Books and blogs seem to go together like butter and toast. It doesn't matter whether you use your blog to develop content for your book, or you create the blog for marketing the already finished book. Some people have started calling this powerful combination "blooks," books that are derived from blogs.
But they only work well together when you implement these important tactics.
1. Use a domain name for your blog that relates to your book title so becomes known and "findable." If your ideal domain is already taken, use a version of it such as "YourBookBlog.com," or "YourBookOnline.com." Forward that domain name to your blog so when people type in "YourBook.com" it goes to your blog site.
2. Continue the branding process for your book by creating a customized logo for the book and putting it in the header of your blog. The use of your customized branded header will mean your book gets instant recognition, and your blog will stand out from all the cookie-cutter look-alike blogs.
3. Participate in the blogosphere: Read and comment on other blogs in your field. This is a prime way to build readership of your blog. It is also a way of getting fresh content for both your blog and for your book Check out other blogs in your niche: use blogsearch.google.com, technorati.com or google.com.
4. Submit your blog to the 200+ blog directories. You can do this manually (10-12 hours of time), or there is a service that will do it for you for $125: snipurl.com/Blog_Directory
5. Use your blog to collect names and email addresses of potential customers and clients. Make sure you have a subscription form on the upper corner of your blog, from a service like FeedBlitz.com. This service sends automatic email updates of your new blog posts to interested potential readers/customers.
6. Podcasting � create audio files easily by scheduling teleclasses and recording them. Some people like to get their information auditorily and at their convenience by downloading mp3 files to their iPods. Use a free teleconferencing bridge line like freeconference.com to host a call. Record your call, upload the audio file and then post to your blog or podcast using a service like audioblog.com. (As an added benefit, you can get these calls transcribed; then convert the word doc to a PDF file which you can either give away, or sell, in exchange for people's email address.) CastingWords.com is a fast, affordable transcription service.
7. Use a newsletter to email to your list, and give readers regular updates about your book, your teleclasses, and your blog posts. You have to encourage them to visit your blog or they will forget you. You also have to educate them about your blog, and teach them to comment on it. A newsletter is an additional way to do this and complements your blog.
8. Sponsor a virtual blook tour, and participate in your own, by getting into a network of bloggers who will support you and your book. Bloggers are known for their link love, and their propensity for sharing other people's information. When you do this for others, they reciprocate.
9. Run a contest from your blog, giving away something fun and coveted, like an iPod. While this may seem expensive, it is actually low-cost marketing, considering the number of new email addresses you will collect into your database.
10. This 10th tip isn't about blogs, it's about the best automated way to manage your database, your digital downloads, your newsletter broadcasting, your affiliate program, and your ad tracking, as well as sales. Get a Kick Start Cart system, which will manage all this for you. There is a learning curve involved in setting it up, but worth it as you will be able to control your marketing efforts with one system. snipurl.com/KickStartCart
الخميس، 7 يناير 2010
How to Market a Social Networking Site
To start and market a social networking website the basic thing is to what extent you are social in a society or community as it is the way to get out and meet with people. It could be just as a kind of social club, volunteer etc. Then you can do the same thing though your social networking site which could become the base for your social network marketing. First it needs to be done physically. It is required to actually meet with the people and develop relationships with them. Third you show them that you are involved in a community and that is often important to investors. All this will give you the platform to start planning for marketing a social networking website.
Marketing a social networking site depends on the target market and budget and without knowing exactly about these, it is difficult to go in to much depth. Getting thousands of people on your website is fine but if they do not sign up then it would be considered as waste effort.
For Marketing and promotion it becomes easy when you have solid demographic data and you are placed in a location where you can legally have a contest and it is within the prescribed limits of your budget. In this case the contest prize should be unique and of equal value.
The other option is buying customers. Generally it becomes tricky specially when you don�t have solid numbers related and you are not sure about what the real cost of new acquisition is.
If you plan big and you have short and recognizable url then you could plan your advertising program in a unique way depending on your target market.
You should be prepared for everyone that you try to sell a marketing solution which is the greatest thing ever. You can also write press releases for your website. It helps to gain alexa rank as quickly as possible. There have been some social networking sites that went from bottom to the top one lac alexa rank within a week only due to the content of the press release. Most entities fail to work with press release properly and are not able to derive the correct benefit.
Marketing a social networking site depends on the target market and budget and without knowing exactly about these, it is difficult to go in to much depth. Getting thousands of people on your website is fine but if they do not sign up then it would be considered as waste effort.
For Marketing and promotion it becomes easy when you have solid demographic data and you are placed in a location where you can legally have a contest and it is within the prescribed limits of your budget. In this case the contest prize should be unique and of equal value.
The other option is buying customers. Generally it becomes tricky specially when you don�t have solid numbers related and you are not sure about what the real cost of new acquisition is.
If you plan big and you have short and recognizable url then you could plan your advertising program in a unique way depending on your target market.
You should be prepared for everyone that you try to sell a marketing solution which is the greatest thing ever. You can also write press releases for your website. It helps to gain alexa rank as quickly as possible. There have been some social networking sites that went from bottom to the top one lac alexa rank within a week only due to the content of the press release. Most entities fail to work with press release properly and are not able to derive the correct benefit.
Who Put All These Trees in the Forest? Making Pre-show Promotion Stand Out!
There's a lot of pressure on marketing departments today: a tightening economy and increasingly competitive environment means that every promotional effort must generate a positive return. Every decision has to be viewed critically, and that includes the decision to participate in tradeshows.
Show participation must, for many exhibitors, generate a positive, demonstrable ROI if exhibiting is to remain a viable part of the marketing strategy. This means taking advantage of every opportunity to maximize the return on show participation: before, during, and after the show. Many exhibitors do a great job at the show, but lackluster or non-existent efforts prior to and after the event sabotage their efforts. For those marketing professionals who believe in the core value of exhibiting and the face-to-face relationship building that is part and parcel of exhibiting, this has placed renewed emphasis on the value of pre-show promotion.
Pre-show promotion is the single most valuable step any exhibitor can take to help drive traffic to the exhibit, up the percentage of high-value, qualified leads, and ensure a positive ROI. After all, to start and reinforce valuable business relationships, you have to have contact with the show attendees. They need a reason to visit your exhibit -- to pinpoint and find one booth out of the hundreds on the show floor. Pre-show marketing can provide that reason.
This isn't exactly news -- and although the vast majority of exhibitors aren't doing any pre-show promotion, those companies that are, have been steadily increasing their efforts. How can your pre-show promotion stand out in a crowded environment?
Here are three effective strategies to consider:
1. Smart E-Mail
E-mail is everywhere: almost everyone checks their e-mail several times a day. Yet few exhibitors are making use of this tool to promote their tradeshow participation. Mention any show specials you may be running, as well as events, classes, and seminars your organization is a part of. Use strategically timed e-mails to remind your clients and potential clients to visit your booth at the tradeshow. Mention any show specials you may be running, as well as events, classes, and seminars your organization is a part of.
Timing is crucial. You don't want to send your reminder emails too early, as they'll be overlooked. Sending e-mails too late isn't any better! Aim for three emails, one a month before the show, one a week before the show, and one a day or two before the show.
Don't forget the signature line on your regular, everyday business email. Altering it to include a mention of your tradeshow participation is a subtle yet effective way to promote the event.
2. Trade Journal Inserts
Any time you conduct a direct mail campaign, you do so in the knowledge that the vast majority of your efforts go unseen. The lion's share of direct mailings are never delivered, much less read. Considered 'junk mail', it winds up in the trash, where it doesn't do you or your prospective attendee any good.
Industry journals, on the other hand, are almost always delivered. They're also consistently read at a much higher rate than most direct mail efforts. Some savvy exhibitors have begun promoting their tradeshow participation with trade journal inserts. These small postcard-sized advertisements are tucked into the journals before they're mailed, highlighting your organization's upcoming show appearances. This isn't a common strategy yet, so you benefit from being unique and targeted. A very cost-effective strategy!
3. Lumpy Mail
Lumpy mail has a funny name, but it's a powerful pre-show promotional strategy. Sending a mailing that is literally lumpy -- an envelope containing something -- generates curiosity in the recipient. One exhibitor actually sent potential attendees a message in a plastic bottle -- and got a great response rate. Consider what 'lumps' you could send to your attendees!
One strategic use of the lumpy mail strategy involves including a premium item the prospective attendee has to bring to your booth to exchange for another, higher value item. A variation of this is to send an item that is useless on its own -- one glove, for example -- along with the message that the missing component -- the second glove -- can be picked up at your booth.
Show participation must, for many exhibitors, generate a positive, demonstrable ROI if exhibiting is to remain a viable part of the marketing strategy. This means taking advantage of every opportunity to maximize the return on show participation: before, during, and after the show. Many exhibitors do a great job at the show, but lackluster or non-existent efforts prior to and after the event sabotage their efforts. For those marketing professionals who believe in the core value of exhibiting and the face-to-face relationship building that is part and parcel of exhibiting, this has placed renewed emphasis on the value of pre-show promotion.
Pre-show promotion is the single most valuable step any exhibitor can take to help drive traffic to the exhibit, up the percentage of high-value, qualified leads, and ensure a positive ROI. After all, to start and reinforce valuable business relationships, you have to have contact with the show attendees. They need a reason to visit your exhibit -- to pinpoint and find one booth out of the hundreds on the show floor. Pre-show marketing can provide that reason.
This isn't exactly news -- and although the vast majority of exhibitors aren't doing any pre-show promotion, those companies that are, have been steadily increasing their efforts. How can your pre-show promotion stand out in a crowded environment?
Here are three effective strategies to consider:
1. Smart E-Mail
E-mail is everywhere: almost everyone checks their e-mail several times a day. Yet few exhibitors are making use of this tool to promote their tradeshow participation. Mention any show specials you may be running, as well as events, classes, and seminars your organization is a part of. Use strategically timed e-mails to remind your clients and potential clients to visit your booth at the tradeshow. Mention any show specials you may be running, as well as events, classes, and seminars your organization is a part of.
Timing is crucial. You don't want to send your reminder emails too early, as they'll be overlooked. Sending e-mails too late isn't any better! Aim for three emails, one a month before the show, one a week before the show, and one a day or two before the show.
Don't forget the signature line on your regular, everyday business email. Altering it to include a mention of your tradeshow participation is a subtle yet effective way to promote the event.
2. Trade Journal Inserts
Any time you conduct a direct mail campaign, you do so in the knowledge that the vast majority of your efforts go unseen. The lion's share of direct mailings are never delivered, much less read. Considered 'junk mail', it winds up in the trash, where it doesn't do you or your prospective attendee any good.
Industry journals, on the other hand, are almost always delivered. They're also consistently read at a much higher rate than most direct mail efforts. Some savvy exhibitors have begun promoting their tradeshow participation with trade journal inserts. These small postcard-sized advertisements are tucked into the journals before they're mailed, highlighting your organization's upcoming show appearances. This isn't a common strategy yet, so you benefit from being unique and targeted. A very cost-effective strategy!
3. Lumpy Mail
Lumpy mail has a funny name, but it's a powerful pre-show promotional strategy. Sending a mailing that is literally lumpy -- an envelope containing something -- generates curiosity in the recipient. One exhibitor actually sent potential attendees a message in a plastic bottle -- and got a great response rate. Consider what 'lumps' you could send to your attendees!
One strategic use of the lumpy mail strategy involves including a premium item the prospective attendee has to bring to your booth to exchange for another, higher value item. A variation of this is to send an item that is useless on its own -- one glove, for example -- along with the message that the missing component -- the second glove -- can be picked up at your booth.
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