Full Version: Help Marketing
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#17]
2 May 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#16] 2 May 2006
Dave,
I've been quite impressed with your knowledegable participation and contributions toward the comraderie we've always tried to promote and have become known for.
Thereby:
By the powers vested in me, as Grand Poobah of Engraving Etc., let it be known across the land, that Dave Jones is hereby decreed our MVN (most valuable newcomer). :-)
EDITED: 2 May 2006 by DGL
From: Bieb (HABIEB) [#18]
2 May 2006
To: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#3] 3 May 2006
Mike, if you go to Google and type in a search for "how to get listed on Google", there are ways to do it without paying a service. There are also things that will get your site skipped by Google, like having 10,000 keywords in white text at the base of your page.. that is a google no no. There is also a book by O'Reilly publishing "Google Hacks" that has some good pointers in it, if you want to use PayPal on your website to allow customers to pay you with CC, the "PayPal Hacks" book is great also. I keep a copy right next to my computer.
I am in the process of rebuilding my website and will be including the PayPal options. I have another site that I use PayPal for and the scripts that were found in the book work great.
Hope this helps!
Harold
PS.. IM or email me, I would like to find out what they are charging you to advertise in the base paper and what type of regulations they have. I am a Marine Corps vet and have thought about advertising in the base papers where I was stationed.
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#19]
2 May 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#17] 2 May 2006
Wow. :O
Thanks.
(now I need to get one of those water buffalo hats like Fred Flintstone wears)
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#20]
2 May 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#19] 3 May 2006
Sorry. I gave the last Water Buffalo hat to our previous MVN.
Don't worry. I've placed an order with a prison workshop for more.
I get the feeling there may be a delay, because my call to the order desk was interrupted by a voice over the loudspeaker, saying:
"Dead Embroiderer Walking!"
We'll see. :-)
EDITED: 2 May 2006 by DGL
From: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#21]
3 May 2006
To: ALL
Well, I signed up for the pay-per-click service through Google. It was only a $5 reg fee and you can set your monthly budget to whatever you like...So we will see how that works out. Until I figure out why my sight doesn't ever come up when I do a search for it (even when I search for the name itself) I'll have to go with this method of advertising.
So many little things that keep you busy you can't take care of the big ones...
Mike
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#22]
3 May 2006
To: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#21] 3 May 2006
Spend some time reading the help files and there are some tutorials you might find on the web. I know people that hit their monthly limit in a matter of hours by picking the wrong words to match. And remember that you can exclude words from the match. For example, if you exclude "free" then you won't pay for clicks from people looking for something like free clipart.
I'd suggest starting with a very small cost per hit. Remember that only a small percentage of those that click through are going to actually end up buying anything, so if you pay too much per hit and it takes a lot of hits to make one sale, there goes the profit.
See if your library has a copy of "Building Your Business with Google for Dummies" (not to be confused with other similar sounding Google for Dummies books). It has sections about AdWords and AdSense in it.
EDITED: 3 May 2006 by DAVERJ
From: jeanettebrewer (JEANETTEBREWER2) [#23]
3 May 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#19] 3 May 2006
Dave,
Though we've yet to meet, I feel honored to have recently worked with the EE's MVN! Congratulations! B-)
EDITED: 3 May 2006 by JEANETTEBREWER2
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#24]
3 May 2006
To: jeanettebrewer (JEANETTEBREWER2) [#23] 4 May 2006
I'm sure we'll meet some day. And I'm certainly glad you were there to help me through that whole deal.
I'm also sure that you're one of the EE HVMs (Highly Valued Members)
From: AnthonyC [#25]
3 May 2006
To: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#24] 3 May 2006
Google adwords & website conversion
Websites
This is s very quick overview and I probably will have people telling me I’m wrong simply because it goes against conventional wisdom.
There are different uses for a website the main ones being.
1. Sales. Actually selling a product online
2. Lead generation.
3. Online portfolio.
4. Education.
When you try and do all of these with 1 website it generally gets confusing. This means any traffic you get to your site generally doesn’t achieve the goal you’ve set for it. So you’ve wasted your traffic and possible your money.
If the prospect decides to leave without doing what you want because they’ll “come back later to do itâ€ÂÂÂ, you’ve wasted your chance to talk to them. Or as I like to say romance them about your product.
The sales process online is very much like the romance between a man and a woman. You generally wouldn’t jump in bed right away as soon as you meet. A lot of times you may just be looking for a what I call a “Shy Yes†That is capturing a name and an e-mail Minimum e-mail) so you can follow up with them later. Take the seduction to the next level.
Sorry if this is to brief but I have to run.
Google.
David MVN has given some amazing advice and I like to talk to you more later about passing it on to my clients.
My advice for right now is make sure your website converts the current traffic you are getting before you go and pay for traffic.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread!â€ÂÂÂ
I have seen people loose a lot of money by paying what we in the industry call the “idiot taxâ€ÂÂÂ!
Great example would be bidding on Laser Engraving .
Currently max bid is $4.50. That will kill your daily budget. You have to remember you are competing against the Laser Manufacturers who are selling $50,000. Machines.
I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from using Pay Per Click advertising. It’s a great tool But you have to make sure the site works well so you can capaitalize on the traffic.
Sorry for the rant but I really do care about the people here and I’d hate to see people loose a lot of money. For little or no return. Google is very smart. They won’t tell you you are screwing up. Adwords can be a very sophisticated way to max out your credit card.
I have to run as I’m starting to get really swamped with work.And I need to meet these deadlines.
Quick math. Ad position 8’s bid I currently 0.76 per click and it takes 100 clicks to get a 2% response rate. It’s costing you $76.00 just to get 2 people to buy, or contact you.
Best Regards
Anthony
results@ultimate-marketing-solutions.com
PS Yes there are ways to get better position with CTR but that would just confuse things more.
PPS DGL Sorry for the typos.
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#26]
5 May 2006
To: Mike (SPACE_ENGRAVERS) [#1] 5 May 2006
Mike,
I have only had time to briefly scan the thread so I may repeat something someone has already said.
I'm only about 2 years into this, and I had the very same conversation.....I was frustrated, discouraged, tired and wondering why. BUT I kept going...and all of the best marketing came from WORD OF MOUTH. It takes longer, but it is THE BEST referral system you can get.
Also important in marketing is to get involved. This is tough when you have a full time job as well, ( I am also running my upholstery business to pay the bills while American Pacific Awards continues to grow) but at a minimum join your local chamber, if you military obligations ( thank you for seving by the way) do not preclude you from that. Or better yet join a Rotary Club or other service organization.....not only will you meet new people, make new friends, you will serve your community while all the time BUILDING your business.
Another marketing tool is to follow up IMMEDIATELY when someone enquires about your products/services. I am guilty of NOT doing that and it has cost me some contracts and sales.....so I am getting better at that.
Sometimes it seems there are not enough hours in the day, BUT it all seems to come together at the end of the day.
When I got started, I was impatient, hurried, and being a typical American I WANTED IT NOW!!!! Well, it didn't happen, BUT it IS happening now.....and each day it happens a little faster, and a little faster.....and it will happen for you
Oh, one more thing, right behind word of mouth the yellow page ad I have is my biggest contact generator.
Good luck Mike, you WILL succeed, it will just take some time.
Sorry for the long post........
Just my two cents. Want change?
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