Do you promote your website? How do you market your content?

How do you promote what you put on your site? You can work hard to create the best content in the world, but it won’t have any effect on your website unless there are people who are reading it. Marketing your content is a critical part of creating a site of value.

Figuring the best way to market your content isn’t as hard as you think. The Internet offers tons of effective marketing strategies and most are easy to implement, if you devote a little time to things.

Here are 10 painless ways to market your content and start building your customer database in the process.

1. Create a Blog: A blog lets you constantly add new information targeted to a particular audience. Many potential customers will use a blog to get a better feel for the company they are dealing with. They want to know more about you before they give you their money. They also want to find out what you have to offer, so give them product reviews, articles, reports and more.

2. Write an e-Book: An e-Book or informational report about your product or service can be written and distributed to current and potential customers. You can either sell it or offer it as a free gift with a subscription to the site. You can also give it away to get people to your website. It works. People love added value.

3. Create a Forum: Create an online forum where your customers can discuss the topic of your products or services. Participate in that forum so they get to know you. Again, you want to build your reputation and trust.

4. Write a Newsletter: Create an newsletter detailing the latest happenings within your company and distribute it weekly or monthly. Just be careful not to send it out too often or people won’t be as likely to read it.

5. Start a Podcast: Talk about your product or service and record it as a podcast. Offer a subscription to the podcasts to capture leads, or simply use it as a way to generate buzz about your products.

6. Put a Video on YouTube: YouTube is quickly becoming the most popular site for search on the web. It’s huge. Create a short but informative video about your website and post it on YouTube. Create a link in your profile that will send people directly to your site after they have watched the video.

7. Set Up an RSS Feed: If you update your content on a regular basis, offer an RSS feed option on your site so customers can be alerted when you post new information. People will see your updates in their RSS reader as they become available. This is a great option for people who follow lots of websites but don’t necessarily have time to visit every one of them. A feed reader lets the reader view all the content in one place.

8. Utilize Social Media: Social networking is growing quickly and is one of the best ways to market your product to the masses – for free. Popular sites include Twitter, Stumble Upon and Facebook. Jump on this bandwagon now and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the results.

9. Webinar: Hold a live webinar on a topic that relates to your business. You can charge a small fee, or you can offer it for free and just take names and email addresses to generate interest and build your client base.

10. Teleseminars: Record a sales presentation as a teleseminar and charge a fee for listeners to gain access. Yet another great way to capture lead information.

So you see, there are lots of ways to market your content on the web. With a little creativity and effort, you can run a successful campaign for your website.

P.S. If this stuff scares the bejeezus out of you and you think you want some hand-holding, you might want to check out Online Business School with Naomi Dunford from IttyBiz. It’s fun and totally not scary. I bought it and loved it, so I can recommend it. Click here to check out Online Business School

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Seminars are a proven lead generation technique. With the Internet, seminars are less costly to organize and people can attend right from their home or office.

What Is A Webinar?

Webinars (also called web seminars) are conference calls delivered primarily through the Internet using a web conferencing service. Participants log in to the seminar through a web page or software provided by the host. When participants successfully join the call, they can hear the speakers, converse with them and others in the room through a microphone attached to their computers, view slides, web pages, video of the speakers and even a virtual white board.

Webinars Work

Studies have shown that webinars can create more leads than traditional methods* and prospects prefer these events because there is less pressure than a traditional in person meeting.

Webinars on the other hand, are often arranged for a large group of people and prospects can attend anonymously if they wish. They can enter and leave the seminar whenever they choose, gather information, learn, digest and decide on their own time.

What Kind of Webinars Can You Hold?

There are many ways. If you want to spread the work load, hold one with multiple speakers. You also benefit from the power of group promotion.

For more targeted events, you could do different angles for different dates or different market. For example, if you sell candles, you could do “Don’t settle for musk during spring cleaning, Bring spring into your home” webinar or, if you sell time management software, you could do “Time management for Realtors”, “Time management for students”, “Time management for busy moms” webinar and so on.

List Building

This is the reason you’re holding a seminar right? Get the contact. Set up a page to collect names and contact, at the very least an email address so you can follow up with them again.

Maximize Your Efforts

Record your webinar. Many web conferencing software used for webinars have recording and takes little to no extra effort to do. For example, MeetingOnNow’s webinar software comes included with a record button and it saves your recording into the popular MP3 format. You can use the recording as bonuses, give aways or packaged with other material to create a new product.

*Source: Unearthing the True Value of Web Seminars and On-Line Events, Wainhouse Research – Andy Nilssen, Andrew Davis http://www.webconferencingworks.com/white-papers.html

About the author:
Lynette Chandler helps entrepreneurs leverage web conferencing technology for their marketing.

Start getting more leads with web conferencing. Sign up for Meeting on Now.

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Every successful Internet marketer has a tool chest. No, it’s not filled with hammers, wrenches and screwdrivers. It’s stocked with carefully selected items that help analyze the competition, build search engine rankings and traffic, and aid in establishing a brand.

There are tons of great tools out there for Internet marketers.  Some are free, and others cost money.  Each has its own unique benefits, and the results we get from them are dependent on how we use them.  Here are some tips for making the most of your Internet marketing tools.

• Before you do anything, make sure you have a clear picture of your target market.  This is essential for any marketer, online or off.  You could have the best products, glowing recommendations and stellar customer service, but if you’re marketing to the wrong people, they’re not going to bite.

• Keep your eyes open for cutting edge marketing tools.  They’re popping up all the time. By being an early adopter, you can often get better results than you would if you waited until everyone else tries it.

• Don’t use a tool just because everyone else is. Think for yourself. Only you know what is best for your business. Some marketing tools work for some markets but not for others. It doesn’t hurt to give new things a try, but if they’re not a good fit with your mission, don’t waste your time. 

• Use social networking wisely. It’s important, but don’t overdo it. Spending your entire day on Twitter eats up time that could be spent on activities that will directly make you money.

• Encourage site visitors to add you as a friend on social networking sites.  Those who are active on them will do so if they like what you have to offer.  Then you will have the opportunity to expose them to your products and business repeatedly, even if they did not join your mailing list.

• Monitor the results you’re getting from your marketing tools.  Have your search engine rankings improved due to a change in strategy that you made because of one of these tools?  Have customers found you through social networking sites?  Make note of these things to determine whether you should continue with the tools you’re using. 

• Keep your tools updated.  Developers often add new and improved functionality to their software, but if you don’t upgrade, you won’t be able to take advantage of it.

Taking advantage of Internet marketing tools can be a big help in growing our businesses. By using them wisely, we can rise above the competition and build profitable relationships with our target markets. That means we can make more money.

P.S. What’s in your toolkit? Post it here in the comments section. 

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This is the final post in our Video Marketing Series. Yesterday we talked about methods of creating video content. If you missed it, you might want to read it first, then come back here. 

Videos are one of the most popular ways to gain attention from your target market. It is not, however, the only way to gain their attention. What if you’re camera shy, or don’t have access to a video camera? Not to worry – there are still other ways to get your message across visually: 

Screen Capture

This is a great way to provide video content to your target audience, but with an educational twist. People are always looking for ways to do things better. We use the internet to find answers to our questions If you’re selling a software program and you want to show your viewers how easy it is to use, then a simple screen capture will work well for you. 

Screen capture allows you to use the software while recording what you’re doing on your own computer. A viewer will watch you use the program step-by-step, so they can easily see how simple it is to use. You don’t need to be in front of the camera at all. All your viewer will see is your computer screen.

Power Point Presentations

Power Point presentations use images and text, but it’s presented in a more video-like fashion than screen capture. You can take only the important points or facts about a subject and place them on slides. A viewer can play each slide and learn about whatever topic you’re presenting to them. 

A common use for a power point presentation is for a tutorial. The presentation can even be downloaded to the visitor’s computer to be referred back to later. This is a terrific way to help your readers learn more about a subject. 

Getting Videos Set Up on Your Web Pages

Setting up videos on your site sounds like something a computer technician would have to do, but it’s not. You can easily do it without having any kind of technical background. Here are some simple steps for you to use: 

Use Your Own Video Capturing Equipment

You can use your own video camera, digital camera with video capability or even cell phone with video option. Create your video to stand out from others related to it and have fun. Make sure that the audio content is heard clearly and the lighting is good, so people can see what you’re taping. 

Upload the Video to Your Computer

Your video equipment should have simple instructions on how to upload the content to your computer. Once you’ve uploaded it, use your video editing software program to edit it to your liking. It can then be saved from there in its own file. 

Upload the File to a Site Such as YouTube

Get an account with one of these video communities. They will help you with getting your video uploaded to your own space on their site. When it’s published on the site, you will get a video embedding code to use. 

Embed the Video to Your Site

Copy the embedding code and simply paste it to whatever web page you’ve planned to show it on. It’s as simple as that. People can now view your video. 

Closing Thoughts:

This series has shown you how video marketing can give your business the boost it needs to become more successful. I hope you have tons of great ideas to run with! With videos in your marketing plan, you can gain more exposure than you ever thought possible. Do some experimenting and take that step toward using videos in your business. It’s the way of the future. Don’t let your business be passed over. 

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This is the fifth post in a series on video marketing. Yesterday we talked about some creative ways video marketing can help promote your business. If you missed it, you might want to read it first then come back here. 

Video marketing has shown to be one of the most powerful tools online marketers can use to increase website traffic as well as sales. Gaining huge exposure for your business site is possible, but your video content needs to work WITH your business instead of against it. 

Here are some things to keep in mind when deciding on what video content to promote: 

Keep it Short and Sweet

The shorter your video message, the better. Most Internet users are in a hurry and will easily be turned off from video content that will take up too much of their time. Be sure video content is only a couple of minutes long so you don’t lose the viewer’s interest. 

Also, be sure to let them know how long the video is. If they can easily see that it’s short and won’t take up too much of their already precious time, they will be more likely to check it out. There’s nothing worse than starting to watch a video and having no idea when it will be finished.

Make it Interesting for Your Target Market

As an online marketer you should be researching your target audience on a regular basis to get to know them. You’ll be looking for things like what common problems they face, what information they tend to look for, etc. Use these questions to give your viewers answers. The knowledge you get from your research will help you provide your target audience with video content they want to see. 

Keep the Content Related to Your Site’s Topic

Make sure your video relates to your site’s content. Someone who is viewing pet care videos will not want to be taken to a site that offers information about cars. If the site doesn’t match the information they’re looking for, you don’t come across as a professional and you’re not going to be taken seriously. If you’re not seen as a professional then trust isn’t built and you won’t make many sales or much money. 

Create Something that Will Stand Out

Your competitors may have videos out there as well. Your video content will need to not only be interesting, but it should also have an edge to it that will make it stand out from the crowd of other videos on the same topic. 

If it doesn’t stand out, it’s not likely to be found, let alone watched by your target market. Put your own little twist to it and get your videos in a league above the rest. 

P.S. Come back tomorrow for the last segment of our Video Marketing Series, or subscribe to my RSS feed.

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Yesterday we talked about how to promote your videos and increase sales. If you missed that post, you might want to read it first, then come back here. 

You’ve seen the promotional benefits video marketing can have for your business. Before you make up your mind on whether this advertising technique is for you, it’s good to look at the other reasons it can be effective, too. 

Product Exposure

What better way to show off your products than by using video? People, who buy products online like to see exactly what it is they’re handing their money over for. Sure, photos of the items are good, but in some cases, videos could be more effective. 

Videos are used all the time to show potential customers how a product works or different ways to use the same product. When people can see a product and be shown what it can do, they’ll be more interested in buying it. 

Inexpensive Marketing

Television commercials get the most exposure by using the most popular medium their target market uses – the television. While this may be the best way, it’s also the most expensive route to go. These commercials are not only expensive to create; they can also break your advertising budget by having to pay for air time during a person’s television viewing.

Video marketing is MUCH less expensive, and probably more suited to your target market. Online video marketing has a higher chance of getting your business some exposure using the Internet while costing you much less in the long run. There are no air time costs to have to pay for and video creation can be done yourself, so the costs of putting it together would be a fraction of what you would pay for a television commercial to be taped. 

Sets You Apart from Your Competitors

With all the other online business owners out there selling similar products or services, your business needs to stand out . Vanilla niche marketing will certainly help you achieve that, but sometimes you will need an extra boost. 

Video marketing can be just the boost you need. It shows potential customers why you’re the one to go to when they want to purchase a certain product. If your competitors aren’t using this marketing tool then you’re already ahead of the pack. 

Enhances Sales Letters

Sales letters are used to entice customers to buy a product. It explains all the benefits that a product has rather than the features. Since customers are drawn to benefits more than they are to the features of an item, a video can help enhance your selling letter. In some cases, the video itself has even replaced the sales letter altogether. 

By showing your customer what the product is and how it works, they can see why they should buy it. It also helps you get your point across that isn’t as easily done with text. 

Need more ideas? Got ideas to share? Leave them in the comments section, and let’s talk!

P.S. Tomorrow we’ll talk about creating your video content. Come back here, or subscribe to my RSS feed.

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Yesterday we talked about using video marketing for your business. If you missed that post, you might want to read it first, then come back here.

Video marketing starts, of course, with the actual creation of your videos. The entire foundation for the whole marketing promotion is based on having a video that people want to watch. Once you have a piece created to please your target audience, then you can work on the actual promotion for business exposure. Here are some ideas on how to promote your newly-created videos: 

Marketing on Other Websites

Your videos can be published on one of the many online video communities, websites, blogs and even social media websites. These videos will then be accessed by millions of people who are searching for information related to the topic of your video. 

Those who view your videos will want to know what else you have in the way of entertainment for them. While they search through your profile, the website, or blog, they’ll come across a website URL that gives them a route to learning more about that topic of your video.

Search Engine Optimization

Your website traffic could increase by the many Internet surfers searching for information. A simple search on the Internet using a well thought keyword or keyword phrase can get your video more exposure from organic search engine results. 

Using Video on Your Website or Blog

You are always at risk of losing your website visitors quite quickly. People are in a hurry and will scan through your site’s content in the first few seconds of landing there. If you can’t keep their interest, then you won’t keep them there long enough to check out everything your site offers. 

By using videos, you can grab their interest quickly. You want to keep them there as long as possible so they can see what your site is all about. Videos are a different format then regular text content and are therefore more appealing to a person who likes this type of media. 

A well-crafted video can create more of a buzz then you may realize. Some of the most successful Internet marketers use video regularly to create the buzz that brings visitors to their site. 

Videos are a form of entertainment. Those that create a buzz with their target market will be shared with a viewer’s offline friends, cyber friends, family etc. The video starts to spread like wildfire and Voila! More traffic to your site! 

Viral videos are also spread in forums, social media communities and other various online societies to share what the video contains.  The more exposure you can get the better traffic you could see. 

Can Video Marketing Earn More Profits for Your Business?

Because of the widespread exposure your videos will see, your website traffic will increase dramatically. Your new visitors will want to find out more about you and see what else you have to offer. Once viewers find your website, they can sign up for updates, newsletters and any free downloads you might offer. These will help keep your business fresh in their minds. The more exposure your business has the more sales you will ultimately make.

Since many web visitors are hesitant to make purchases online, your visitors will come to trust you, and thus be more comfortable when it comes to purchasing what you have. 

P.S. Come back tomorrow for part four of our Video Marketing Series 

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Yesterday we talked a little bit about video marketing. If you missed that post, you might want to read it first, then come back here.

Today we’re going to address how to use video marketing to promote your business. 

If you think about it, most everyone you know probably watches a little television from time to time, right? Television is a video media stream that allows people to simply watch and listen to what’s being offered to them. At some point, during their television viewing they will be subjected to commercials. 

What is the purpose of commercials? Commercials entice the viewer to buy things. They advertise all sorts of products and services, and they reach a huge variety of audience members. The more times we view a company’s commercial; the more that company’s message sticks in our minds. 

Huge companies, like Nike, have built an empire by using television commercials to advertise their products. Why? – Because, thanks to their commercials and famous “Swoosh” logo, when we think of shoes or athletic apparel, we’re likely to think of Nike.

Video marketing is basically online television commercials. While these videos don’t necessarily provide us with product advertising; they do, in a sense, provide us with company or website advertising. The whole point of video marketing is to help people find your site, so you can increase traffic and increase sales. 

If you browse sites like YouTube, you’ll notice there are millions of videos published on their site. They’re not all product commercials, either. You’ll find professional how-to type videos, homemade movies, as well as videos that are produced just for fun. 

With all the different types of videos available online, is there one that’s better for video marketing? No. It’s not so much WHAT you’re providing Internet users as it is HOW you’re providing it to them. 

A professionally made video can certainly draw a good crowd of website visitors, but a low-budget video that simply makes people laugh can draw a good crowd as well. It’s entertainment – and if people like what they see, they’ll forward the video link to their friends, family members, co-workers, etc. Those people will head on over to your site to see what else you have to offer. It’s viral. Thus, the term “viral marketing”.

Could YOUR Business Benefit from Video Marketing?

Not sure? Let’s explore who can benefit from using video in a marketing campaign. 

Niche marketers can utilize video to increase their audience base. Those who are looking for information, or even entertainment, in a certain subject or field can easily find your videos with simple keyword searches. 

Once they find those videos and they like what they see, they’ll find your website URL and transport themselves to your site. This is where you can provide them with more information or products they can buy. 

Affiliate Marketers can use this type of marketing tactic to gain more interest in the products they are promoting so they can increase their affiliate sales. Entice your website visitors to your affiliate site to certain products and earn your commissions. 

Video website communities allow you to reach more people from your target market, which enables you to increase their chances for more website visitors. 

Business Owners who want to brand their company name will use this type of format to market their company or products. Branding is an efficient way to help people remember your company’s name when they think of specific products. 

The next time your visitor is looking to purchase a product you offer, they will think of you first and go to your site to buy. To get your company’s name branded, you will need to get your business exposed in as many ways possible. Video marketing will reach tons of people quickly, so your business will get branded easier. 

Business owners who are looking to gain credibility or build a relationship with their customers should be considering this kind of marketing technique as well. Not only does it allow you to increase website traffic, but you can gain credibility, and establish trust and rapport with your target customers. 

The more your visitors get to know you and your company, the more they will trust you, which in turn,  is what will get you more sales. No one wants to hand their money over to someone they don’t know for the risk of getting taken. 

So, in short, basically any Internet marketer out there who is selling a product or service can benefit from video marketing. 

Isn’t that you?

P.S. Tomorrow in part three of this series we’ll talk about ways to promote your videos to increase traffic and sales

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Internet surfers scan the web every day, looking for information about all sorts of subjects. The majority of what they find is in the form of text articles. To make things interesting and to appeal to a wide audience, you should consider including some video in your site content from time to time. 

Video content provides your visitor with information they’re seeking, but it doesn’t require them to actually read through a document to get the whole picture of what you’re offering them. Most people, today, are busy and look for quicker ways to get the same results they’re looking for. Information is no different. In addition, some people retain information better when watching a video or looking at a graphic, as opposed to reading something. 

It can also let them see, visually, what you want to get across to them. Sometimes text articles can’t do that, so providing your potential customers with a different media is necessary for them to see what you want them to see. 

Providing information on a topic for your site is not the only way to get noticed though. Video marketing will enhance your advertising tactics to a new level and increase your website traffic. 

Come back tomorrow and find out how…

P.S. This is the first post in a series on Video Marketing. Tomorrow we’ll talk about using video marketing to grow your business. Read it here, or subscribe to my RSS Feed. 

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Marketing a business isnʼt easy. Business professionals often have a hard time deciding where to start with a marketing plan, who to market to, how much to budget for marketing, etc.

Small business owners have an even bigger challenge. Small marketing budgets and even smaller available blocks of time to work on marketing make things tough, for sure. Check out the following simple marketing tips that you can implement into your business, without investing lots of money or time.

Get Out There on the Web

Every business should have a website, without question. On the web, your customers can view your product or service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Contrary to popular belief, starting a website doesnʼt have to be expensive, either. You can purchase a domain for under $10 per year, and hosting plans start out at less than $5 per month.There are many free website templates available, and with a little research and help, your website can be up and running in no time.

Start Blogging

One way to get established on the web is through a blog. Blogs (sometimes referred to as “web logs”) can be set up for free on sites like Blogger and Wordpress. If youʼre using a blog for your website you should consider getting your own domain name and hosting it on your server. This isnʼt expensive and doesnʼt take much time to set up. If you already have a website with your own domain, itʼs simple to attach a blog to it.

Blogs build relationships with customers and are a great marketing tool. Use your blog to communicate with your customers, and theyʼll look to you again and again for what they need.

Break Out the Business Cards

Your business card is a classic marketing tool.  Keep a small stack with you and hang one up whenever you pass a bulletin board. If you see someone who may be in need of your products or services, hand them a card. Never leave home without at least a few!

Shout it Out

Got an announcement to make? Send out a press release. Press releases are a terrific way to get exposure and build buzz about your business. Press releases can be sent to local media, including newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations, or distributed online through numerous distribution channels. If youʼve never written a press release, get a professional to help you write and distribute it. When properly done, a press release is a great way to get that quick exposure that you need.

Article Writing

Publish articles on your own site or blog to establish yourself as a valuable source of information for your potential and existing customers. Articles provide added value and foster a sense of trust in you as a reliable businessperson.

Talk it Up

Networking with other business professionals, whether it be face-to-face or online, is another great way to market your business, while making friends and learning something new at the same time. Some people think networking is a big scary thing – but in reality, itʼs just talking with like-minded people about ways you can help each other.

Local networking groups can be found through traditional sources such as your local Chamber of Commerce, your newspaper, or local websites. If you canʼt find one that suits your needs, then start one! Thereʼs a good chance that there are plenty of other people looking for the same thing.

If you donʼt like meeting in person or are looking for a wider network, online networking is the way to go. Forums, groups, and social sites are buzzing with activity. Do a google search on your area of interest and see what you find. Sites like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn are popular these days and a good place to start.

There are so many ways for a small business to take an active role in their marketing. The hardest part is getting started. Make those first few connections, and the ideas will start to flow.

Like this article? Subscribe to my RSS feed

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