tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415Tue, 13 May 2008 14:03:27 +0000http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/noreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)Blogger256125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-6078384153726057926Tue, 13 May 2008 13:55:00 +00002008-05-13T09:59:56.218-04:00A month ago I was approached by someone who wanted to podcast my weekly small business marketing ideas and tips. No charge. He'd do it in return for permission to use them on this site. We've now got 4 small business marketing ideas podcast. Take a listen and let me know what you think. Listen to my small business marketing ideas >> - Charlie Small Business Marketing For Self-Made Millionaireshttp://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/05/prefer-to-listen-to-small-business.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-4663810043754244579Tue, 13 May 2008 12:38:00 +00002008-05-13T10:03:27.572-04:00You can use this small business marketing tip to close more sales. You've got a live qualified prospect on the phone and you don't want to lose this one. What do you do when they hesitate to make a commitment and want to think about it? You know that if the prospect disconnects without placing an order, the chances are slim that they'll call back and you'll get the sale. What do you do? Last http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/05/should-you-ask-for-sale-small-business.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-690552189912857317Thu, 08 May 2008 13:41:00 +00002008-05-09T08:38:54.116-04:00Each week I hear horror stories from my clients about web designers they've worked with. I had one client that had a site that was trickling in leads so he hired a web designer to redo his site. $35,000 later he had a site that totally killed his lead generation and almost killed his business. These days anyone with a computer and online access can claim they know how to design a web site but myhttp://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/05/where-are-good-web-designers-for-small.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-2056950742229731563Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:35:00 +00002008-04-29T09:45:32.227-04:00 What, No Sales Team For Your Small Business? To listen to the podcast of this blog online, use this link >> Can you grow your business without a sales team? Do you need a team of aggressive sales people on the phone calling prospects, closing deals and taking orders? The short answer is NO. You don't need a sales team to be successful. And if you have one, you could be feeding them a lot http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/04/why-i-dont-have-sales-team-small.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-2691294745147376572Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:37:00 +00002008-04-27T18:43:50.576-04:00Where To Find The Most Clients... Are you pulling in new clients one by one when you could be bringing them in by the dozens or even hundreds? Most people make the mistake of marketing to bring in new leads individually when they could be bringing many at a time. If you fished for a living and had the choice of two places to drop your nets, where would you go fishing - in the spot where you'd http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/04/where-to-focus-your-small-business.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-2893186116679092422Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:43:00 +00002008-04-24T10:44:07.155-04:00To listen to the podcast of this blog online, use this link >> You've got a qualified prospect on the phone and you know they could use your products or services. What do you do? What do you say to convince them to buy from you today? Should you start by telling them about the features of the products you sell or the high-tech machines you'll be using to get the work done or about the history http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/04/perfect-sales-pitch-for-small-business.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-8906659749094190422Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:05:00 +00002008-05-03T15:47:51.576-04:00Ever have a client you really liked working with quit? You know how upsetting it can be. This week, one of my favorite clients, wrote me to let me know that he wanted to stop working with me after just two months. Did I blow it, tick him off or what? You be the judge. Kris Simmons, of FireEye Productions owns a web and video production company. In 2007 he'd seen a devastating slow down in http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/04/how-i-lost-great-client.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-5715039718149969940Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:36:00 +00002008-04-15T17:35:44.754-04:00Listen to the podcast of this blog online with this link >> Were your sales stagnant last year? How was the first quarter of 2008? What's the problem? Is it the economy? With all the news about the mortgage meltdown, sinking real estate values, rising unemployment and warnings of a recession, it's easy to feel anxious and pessimistic. But don't assume that your slow sales can be blamed on a http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/04/is-it-economy-try-another-excuse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-7700253255855457795Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:48:00 +00002008-04-07T11:48:18.424-04:00How well does your small business marketing work? Use this marketing checklist marketing to help prospects become clients and customers today. - Charlie Proven Small Business Marketinghttp://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/04/how-effective-is-your-small-business.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-3110447599792910778Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:22:00 +00002008-04-05T10:25:11.304-04:00Most small business owners spend tens of thousands of dollars each year on advertising that doesn't work. They spend thousands of dollars on print and pay per click advertising that costs more than it brings in in sales. Sound familiar? The secret to using ads to generate more revenue is to stop using them to sell. I know what you're thinking. You're saying to yourself, "aren't ads supposed to http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/04/3-steps-to-advertising-that-sells-small.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-6244891956097449639Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:25:00 +00002008-04-03T10:25:28.231-04:00Running your business often means starting work early in the mornings, working evenings and the occasional Saturday and Sunday. Wouldn't you like to cut back this year, ease up a little, maybe take a few Friday afternoons off or get away on vacation this summer? How can you do this and at the same time build marketing momentum? You know that you could expand your business if your marketing was http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/04/3-breakthrough-marketing-ideas-to-help.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-5617721249327656932Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:09:00 +00002008-03-18T20:16:20.974-04:00This Friday I'm flying out to Calgary, Canada with my son for our annual steep and deep ski trip. Each year we spend a week together skiing ourselves silly in out of the way places like Kicking Horse and Revelstoke in British Columbia that most people haven't heard of. And I got to thinking why shouldn't you get to go on a vacation too? I've been successful enough to own a home here in http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/03/i-want-to-send-you-on-vacation-when-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-3352680284527246555Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:07:00 +00002008-03-13T10:58:30.624-04:00Should you emulate the marketing strategies of successful companies like Google, Apple, Starbucks, Sony, Dell, or Coca-Cola? It's true that these companies have name recognition throughout the world, and this gives them tremendous clout in their markets. But following their lead is a waste of your time and money. Every entrepreneur and small business owner wants to build their brand and their http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/03/what-marketing-strategies-does-oprah.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-5577402050545797043Sat, 08 Mar 2008 19:37:00 +00002008-03-08T09:54:26.781-05:00Do you enjoy marketing your business or is it more like pulling teeth? Many small business owners dislike marketing their businesses as much as a root canal. Do you find marketing is a pain and wish you could avoid marketing your business altogether? Here's a simple strategy you can use to market your business marketing strategy that that's better than novocaine. It not only numbs the pain http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/03/need-marketing-novocaine-use-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-6357448112373041687Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:31:00 +00002008-03-08T09:55:27.248-05:00Have you ever spent money on an ad and gotten a limited response? You're not alone. Everyone who has ever advertised has run an ad that failed at least once. Doing it the first time is educational; running an ad that isn't working again and again is throwing good money after bad. Want to know how to write ads that attract twice as many buyers? Use this link to find out which small business http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/03/small-business-marketing-advertising.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-287820867952110482Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:59:00 +00002008-03-08T09:43:20.455-05:00If you sell affiliate products you know the key to generating sales is to maximize exposure of your affiliate ads. What's the best way to do that? We recently noticed one of our affiliates racing up the charts in sales and decided to take a closer look. It turns out this affiliate found an ingenious way of promoting our products using her affiliate links. She puts the sales copy we provide to http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/02/how-to-boost-your-affiliate-sales-with.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-7043612882815236157Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:50:00 +00002008-02-26T15:51:11.284-05:00You built a web site to create a surge of inquiries and new business, but hardly anyone even drifts by, much less stays to learn about your company. Given the time and money you've spent, you're frustrated that your web site hasn't turned into a profit center overnight, and you're inclined to dismiss its revenue-generating potential. Don't! There are three excellent ways to bring people to your http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/02/3-web-marketing-ideas-to-increase.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-6454097561796457082Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:59:00 +00002008-02-28T19:12:13.810-05:00According to Albert Einstein, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". Are you getting the number of inquiries and sales you want from your target market? If you're not getting results then why keep marketing the same way over and over again? Use this link to discover how to target the right prospects with your small business marketing >> Follow http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/02/small-business-marketing-strategies-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-281308723877913330Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:04:00 +00002008-02-21T11:22:32.280-05:00"I have been reading your newsletter and very impressed with the knowledge you have about marketing. Your letters grab attention as well as provide substance. My question is about email sales letter. How important is the writing of that sales letter? I'm surprised to see the big price range for copywriters. Is it true that one writer can have 50 percent more value over others, when they http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/02/whats-difference-in-email-copywriters.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-7761969303724883154Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:36:00 +00002008-02-14T11:42:07.857-05:00What's the one marketing strategy you can use this week - and every week - to quadruple your sales? In case you've forgotten, Valentine's Day is this Thursday the 14th. Your spouse or significant other would appreciate your remembering the day by giving them flowers or a gift, or at least a card. For the last couple of years I've given my wife orchids, which last for months and months as a http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/02/what-marketing-strategies-should-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-5414662718093378421Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:26:00 +00002008-02-11T14:04:26.170-05:00When a prospect objects to your pricing, it is often the beginning of the end of a potential sale. You can run through all the benefits of your product or service again, but once price has become an obstacle, it's hard to remove it. Do you offer to discount the price? That's a slippery slope; how much of your profit can you bargain away? Want to know how to ensure your method of selling sales http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/02/3-marketing-ideas-to-eliminate.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-7199296990160673641Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:45:00 +00002008-02-08T16:14:55.082-05:00Building relationships with prospects and earning their business by staying in touch over time is a great way to gradually ramp up revenue. But what do you do if you want to make the sale today? Use these business marketing ideas >> Charlie Cook Business Marketing Ideas that Make You Moneyhttp://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/02/6-business-marketing-ideas-to-ramp-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-80316559742499970Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:48:00 +00002008-02-04T08:56:06.790-05:00What does it take to succeed as an entrepreneur and in marketing your business? Why is it that some small business owners seem to attract more clients and more sales each month while others struggle? Discover the five characteristics that highly successful small business owners have in this week's small business marketing tip >> Charlie Cook Proven and Powerful Small Business Marketing Ideashttp://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/02/do-you-have-these-5-small-business.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-2854004048539800756Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:16:00 +00002008-02-04T09:07:48.321-05:00Have you ever experienced a true breakthrough - a new idea, strategy or technique that dramatically boosted your performance? I learned to ski, or at least though I had, at Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire when I was five. I was a bit stubborn, at the time, and rarely agreed to take lessons despite my parent's attempts to provide me with expert guidance. After all I was five, knew everything http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/01/secret-to-small-business-marketing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9347415.post-6898340687796496496Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:20:00 +00002008-01-25T11:34:19.488-05:00Did you miss this week's TeleSeminar on How to Reach Your 2008 small business marketing goals? While we had over 200 people on the call from Spain, Australia, New Jersey, and all over, not everybody could join the call. In fact I've gotten tons of emails from people who couldn't make it and wanted to know if they could listen to it later. Well, ask and you shall receive. I'm making this call http://www.marketingforsuccess.com/blog/2008/01/whats-fastest-way-to-achieve-your-small.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Charlie Cook)