“Connections & Internet Marketing”

As humans, we have an innate need to make connections: for protection, survival, and our emotional wellbeing.

In business we also need to make connections: to grow, thrive, find those who need us, and align with those who offer us support.

Without a large network, you may not be engaging the people who most need the help your business offers. If you don't have a solid list of connections, social media is a good place to start. Try finding friends of friends on LinkedIn or Facebook, or micro-blogging on Twitter or the many other social media sites. It's one small part of Internet marketing that doesn't cost a penny (although it can take oodles of time).

Note: Of the many people we've polled, none have said they actually brought in "business" from their social media activities. But if you have the time and the initiative, you can join groups, make connections, build outreach, branding, promote events and even find resources to help your company.

A better way to develop stronger outreach and close sales faster is by meeting people at networking events. Think about it: don't you tend to do business more frequently with those you've actually met, or those you know and trust? While this relationship building can be formed over the long term via social media, it's much faster in person (so you get more business sooner).

We've really studied the online networking "art-form," and have found that even in our age of social media we still need personal connections. In fact, in order to seriously brand your company, it's critical to meet people in person. You don't think Michael Jackson gained popularity just for his recordings, do you? No way! He toured the world to develop an audience and his image, and connect with his devoted fans.

We've created a marketing special report that gives you tips, techniques (and attitude!) for networking, so you can actually make it fun and rewarding. Take a look at MY FAVORITE NETWORKING TIPS. You can apply these same lessons to social networking, too!

More on Internet Marketing: Breathe Life Into Your Website
If your website is just an online brochure, and not delivering clients, it's time to ramp it up. Consider improving the quality of your writing and design. Also, you can employ a whole range of new, Internet-specific marketing techniques such as (SEO) Search Engine Optimization, blogging, video, branding, the integration of social media, paid search, and eCommerce. Just adding one or two of these technologies can make a huge difference in your web traffic!

What's the difference between large, profitable companies and small businesses that can't seem to get off of the ground? Large companies have incorporated into their websites the tools that turn "lookie-loos" into clients (this is called "conversion"). We'll show you how to do this in our Internet Marketing & Website Consultation package.

Here are a few introductory Internet Marketing tips:
1. Did you know that content is still king? It's true: the age of those quippy, short, artsy pages is officially over. People are suspicious (rightfully so!) of many website claims, and they want more information, more proof. The old axiom of "less is more" just isn’t viable anymore. You still need great writing, design, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), conversion and content. But it needs to be strategically planned so Google can find and rank you towards the top of the list, so your market can find you.

2. Use audio or video to help Google rank you. There's increasing evidence that more media brings you higher rankings from the ever-fickle Google. Let us bring you affordable, creative ideas to integrate into a brand that really works to increase traffic and "conversion," so people take action on your site. (PS: If you need help pulling your branding together, take a look at this sampling of our designer's talents.

3. Use an affordable shopping cart to make it easy for people to buy what you offer. If you're only using PayPal, you may wish to check out a few other shopping carts that take credit cards to find out if your sales improve. I've been using 2CO's shopping cart for years, because I find it easy to program and reasonably affordable. My clients also like Practice Pay Solutions and One Shopping Cart.

4. If you understand RSS feeds, you can start blogging to build an audience. But be sure to get some marketing advice before spending too much time on this activity: Most blogs go unread because they're not created properly, and your audience doesn't know where to find them. [Do you know where RSS feeds are found? If not, call us and we'll show you.]

Not a Good Writer? Don't Know What To Say?
This is a common issue that all too often holds people back from developing great relationships with their potential new clients. Let us help you write your marketing communications content, educate those who need to understand why your offering is unique or special, define your marketing messages, and entice, engage or capture an enthralled audience. There's a specific technique to writing marketing communications materials. If you find your text isn't working, let us help.

Once you're ready to get the word out to your potential clients, we have a special report offering "11 STEPS TO BUILD ENEWS CAMPAIGNS". Just remember, if you say nothing at all, you'll fade off people's radar – and you'll lose potential sales. If the purpose of your business is to help those who need you, then staying in touch with your social network, colleagues, clients and friends is critical to keeping business coming in your door.

Don't have time? Here's a few tips to save a 1/2 hr a day
http://womensbusinessexchange.wordpress.com/2008/10/24/allison-bliss-tips-on-saving-time/

Learn Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in 1 hr in Your PJs
What does it take to get to the top of Google? That's what our SEO (search engine optimization) and internet marketing webinar video will teach you.

Featured Client – Linda Salazar, Awaken the Genie Within
How lucky can one be to coach a coach? For the past several years our firm has been honored to help Linda promote her life coaching services by repositioning her website, http://www.awakenthegeniewithin.com/, getting her some speaking gigs in the film industry, and editing her web pages to help convert casual web visitors into buyers.

As the recession unfolded early this year, we needed new strategies – a new income stream - to generate income when sales were down. One day, we called each other at the same time with the same exact idea: to turn Linda's inspiring blog into a book. It's really great: I read a few pages each morning to stay on target for the day.

When Linda's book was reviewed, she got particularly good feedback and testimonials from medical pros, such as nurses and doctors. So hospitals became our logical target market for Linda's book sales campaign. We promoted the book in email pitches, and built a landing page on her website. As a result, orders for the book rolled in faster than anticipated, and Linda has an entirely new, solid revenue stream.

You can sign up now for Linda's coaching at:
http://www.awakenthegeniewithin.com/html/coaching.html

What Value Does The Company Get from Us?
"When I set out to do a marketing campaign to hospitals for my book, Awaken The Genie Within, I admit the idea overwhelmed me. I didn't know where to begin or how to put it together - that is, until I hired my marketing guru, Allison Bliss. Ali is a genius when it comes to creating a marketing strategy that not only gets the attention of people, but turns that attention into bona fide sales. The web landing page and email campaign she created were nothing less than brilliant. And, coupled with the sales training, people responded big-time. This allowed me to sell thousands of books very quickly!" – Linda Salazar

Keep up the great work, Linda!

ALLISON BLISS CONSULTING: A FULL-SERVICE AGENCY Allison Bliss is founder of Allison Bliss Consulting, a Bay Area marketing and communications agency that creates branding, strategies, promotional materials, web development, television commercials, and workshops teaching companies to entice just the business they want. In addition to on-demand consulting and coaching services, Allison offers Marketing Coaching service packages that include the "Knowledge is Bliss" business evaluation, podcast production, search engine optimization, marketing services, branding, and marketing plans. Allison's award-winning writers, web, SEO, and design teams are standing by for your call, and can be reached at 510-864-8500.

We give you permission to publish this article as long as you credit Allison as author and include a link to our website.

We hope these free marketing tips and strategies are useful to you.