Sell More from Your Website

It seems like everywhere you go online where people are talking about sales copy and copywriting, there's just so much hype. People talk about being able to "sell sand to a man in the desert" because they're so persuasive in their copy.

Come on. What value is there in that? For me, I want customers who actually need my product and will be satisfied with what I have to offer.

There's one copywriting teacher I've always turned to for great advice on how to sell better, but how to also ensure I have satisfied customers who will buy from me over and over again. That teacher is Alice Seba - a one-time copywriter for hire, turned Internet marketing teacher.

She's released a great training package that I know you'll love. Here's to integrity in effective online selling!

Find out more:

Marketing Your Home Business with Facebook

Next on our social networking radar is Facebook. I haven't been the biggest fan of Facebook lately because it seems as if I've been targeted by old HS classmates for reunions. While that's a good thing to reconnect with people from your past, it's not what I went on Facebook to do.

So, how do you market your home business on Facebook? Well, initially I was going to just type some of my general experience but I recently read an article written by Online Business Coach Donna Gunter that details ten tips to find your target market in Facebook so I thought I'd share it here (I condensed it a bit for the sake of space):

1. Before sending a friend request make sure that your profile is up-to-date with an accurate description of what you do, your interests, and your contact info, including your web site URLs. If you have multiple businesses, invite people in your appropriate target market to become fans of your niche-specific fan page.
   
2. Follow leaders in your field/industry and "friend" them. Include a personal note, as that will improve the likelihood that they will accept your request. Once they have accepted your invitation, make comments about their status updates to help you get on their radar and in front of their networks.
   
3. Take a look at the people in the network of your industry leaders, as they are probably part of your target market as well, and send friend requests to those of interest to you. Send a personal note as well, like "I discovered your profile in 's network and would like to get to know you better by adding you to my network."


4. Look for groups that may contain your target market by searching with keywords that describe your niche, your industry, your geographic area, the interests of your target market, or whatever other terms you might use to find members of your target market. Join and begin to participate in the group so that they get to know you. Look through the member lists for good prospects. Since you won't be able to view the profiles of the group members because they aren't in your network, much of your decision-making about whom to friend may be based upon appearance or how you might be connected to them via other friends in your network.


5. Friend people that you already know from your high school, college, alumni associations, and places of employment IF they fall within your target market definition.


6. Use Facebook's recommended friend list and add them to your network.
   
7. Do a people search by job title, industry, geographic location, or interest. Those people with those terms in their profile will show up in your search, and you can request to add them based on common interests.


8. Once you friend someone, begin building a relationship with them by posting a quick "thank you" note on their wall, as well as a comment about something on their profile that interests you or in which you have in common. Watch for their status updates, as well, and comment on these when appropriate.
   
9. Create a group for your target maret once you've got about 500 followers. Provide the group with useful content and and ask questions to stimulate discussion. You can post articles, links to blog posts, or videos you have created. Invite group members to any free virtual or face-to-face events you're hosting.
   
10. Consistently implement your marketing strategy over time. As a newbie to Facebook, you might want to spend as much as 60 minutes per day researching friends and participating in groups. As your network grows, you many spend only 15 minutes 3 times per week on Facebook. The key to success is to put this strategy on your calendar and make it a routine part of your ongoing Internet marketing tasks.

About Donna Gunter:

Online Business Coach Donna Gunter helps baby boomers create profitable online retirement businesses by demystifying the steps needed to successfully market a baby boomer business online. Would you like to learn the specific Internet marketing strategies that get results? Discover how to improve your visibility and get found online by claiming your FREE gift, TurboCharge Your Online Marketíng Toolkit, at ==> OnlineBizU.com

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Marketing Your Home Business and Twitter

Twitter is becoming increasingly more popular as THE way to get a quick marketing message to many people. Twitter can be a great resource for your home business. However, while Twitter has it's advantages, it also has some disadvantages.

Let's take a quick look at some of the advantages of using Twitter:

• You can post a link to your website in your Tweets that can potentially reach thousands of people, resulting in increased traffic to your website


• An open terrain to contain advertise your products or services to a large audience


• You can make quick announcements about sales and promotions that reach many as opposed to creating a long email to send to your opt in list


• You can get your message across without the worries of if your email will be seen as spam


• Your tweets are in real time so whoever is logged in will see your message right away

Here are some disadvantages of using Twitter:

• It can be difficult to build a faithful group of followers


• You are subject to empty twitters from people you follow at times (you do want to return some of your follows or you may be perceived as a stuck up lone ranger!)

As you can see, there are more advantages than disadvantages to using Twitter to market your home business. If you are going to successfully use Twitter to market your home business, find your niche, use Twitter as a means of connecting with your customer by offering your benefits, not your features and last of all...Do not just send robotic like messages that repeat over and over again. It's just like spam. Now get to Tweeting!

Networking For Success

Did you know that a big part of your business success comes from networking with other business owners?

Being a lone ranger never helped anyone succeed. There are sure to be people out there who know more than you do and you can tap into their vast knowledge and connections through networking.

How Do You Network?

Networking doesn't have to be difficult but there are some hard and fast rules to follow:

• Join social networks as well as attend offline networking events where you can network with individuals in a similar field of business as yours
  
  
• When speaking with other entrepreneurs and business owners, put your agenda and ulterior motives on hold. Learn to genuinely listen to what others have to say. You'll get your chance to speak about your business and when you do, be direct, polite and passionate about what you have to offer.
  
  
• Always see if there is a way you can help the person you are conversing with. By that, I don't mean just asking how you can help. I mean listening to what it is they are looking to do in business and searching your own mental database to see if there is something you can contribute to help them achieve. If there is, then offer up your advice, help or service.
  
  
• Always exchange business cards. An even better idea is to have a brochure about your business. Sometimes your business card gets lost in the shuffle but a brochure will stand out from the rest.
  
  
• Follow up with those you have met. Even if you are not planning to do business with them, it's a good idea to keep lines of communication open. You never know when someone they may know may be interested in a product or service you have to offer. If you follow up, you may meet new contacts.
  

Taking the time out to network with others is not only extremely helpful for growing your business but it's also a great way to make friends and socialize outside of your normal circle of friends and family. For the next few postings I'll talk a little about some popular social networking sites.

Be Yourself and Sell More Product

When you have your own business you have a great big advantage over large businesses. That's the ability to connect with your customers. The fact of the matter is that big businesses just don't have the time to make a real personal connection. Besides, they really don't have to. Big businesses have very deep pockets and can afford to pay for national and as well as international attention. Not so for us small business owners.

So, here's a great big tip to help you be more successful and sell more product...BE YOURSELF. First of all, if you are being phony just to sell someone, eventually that phoniness will show through. Sure, you may get a sale here and there but don't you want repeat buyers? Don't you want referrals? If you just be your good ole, nice self and be honest (hopefully, that's a part of who you really are!), then customers will eventually begin to draw to you like a magnet. Of course, I know that you should be professional and there are certain technical things you have to do to position your home business for success. That goes without saying. What I'm talking about is the human element of making a sale - To Connect with Your Customers

If you are selling a product or service for your home business, take the time to familiarize yourself with the product/service. Remember, just because you are trying to make money, your commitment should be towards helping people. Don't just sell for the sake of selling. You can only be passionate and real about something you have experience with and truly believe in.

When customer see that you are just trying to help them and you are passionate about a product or service you offer, you will more than likely make that personal connection and close the sale.