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Archive for April, 2006

Why Do My Emails End Up in People’s Junk Mail?

By Charlie Cook   |   April 25, 2006

“My outbound e-mails keep going to people’s junk mail folders. Any idea why?”
– Tina

Spam filters block emails for a lot of reasons. The result is, as you’ve found out, that many of your legitimate emails don’t get through but lots of spam still does. Here are three ways your email could be getting caught in spam filters.

1. Bad words, like here, now, etc.
Use to many of these and the spam filters block your email. Here’s a list of many words to avoid >>

One preventative measure to take is to check to see if any of the words in your email might trigger a spam filter and than edit accordingly, though it’s not clear that all spam filters will block your email if it uses an “offending word once or twice”.

Here’s the link to one free spam checker you can use as a guide >>

2. Use of characters or unusual spellings that the spam filters think you could be using to avoid them. For example trying to slip sales by as ‘s.ales’.

3. Your mail server. Unless you’re using a service that regularly makes sure they are on the white list of approved bulk email senders, you’re email can get blocked even though it’s legitimate. Here’s the link to the email broadcast service I use >>

– Charlie
Small Business Marketing That Works

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Why Most Web Marketing Doesn’t Work For Traditional Businesses

By Charlie Cook   |   April 22, 2006

What’s the problem with most business marketing web sites and why don’t they work to improve marketing and sales?

Most business web sites are designed and written using a business marketing model that simply doesn’t work online. They’re created using marketing strategies and marketing copy based on traditional models, traditional branding and sales strategies. No matter how hard you try to market your business using these approaches, you won’t succeed.

Why?

You’re trying to use a key to unlock the door to increased web profits that doesn’t fit and never will. To increase your online lead generation and sales you need to discover the key that works to open the door to new prospects and more sales.

When your prospects are searching online, they’re not looking for the traditional branding or sales information, they’re looking for ideas they can use. They want tips and knowledge they can apply. Tempt them with something that helps them right off the bat instead of trying to sell them and you’ll be on your way to having a loyal customer.

Discover exactly what to do to unlock the door to increased online profits with your marketing. Use this link to get the details > >

Charlie Cook
Business Marketing That Works
Visit The Small Business Marketing Store

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Getting Return Calls With Your Phone Messages – Small Business Marketing Tips

By Charlie Cook   |   April 13, 2006

As part of your small business marketing effort you make calls to prospects. Working from your list of leads you pick up the phone to call a prospect. What happens?

80% of the time, the person you’re trying to call isn’t there. Of course you leave a message. Then what happens?

Usually nothing. You don’t get any return calls even if you make a hundred. Well maybe one.

What’s the one mistake most small business owners make marketing their business over the phone? They leave a message that pitches their products and services.

Trying to sell cold over the phone is the best way to ensure you won’t get a call back. Instead your objective should be limited to one thing. Focus on trying to get your prospects to return your calls.

Don’t try to sell anything when you leave a phone message.

– Charlie Cook
Small Business Marketing Guru

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Who To Blame When Your Small Business Marketing Isn’t Working

By Charlie Cook   |   April 6, 2006

You could blame the poor performance of your small business marketing problems on the economy, the competition, lack of capital, or other variables. Or you could blame yourself and see your sales soar.

Yes accepting blame for poor marketing performance instead of making you look bad, is the first step to making your small business profits look good.

Fiona Lee and Larissa Tiedens of Stamford 2004 research shows that companies that blamed themselves and internal factors for poor performance stock prices were substantial higher one year later. Why is this?

Blaming others and providing excuses for small business marketing strategies that aren’t working is just a way to avoid fixing something that’s broken. The alternative is to demonstrate leadership by acknowledging when your marketing strategy isn’t working or when mistakes were made.

Think about it. Which is more likely to inspire your colleagues and employees? A. Pointing the finger at others or B. Accepting blame and asking for new ideas to improve your business.

While it takes confidence to acknowledge blame, amazing transformations can take place as a result. Publically owning up to marketing mistakes can lead to new ideas, new strategies, and new solutions all of which can propel your small business sales to new highs.

So which is it? Bury you head in the sand and point to others or openly acknowledge what’s not working and start looking for small business marketing ideas that actually work?

Everyone makes mistakes. Research is clear that doing so is the first step to improving your company’s revenue.

A first step is to discover Marketing Ideas that Work >> >>
– Charlie Cook

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