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Traci Hayner Vanover Articles

Guest post by: Traci Hayner Vanover

Profit Building Strategies - Leveraging Testimonials - Click To Read Article
Employing testimonials as marketing tools is both cost-efficient and smart marketing. Now, more than ever before, word-of-mouth referrals and endorsements can quickly take on mythical proportions, seemingly overnight.

Behold, The Power of "We" - Click To Read Article
Whether we want to admit it or not, we all want to belong to something. It's only human nature to enthusiastically support being part of a group - whether it's your family, your favorite sports team, political party, or even the Little Orphan Annie Club. Nobody wants to be on the outside looking in...we all want to be included in the "we."

Cashing in With Parked Domains - Click To Read Article
For a minimal investment, you can pick up keyword rich domain names in any imaginable niche - and, with a few savvy tips and small time investment - you may just be surprised by the results. Will you be able to retire to Aruba with it? Probably not. But, I can honestly say that I have turned a less-than-ten-buck investment into 3 and 4 figure returns. If that piques your interest, read on.

Tagline, You're It - Click To Read Article
Your tagline is another facet of your brand. It is you - just as much as your logo, color scheme, and mission statement are.

Magazine Advertising - Tips for Getting the Most For Your Advertising Dollar - Click To Read Article
Because ads in magazines are not immediate, they take more planning. The general rule that you can run the same ad 3-5 times within a campaign period before its appeal lessens applies to magazine advertising as well, even with a monthly publication. So it makes sense to spend extra time and money to prepare a worthwhile ad that can be successfully repeated. Over long terms such as these, however, be aware that the client (you) often tires of the ad before the audience does.

Time Won't Give Me Time - The Culture Club of Savvy Internet Marketers - Click To Read Article
Efficient time management is essential in business. We know we can't cram more hours into each day; our only option is to make the best use of the time we have each day.

What's Wrong With Classic? Acknowledging That New Isn't Always Better - Click To Read Article
As business owners, it is easy to fall prey to a culture with a short attention span. But change, simply for the sake of change, is never a good idea.

Viral Marketing & Why You Should Be Leveraging It In Your Business - Click To Read Article
According to Guerrilla Marketing Expert Jay Conrad Levinson, this is due to a simple marketing truth -- "people dislike admitting that they are affected by marketing", so they will often give credit to a friend. In addition, there is no disputing the power of referrals -- and these are most likely to be received within 30 days of the original sale.

The Terminator - Small Business Guru - Who Knew? - Click To Read Article
As much as it pains me to admit this, I may have learned something from the Terminator. Well, to be clear... it was actually from the Fox(R) spinoff series, "The Sarah Connor Chronicles." I have never been much of a fan of this series of movies, but after viewing them again recently with my husband, I must reluctantly admit that "Ah-nold" just might be on to something.

Taking a Chapter from Amazon's Playbook - The Art of the Bounceback - Click To Read Article
Don't reinvent the wheel! Some of the most savvy sales strategies are right in front of you. Take a chapter from Amazon's playbook and learn to master the art of the bounceback.

Success - Something To Chew On - Click To Read Article
Even if you aren't a connoisseur of chewing gum, you'll find something to chew on in this short story: One day, Mr. Wrigley (of chewing gum fame) was traveling on a train between New York and Chicago. His traveling companion asked him why he continued to spend so much money on advertising and publicity.

Success Isn't Magic - Click To Read Article
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. He doesn't want you to learn his secrets!

Standing Out in Your Field - Focus On the Business Card - Click To Read Article
Few small businesses have the luxury of multi-million dollar ad budgets, or a staff of marketers to spin their brand on a daily basis. So how do you stand out in your field?

Profit Building Strategies - It Pays to Look Good - Click To Read Article
From the crisp lines of your logo to the personality you convey with your packaging, don't skimp on your overall brand appearance. Despite what your momma may have told you, what's on the outside really does count - at least when it comes to portraying your brand.

Profit Building Strategies - Burn Your Brand Into Their Consciousness - Click To Read Article
Aside from the obvious competition in the marketplace, as marketers, we have to contend with consumers who TiVo through commercials, listen to advertisement-free satellite radio, and block ads with their browsers. If you are lucky enough to garner a few precious moments of visibility, you better make them count. What can you do to get consumers to remember you?

Profit Building Strategies - Niche It, Niche it Good - Click To Read Article
The word "niche" is all the rage these days, but it really isn't a new concept. In fact, savvy marketers have been quietly raking in their fortunes using the niche principle for hundreds of years.

Product Knowledge - A True Story That Supports Its Importance - Click To Read Article
A fresh-faced young sales clerk gets a lesson in product knowledge using an unlikely prop - an athletic support. This true story played an integral role in the early training of a popular internet marketer.

News is a Four-Letter Word - Click To Read Article
Press release writing can be a bit daunting at first, but it is certainly a skill that can be mastered. Armed with the proper tools and a bit of patience, you can be crafting your own killer press releases in relatively short order.

Mark Harmon, Elmer Wheeler & Twitter - Click To Read Article
If you aren’t yet using the social media phenomenon that is Twitter - get off your keister and start. Right now.

Making Headlines: Passing the Publicity Litmus Test - Click To Read Article
You think your press release is perfection…but you may be a bit biased. At this point you essentially have two options: send it blindly, or give it what I like to call the “publicity litmus test.” And don’t worry, there is no chemistry involved!

In Praise of Press Releases - A Frank Discussion on Form And Function - Click To Read Article
There is no disputing the power of a well-written, newsworthy press release. In fact, it is one of the single best things you can do for your business.

Incentives and Brand Loyalty: A Winning Combination - Click To Read Article
Reward points are used by credit card companies, gas stations, book stores, airlines, and almost any large chain in order to reward the loyalty of their client base. These companies understand the importance of brand recognition, and incentive-based compensation for being a loyal customer. These points are redeemable and can be applied as credits or used as a form of payment.

Grassroots Marketing is Dandy - Click To Read Article
Market like a dandelion? We can learn a lot about "grassroots" marketing from those pesky little guys.

Horton Hears an Opportunity - What Dr Seuss' Beloved Character Can Teach Us About Marketing - Click To Read Article
One of the most common challenges that small business owners face is the lack of funds to properly promote themselves. One way to stretch those promotional dollars is to focus on leveraging creative marketing opportunities. Discover how to develop a keen marketing ear by following the lead of Dr. Seuss' beloved character, Horton the elephant.

Fonts Are Like Spandex - One Size Won't Fit All - Click To Read Article
Like all good things, fonts are best when used in moderation. It's always a good idea to run your selections by a trusted friend or colleague before you go "live." While a design may seem intoxicating in the moment, things may look totally different in the morning...so font responsibly.

Giving Customers News They Can Use - Click To Read Article
In times when your marketing budget may be tight, utilizing resources like your customer newsletter can pay dividends.

Developing Marketing Street Cred Part 9: Putting it All Together - Click To Read Article
Testimonials are a valuable tool - one that you should be using in your own marketing efforts.By positioning yourself as the obvious choice, you are establishing trust in the minds of your prospects, and that trust is the foundation upon which future purchases will be made.

Developing Marketing Street Cred Part 8: The Right Tools for the Job - Click To Read Article
It is a delicate balancing act – trying to elicit insightful user testimonials without leading your customers. Fortunately, there are some strategies you can employ to help simplify the process, without compromising the validity of the feedback you receive.

Clark Kent & Super Branding - Click To Read Article
It seems as if lately we've seen a huge resurgence in the popularity of the comic book superhero. It could be attributed to many things, I suppose...

Are You Water Cooler Worthy? - Click To Read Article
As consumers, we're bombarded with ad imagery on a daily basis. And while one might think that would automatically make us all experts on what makes for a great ad -- that simply isn't the case.

A Death Sentence for Sales People - Failing to Know Your Customer - Click To Read Article
# Many a savvy salesman has lost a sale because he failed to know his customer. You may have infinite product knowledge, a slick sales pitch, and a phenomenal product - but, if you don't know who needs your product and why they need it - you'll be about as effective as a death row pardon at two minutes past midnight.

You Like Me - You Really Like Me! - Click To Read Article
Of course, having customers that like you is important all of the time - but in times when the economy is sluggish, customer loyalty can be tested. What can we do to make customers really like us?

The Drive to Market - Click To Read Article
Customers, like cars, get much better mileage when they are properly cared for.

Success and the Superhero - Click To Read Article
Superheroes, like business owners, have to take action. They aren't content to sit on the sidelines, and they don't stand idly by waiting to see if someone else will swoop in and save the day. Both the business owner, and the superhero know that the time for action is now.

Standing Room Only - Should You Steer Clear of Crowded Niches? - Click To Read Article
The key to surviving in a crowded niche is focus. You need to focus on a particular portion of the niche. Maybe there is an area where your competitors are lacking. Focus on identifying the weaknesses in your competition, and make them your strengths.

Spank the Competition With Superior Service - Click To Read Article
If the product is identical from multiple retailers, and you've removed the price barrier - what's left? Service. Focus on providing the customer with a better experience, better service, or a better value, and you'll win their loyalty.

Ready, Aim, Fire! 3 Steps to Designing Your Targeted Marketing Plan - Click To Read Article
Target marketing is the strategy of focusing your marketing efforts on a distinct group of potential customers. When properly conceived, designed and implemented, target marketing can help increase customer satisfaction, improve brand loyalty and gain an edge over competitors.

Now Hear This - Happy Customers = Evangelists - Click To Read Article
It costs less to keep an existing customer happy than it does to find, qualify, and cultivate a relationship with a new one. Make a customer happy today, and they will become brand evangelists for you tomorrow.

Melting the "ICE" Out of Price - Click To Read Article
Now, I've said this before - you shouldn't be positioning yourself solely on price. If your aim is to be the "Walmart" of your niche, then by all means, slash those prices. For the rest of us, we need to take a good hard look at our sales letters, our sell sheets, and our pitches.

Killing Them Softly - With Great Copy - Click To Read Article
Killer sales copy is often the difference between profit and loss, between success and failure. While there is certainly no shortage of opinions as to what constitutes great copywriting, there are a few structural points that remain universal. When used correctly, they can cast a rhythmic spell over the reader, and entice them to make a purchasing decision.

Is Your Blog on Life Support? - Click To Read Article
There are many factors that play into the ultimate success or failure of a television show, and many of these same elements can be crucial to the success of your blog. If your blog is currently on life support, I encourage you to check out this prescription for improving its health. See if you can't put some of these ideas into practice. You'll be pleasantly surprised how quickly you can improve your blog's pulse rate.

In the Weeds - Learning From Tiger's Publicity Nightmare - Click To Read Article
Only time will tell if Tiger can regain his "golden boy" status - but in the meantime, here's a few reputation management tips you can garner to improve your own game.

Fairy Tales, Success & the Broken Record - Click To Read Article
It's easy to get caught up in the daily stories of our businesses - what with the deadlines, the technology to learn, and the endless to-do lists. Understand that you will inevitably make mistakes... everyone does.

Does This Tweet Make My Brand Look Big? - Click To Read Article
Before you go head out into the social media jungle and begin tweeting, Facebooking and YouTubing with reckless abandon, I urge you to take a moment and formulate a plan.

Denial - Not Just a River in Egypt - Click To Read Article
You see, no matter how many books you read, no matter how many gurus you consult, there is one simple truth in business. If you don't have a market, you won't sell your product or service.

Desperado, Get Off the Fence and Get on the Net - Click To Read Article
C'mon, Desperado - hop off that fence and get on the program. There's plenty of good reasons why your business should be on the web - and every day you delay is costing you money.

Close Encounters of the Product Kind - Click To Read Article
We're all saturated with ad messages. For those of us who are fast-forwarding through the commercials, advertisers were missing out on grabbing our attention. So, they found another way in.

Beware of the Dark Side - The Need For Competitive Analysis - Click To Read Article
Competition is an integral part of the marketplace - it fuels innovation, controls pricing, and creates better products. What's not to love, right?

Are You a Purple Cow? - Click To Read Article
Simply put, if you want to stand out, be the purple cow. One great way to showcase your inner purple cow-ness is the free social media site known as Squidoo (which incidentally, is also the creation of Seth Godin). You can create a fully-featured webpage (called "lenses") which showcases your unique perspective on virtually any topic you can think of.

Adding Personality to Your Business is No Small Feat - Click To Read Article
Firms that operate with white-glove sterility and robotic auto-reply emails are a dime a dozen - and for some market segments, that may be just fine. For my dollar, I tend to prefer those product and service providers that provide a user "experience" - they provide a welcome respite from our daily lives, and leave us feeling good about our interaction.

A Better Way to ClickBank - Working Smarter, Not Harder - Click To Read Article
If you are doing affiliate marketing, chances are you are familiar with ClickBank. In the past ten years, ClickBank has paid out over one billion (with a B) dollars to their clients.

3 Resources For Finding Niche Topics For Squidoo Lenses - Click To Read Article
Don't you just LOVE being in the know? We all know that knowledge is power, and that if you want to position yourself as an expert, you need to have knowledge that people want. Here's three great resources to help you find hot topics to create Squidoo lenses around.





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