney …

I’m inviting you to participate in some Merry Marketing!

Do you have a special holiday offer you’d like to share?

Please use the comment box to post the link to your offer and a few details about the “benefits” of purchasing your product, program, or service.

Hope Santa is good to you this year!

**Note**
Please do not post any MLM or Direct Sales opportunities to join your company.  

Thank you.

Filed Under: Marketing, Online Marketing, Online Promotions Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

3 Simple Keys to a Strategic Plan that Rocks!

By 7 Comments
Every year, during the last couple of months, we turn our attention to “planning.”
And because it’s that time of year, we call it a strategic plan that sets us up for the next year’s growth.
You can spend tons of time, invest lots of energy and lose yourself in crafting a strategic plan for your business. Heck, there are so many elements that can go into creating an effective strategic plan that you can give up before you get started.

As a former corporate leader, I too, built strategic plans for my team.

One year, we went off to a conference room in the south of France to plan new skills development strategies for a revamped organization. It was a full week, heads down, locked together in a common goal. And I had tools, templates for us to use and complete. I asked them to do some homework before they arrived in France and we all left with a plan of activities and due dates at the end of our time together.

Now, I’m not that much of a hard driver, we did get out for dinner and wonderful French wine every evening. Great team building… smile.  But planning IS a huge part of the corporate environment.

What about we entrepreneurs?

Do we use planning as part of our strategy to grow our skills and business? Sorry to say, I don’t think it’s as widely used or greatly appreciated. And that’s too bad, because at a minimum it can help you get the “stuff” out of your head and on paper so that you can see the possibilities available to you.

I do know that one of the reasons it’s not used effectively is because it can take “time” to plan.

And when you’re focused on attracting clients, designing and delivering programs or products, planning takes a back seat. For that reason, I want to give you a “shortcut” to do some planning if you can’t invest the time to grow your business. (Yes I’m being facetious!) But if I can get you to do “some” planning it could actually open you up to more in-depth focus and results. 

So the 3 simple keys or “shortcuts” to a strategic plan that rocks revolve around a theme: [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Plan Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Find Your Voice, Take A Risk And Tell Your Story

By 22 Comments

I know.  It can be scary.

The most prolific writers, public speakers, authors, coaches, and avid bloggers will encourage you and urge you to think about the importance of story in your life.

So take in a deep breath, go out on a limb, and tell your story.

Unmasking what’s behind the development of your programs, products, and services is the most compelling piece of marketing strategy you own.

Nothing is more powerful or empowering than chiseling away at the exterior to reveal the human spirit within.

“We are not human beings on a spiritual journey.  We are spiritual beings on a human journey. “

~ Stephen R. Covey

The moment I crossed over that scary imaginary line and decided to stop keeping my story to myself, I felt a huge weight lifted from my shoulders.  Not to sound cliché, but the process was very therapeutic.  I realized it was really what I needed to do all along.  I needed a shift in my thinking.  I needed to stop fighting the reluctance and find the gumption and the guts to just do it.

Courage is a strange animal and an even stranger phenomenon.

Once you embrace a tad bit of courage, the more courageous you’ll become.

Telling your story will move you directly down a path to “finding your voice”.  It will literally cement you in to a whole new way of thinking, engaging, and living your life (and working your business!)

What’s the significance of story in your life?

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Filed Under: Authors, Blogging, Building relationships online, Following Your Passion, Public speaking, Storytelling, Write a book Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

There Is No Box To Think Outside Of

By 20 Comments

There’s NO Santa Claus, NO Easter Bunny, and NO box to think outside of.

Your balloon might feel a little deflated right now, and I’m sorry.  But it’s true.

You’re only limited – you’re only “boxed in” – by your imagination. As an entrepreneur and online marketer, the sky’s the limit!

But if you’re someone who can’t let go of the box theory …

Then my suggestion is to start placing your ideas into a box and pull one out any time you wish.

As you grow your business, be as creative as you like.  Use your noodle, put on your thinking cap, and WOW your target audience with your signature genius.

  • Differentiate yourself.
  • Move away from stereotype.
  • Stand out from the crowd.
  • Take a risk.
  • Let your hair down and show your audience the real YOU!

There is no box to think outside of.

Filed Under: Brand yourself online, Creativity, Making money on the internet, Online Marketing, Small business owners Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Confused Audience Won’t Take Action and You Won’t Make Sales

By 14 Comments

Today’s post is a sequel to “Twitter update – What Are You Cooking for Dinner Tonight?”

Consistent and Clear messaging across social media venues is what you want to aim for in your communications with your target audience.

Nothing breaks down trust and destroys credibility faster than being all over the map with messages that confuse your target market.  And once they get confused, they disappear!

To keep your prospects, clients, and customers from doing the disappearing act, you need to strike a “balance” of sharing relationship-building messages and messages that are promotional in nature.

Be a savvy social media marketer and use the 80/20 rule (or even the 90/10 rule!) when posting your messages.  The majority of what you share should be focused on relationship-building.

Thanks to my awesome mentor and colleague, Jessica Swanson, I’ve learned buckets full of tips and strategies to build lasting relationships with mompreneurs and moms who want to ditch the 9-5 and work from home.

Now it’s my turn to share them with you.

The best way to begin building a relationship with your target audience is to offer them your tantalizing freebie!

Here are 50 “free offer” ideas from my mentor to me to YOU: [Read more...]

Filed Under: Brand yourself online, Building relationships online, List Building, Online Marketing, Small business owners, Social Media Marketing, Social Networking Tagged With: , , , ,

Marketing Strengths of Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

By 7 Comments

Even though volumes of information has been published and shared about social media marketing, are you still wondering “why” you should have a presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn?

And more importantly …

Are you still a bit fuzzy about the core marketing strengths of the Big 3?

Today’s post is going to be concise (My thought is that you already have a PLENTIFUL collection of tips, reports, e-courses, and e-books about social media).

Who doesn’t?! Unless you’ve been residing under a cabbage leaf, your inbox and your hard drive is over-stuffed with social media basics and marketing strategies.

Maybe I should hold a contest to see who’s storing up the MOST social media stuff! Would you be the winner? :-)

Marketing Strengths

Facebook:

  • One of the fastest growing social networks
  • Find people from every industry, age group, and demographic area
  • Great way to brand yourself and your products and/or services
  • Allows you to further relationships with prospects, customers, and potential customers or clients
  • Ideal place to start if you are new to social media

Twitter:

  • Fast and easy to use
  • Search feature allows you to find, not only people, but you can also search by subject to find your target audience
  • Can be used to drive traffic to your blog or website
  • Twitter profile is the easiest to create

LinkedIn:

  • Known for its use by professionals (business-to-business networking)
  • Great place to demonstrate your expertise
  • Join groups formed around specific ideas or industries (you can join up to 50 groups)
  • Allows you to connect with people in your niche both in your geographical location and from all over the world
  • Excellent venue for building your community and finding potential customers

Which list of strengths would best serve you and your online marketing business?


Filed Under: Brand yourself online, Building relationships online, Online Marketing, Small business owners, Social Media Marketing, Social Networking Tagged With: , , , , ,

Preparing Your Buyers To Take Action

By 9 Comments

Think of your own buying habits.

I’m going to venture a guess in saying you’ve had occasions where you’ve thought of a purchase, knew exactly what you wanted, and bought it immediately upon entering a store.

Am I right?

And other times you’ve needed to make important decisions first before pulling out your credit card or cash to make the purchase.

You most likely needed to as yourself questions like, “Do I need it?”, “Can I afford it?”, or “Is this something that is right for me?”

In that case, the interactions you have with the product and the company selling the product are critical in allowing you to build a relationship first – which creates that all-important know, like, and trust factor.

People do business with People – NOT with businesses.

Social media prepares your customers to more readily take action once you have established a relationship with them.

Here’s how it works:

  • People come in contact with you and/or your products or services.
  • They are mildly interested so they join your community.
  • They sign up for your email opt-in list or follow you on Twitter or maybe become your friend on Facebook.
  • Each time you engage these interested individuals, they get to know you a little better.
  • If they continue to be interested in you and what you have to offer, they will eventually be ready to buy.
  • Some people are ready to buy right away and some need a little more time.

Think of it this way:

Your only job is to interact with people and be your authentic self.  All that is required of you is to invite people to your community and get to know them.  That’s it!

Filed Under: Brand yourself online, Building relationships online, List Building, Making money on the internet, Social Media Marketing, Social Networking Tagged With: , , , ,

Cobweb-covered, Unknown, Unread, Unvisited Blogs

By 11 Comments

Blog marketing gives your business a voice.

If you are creative with that voice, you will also enjoy the undivided attention of a captive target audience (which, as you know, can lead to long term relationships and sales).

Using your voice to introduce and promote your products or services is a cost effective manner of advertising and building your business brand.  Blogging is one of the best, most widely-used, and simplest shoestring marketing platforms you can use to grow your business.

However, a cobweb-covered, unknown, unvisited blog is as good as NO blog at all.

Is your blog hiding in the shadows?  Gathering moss instead of gathering steam?  Looking more like a ghost town than a landmark destination? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blogging, Brand yourself online, Building relationships online, Internet Marketing Tools, Online Marketing, Search Engine Optimization Tagged With: , , , , ,
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