Creative advertising ideas are essential to the success of any marketing plan. In order to leave a lasting and memorable impression on thousands of potential customers, outdoor advertising must clearly and concisely express your message and that message must support your brand image. There are many options to choose from when it comes to advertising supplies and services. When you investigate the credentials and experience of a marketing or advertising firm be sure and find out if they have an advertising promotional specialty. For example, a well-established, outdoor advertising company would be the best choice if you want to execute a powerful and successful outdoor advertising campaign.
Be Unforgettable: Creative Outdoor Advertising Ideas
Outdoor advertising can take many forms. You can drive a company car and have it custom painted with your company logo and contact information. You can execute a billboard campaign locally, regionally or nationally. Some businesses prefer to paint a mural on their storefront or participate in the local holiday parade by building or sponsoring a float. You can purchase or rent a huge promotional balloon or invest in producing a promotional event to attract new potential customers to your place of business.
Originality is the Key: Give Your Creative Outdoor Advertising Competition a Run for the Money
Originality is the most important creative strategy in advertising. In America today consumers are bombarded by so many types of media, you don’t want to just grab their attention -- you want to keep their attention. This will help you maintain your competitive edge and become profitable over the long term. One example of this is car dealer advertising. Car dealers often have commercials that are redundant and consistently present similar images. For instance how many times have you seen a truck, SUV or jeep driving through the desert or forest, crossing mountains and rivers in a commercial? It may have been a creative advertising idea the first time a car dealer promotion featured it, but now it is commonplace and predictable. Car dealers now are searching for something new that will set them apart from the rest. Plan a holiday event where a portion of the day’s profits benefits a charity and use this as part of your holiday advertising strategy. You may also consider running a car dealer promotion with advertising balloons to announce the event and draw in the public.
Emotional Branding: How Do Your Customers Feel?
Creative advertising ideas can be successful and profitable, but they must also be emotional. It is essential that every company think about how they want their customers to feel. If your company brand evokes emotions like loyalty, satisfaction, security, excitement or comfort it can generate much faster growth. Creative outdoor advertising can help you establish the brand image you need to attract and keep your best clientele. Creative advertising ideas are a great way to refresh your company brand and invite new potential customers to your doorstep. Whether you own a gas station or a clothing store, whether you need to enhance your car dealer advertising or the marketing plan for your hospital, creative outdoor advertising can be the answer. Just remember, it is important that you complete the proper market research and create a tracking plan to monitor the success of the outdoor advertising campaign. For more information on creative outdoor advertising visit
1.30.2009
Why Use A Direct Marketing List Broker?
There are thousands of different lists in the marketplace today. There are business lists and consumer lists. There are postal lists, phone lists, and opt-in email lists. There are hundreds of different companies who manage, compile, and represent these lists. How would you know where to start? How would you know where to look? How would you know what to pay? How would you know how much time it should take? How would you know if you are being realistic with your timeline and budget? A List Broker can answer all of these questions for you, and will typically only charge you for the actual list.
For consumer lists, there are hundreds of different criteria that you can utilize when searching for a list. How would know what criteria to use? How would you know which list company to turn to based on your criteria? How would you know what a reasonable price is that you should be paying for these criteria? A List Broker can help you to determine which criteria will deliver the quantity of records you are seeking and the optimal outcome.
For business lists, there are not as many criteria, however, there are many different types of business lists, and it is very easy to become confused if you are not supported by someone who knows what to look for. A List Broker has worked with many different business list companies, and can therefore determine, based on your criteria, which company(s) to turn to.
There are also different rules in place that govern how lists can be used, and there are different list companies that do and do not follow these rules. For instance, consumer phone numbers in the USA are tightly regulated under the Do Not Call legislation. Not only are there national regulations, each state has their own policies around calling consumers. It is very important to work with legitimate list companies who follow these rules.
The same approach is in place for email lists. This is why there are referred to as opt-in email lists because they are permission based. There are companies out there that will sell you an email list. We highly recommend that you do not work with these companies because the list is probably old and it is most definitely not permission based, and is therefore illegal. Please review the CAN-SPAM Act to learn more about email list policy.
How do you know which list is right for you? Unless you have worked with many of these vendors, and know what their quality is, you don't know which list is right for you. That is where a List Broker can really make a difference in the outcome of your direct marketing campaign. A List Broker knows which list companies to turn to depending on what your specific targeted needs are. A List Broker can locate a specific list for you depending on what your budget and time line is. A List Broker knows which list company to turn to depending on whether you are looking for a postal list, phone list, or opt-in email list.
A good List Broker will provide you with choices. In other words, instead of being told that this is the list you need, they will provide you with several lists to review and will point out which list they believe will deliver the optimal results for your campaign. What is great for you is that you can choose the list that you think will work best for you.
A List Broker will do all the research for you in order to ensure that the best list is located. Therefore, a List Broker will save you time, money, and aggravation in your acquisition of a Direct Marketing List. What are you waiting for? Let a List Broker support your targeted marketing needs now!
For consumer lists, there are hundreds of different criteria that you can utilize when searching for a list. How would know what criteria to use? How would you know which list company to turn to based on your criteria? How would you know what a reasonable price is that you should be paying for these criteria? A List Broker can help you to determine which criteria will deliver the quantity of records you are seeking and the optimal outcome.
For business lists, there are not as many criteria, however, there are many different types of business lists, and it is very easy to become confused if you are not supported by someone who knows what to look for. A List Broker has worked with many different business list companies, and can therefore determine, based on your criteria, which company(s) to turn to.
There are also different rules in place that govern how lists can be used, and there are different list companies that do and do not follow these rules. For instance, consumer phone numbers in the USA are tightly regulated under the Do Not Call legislation. Not only are there national regulations, each state has their own policies around calling consumers. It is very important to work with legitimate list companies who follow these rules.
The same approach is in place for email lists. This is why there are referred to as opt-in email lists because they are permission based. There are companies out there that will sell you an email list. We highly recommend that you do not work with these companies because the list is probably old and it is most definitely not permission based, and is therefore illegal. Please review the CAN-SPAM Act to learn more about email list policy.
How do you know which list is right for you? Unless you have worked with many of these vendors, and know what their quality is, you don't know which list is right for you. That is where a List Broker can really make a difference in the outcome of your direct marketing campaign. A List Broker knows which list companies to turn to depending on what your specific targeted needs are. A List Broker can locate a specific list for you depending on what your budget and time line is. A List Broker knows which list company to turn to depending on whether you are looking for a postal list, phone list, or opt-in email list.
A good List Broker will provide you with choices. In other words, instead of being told that this is the list you need, they will provide you with several lists to review and will point out which list they believe will deliver the optimal results for your campaign. What is great for you is that you can choose the list that you think will work best for you.
A List Broker will do all the research for you in order to ensure that the best list is located. Therefore, a List Broker will save you time, money, and aggravation in your acquisition of a Direct Marketing List. What are you waiting for? Let a List Broker support your targeted marketing needs now!
1.17.2009
The Most Overlooked Piece of the Weight Loss Puzzle
When it comes to losing weight most people can tell you the basics of the ways to burn fat. Everyone knows that eating healthy is a must. It is also not uncommon knowledge that you have to get in some sort of exercise. Weight and resistance training is also a common theme. But there is one piece of the weightloss puzzle that keeps getting overlooked. Especially in today's age of nonstop schedules and constantly beeping communication devices. The most overlooked area of losing weight is quite simply rest. A lot of people just do not really understand the importance of getting the proper amount of sleep. In addition stress and getting rest throughout the day can play a hand in weightloss as well.
Not getting enough sleep can play havoc on your body. Studies have shown that a lack of sleep can contribute highly to overeating. One of the main reasons is that a lot of the bodies hormones are regulated by our sleep cycle.Hormones are the chemicals that tell our brains how much we need to eat and when we are full. When our sleep cycle gets out of whack or we are not getting enough rest, these hormones get of course which can tend to cause us to overeat. Add in the fact that when we do not get enough sleep we can tend to be more cranky which can cause us to get frustrated and choose worse things to eat and we have a bad combination for weight loss.
Another issue that can come from not getting enough sleep is the fact that our bodies need rest to repair any hard work we have done in the gym. Weight training and other forms of exercise work by tearing our body down. Tearing the body down is only half of the equation in fitness. Once it is torn down by the workout we need sleep to repair that work and bring our body back to a more fit level before the work was done. If we only do the tearing down part (the workout) we are not doing what needs to be done to get in shape. The body can only take so much tearing down before we have to stop.
Another side to the rest issue is the amount of relaxation you afford yourself throughout the day. Stress is a roadblock to weight loss due to the hormones it can produce. You should try to balance that by taking time out to just unwind and relax. Turning off the cell phone and checking email is a great way to dial the stress back a notch. It will still be there when you return. Also, make sure you are getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night. Some people need more and some people need less so you will have to pay attention to your personal needs. But one thing is for sure, the more rest you get to balance the work you do the more success you will see in any workout or fitness program.
Not getting enough sleep can play havoc on your body. Studies have shown that a lack of sleep can contribute highly to overeating. One of the main reasons is that a lot of the bodies hormones are regulated by our sleep cycle.Hormones are the chemicals that tell our brains how much we need to eat and when we are full. When our sleep cycle gets out of whack or we are not getting enough rest, these hormones get of course which can tend to cause us to overeat. Add in the fact that when we do not get enough sleep we can tend to be more cranky which can cause us to get frustrated and choose worse things to eat and we have a bad combination for weight loss.
Another issue that can come from not getting enough sleep is the fact that our bodies need rest to repair any hard work we have done in the gym. Weight training and other forms of exercise work by tearing our body down. Tearing the body down is only half of the equation in fitness. Once it is torn down by the workout we need sleep to repair that work and bring our body back to a more fit level before the work was done. If we only do the tearing down part (the workout) we are not doing what needs to be done to get in shape. The body can only take so much tearing down before we have to stop.
Another side to the rest issue is the amount of relaxation you afford yourself throughout the day. Stress is a roadblock to weight loss due to the hormones it can produce. You should try to balance that by taking time out to just unwind and relax. Turning off the cell phone and checking email is a great way to dial the stress back a notch. It will still be there when you return. Also, make sure you are getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night. Some people need more and some people need less so you will have to pay attention to your personal needs. But one thing is for sure, the more rest you get to balance the work you do the more success you will see in any workout or fitness program.
NYC Ventrilo Servers Cheap!
Are you a New York based gamer looking for exceptional voice performance for your Guild? There is absolutely nothing like cranking up your latest game and experiencing other gamers as if they were sitting in the room with. So, based on a lot of our experience, let me give you 3 main points to consider.
• NYC Gamers! Now you can have smooth, high quality communications without dealing with those expensive and confusing in game programs…. You know the ones that sound like you’re talking through a straw. Dedicated Ventrilo servers are simple and easy to use, and allow communication with up to one hundred individuals that can be subdivided into competitive clans. Even better as that many Ventrilo servers are fast with no voice hesitation which this amazing quality is achieved by having server locations throughout the NYC area. This guarantees a clear and quick connection without waiting for open bandwidth space or line availability. Unlike other server hosts, NYC-based Ventrilo servers can be accessed immediately. There are no delays. Simply fill out a basic form and provide a valid credit card and begin gaming immediately. If you have experienced poor service or quality from other gaming servers, then we can promise you that there are other providers that offer great service, great performance, and our cheap (less than $4 per month in some cases).
• Signing up for Ventrilo servers is usually easy. Simply fill out a short application available on the provider’s website and you will be granted immediate access. There are no delays or credit checks. Unlike a few Ventrilo hosts, many NYC-based servers provide customer service that does not end once the gaming begins. If, at anytime, you are unsatisfied with their servers, then a qualified technical expert will assist you and correct any problems that have arisen. They guarantee quality and technical assistance or you r payment will be completely refunded. In fact, some are so confident in the quality of their Ventrilo servers that this guarantee extends to any compatibility issues between software and any installed operating systems.
• Worried about your computer’s operating system and compatibility with the Ventrilo host? You need not fear since several host software works equally well with any operating system, including Windows Vista. Additionally, their high quality, high bandwidth, low latency Ventrilo servers work with all of the popular online games. And their technical experts are constantly updating and upgrading both the software and hardware to ensure that your Ventrilo servers will continue to be compatible will all new and future online gaming platforms. What does this mean to you? It simply guarantees performance with future gaming scenarios. If you have experienced Ventrilo servers with less than adequate results, then fell free to hunt a better Ventrilo provider….. If you are in the NYC area, you have some good options available to you.
So as a New York based gamer, we can’t encourage you enough to 1) take advantage of the sound quality of Ventrilo, 2) find a great, local host whose server is close to you to avoid data latencies, 3) find that host the provides high quality voice CHEAP.
• NYC Gamers! Now you can have smooth, high quality communications without dealing with those expensive and confusing in game programs…. You know the ones that sound like you’re talking through a straw. Dedicated Ventrilo servers are simple and easy to use, and allow communication with up to one hundred individuals that can be subdivided into competitive clans. Even better as that many Ventrilo servers are fast with no voice hesitation which this amazing quality is achieved by having server locations throughout the NYC area. This guarantees a clear and quick connection without waiting for open bandwidth space or line availability. Unlike other server hosts, NYC-based Ventrilo servers can be accessed immediately. There are no delays. Simply fill out a basic form and provide a valid credit card and begin gaming immediately. If you have experienced poor service or quality from other gaming servers, then we can promise you that there are other providers that offer great service, great performance, and our cheap (less than $4 per month in some cases).
• Signing up for Ventrilo servers is usually easy. Simply fill out a short application available on the provider’s website and you will be granted immediate access. There are no delays or credit checks. Unlike a few Ventrilo hosts, many NYC-based servers provide customer service that does not end once the gaming begins. If, at anytime, you are unsatisfied with their servers, then a qualified technical expert will assist you and correct any problems that have arisen. They guarantee quality and technical assistance or you r payment will be completely refunded. In fact, some are so confident in the quality of their Ventrilo servers that this guarantee extends to any compatibility issues between software and any installed operating systems.
• Worried about your computer’s operating system and compatibility with the Ventrilo host? You need not fear since several host software works equally well with any operating system, including Windows Vista. Additionally, their high quality, high bandwidth, low latency Ventrilo servers work with all of the popular online games. And their technical experts are constantly updating and upgrading both the software and hardware to ensure that your Ventrilo servers will continue to be compatible will all new and future online gaming platforms. What does this mean to you? It simply guarantees performance with future gaming scenarios. If you have experienced Ventrilo servers with less than adequate results, then fell free to hunt a better Ventrilo provider….. If you are in the NYC area, you have some good options available to you.
So as a New York based gamer, we can’t encourage you enough to 1) take advantage of the sound quality of Ventrilo, 2) find a great, local host whose server is close to you to avoid data latencies, 3) find that host the provides high quality voice CHEAP.
1.14.2009
Stop Living on Auto-Pilot
Who are you? What do you believe? What do you really need?
When we discover who we really are, we stop living on auto-pilot and start to live with intention, focus and purpose. Our choices become clearer. We begin to make active choices in our life, instead of making excuses or passively living with the status quo.
If you feel a disconnect between your work and your life, then maybe your initial plans haven’t been very successful at helping you carry out your passion about who you are, what you believe, or what you really need.
Think about these questions and consider actually writing down your answers. This gives your thoughts a permanent home, and once you have them out of your mind, you not only have a reference for what to work on, but you also have a clearer head to do so.
What makes you happy?
What ideas or thoughts do you have that you haven’t expressed?
What do you value most?
What unique gifts, talents and skills do you bring to the world? How are you using them (or not)?
Who do you need to forgive? How about yourself?
What beliefs are holding you back or getting in your way?
What can you let go of in your life?
Be honest. Now is the time to start being candid about who you really are. Encouraging those unlived parts of ourselves to emerge can provide an exhilarating sense of discovery and optimism, a new source of energy to carry out your passion and define a new path for your career.
Why this matters…
Successful entrepreneurs know how important it is to stay connected to their dreams.
Performing this exercise when you’re feeling frazzled or out of touch can help you assess what’s missing and give you a clearer picture of your status. You can then begin to plan a new course or slightly deviate from the one you’re on to better connect your actions with your passions.
When we discover who we really are, we stop living on auto-pilot and start to live with intention, focus and purpose. Our choices become clearer. We begin to make active choices in our life, instead of making excuses or passively living with the status quo.
If you feel a disconnect between your work and your life, then maybe your initial plans haven’t been very successful at helping you carry out your passion about who you are, what you believe, or what you really need.
Think about these questions and consider actually writing down your answers. This gives your thoughts a permanent home, and once you have them out of your mind, you not only have a reference for what to work on, but you also have a clearer head to do so.
What makes you happy?
What ideas or thoughts do you have that you haven’t expressed?
What do you value most?
What unique gifts, talents and skills do you bring to the world? How are you using them (or not)?
Who do you need to forgive? How about yourself?
What beliefs are holding you back or getting in your way?
What can you let go of in your life?
Be honest. Now is the time to start being candid about who you really are. Encouraging those unlived parts of ourselves to emerge can provide an exhilarating sense of discovery and optimism, a new source of energy to carry out your passion and define a new path for your career.
Why this matters…
Successful entrepreneurs know how important it is to stay connected to their dreams.
Performing this exercise when you’re feeling frazzled or out of touch can help you assess what’s missing and give you a clearer picture of your status. You can then begin to plan a new course or slightly deviate from the one you’re on to better connect your actions with your passions.
The productivity problem…
If you’ve been concerned about the impact your personal productivity is having on your business, you are not alone…
Today’s small business owners are complaining about time-related pressures more than ever, saying that there’s simply no way possible that they could EVER complete everything that’s expected of them.
In this Quick Tip series, I’ll be sharing lots of ways that you can make sure that the time you’re spending in your business has maximum impact.
I promise that these emails will ALWAYS be a quick read. Some of the ideas I’ll share are simply intended to get you thinking. Most will be things you can implement immediately.
What is productivity?
But here’s where we begin… when you boil productivity down to its very core essence, there are two factors that come into play:
1) You can increase the VALUE of what you’re doing…
2) OR you can decrease the amount of TIME you spend doing it.
Why this matters…
Simply by examining these two things - over and over - in what you do during the day or over the course of doing business, you’ll gain new insight into what your time is really worth… and how you may be able to make what you do feel more impactful.
Today’s small business owners are complaining about time-related pressures more than ever, saying that there’s simply no way possible that they could EVER complete everything that’s expected of them.
In this Quick Tip series, I’ll be sharing lots of ways that you can make sure that the time you’re spending in your business has maximum impact.
I promise that these emails will ALWAYS be a quick read. Some of the ideas I’ll share are simply intended to get you thinking. Most will be things you can implement immediately.
What is productivity?
But here’s where we begin… when you boil productivity down to its very core essence, there are two factors that come into play:
1) You can increase the VALUE of what you’re doing…
2) OR you can decrease the amount of TIME you spend doing it.
Why this matters…
Simply by examining these two things - over and over - in what you do during the day or over the course of doing business, you’ll gain new insight into what your time is really worth… and how you may be able to make what you do feel more impactful.
How Can I Find Work in Music When There Are Only 25 Music Careers?
The Music Industry is not only limited to 25 music careers and - is not just for singers, rappers, musicians, dancers, song writers, producers, etc. that are super talented… and some not so talented. It’s also for those that love a behind the desk job, or hands on work or technical electronics or the office executive and so on and so on.
Many pass over the thought of themselves actually working in the industry due to the common mindset… if one has talent they have a chance in music. If one wants weekly or bi-weekly pay with benefits one seeks a normal job in the 9-5 workforce. This is simply false.
Most people love music to some extent. Those that are paying attention to their future and careers know or at least wish they can be involved with something they love.
Many will admit they believe they do not have what it takes to make it in the music industry and some will admit they do not have a desire to be a musical artist. But many will also admit they need a job, and for longevities sakewill admit they need a career they love.They love music and need career involvement in something they love.
Well… it just so happens that the music industry employs millions all around the world in positions that are not directly artist related or even behind the scenes artist related. The fact is there are over 120 different careers with lucrative futures in the music industry. Now multiply that by the thousands of record labels, advertising agencies, law firms, and so on all over the globe. These careers range from secretaries all the way up to C.E.O.s of major music corporations. Do you like manual labor, advertising, practicing law, or preparing clothes? If so the music industry has something for you and so much more!
The music industry has involvement in almost every facet of our everyday lives. The music industry alone is responsible for offering some of the most exciting careers known to mankind. These careers are no harder to find than any other types of job as long as you’re willing to look. Yes, of course some jobs require training and hard work and some do not. But that is nothing someone seeking a career would not find even if they were applying for a job at the local telephone company or the like. But! How many people really LOVE their jobs at the telephone company? Or rather how many people love their telephone company job when they can be doing the same thing in the music industry while waving to one of their favorite music artists as they walkdown the record labels hallway for a 2:00 pm appointment with the record executives?
You do not have to settle anymore with the thought of just getting by in your 9-5 job that you either do not think much about or that you even hate. You should be searching and conquering a job or career in an arena you can identify with. It does not have to be in music but it should be in you! If you do identify with the music industry, remember there are not only 25 music careers. There are as many as you need to be happy.
Many pass over the thought of themselves actually working in the industry due to the common mindset… if one has talent they have a chance in music. If one wants weekly or bi-weekly pay with benefits one seeks a normal job in the 9-5 workforce. This is simply false.
Most people love music to some extent. Those that are paying attention to their future and careers know or at least wish they can be involved with something they love.
Many will admit they believe they do not have what it takes to make it in the music industry and some will admit they do not have a desire to be a musical artist. But many will also admit they need a job, and for longevities sakewill admit they need a career they love.They love music and need career involvement in something they love.
Well… it just so happens that the music industry employs millions all around the world in positions that are not directly artist related or even behind the scenes artist related. The fact is there are over 120 different careers with lucrative futures in the music industry. Now multiply that by the thousands of record labels, advertising agencies, law firms, and so on all over the globe. These careers range from secretaries all the way up to C.E.O.s of major music corporations. Do you like manual labor, advertising, practicing law, or preparing clothes? If so the music industry has something for you and so much more!
The music industry has involvement in almost every facet of our everyday lives. The music industry alone is responsible for offering some of the most exciting careers known to mankind. These careers are no harder to find than any other types of job as long as you’re willing to look. Yes, of course some jobs require training and hard work and some do not. But that is nothing someone seeking a career would not find even if they were applying for a job at the local telephone company or the like. But! How many people really LOVE their jobs at the telephone company? Or rather how many people love their telephone company job when they can be doing the same thing in the music industry while waving to one of their favorite music artists as they walkdown the record labels hallway for a 2:00 pm appointment with the record executives?
You do not have to settle anymore with the thought of just getting by in your 9-5 job that you either do not think much about or that you even hate. You should be searching and conquering a job or career in an arena you can identify with. It does not have to be in music but it should be in you! If you do identify with the music industry, remember there are not only 25 music careers. There are as many as you need to be happy.
Overcoming analysis paralysis
I met with a young woman late last week who was in a state of mind that I’ve seen in a lot of small business owners… regardless of their age, education level, or length of time they’ve been in business.
I call it ‘analysis paralysis’ and it’s a debilitating state of mind. Too many options, too many risks, too much pressure.
The result is that you sit with your questions, watching good things happen to other people and wondering why you just can’t get unstuck.
‘Analysis paralysis’ is, I think, the opposite of ‘bright, shiny object syndrome’… a jargon-ish term that many of us have become familiar with over the past couple of years.
With ‘bright, shiny object’ syndrome, people jump from one good idea to another without really thinking through the implications. ‘Bright, shiny object’ syndrome tempts us to try the next big thing.
‘Analysis paralysis’ occurs when you can’t STOP thinking about the implications of a wrong choice. If I do this, then this might happen, or that might happen, or what if this other thing happened. Maybe it would be better if I did this other thing over here.
Analysis paralysis results in a lack of execution. Nothing gets done. No movement forward occurs… only because you can’t decide what move makes sense to make.
So, how do you break free from analysis paralysis? Try this…
1) Instead of being afraid of potential failure, embrace the experience.
If we followed the ‘perfect path’ every time, we’d never really be able to speak to what doesn’t work… and sometimes, that information is just as valuable as what does.
>From every life experience, every business venture, every project dared, we learn something about ourselves. We learn what works, what doesn’t. We begin collecting life wisdom that is unique to us.
2) Overcome inertia by picking something.
Do you remember high school physics class? An object at rest tends to stay at rest. An object in motion tends to stay in motion.
If you’ve been stuck in analysis-paralysis mode, chances are it’s going to feel like it’ll take a pretty good ‘oomph’ to get you moving.
At the risk of making it sound way too simple, there comes a point when you just have to do something. Choose what feels best to you at the moment, flip a coin, roll a dice… but start somewhere. You can even make it something very small, but the key is to start somewhere, doing something.
Once you’re in motion, it gets easier to keep moving forward.
Why this matters…
In my experience as a business coach, I’ve come to believe that being STUCK is far worse than being WRONG for an entrepreneur.
Movement is where lessons are learned, where big gains are made, where the money magic happens.
Nothing happens in the stuck place.
That doesn’t mean that you’ll hit the mark on the first try every time. Keep your perspective by asking yourself what you’re learning about yourself, about life, about business.
I call it ‘analysis paralysis’ and it’s a debilitating state of mind. Too many options, too many risks, too much pressure.
The result is that you sit with your questions, watching good things happen to other people and wondering why you just can’t get unstuck.
‘Analysis paralysis’ is, I think, the opposite of ‘bright, shiny object syndrome’… a jargon-ish term that many of us have become familiar with over the past couple of years.
With ‘bright, shiny object’ syndrome, people jump from one good idea to another without really thinking through the implications. ‘Bright, shiny object’ syndrome tempts us to try the next big thing.
‘Analysis paralysis’ occurs when you can’t STOP thinking about the implications of a wrong choice. If I do this, then this might happen, or that might happen, or what if this other thing happened. Maybe it would be better if I did this other thing over here.
Analysis paralysis results in a lack of execution. Nothing gets done. No movement forward occurs… only because you can’t decide what move makes sense to make.
So, how do you break free from analysis paralysis? Try this…
1) Instead of being afraid of potential failure, embrace the experience.
If we followed the ‘perfect path’ every time, we’d never really be able to speak to what doesn’t work… and sometimes, that information is just as valuable as what does.
>From every life experience, every business venture, every project dared, we learn something about ourselves. We learn what works, what doesn’t. We begin collecting life wisdom that is unique to us.
2) Overcome inertia by picking something.
Do you remember high school physics class? An object at rest tends to stay at rest. An object in motion tends to stay in motion.
If you’ve been stuck in analysis-paralysis mode, chances are it’s going to feel like it’ll take a pretty good ‘oomph’ to get you moving.
At the risk of making it sound way too simple, there comes a point when you just have to do something. Choose what feels best to you at the moment, flip a coin, roll a dice… but start somewhere. You can even make it something very small, but the key is to start somewhere, doing something.
Once you’re in motion, it gets easier to keep moving forward.
Why this matters…
In my experience as a business coach, I’ve come to believe that being STUCK is far worse than being WRONG for an entrepreneur.
Movement is where lessons are learned, where big gains are made, where the money magic happens.
Nothing happens in the stuck place.
That doesn’t mean that you’ll hit the mark on the first try every time. Keep your perspective by asking yourself what you’re learning about yourself, about life, about business.
1.11.2009
Online Marketing Strategies-Is It Really Cheaper Than Offline Marketing?
The costs of online marketing is sometimes blown out of proportion when you don’t fully understand the costs of the alternative methods of advertising. One of the biggest concerns with all businesses is keeping expenses to a minimum and maximizing their rate of return. Brick and mortar businesses know that advertising can be one of the costliest expenses, but is critical to the success of a business. Yet when compared with the cost of online marketing is often considerably cheaper. Offline marketing usually consists of the traditional yellow page listings, flyer advertising or the use of mailer value-paks where your ad is buried in with a hundred others competing for the readers attention. Using these methods indiscriminately nowadays is like throwing out a huge net to the public in hopes that maybe somebody is interested in what you’re selling. You may get some people to come and browse around in your store, but they still might not purchase from you. Online Marketing Laser Targets Your Audience It doesn’t matter if you use PPC (pay per click), adwords, SEO (search engine optimization), or even a twist of all of them. The people that respond will be pre-qualified. Why? Because when you are using
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these types of marketing techniques you are getting traffic from visitors who are interested in what you are selling, and therefore more likely to buy from you. Another advantage to using these internet marketing techniques is that you can closely monitor the effectiveness of your campaigns. If something is working out great then you can keep pumping it up. On the other hand if something is bombing out you can stop it almost instantaneously. Try that with the traditional forms of advertising. You won’t know much about your campaign until towards the end so you can’t practice much if any damage control. In no way am I knocking traditional forms of advertisement because they still work. But what I am saying is that you don’t have to throw all your eggs in one basket. If you have a brick and mortar business, you should try to work out something that works both online and offline. That’s right. Maximize your profits. One last thing to remember. If you have a website, please understand that your website is your online billboard that is capable of making you money 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Absolutely do not miss this golden opportunity to effectively promote your business.
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these types of marketing techniques you are getting traffic from visitors who are interested in what you are selling, and therefore more likely to buy from you. Another advantage to using these internet marketing techniques is that you can closely monitor the effectiveness of your campaigns. If something is working out great then you can keep pumping it up. On the other hand if something is bombing out you can stop it almost instantaneously. Try that with the traditional forms of advertising. You won’t know much about your campaign until towards the end so you can’t practice much if any damage control. In no way am I knocking traditional forms of advertisement because they still work. But what I am saying is that you don’t have to throw all your eggs in one basket. If you have a brick and mortar business, you should try to work out something that works both online and offline. That’s right. Maximize your profits. One last thing to remember. If you have a website, please understand that your website is your online billboard that is capable of making you money 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Absolutely do not miss this golden opportunity to effectively promote your business.
SEO Buy-In: 3 Reasons to Start Early
There is a common misconception that SEO is an after-market enterprise. Many businesses choose to consult with SEO companies only after their websites are built, after their marketing campaigns are designed, and after everyone else involved in marketing strategy has built a consensus with one another. The problem with that is that SEO becomes exponentially more difficult once websites are built and strategies are concretized. It becomes both more costly and more time-consuming for the SEO expert and the business. If management instead made SEO a part of the conversation from the very beginning, seeking buy-in from all departments and interested parties before anything else happened, SEO could potentially be a relatively simple and hassle-free process. Here are some other reasons to consider SEO while your business is still on the ground floor. 1 SEO Education When an SEO expert is brought in early, he or she has the opportunity to educate project managers and all other vendors on the process of SEO. He or she can talk about the importance of things like URL structure, site architecture, and functionality issues. Many project managers and other vendors may not understand how those things affect search engine friendliness, and they will be much more likely to do things the right way the first time if they understand why they are doing it the way they are being asked to do it. Some of your employees may also wonder why your business is choosing to do organic search engine marketing rather than Pay Per Click (PPC) since PPC is less time-consuming and provides increased traffic faster. After all, why go through all the trouble of natural SEO if there is a more efficient way to increase traffic and sales? Be sure to explain the drawbacks of PPC while explaining the advantages of organic SEO. These concerns and questions are val
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id. Be sure to address them thoroughly. 2 SEO Training If the website is built to be search engine friendly from the very beginning, then content managers and site maintainers can be trained how to update regularly with fresh and relevant content. On-site optimization then becomes a regular part of site maintenance. If you design the website without SEO and then redesign it for optimization purposes, you will then have to retrain your content managers. 3 SEO is a Top-Down Commitment In order to make SEO work for your business, you simply must have commitment to the process on every level, and no level is more important than the highest. If your highest executives and managers do not buy in to the process then you are simply not going to get anyone else to buy in either. The most important thing you can do is to let everyone know the advantages of considering SEO from the very beginning of your building process. Each person who has a vested interest in SEO should understand how crucial it is to have a website that is search engine friendly and optimized. SEO is a time-intensive, labor-intensive, meticulous process that you can either choose to do with existing employees or by hiring an outside agency. The most important thing to remember is that SEO should be in the forefront of your mind and on the table during every conversation as you plan your website and your marketing strategies. You will end up costing yourself even more time and energy in the long run if you choose to worry about SEO after you have taken care of everything else. Taking everything apart and putting it back together after optimization can cost you traffic and sales, neither of which any business can afford to lose. Educate and train your employees, and do whatever it takes to get buy-in as you start the process. You will love the results you see.
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id. Be sure to address them thoroughly. 2 SEO Training If the website is built to be search engine friendly from the very beginning, then content managers and site maintainers can be trained how to update regularly with fresh and relevant content. On-site optimization then becomes a regular part of site maintenance. If you design the website without SEO and then redesign it for optimization purposes, you will then have to retrain your content managers. 3 SEO is a Top-Down Commitment In order to make SEO work for your business, you simply must have commitment to the process on every level, and no level is more important than the highest. If your highest executives and managers do not buy in to the process then you are simply not going to get anyone else to buy in either. The most important thing you can do is to let everyone know the advantages of considering SEO from the very beginning of your building process. Each person who has a vested interest in SEO should understand how crucial it is to have a website that is search engine friendly and optimized. SEO is a time-intensive, labor-intensive, meticulous process that you can either choose to do with existing employees or by hiring an outside agency. The most important thing to remember is that SEO should be in the forefront of your mind and on the table during every conversation as you plan your website and your marketing strategies. You will end up costing yourself even more time and energy in the long run if you choose to worry about SEO after you have taken care of everything else. Taking everything apart and putting it back together after optimization can cost you traffic and sales, neither of which any business can afford to lose. Educate and train your employees, and do whatever it takes to get buy-in as you start the process. You will love the results you see.
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