A Question To Ask Yourself – Do I Have A Great-Looking Web Site?

There's a big difference between a well-designed website and a great-looking one. A well-designed site is one that sells! It leads visitors through the sales process without getting in their way. If it's pretty on top of that, fine. That's gravy. But don't confuse the two.

What you want your design to do is entice people to stay on your site when they get there, draw them into your message and make it easy for them to keep reading so they can make a buying decision.

I come across so many sites that do just the opposite. If you are committing any of the mistakes listed below on your web site, it could be killing your conversion rates.

#1: Slow-loading pages and graphics

Count out three seconds. In web time, it feels like forever! If your home page takes that long to load, you've got trouble on your hands. Internet users are extremely impatient. Aren’t you? If they can't begin reading or viewing your page right away, they're going to leave and go to another, more user-friendly site.

#2: Do you have eye-catching headline to grab your visitors' attention

OK, they gave your site a try. Now you have to capture your visitors' attention right away and convince them your site has exactly what they're looking for. The best way to do that is with a well-formatted, attention-grabbing headline that's packed with intriguing benefits and compels them to read further.

#3: Distracting banners and links

On your site, don't put up banners or links that send people to someone else's site (and that includes Google AdWords ads). Everything on your site should directly relate to its ultimate purpose--whether it's to get more opt-ins for your e-mail list or to sell your product. Anything on your site that doesn't serve this main purpose should be immediately deleted.

Of course, if the purpose of your site is purely to promote affiliate products or other sellers, then obviously you'll want to include banners or links. But if you try to promote affiliate products on a page that's also meant to sell a specific product, you'll end up doing a lousy job of both.

#4: Too many dizzying colors or fonts

Nothing screams "amateur!" louder than a dizzying mishmash of different fonts and colors. To make your site look professional, use a basic color scheme with two or three colors and a couple of fonts. Look at any well-designed site and you'll see that it's pretty conservative with the colors and fonts it uses.

#5: Patterned backgrounds

Make sure your background stays in the background! If you add textures or use dark backgrounds on your site, people won't be able to read your copy easily. And if you aren't making it easy for them to read your copy, you aren't making it easy for them to buy your product. There are still many older browsers in use that simply don’t handle dark colors very well.

#6: Too many distracting graphics, animations, or video clips

Here's another amateur mistake: thinking that lots of images, fancy graphics, animated gifs or video clips will make your site more interesting.

Unless those visual elements help persuade people to buy your product by showing visitors what your product looks like, or demonstrating how it works, they're useless decorations that will distract your visitors and prevent them from following through on what you want them to do.

#7: Huge blocks of text that are nearly impossible to read

What happens when you run into a giant block of text on a website? Do you read it, scan it or skip over it to something shorter? If you want your visitors to read all the way to your "order" button, make it as easy as possible for them to do so.

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info@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net/THMD

Before we finish up with our piece on Guerrilla Marketing, I want to make a couple of very special announcemnts.

1 – We have installed new software that as of Thursday 5/1/08, allows all Upgraded Listings in The Hand Made Product Directory to have access to their Click Through (Traffic) report.

2 - We have radically redesigned and simplified the Listing Submission process for The Hand Made Product Directory. If our previous form was causing you difficulties and you choose not to list because of this, please re-visit the directory and get listed.

Now let’s pick up where we left off yesterday. We were talking about some necessary concepts of Guerrilla Marketing.

You Have To Measure The Effects Of Your Efforts

It is not uncommon for you to potentially be able to double your profits by measuring the results of your marketing. Some of your techniques will hit the old bull's-eyes. Others will miss the target. Unless you measure, you won't know which is which.

Involvement

This describes the relationship between you and your customers--and it is a relationship. You prove your involvement by following up; they prove theirs by patronizing and recommending you.

You Really Are Dependent

Believe it or not. you job is not to compete but to cooperate with other businesses. Marketing them in return for them marketing you will bring in the results you want. Use tie-ins with others. You goal here is to really become dependent - to market more and invest less.

Build Your Armament

Armament is defined as "the equipment necessary to wage and win battles." The armament of Guerrilla Marketers are technology: computers, current software, cell phones, pagers, fax machines, ect.. If you're technophobic, see a techno-shrink.

Get Consent

In this era of non-stop interruption marketing, the real key to success is first to gain consent for your marketing materials. Then market only to those who have given you that consent.

You Will Need To Augment Your On Line Efforts

To succeed online, you will need to augment your on line marketing efforts with offline promotion. Just don’t forget to keep up constant maintenance of your site.

You Marketing Efforts Must Have Content

There is an old advertising adage that says, "Sell the sizzle, not the steak." Today’s sophisticated consumers know that the sizzle from the steak is nice but they really prefer to eat the steak every time. Your substance, not your style, will be what makes the difference.

You Must Implement What You Have Learned

It’s not enough for you to know these concepts. The key is to take action on them, each and every one of them.

Your Efforts Must Have Compatibility

If you have two horses pulling in opposite directions, their efforts are wasted. Be certain that all your marketing is saying the same thing and pulling in the same direction. Don’t undermine what you do with marketing that marches to the beat of a different strategist.

If you examine successful companies, you will find that all these concepts are actively being used. They are the cornerstone of guerrilla marketing

Copyright © 1988-2008, The Hand Made Product Directory / New Creations Consulting, LLC

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info@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net/THMD

Are You Using Guerrilla Marketing?

Many readers have heard of Guerrilla Marketing but few really understand what it really takes to make Guerrilla Marketing work. The use of the word “Guerrilla” wasn’t chosen lightly when the phrase was developed. When one thinks of a guerrilla, once usually equates the word “aggressive” with it. I guess they could have called the marketing technique “Wild Bull Marketing” but it doesn’t seem to have the same ring to it.

The original concept of guerrilla marketing has changed just as marketing itself has changed. There are some concepts that have to be understood and implemented if you are going to make Guerrilla Marketing work for you.

If you run your business by these guerrilla marketing concepts you will rep the rewards. There are a number of these concepts and I will be going over them in this and our next post.

You Must Have Commitment

The active word here of course is Commitment. You do know that a mediocre marketing program with commitment will always be more profitable than a brilliant marketing program without commitment. The word “Commitment” as used here is used as a verb with makes it an active agent. Commitment is what makes things happen.

It Will Require An Investment

Many think that marketing is an expense, but it really isn’t. It’s an investment. And if done correctly, the best investment available in a business. If you use these concepts as a guide, you will be doing it correctly.

You Have To Be Consistent

Trust between a business and a customer doesn’t develop over night. It takes time before any customer will develop trust in you. Too much change is bad. If you change your marketing methods too much, you're hard to trust. Consistency in your marketing and repetition are two great allies of the guerrilla.

You Must Be Confident

In a nationwide test to determine why people buy, price came in fifth, selection fourth, service third, quality second, and, in first place, people said they patronize businesses in which they have confidence.

You Will Need To Be Patient

The concept of Patience and Commitment go hand in hand. If whoever is running your marketing isn’t patient, it will be difficult to practice commitment.

You Need An Assortment Of Marketing Techniques

Guerrilla marketers know that in most instances, a single marketing weapons rarely works on its own. Using combinations of techniques do work. You will need a wide assortment of marketing tools to woo and win customers.

It Must Be Convenient To Do Business With You

Who ever originally said time is money must have not been thinking clearly that day because in reality time is not money, it's far more valuable than money. Respect this by being easy to do business with and running your company for the convenience of your customers, not yourself.

Your Goal Is Subsequent Repeat Business

A single sale is great but the real profits come after you've made the sale, in the form of repeat and referral business. Most who do not use Guerrilla Marketing tend to think marketing ends when they've made the sale. Those that use it know that's when marketing begins.

Keep Your Marketing Amazing

There will always be elements of your business that you take for granted, but prospects would be amazed if they knew the details. Be sure your marketing reflects that amazement.

Tomorrow we will finish up on these concepts

Copyright © 1988-2008, The Hand Made Product Directory / New Creations Consulting, LLC

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info@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net/THMD

More ideas to ponder

Some of these ideas may take a little reworking to work for you but they should spark some ideas of your own.

42. Get some canvas tote bags printed up with your business information printed on it. Find a few ladies who are very active in your community and ask them to use your tote bag and give it to them for FREE under the agreement that they will use it every time they go out in the community for errands & events!

43. Get a license plate made up for your vehicle! If you have your normal license plate on the back of your car, put your business named one on the front of the car!

You can get one with just your business name on it for about $20-$30 per plate!

44. Wear a business name tag every time you go out into your community! Get a Catchy Slogan printed on it such as:

A. Ask me about (your company name) Products!

B. I work from home, you can too!

C. Earn some FREE when you party with me!

45. Local Area Magazines! Does your city publish a City Magazine? If so, contact them about advertising or if they hold contests for their readers offer to donate a product or service for their contest!

46. Check out your local area State Fairs & Community Carnivals, there are always a lot of them going on during seasonal weather.

Ask about getting a booth or table & set it up with your business information! People love to shop at Fairs & Carnivals and they are looking to spend money

47. Get some Business Card Magnets printed up and hand them out every where you go! Have your friends & family pass them out too!

People are more apt to keep a magnetic business card compared to a regular one which gets shoved into a drawer or wallet. By having a magnetized card, your business is kept in front of the potential customer/client.

48. When you give gifts to family, friends, neighbors, co-workers etc. make sure you give them gifts from your own company! These allow other people to see & touch your gift meaning FREE business exposure for you! (Plus, you bought the gift from yourself so you are saving money!)

49. Invite your spouse's co-workers over to your home for a little mingling party! Serve some refreshments or do a cookout BBQ and make sure you have a table set up with some product displays!

If you sell kitchen or food products, make sure you use them!

50. Do a neighborhood children's shopping party!

I do this before Christmas and again before Mother's Day. I invite the neighborhood kids to come by and shop for gifts for their parents and loved ones. They enjoy shopping on their own and parents enjoy a small break from the children!

To make this successful make sure the products you are offering are economical, I try to keep them under $25.00 each with most being around $10.00 each. Have a table set up with some inexpensive crafting supplies and let the children make their own greeting cards to go with the gifts they have purchased or have a gift wrapping table set up so they can personally wrap their gifts!

Copyright © 1988-2008, The Hand Made Product Directory / New Creations Consulting, LLC

All rights reserved

info@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net/THMD

More Unusual Marketing Tips To Try & Modify

31. Hold a local area community Block Party at your home or local community center! Families are always looking for something to do during the nice weather seasons!

Optional: Attend your neighborhood block party and set up a table with your product offerings or samples. Get out there in your community and get your business seen!

32. Get your business listed in your cities telephone book yellow pages! A lot of them also have a coupon section too!

33. You can take this phone book advertising one step further by finding out what company makes the plastic vinyl phone book covers which have local business ads on them and get your business added to it!

34. Get your business information printed up on pencils and hand them out to local colleges and technical schools for them to hand out to their adult students! This keeps your business information in front of them! (Make sure you only donate them to schools with adult students).

35. Get a vehicle banner made for your automobile. I recommend the vinyl window clings or vinyl cling ones that stick to your automobile but don't scratch or remove the paint. You can easily remove them when washing your vehicle!

36. If your city has a travel guide that tourists request, contact that business and find out how you can advertise in it too!

37. Local City Maps! These days even city maps have advertising on them! You can usually get a small business ad printed on them for an economical price. Don't advertise your personal location. If you don't have a business locations then advertise your website address or email address.

38. Contact local area hotels, motels and bed & breakfast inns and ask them if you can do up a Lobby Basket and leave it in their Lobby.

What is a Lobby Basket? You make up little packs of info about your business & products and put them into the Lobby Basket for their patrons to take.

They usually have a pamphlet wall or area too with pamphlets from local area attractions etc. If they don't have a lobby basket area, inquire about leaving your business info in their pamphlet area.

39. Get your business info printed up on balloons! This is very economical to do! You then distribute them to local community centers, sporting events and other types of places where parents book their children's birthday parties!

These balloons can be displayed at the birthday party giving you business exposure. You can usually get them done for .3-.8 cents each. Your business name & website address is all you need on them!

40. Find a few other self employed business owners in your community and team up! You can all sponsor a local parade float, parade clowns etc. Make up signs with your business info imprinted on them so that you can receive some great business exposure during the parade!

Copyright © 1988-2008, The Hand Made Product Directory / New Creations Consulting, LLC

All rights reserved

info@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net/THMD

More Unique Promotion Ideas

22. Small Home Town Newspapers! I don't get too good of a response when I do big newspaper city ads, however... when I target small town newspapers I usually get a great response. I even had them let me place an ad on their wedding and engagement announcements page which I advertised the Bridal Gift Registry.

So if you are going to do any type of newspaper advertising, inquire about getting your ads on specific pages in the newspaper that targets the group of people most likely to buy from you.

23. Get a low cost outdoor banner printed up with your business information on it. You can usually get them done for $55 or less depending on who makes it.

You can have these outdoor banners displayed at outdoor music/concert events, outdoor children's sporting events, outdoor adult sport events, outdoor neighborhood block parties, outdoor community events, carnivals, fairs, etc.

24. Take your business on the road during nice weather. Contact local area parks & community centers to see what their schedule of events are and inquire about setting up a booth or table.

This is a great way to network & market your business to those in your community.

25. Community Clipper Coupon Packs & Sales Flier Mailings. These days a lot of communities have mailings such as these, contact them and see how you can participate and advertise your business.

26. Contact small local area businesses such as hair salons, massage parlors, boutiques, banks etc.

See if you can set up a table for 1 week with 3 of your best selling products on it along with some catalogs, fliers, coupons and your business card. Keep a basket on the table for any customer orders which you can follow up on after you return back to pick up your display. Offer the store owner or manager a free gift for allowing you to do this.

You can also offer to donate a prize for a contest if they let you display the prize donated & get a copy of the contestants entry blanks after the promotion closes.

27. Contact local area pizza shops, diners, and deli's and coffee bagel shops to ask them about advertising on their paper place mats! Customers do read those ads!

28. Contact local area restaurants, bars and clubs and see about advertising on their paper beverage coasters!

29. Local Television Stations are always holding on-air contests & website contests for their viewers, contact them about you donating a prize or gift certificate to sponsor one of their contests! Great business exposure for you!

30. Attend Local Area holiday shopping events. Customers who are ready to spend holiday shopping money turn out for these events by the thousands! You can usually get a booth for less than $50.00 so they are economical to participate in!

Copyright © 1988-2008, The Hand Made Product Directory / New Creations Consulting, LLC

All rights reserved

info@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net/THMD

Following up from yesterday’s post, here are some more ideas for you to try

11. Contact your local medical offices, particularly Gynecology and OB Offices and Pediatric Offices and inquire about you leaving information with them.

This is a way for you to target Parents of Children with both the home party opt, the business opt and new customer sales.

12. Donate a Product to your local area Radio Station, they have numerous contests and they are always looking for sponsors!

Your donation can be written off as a tax deduction plus you will get FREE Advertising & Business Exposure for your donation!

13. Donate a Product to your local area Bingo Halls! They are always looking for sponsors of their Bingo Prizes! Bingo is BIG in a lot of areas!

14. Call your Chamber of Commerce and find out about Local Area Job Fairs. Get a booth and set up info about the fabulous business opt!

15. Call your Local Area Colleges and find out when their next job/employment fair is. A lot of times you can get a booth or table for less than $35 and you will get a lot of GREAT new recruit leads by participating in events like these.

16. Contact local area car dealerships. I have 2 in my local area that hand out a small packet that I made up for FREE to their customers who come in to take a free test drive!

17. Target your local area gyms! You can get a table space for $20 or less in most cases! Make sure you have 3-5 products on display, plenty of catalogs, business cards and fliers.

18. Network with others in your community who are in home business. Find out what events and activities that they participate in. They are usually "in the know" and can help you get started in networking in your community.

19. Contact Companies in your area to see if you can come in and set up a table in the employee lounge or cafeteria for a employee shopping break! These days a lot of companies will allow you to do this if you ask them!

20. Does your local area TV cable company have a local information channel? Inquire about advertising! These ads will reach thousands of potential buyers for you! I recommend you only use your website address for these types of advertising and not your personal at home address.

21. Contact local small companies and shops to see if you can offer an exclusive discounts or freebie gift to their employees. Companies are always looking for a way to "treat" their employees to specials from the local surrounding community.

Copyright © 1988-2008, The Hand Made Product Directory / New Creations Consulting, LLC

All rights reserved

info@dmpmc.net www.dmpmc.net/THMD