Some Simple Tips For Increasing Revenue & Cash Flow!

B2B and industrial companies are slow to embrace online marketing. It’s a curious reluctance given that online marketing is performance-driven, pays for itself, and consistently delivers new, qualified business that can mean dramatic increases in sales and growth.

So, why are some companies sometimes reticent about using online marketing when the benefits in terms of exposure and revenue are so substantial? We thought we’d seek out those with the answers.

Direct From the Source

We talked to CEOs and Marketing Managers of companies that have embraced online marketing. These industry leaders are quick to confirm that Internet marketing more than pays for itself. In addition, in a short period of time online marketing has become a critical, indispensable channel for generating customer awareness and sales directly enhancing the bottom line.

The message from industry insiders clear: The risk involved with online marketing is small. The rewards are infinite.

We asked a number of your B2B colleagues what it would have cost them to delay embracing the power of online marketing. This is what they had to say.

Lost Business

Experts agree that online search has become the primary source of information for those making B2B buying decisions. Most business consumers first turn to a search engine during the investigation phase of their buying process, and just about all of them will use the Internet at some point during the decision-making process. That’s right. Nearly all of them.

That’s a staggering fact, and those who have taken advantage of online marketing know this trend is some of the best news in decades for companies willing to exploit the new ways businesses do business.

The reliance on search in the buying process means your company has never had a better opportunity to reach and capture new business. But it also means that every day you wait means business lost to your competitors.

Online Marketing Pays for Itself

Industry pros understand the bottom line and the need for measurable returns on any investment, especially when it comes to spends for advertising and marketing. They also understand that online marketing is one of the few methods guaranteed to pay for itself.

Online marketing, specifically paid placement and search engine optimization, have a proven track record in giving companies the highest returns of any vehicle in their marketing mix.

In addition, online marketing is a low-risk proposition because it’s based on performance. You pay only if a potential customer clicks on your ad. Utilizing that system, the cost of acquiring a customer is dramatically reduced.

Those in the know insist online marketing generates 20-50% of the qualified sales leads in industries that have traditionally relied on sales prospecting, word-of-mouth and trade shows.

The numbers don’t lie. What is your company waiting for?

Competition

Everyone wants a competitive advantage, but even tried and tested methods can’t keep pace with the monumental strides being made with online marketing.

With online marketing, you can fend off your competitors and dominate niche markets. The Internet creates a level playing field where businesses of all sizes can compete. Anyone can stake a position as a leader. What would it be worth to your company to be in that position?

And here’s another insight we heard from B2B pros. One of the unique benefits of the Internet is that is affords smaller businesses the chance to appear bigger than they are. Online, a three-person operation can look slicker than an international conglomerate. You can turn this to your advantage with a minimal investment of time and money. Indextree can show you the way.

So, why is it important to dive into the world of online marketing now? The hard fact we hear from B2Bs is that once a company entrenches itself in a certain arena online, it’s hard to dislodge it. At the moment, in most industries, search rankings and market dominance aren’t set yet. They will be, and it will cost you more down the road to accomplish what you can accomplish now with far fewer resources.

As in most areas of business, in the realm of online marketing, it pays to act decisively..

Online Buyers are Ready to Buy

Those who have reaped the rewards of online marketing will attest to the fact that customers who research and compare products and services online are much more predisposed to buying. It’s just the nature of the medium. Much of your job of selling is done by the time someone reaches your Web site.

In the world of online marketing, your customer is already looking for your product. They’re actively looking to do business with someone. That someone should be you.

New competitors

It’s not something you like to think about, but they’re out there, and they’re after your business. New players are entering your market every day, and they’re capturing your market share.

The tools we’re talking about are a double-edged sword. If you don’t capitalize on the benefits of online marketing, do you think your competitors will hesitate to do so? Aggressive, upstart companies are pulling out all the stops, exploiting economies of scale and using online marketing to extend their reach.

Don’t just wait and watch while these companies erode the fiscal health of your company. Can you really afford to have these competitors encroach on what you’ve fought so hard to build? It’s time to reclaim what’s yours, and online marketing is the answer.

Commoditization

Trust us, we don’t just throw around big words because it makes us feel smart. The Internet has given customers an unprecedented ability to shop and compare, often reducing the buying decision to price alone. But this “commoditization” of products doesn’t do your company justice, and your bottom line may already be suffering because of it.

What’s the answer to the problem of commoditization? How do you distinguish yourself? How do you communicate your differentiating qualities to potential customers?

Online marketing provides an excellent vehicle for branding and also allows you to capture potential customers earlier in the buying process.

Quality business interactions are more than just a price point. Be heard. Stand out. Reap the windfall.

Build Buyer Awareness and Drive Traffic

Here’s the ugly truth. Many manufacturers and distributors don’t do a great job with their Web sites. We hear this time and time again not only from the CEOs and Marketing Managers, but also from consumers.

Site visitors are often frustrated by poor online marketing practices. In fact, studies show two-thirds of B2B site visitors complain they don’t find what they are looking for, and almost half never return to the site as a result. Now, we’re not saying yours is one of those sites. But are you sure you’re turning Web site traffic into sales consistently? What impression are you giving potential customers when they visit your site? Are your customers telling other potential customers how professional and easy-to-use your site is?

Online marketing has a lot more to do than simply having a visually appealing Web site. It’s more than simply buying keywords and hoping they’ll bring you more business. Buying unqualified leads from unknown sources is often like putting your money into a kiln.

Effective online marketing requires knowledge, strategy, implementation, monitoring, and follow-through. Those are the skills and qualities we pride ourselves on at Indextree.

The High Cost of Waiting on the Sidelines

As you read this, there’s a good chance your competitors are working on their online marketing strategies. It’s even possible they’re making inroads into capturing key customer segments you may never be able to recapture.

Is business good right now? Sure. Is it great? Could be better. With an effective online marketing strategy, it could be great.

So, what’s it costing you to wait?

Take it from those who have seen the benefits of online marketing firsthand. Standing on the sidelines has never been so costly.

Warm Regards

Brent.T

So, you think that you want to be an online marketer. You have read a truckload full of internet marketing books, paid for an autoresponder and set up a couple websites. Perhaps you have been sold on the idea that you can automate and create a few “made for adsense” sites. Now all you need to do is wait for the money to roll in, Right?

….err…..right?………..ummmmm….right?

If you thought that making money online was as easy as 1…2…3, then you aren’t alone. The books out there on this subject make it appear that even if you have no previous knowledge of the internet, then you can easily make money online by following a few steps. And people fall for them everytime, hook…line….and sinker.

Chew on this for a second…A recent “unscientific” survey was given to 1,000 online marketer hopefuls, many of whom had spent over a year plying their trade. Here are just a few of the results.

• 88.2% of people trying to make money online have never setup an autoresponder or began building an email list
• Nearly 50% have spent more than $5,000.00 on internet marketing information products
• 81% say they’ve gotten little to no use out of the programs they have purchased
• 63% have been involved in internet marketing for at least 1 year
• 44% have NEVER earned even $100 in a month during their best month online
• Nearly 30% have NEVER earned more than $100 TOTAL Online
• 86.9% feel they can’t put to use what they’ve been taught

Are you surprised by the findings? The biggest problem with becoming an online marketer for most people is that they know little about online or marketing. The second biggest problem with becoming an online marketer are the books that make it seem like online marketing can be made dummy proof.

And as the saying goes….”If it is too good to be true, it probably is.” If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it.

If you want to become an internet marketer, you need the following skills:

1. Some Webmaster Knowledge- Forget the books that tell you that you “don’t even need a site”. You might not. Then again, when in Rome, you need to do like the Romans do. You want to be an internet marketer….you need to know and understand the internet. You might never need to hand code a website. However, you will most like need to read and understand the code that makes up your website.
2. Some SEO Knowledge- Quick…what are the two most important things when it comes to search engine optimization? Don’t know? Well, you better find out if you plan on competing with the hordes of internet marketers that do. Once again, you don’t need to be an expert on SEO…you just need enough to get you by.
3. A Strong Work Ethic- Sounds like a no brainer right? Well, not for most. And most of the books out there try to make it appear that you can roll out of bed, spend 15 minutes on the computer and then hit the golf courses. Not so….Internet marketing is the same as any business…you get what you put in it.
4. A HUGE dose of marketing knowledge- Do you have a swipe file? Do you know what moves people? Are you familiar with NLP? Ad copy basics? Are you testing your product and ad copy? Do you know who you are selling to? Do you understand the difference between benefits and features?

Make no mistake about it….online marketing is not a “get rich quick” scheme although many books out there would have you believe it to be so. The bottom line is that you can make money with online marketing, but most of times, you won’t find a dummy proof blueprint.

Leo Dimilo has been making money through internet marketing for 5 years now and has all the battle scars to prove it. He has had to learn the hard way that making money online comes from hard work and trial and error.

Warmly

Brent.T

Starting out in internet marketing is almost always overwhelming
to e-business newcomers, even if they are seasoned business
professionals or marketing experts. Internet marketing is truly
original and quite different from traditional marketing. The
complexity is compounded for those who do not have vast
experience operating or marketing a business. Whatever the
circumstances, many new internet entrepreneurs ponder the idea of
hiring an internet marketing expert to get their internet-based
business off the ground.

There are different types of internet marketing experts who
provide various levels of support and services. Hiring or
contracting to a full-service internet marketing expert can be
quite expensive, but using limited services of an internet
marketing expert can be both cost-effective and advantageous for
a new internet business. Another option to hiring an internet
marketing expert is to pursue training and educational
opportunities in internet marketing that will prepare you to
become an internet marketing expert yourself.

Some services offered internet marketing expert firms include:

1. Preparation of marketing plans

2. Internet marketing
consulting services

3. Management of specific internet marketing
campaigns

4. Full-service planning and management of the internet
marketing program

Having an internet marketing expert craft a marketing plan that
is specific to your business is a good way to gain an
introduction to internet marketing and to realize your internet
marketing potential. A marketing plan prepared by an internet
marketing expert should contain an analysis of your business and
your industry as well as identifying and evaluating your
competition and recommending a niche market for you to target.

The internet marketing expert should also outline internet
marketing strategies for you to use to reach your target market
and to drive targeted traffic to your website. Specifics of your
planned internet marketing campaign should be included in the
marketing plan along with milestones and an internet marketing
budget. Using an internet marketing expert in this capacity will
provide you with a clear internet marketing plan that will serve
as a guide for your internet marketing program.

Internet consulting services provided by an internet marketing
expert can be provided one-on-one, through classes or through
coaching. Generally, such consulting services accomplish the same
thing as a marketing plan prepared by an internet marketing
expert, but they are less formal and more intended to condition
you to prepare and administer your own marketing plan and
program. Working with an internet marketing expert on a
consulting basis is a great way to learn about internet marketing
and to prepare yourself to manage your own internet marketing
program.

Sometimes you may find it beneficial to hire or contract an
internet marketing expert to manage a specific area of your
internet marketing campaign that is time consuming. Search engine
optimization and pay-per-click management are examples of these
specific activities that may benefit from the use of an internet
marketing expert. Both require ongoing monitoring and adjustments
to be continually effective and cost-efficient. Linking campaigns
are also ongoing, time consuming tasks that you may want to
consider outsourcing to an internet marketing expert.

A full-service internet marketing expert generally provides a
wide-array of internet marketing services. Among them are the
marketing planning tasks of reviewing the industry, identifying
the competition, analyzing the market, pinpointing a target
market, developing a unique selling proposition, identifying
marketing methods, and planning the marketing budget. Once the
marketing plan is in place and approved by you, the full-service
internet marketing expert actually launches and manages your
internet marketing campaign.

Considering all of the levels of service that an internet
marketing expert can provide will help you to decide whether or
not to hire an internet marketing expert. The main advantages of
using the services of an internet marketing expert are access to
expertise and freeing up your time. The disadvantage, of course,
is the cost associated with the use of an internet marketing
expert. In making that crucial decision for your unique business,
a cost-benefit analysis can provide guidance to ensure that you
make the best decision for your business.

Warm Regards

Brent.T

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_J_Enders

FACTS ON: GETTING STARTED WITH INTERNET MARKETING NOW!

Internet Marketing is very trendy because it’s an easy way to make money online from home. Whether you want to replace your job’s salary or just want to earn some extra cash, internet marketing is the best way of potentially doing what you enjoy.

With an internet marketing business, you can earn some money and get some checks rolling in. But the checks you get in the post are just the icing on the cake!

The benefits of starting your own internet marketing business are simply staggering. Presented in this article are all the key benefits you get by starting your own internet marketing business.

After reading them, I am sure you will ask yourself “Why am I not into internet marketing?!”

1. You are THE BOSS! Yes, this is the most fantastic benefit of having your own internet marketing business. You call the shots! No pressures of a demanding boss or work mates. You escape the rat race, no sitting in the car in the traffic! You set your own hours and targets. You work in your own home, in your own hours.

2. The money is YOURS! If you work hard, the benefits are all yours – isn’t that great? What you earn is not fixed or decided by someone else who thinks they know what you are ‘worth’.

3. Better work-life balance. Do you know how enslaving it is to be stuck with your 9-5 job that does not pay you anywhere near what you actually need to make ends meet. With internet marketing, you get a better work-life balance since you can work from home and set your own goals. You just have to set down your goals of how much you want to earn with your online business and go for it! You can work from home and spend more time with your beloved ones.

4. You can start building your internet marketing business while working part time, until you are ready to get into it full time. You can still keep your job that pays the bills while you are building your internet marketing “empire”. No pressure – you set your targets and you go from there! With an internet marketing business, you can work on it around your current job or commitments. It’s unlike other types of businesses where if you start, you have to be involved ‘hands-on’ full time straight away.

5. Small initial capital outlay. Most businesses require you to have a huge amount of savings to get started. With internet marketing, you can start on any shoe string budget and gradually build your business. You can start an internet marketing business by joining an affiliate program for free and market it using the free or cheap advertising methods and start getting some checks coming in.

6. Low operating costs. With other businesses, you will be looking at high monthly bills to cover personnel, rent etc. With internet marketing type of a business, you have no huge operating costs. Your main costs will be advertising, hosting fees and merchant accounts, among others.

7. High Profit margins. Low running costs means you can quickly break even and start making profits. Most importantly, as you build your business, your profits will be just so huge. Your costs for any single sale will be very low.

8. You can AUTOMATE your business! This is one of the very attractive aspects of running an internet marketing business. You have heard it before – you can make money while you are asleep or on holiday. You can not do this with other types of businesses. In internet marketing, you can use various tools to automate your business – auto responder email system, payments and credit card processing systems. You just need to set these things up and you are ready to go. Nothing beats having financial security on autopilot. Your website will do the work for your 24 hours every day of the year. This leaves you more time to do other things like marketing or expanding your internet marketing business.

9. Unlimited Market Potential. Your internet marketing business can be as far reaching as you want it to be. Other business will tend to be ‘local’, but with internet marketing, your market could be world wide. This increases the potential market size you can capture. Access to and use of the internet will continue to grow in the future, so your market will also potentially grow.

10. You do not need your own product. There are various internet marketing business models. You can start making money online without a product, for example, with affiliate marketing. You can market other people’s products and earn huge commissions.

11. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Internet marketing is one type of a business where you can simple model yourself on a proven business that works, hence shortening your learning curve. With other types of businesses, you will have to learn as you go, doing ‘trial and error’, which is costly and frustrating. You do not have to waste time and time figuring it out. There are established experts who have made it in the internet marketing business – just get the blue prints and duplicate it!

12. Free Resources. With other businesses – whatever resource you need, you have to pay for it. In internet marketing, you can get ezines or forums with invaluable tips. If you have pay for something, it’s not normally hugely expensive.

13. You are part of a community of amazing people. Internet marketers tend to be very supportive and helpful lot. You can join some good forums where you get amazing support.

14. Tax breaks. When you run an internet marketing business, you can write off many costs. You just need to consult with your accountant and establish the tax breaks you can get. Key costs for which you can get tax breaks are office supplies, advertising, telephone and fax lines, training etc.

15. Help you be the best you can be! This the ultimate benefit. You get pride from running your own business. You get to achieve your maximum potential. You can financially secure, and can retire early.

With all these benefits available for you if you start an internet marketing business, what are you waiting for? Get started!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeff_Casmer

I have the following article posted on another of our blogs, but as it is relevant to today’s’ current financial storm , I have included it here for further dissemination.

This article is in relation to Australian credit card providers. I’m sure you will find that the same or similar information will be true for credit providers in your country/region. Why is it that these types of business are all about ‘Buyer beware” especially when even our respective governments teach us that these same companies are to be trusted…(Banks, Financial Institutions)?

An Australian consumer advocate group, Choice, has released information from a study carried out on 20 credit card companies here in Australia.

It showed that the amount of interest charged on credit cards varies greatly between providers, (when the provider starts and stops charging interest and how fairly they apply the interest free days as actually advertised interest rate).

The fairer credit providers were shown to be Heritage building society, Bendigo Bank, Certain GE cards, and Teachers Credit Union, while the most unfair credit card providers mentioned in the study were, American Express (no surprises here), Commonwealth Bank, Bankwest, ANZ, and also Westpac.

The tricks of the Banking trade make it very difficult, if not nearly downright impossible for the consumer to compare the merits and relative benefits of competing card providers’ as the headline interest rate is only part of the story.Most card companies backdate the interest rate to the purchase date, if your repayment on the credit card is late (this means that if your one day late you will pay the whole amount on the preceding 55 days) or even if you might under pay by a slight amount (ie:- if you make any shortfall, even as low as $5.00) and if this happens on an amount of, say, $2500.00 that is really going to hurt. Consumers would be very surprised to know that if they had 2 interestcredit cards with exactly the same interest rates and used them in the same way, (similar purchase amounts and repayments of interest etc) they could be charged twice as much interest on one credit card for overdue interest than on the other.

Mr. Azine from the consumer group, Choice has called on all credit card providers to use the same charging methods, he says it’s a simple matter of tweaking their respective systems to employ fairer systems, but he also states that while most customers of the credit providers don’t understand the tricks being played on them, they will inevitably continue. (So, this means that the customers themselves also need to be aware of the finer details in their contracts).

So, like I stated at the start of this article, it is still a currently ‘Buyer Beware” situation.