How Websites can help Increase your Business’s Bottom Line

It would be hard to imagine that most people are not aware of some of the obvious reasons why websites can be a proactive business tactic for a company; however, as technology keeps advancing, websites control the opportunity to substantially increase your business revenue.

It wasn’t that long ago that everyone had a library card, and we were all familiar with how to use the index card catalog there. Fortunately, those days have passed and now we have Google. In conjunction with this, we have personal and business websites. This new cyber world that we live in allows us to access libraries full of information in seconds and all at the simple move of our fingertips. For many, this fact is still a phenomena, but if you can morph with the times, you will find that its advantages can generate a much more complex level of satisfaction for its users.

Having a website not only becomes an excellent way to save time and money, but the opportunity of reach and flexibility sets it apart from any other form of tangible awareness available.

Benefits of Reach & Flexibility Afforded by a Website

Is available to the public 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
Reach all forms of the market whether it is broad or niche, with a custom website design.
Expands your market indefinitely by breaking through geographic barriers and granting accessibility to the entire world; this goes hand in hand with doing international business in a constructive manner, as it is often difficult when collaborating in different time zones.
Offers the convenience of in-chair access which is becoming more of a serious advantage on a daily basis, with the cost of gas rising, plus it allows the opportunity of research to be done with privacy and comfortability.
Without speaking- it communicates. Your site can portray your credibility as a company, proving your trustworthiness and confidence to your potential customers.
Let the press find you- with an impressive custom website design, you will be seen by not only potential clients, but by forms of media that may oftentimes write an article about your company simply based on the appearance you uphold through your site.

Website enhances your customer satisfaction

Create a feedback section on your site. In the end, this helps you increase your gross revenue due to returning customers.
Host Map Quest to prevent your customers from getting frustrated, not to mention, this will keep your business’s contact information up to date.
Offer a feedback section. This opens up a two way communicative channel of marketing in real time.
Make it visually stimulating by uploading photos, videos and tutorials for your viewers to spend time looking at, while learning about your company.

Website lowers your Expenses

Reduces printing costs while saving a tree. (If you are into that.)
Websites are a medium for selling advertising space to other businesses.
Running analytics are an inexpensive market research tool that can be used to capture data about the traffic visiting your site, in real time.
Publishing articles online that reach thousands more than printed articles.
Target your niche market much easier, faster, and cheaper. In a down economy, this proves to be more successful than broad marketing.

If time is money, then keep saving money.

Give yourself the freedom to say: “Check my site out for more info!” Not only does this build your credibility and reputation, but it saves you time.
Get your pitch down to a science, put it on your site, and never have to say it again. This is also known as ’sales optimization,’ although some care more about saving a minute than saving a buck.
Create a FAQ section on page for those who tend to ask the same questions. If you have a child, you have spent enough time in your life already redundantly answering questions, take a break!

Lastly, the benefits of having a custom website designed are for reasons such as: the ease of navigation- since templates don’t do the job anymore, and we are entering an era of ‘flash.’ Also, you will be offered installs like shopping carts, maps, blogs and forums, PayPal, Google searches, and pay-per-clicks. The plain and simple aspect of all this matter is that, within the next few years, the entire world and market will be online, and the longer you wait to dive in, the farther behind you may be leaving yourself and the potential success of your company.

What is branding and how it affects your business?

The difference between good branding and bad branding often will determine the success of your company. According to the American Marketing Association (AMA), branding is a “name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them, intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers, and to differentiate them from those of other sellers.” Hence, you can understand how it would be a wise decision for a business to spend quality time and effort when branding its company.

A successful brand will compel your target market to not only choose you over the competition, but more importantly, will allow them to see your brand as the only one that provides a solution to their problem. In order to achieve maximum optimization, a successful brand will do the following: deliver the message clearly, confirm your credibility, connect to your target prospects emotionally, motivate the buyer, and solidify a users loyalty. After you have created a custom logo design for your brand, a fun way to popularize your product is by putting your logo on promotional products, such as pens, t-shirts, hats, or even coconuts, as some advertising agencies like 760 Media do to add a bit of their character to promotional packages when introducing themselves to clients.

As your brand is the source of promise to the consumer, it is imperative that you understand the needs and wants of your customers and prospects. In order to achieve this, you must integrate your brand strategies through your company at every point of public contact. Understand that your brand will reside in the minds and possibly hearts of customers, clients and prospects. For this reason, you have the ability to create a masterpiece or a disaster, as you handle the capability to perceive what they believe and potentially manage their experience with the brand.

As the market becomes more competitive each day, a strong brand becomes more invaluable. Know that the time invested in researching, defining and building your brand will materialize in the end, as this is a foundational piece in your marketing communication.

The Importance of having Effective Marketing Materials

If you are okay with the ‘Because I told you so,’ answer, then read no further. But if you are interested in understanding the rational behind why experts advise so earnestly to spend up to thousands of dollars on “branding” your business before you even make a sale to pay for it all…then keep reading.

With money, comes power- some like to think, but when referring to a company that is investing the big bucks in simply stocking its material wardrobe, power will often be a promising result. For this reason, it is advised that you invest in your materials as much as you would like to be invested in. Believe that perception is reality; if you introduce your business as small beans with homemade business cards and Microsoft Clip Art on your brochures, then you will be perceived as nothing more and will be compensated for you work accordingly.

When building a brand, the first task to begin is building a custom logo design. This should be an area where a sufficient amount of time is spent, as the first and last thing that is seen is the company’s logo. Invest in your company’s look and identity because people tend to remember the things they see more than they do the things they hear or read. For this reason, don’t take graphics, printed materials, and especially logos lightly as they convey your reputation.

Most clients will look for companies that are well-defined, and for those who look and feel match their criteria for making a purchasing decision. Though every clients interest is different from the next, they will always be looking for professionalism. To achieve this, you need to present a well-rounded business package to insure your adeptness. The better you look, the better they can expect you to make them look.

How can a Logo set you apart from your competition

These days, every time you turn around it seems as though another business is being started and another company is being born. For this reason, it is becoming more and more important to distinguish your business from the competition and strive for uniqueness. In order to do this, you should start with a custom logo design.

When you create a logo, you are branding your business or service with a personality, something that can be used as a basis for creating all future campaigns and PR. Custom logo designing is a primary way to establish a brand identity, which is imperative because a well known and liked brand can keep customers repeatedly coming back to your product or business; therefore, if you want ultimate optimization, then proper integration of both the company’s name and logo is required. As most people tend to remember faces than they do names, consider your logo your company’s face. And with that said, don’t just leave the construction quality of your ‘face’ in the hands of strangers; it is wise to research a company’s work and history before hiring it to begin your custom logo design.

The importance of a logo has many layers of value that hold a unique meaning specific to each individual company. For example, if the name of your business is difficult to pronounce, remember, or relate its service to a custom logo design that can catch the eye of your potential clients with innovative and interesting graphics and colors. Ultimately, this may be the reason for a client to inquire about your services, more than because the client remembers your company’s name. A successful logo can deliver visual clues to the meaning of the company it represents.

Another layer of value would be one that demonstrates your company’s uniqueness in its own field. As mentioned before, we no longer exist in a world with one business for each line of work. A creative logo can set you apart from competitors in your same industry by constructing it with subtle meanings that are cohesive with the character of your company and your business marketing plan.

In many lines of work a custom logo design is standard and, without a doubt, necessary. For others, it can be the distinguishing item that sets your company apart from the competition by visually describing how committed you are to your own business’s appearance, simply with one powerful image.

Agency Dating

Business Dating for Dummies 101:
How to select the right company to do your creative work.

Finding your creative firm is similar to finding “that special someone.” There is more than just outer appearance involved in the decision making, however, that typically is the first impression that draws you to them. More importantly, what you should be concerned about is finding out how knowledgeable and experienced your contacts are. Make sure to find companies who specialize in branding, not just offer it as one of the “extra” things they do. Here is where the homework comes in; research the firms who created the brands you most admire and those who also have similar qualities and interests to those of your own business. If you are a pharmaceutical company, using a firm who is notorious for branding alcoholic beverages, fast food, or retail would not be helpful. Finding companies who are experienced with in multi-lateral range of brands is a good place to start. In addition, make sure they are reputable for their originality and creative style. In the instance that your company is very conservative or traditional, this wouldn’t apply to you; find your own waters to call home.

Once you’ve found your niche, make some phone calls and start testing their business etiquette. Are they timely, motivated, excited to help, preoccupied…? When you receive your inquiry callback, is it from a sales rep, or from a partner…? This is the very instinctual part of the starting-up-the-relationship process. Meet with a few “potentials,” listen to your heart and trust the chemistry. The laws of physics will not fail you. If its not the right match, keep looking.

Be aware of your own etiquette as a potential client. Make sure to ask each company about their process; however, make sure you are targeting your questions to the work you are inquiring about. For example, if you are having a custom logo designed, then you would want to ask about numbers of revisions, cost per revision, time frames, and to see a portfolio of some of the recent work they have produced.

After your homework and meetings are over and done, put out your sensors. Monitor the facts the company gave you with their actual implementing of them. Did they respond in the amount of time they quoted, or are they not calling you back until a week later..? If the habits are bad to begin with, you can bet that they will only get worse. See how similar this is to “dating” in the real world…just follow your intuition.

The New Word of the Day is ‘Mediaconomy’ which is total bullsh*t

OK - I am talking with one of my clients the other day who is telling me that his business is down because of the economy and he thinks he should stop marketing his business to save money. All I could say was, HUH? Then, I mentioned another client who had the same problem and was increasing his marketing budget to get through it. Well, I got thinkin’ and suddenly the thought occured to me — Who REALLY knows what the economy is doing? We are ALL just listening to the media and do we REALLY trust those people? I mean, we all know that they love to find dirt and drama and exploit it and for what? Some lousy ratings during Sweeps Week? So, I ask you, do YOU believe in this “Mediaconomy?” - Looking for feedback –   

How to Hit a Homerun and Act Like it’s No Big Deal :-)

So, you’re humming along trying to scrape up new business leads for your clients with only the best intentions in mind when all of a sudden, wham! You hit a homerun and bring in about 10 times (10x) more business than you promised. Now, what do you do?

Firstly, don’t panic. Many businesses are actually afraid of too much business and lose sight that this is an OPPORTUNITY.

Second, re-group. Analyze the data and test it to see what you really have. If it is a direct response campaign, then you already have the info you need in the palm of yoru hands. If the client’s website ro cusotmer service department are being inundated then put together a simple, quick response, greeting al the new traffic with a bositive spin.

Third, take advantage of your new opporunity. Strategize new ways to market to your new client-customers and implement tactics to effectively communicate with them as your new target market.

Lastly, have fun and brag. Don’t let this anomaly pass you by. Build a case study for your client and your market, These do not happen all the time but they do occur and you should know how to handle it when you hit a home run!   

Carnival of Advertising Communications #1

Rebecca Suzanne Dean presents Stop Thinking. Begin Testing! posted at Rebecca Dean

Carol Bentley presents Brainstorm a result. . . posted at Carol Bentley.

David Cassell presents The Why Behind Select Courses Blog posted at selectcoursesblog.com.

Brian Terry presents 17 essential “big selling” website strategies (Big Selling Website Design) posted at Big Selling Website Design.

Carol Bentley presents How appealing are you posted at Carol Bentley.

Jose DeJesus MD presents Checklists Can Improve Clinical and Business Processes posted at Physician Entrepreneur.

Brian Terry presents Your shortcut to Internet business success starts right here posted at Big Selling Website Design.

Michel Fortin presents An Obvious Truth Quadrupled Our Business posted at The Michel Fortin Blog.

Don D. Morrison presents 10 Superior Methods To Incorporate An Online Marketing Auto-responder! posted at dondmorrison.com.

Joshua C. Karlin presents Powerful Yet Reasonable Goals posted at Marketing & Fundraising Ideas.

Don D. Morrison presents It Isn?t Human Relations Anymore? Its Out Sourcing! posted at dondmorrison.com.

Carol Bentley presents Yesterday?s blog-post was completely off-track posted at Copywriting Tips for Your Business by Carol Bentley.

Martin Russell presents 5 Keys To Word of Mouth Marketing posted at Word of Mouth Marketing For Small Business.

Stephen Dean presents Top Notch Blog Posts You Almost Missed? posted at Stephen Dean’s Blog.

Rebecca Suzanne Dean presents Remember Your Emotions for Increased Sales Pull posted at Miss Copy’s Blog.

Michel Fortin presents How to Hook More Copywriting Prospeccts posted at Copywriting and Marketing Tips by Michel Fortin.

Jimmy Sansi presents Grow Your List Of Publishers posted at The Kaizen Businesss.

Steve Oliphant presents stop gambling with your future and start making money posted at Steve Oliphant?s Musings.

Brian Terry presents Why you MUST become fanatical at testing and tracking posted at Big Selling Website Design.

Rebecca Dean presents Stop Thinking. Begin Testing! posted at Rebecca Dean.

Joshua C. Karlin presents Powerful Yet Reasonable Goals posted at Marketing & Fundraising Ideas.

Mark Riffey presents All women think alike, right? posted at Business is Personal.

Aaron Brandon presents Do You Use These Words? posted at Aaron Brandon.

Carol Bentley presents How appealing are you posted at Carol Bentley.

James D. Brausch presents Not Enough Time posted at Internet Business Blog.

Woody Maxim presents The quickest way to more money is through testing posted at Woody Maxim.

Stephen Dean presents Copy Sin: Trying To Be All Things To All People posted at Stephen Dean’s Copywriting And Internet Advertising Blog - Copywriter.

Rebecca Suzanne Dean presents Remember Your Emotions for Increased Sales Letter Pull posted at Rebecca Dean.

Life. Money. Development. presents Diet Tips for Preventing High Cholesterol Levels posted at Life. Money. Development..

Kenton Newby presents Simple Solutions For the Content Creation Roadblock Nearly All Online Business Owners Face posted at KentonNewby.com.

Carol Bentley presents Normal service is (almost) resumed. . . posted at Carol Bentley.

I am (10) this many years old — 760 Media Celebrates a Major Milestone!

“Whew, that was easy!” was my recent comment back to someone who asked me how I felt about my agency passing the 10 year mark. Looking back, it hasn’t been neccessarily easy really but, it has definitely been a lot of fun. I’ve had the fortune of working and promoting some of the biggest brands in the world in just about every type of media available, covering every major international market on the planet. I am more excited about what we are doing now, integrating new and traditional media campaigns with measured results, than I was when I first started this agency and made the promise that became our mantra at 760 Media, starting with, “Award winning advertising and marketing at reasonable rates.” to “The Ad agency with BIG IDEAS that WORK!” — It has all come true for me and I am proud to be a part of this wonderful company today.    

I still come to work excited every day. Ready for the next creative project, media plan or new business opportunity. I geuss you could say that I am addicted to this business. I never mind working late or on the weekends, I love chasing and landing new client accounts and I look forward to the symbolic pat on the back just as much as a check in the hand. Of course getting paid is always nice too. Don’t get me wrong…

Now that 760 Media is 10 years old, we will take all of our marketing, advertising, public relations and guerrilla marketing knowledge and build a set of streamlined tools and systems which will enable our clients to see exaclty how we maximize their budgets for optimal results and returns on their investment with 760 Media. Look out world, here we go again!