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- send to: diana@ohiohelp.net
The ABC’s of Cyber-Shop Set-Up & Marketing:
Affordable, Big League, Cheap!
How
do you set up shop online? How about one that’s top-notch, so
that
you can compete with the big guys, yet quick to set up, easy
to
maintain…and cheap? And how can you affordably market your
shop
once it’s ready to go?
Questions
like these are often brought to the attention of
OhioHelp.net,
an Ohio-based company specializing in helping
businesses
worldwide with their marketing, public relations and
freelance
writing services. Here are some top tips they offer
based
on their own client projects.
TOP
TIPS FROM OHIOHELP.NET
A.
To set up shop and focus on these qualities; professional,
affordable,
easy to maintain (i.e. you can make your own basic
edits
with HTML code using Notepad or Frontpage, if you already
have
the software), check out templates. Many web hosting
companies
now offer their own for use when you sign up, like
Yahoo!
Stores. Or check out cheap packs often available like this
365
pack http://www.presssuccess.com/bookstore/templates
.
B.
For everything in “A” above, all in one place with even more goodies,
check
out membership programs like one from Bryan Winters at
http://presssuccess.com/PushButton
- - Bryan is super and offers
site
hosting, templates, products with resale rights for backend
sales,
profit centers, etc. – all with continued support and lots
more.
No hype.
C.
Easily market your site with inexpensive business cards. Make
a
business card to match your site - -in color, theme, with
company
/ title, etc. and complete contact info. Keep it simple,
too.
No need for graphics, flashy marketing mottos that could
become
outdated by the time you pass your cards out, etc.
One
affordable, top-quality company is Vista:
http://movingaheadcommunications.com/partners.html
(3rd
row from top, blue box on right)
MARKETING
TIPS:
1. Select the Free Vista offer & don’t
worry about their imprint
on
the back. Tell your customers, prospects, friends and everyone
else
that they can also get free business cards at this place,
save
expenses and pass along the savings to their clients like we
do.
(Clients do like to know that you watch your budget!)
You
can play around with different promotions and order a couple
different
types of these Vista cards, too. For example, here are
two
kinds used with OhioHelp.net:
- One color coordinates with the website and
simply states the
services;
Marketing, Public Relations, Freelance Writing
Services.
Along one edge of the business card, recipients are
invited
to a section on the website with Freebies. You can do
this,
too, by setting up a page that offers visitors a free
report
or newsletter…something from which your clients might reap
benefits.
- The other card is actually a
fill-in-the-blank mini-marketing
plan.
It’s colorful and great for wallets, desks, etc. to remind
business
people to regularly refer to their plans. You
could
create your own special card, too. Add copywriting or
marketing
tips, maybe some spelling/grammar tips for email, for
instance.
Or add special tips that focus on the industries you
work
with.
2. With at least one style of your business
cards, use the “Keep
it
simple” theme. Period. Don’t use fancy sayings or mottos that
could
be outdated by the time you distribute the cards. And no
he-man
gimmicks or slang so you have an equal chance with
nonprofits,
woman owners, male marketers, etc.
3. Play around with re-directing people to
your site via
different
URLS or domain names, inexpensive now through places
like
GoDaddy.com. And set up special pages (cyber-doorways) for
them.
For example, note these pages all go to one main site & can
be
tracked, reporting site statistics for later use with future
marketing
/ budgeting plans:
http://movingaheadcommunications.com
Have
fun & enjoy! Be creative and experiment to see what works
best
for you.
-30-
By
Diana Barnum, CEO of http://ohiohelp.net ,
inviting you to
enjoy
Freebies in their “Help Yourself Section”. For more help
with
marketing, public relations and writing, email
diana@ohiohelp.net or call: (614)529-9459.