Author: Patricia Kagwiria Makhulo

Would you like to increase your home based business profits by 50% without increasing your marketing budget?  Direct sales opportunity, with the current economic and market situations as they are, is fast gaining ground and popularity as an alternative source of income.  Any direct sales consultant with a home business,  you know that marketing is a fundamental to building any successful direct sales home party business.

Where many a home party plans business owner stumble, struggle and fail is not knowing to whom they are marketing and how to market both online and offline!   You see the common urge in the mlm direct marketing industry is to try and crumb something down the throat of a would be customer.  When you get a potential customer, many will do an immediate sales pitch.

It is unfortunately premature and turns people off! A better method, that any direct sales marketing guru will tell you and a business best practice is the 2 step direct marketing.   Simply put,  2 step direct sales marketing is based on giving something away for free, or at low cost , with the purpose of getting something back in return.

Of course that something is a sale, but beyond that is the relationship.  The idea here is to start small and build.  You want to obliterate concerns before you sell them anything – this is what is termed as pre-selling.  Step

1: Give away something, time, free samples, free demos, a free report, free session of coaching or consulting.    Step

2: Get their contact information and permission to market to them.  This is called dripping information.  No hard sells please.  In this phase you are building rapport and trust.  Why?  So that you can begin to exert your influence.  Ever heard of the phrase Jump!  How high?  Good, that is the power you will command if your engage in the 2 step process!

So here is the psychology behind it You get a visitor to your site or meet a potential customer/business builder.   What you want to do is get their  1.Attention 2.Permission 3.Interact 4.Trust 5.Influence  You want to craft an irresistible offer, to raise the fever pitch if you will..  In doing so you will get their attention and in effect raise anticipation.

If you place and ad in a paper, mail out a postcard or have a website, the best way to get attention is an irresistible headline.  For example  How To Have “Killer” Sex At Any Age… Even If You Don’t Deserve It!  I have a feeling that got your attention and you are headed to google search to figure out if the book exists.  At the time of this writing, I have not yet ascertained the validity nor the existence of the book.

Your attention getting message must be compelling create a compelling giving just enough information about the product to get the prospect to take some sort of action. Invoke curiosity….   Direct Sales Training Tip  : Use the useful but incomplete rule…don’t give it all always.  You now what they say, why buy the cow if you can milk it for free?  2. Call to action

There is no point in crafting an irresistible offer only to drop the ball.  People like sheep, must be led every step of the way.   A call  to action is the desired action you would like the potential prospect, client or customer to make.  For example Click Here To Order.  Limitted Time Offer.  While Supplies Last.  Get Your Free Copy Today!

The purpose of the call to action is an exchange of information.  You are capitalizing on their desire to get their hands on what you have in return for their name, phone number, email address and where possible a physical mailing address!  This is called getting people to raise their hand for information.  This is the essence of <a href=”http://www.sethgodin.com/permission/”>permission marketing</a>, a term that is associated with Seth Godin,

Marketing Demi-god!  Those who raise their hands for information become very hot direct sales leads. These are great business opportunity prospects and an excellent way to build a list.  As every direct sales representative or home party consultant knows, the “fortune is in the follow-up!”  Once the information exchange that was initiated by you is done and you have provided them with the requested information don’t stop there. Now you get into the direct sales marketing relational capital area of things!

You all know of the dismal statistics    “95% OF PEOPLE FAIL WHEN THEY START A BUSINESS WITHOUT A SYSTEM.  95% PERCENT OF PEOPLE ARE SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY START A BUSINESS WITH A SYSTEM! ” -    Entrepreneur Magazine  This is a direct result of lack of follow up and follow through!   Contrary to popular opinion, the money is not in the list. If you haven’t heard this before “the money is in the follow-up” so continually follow up.

Once you have permission to market to people set up an email marketing campaign! If you don’t have an autoresponder, get one, this is the easiest way to follow up. Send them an email as often as necessary to create a relationship and remind them of your backend product.

Don’t just do hard selling here.  I am a strong proponent of direct mail efforts with a combination of email marketing!  2 step direct - marketing  method is a time tested marketing method and will produce targeted prospects for your home based business.  The idea here is work smarter not harder!

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The Secret to Using Direct Mail in Small Business Marketing
By]Dennis Francis

Many small business owners that I work with equate direct mail with large corporate mailing campaigns. When I ask them if they have ever coordinated a direct mail campaign the answer is usually no. They usually tell me that it’s too expensive and time consuming to try to sell their products or service using direct mail.

I’ve found that the best way to use direct mail is to create an offer that your specific target market will find irresistible. This should be a free offer that requires the reader to take an action to receive his or her gift. Preferably, the prospect should go to the web page indicated on the mailer which requires them to fill in their email contact information in order to benefit from the mailing.

You have now created a leads generating machine. If you can do the research necessary to find your target audience, you will be able profit from your mailing campaign. Here are 10 essential tips for conducting a leads generating direct mail campaign.

1.Start small; test your market with a relatively small sampling of your mailing list. If you have 10,000 names and addresses, start with a 1,000. Test your ad copy, test your offer; be sure of the results before committing to a full blown campaign.

2. Don’t get greedy, know your averages; stick to your averages and make an initial free offer. Your prospects don’t know you from a hole in the wall. You job is to sort through the list of un-proven addresses and qualify the mailing list. That means those who immediately value the offer will stop to take action. Those people have been qualified. The mailing campaign should continue to qualify your list.

3. Once is not enough. If you have experience dating, you know that most people take a few dates to decide if they really like a person enough to commit to “going out”. Most people don’t get married after the first date. Remember that the idea building a relationship with your prospects will pay off very well in the long run if you take the time to pursue them properly. You will need to follow up with your list a few times to let them know that you are serious.

4. Separate your new subscribers; the ones who took advantage of your free offer from the rest of your mailing list. Don’t send them the same mailing with the same free offer again. They now go on your warm prospects list. These folks are ready to see an offer for your retail products or services.

5. Once you have someone on your email list, send them a series of emails. Give valuable information on their topic of interest. Your communication should be brief and lead to a link where they can read more or view more material. If you pitch a promotion to them, follow up if you don’t make the close.

6. Vary your direct mail source. If you are sending letters, send a postcard next. You will want to test postcards the same way you tested letters. People will be trained to identify your mail piece after a while.

7. Always match the look and feel of your direct mail piece to the intended market. Design the mailer in a professional regardless of the style. Be sure to consistently deliver a professional project. If you seriously consider the market you are shooting for, you’ll get the required results.

Learn how to boost your business income from the author of “Double My Revenues In 12 Months or Less” and “Push Button Profits! A 30 Day Program For Making $120,000 A Year On Auto Pilot” Head over to the site and sign up for your free 30 day course now before it’s too late!=> http://DoubleMyRevenues.com/coaching/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Francis http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Secret-to-Using-Direct-Mail-in-Small-Business-Marketing&id=1850618

Tips For Improving Lead Generation
By Nicola Brown

Lead generation should be at the heart of every successful direct marketing campaign. Whether through telemarketing, direct mail or email, the overriding goal is to convert as as many broadcasts as possible into leads and ultimately sales.   By following a few easy to implement tips you can soon have lead generation success.

Use quality marketing data

Direct Marketing in Today’s Economy
By Frank Irias

Direct marketing is an easy, cost-effective way to increase awareness, generate solid leads and enhance sales. Not only is it a particularly effective tool to use in the type of economy we’re facing right now, it also helps you maintain positive relationships with customers over the long term. When the economy picks up, customers are more likely to turn to you because it’s your name they remembered seeing over time. But before you get started, you’ll need to keep the following principles in mind.

Market only to your target audience. Avoid “blanket” direct marketing campaigns (i.e. a general mass mailing). The most important component of the campaign is the quality of your mailing list. Saying that, a smart campaign is well targeted, focusing on a smaller group of prospects most likely to respond to your offer. That way, you’re likely to get a better return on your investment.

Make it personal. You can address prospects by name and develop different versions using variable data to appeal to your targets specific interests. People are more likely to respond when they feel like you understand them and know what they need. For example, an African-American prospect may respond better over a Hispanic prospect when marketing a particular type of restaurant.

Include an offer. A good direct marketing piece always has a compelling offer. It gives recipients a reason to respond. Offering something for free usually works well. This could be a free brochure, free consultation, free trial or free sample. Whichever you choose, there’s got to be something “in it” for customers to contact you. You also should set a time limit on the offer, which will give people more reason to respond to the mailing sooner.

Think beyond the postcard. Direct marketing is flexible with plenty of print and online format options that will work within your budget. You can develop an email campaign with personalized URLs, send invitations to a seminar, offer free tickets to an event, send a newsletter (print or electronic) including articles and useful tips, and so much more. The goal is to keep communicating to your prospects so they’ll keep you top of mind. A “cold” sales call is not so chilly when they’ve seen your name repeatedly.

Measure your results. One of the great aspects about direct marketing is that’s measurable. With a response mechanism in place, such as a phone number or web address, you can track who contacts you and from where. You’ll have a better idea of how your campaign is doing, giving you a chance to see what worked well and what you may need to change in the future.

Direct marketing is an affordable yet powerful tool that gives you a quick return on your investment, which is particularly helpful given today’s economy. Plus it has the added bonus of helping you in the long-term. While you continue to regularly communicate to your target audience, it’s you - and not your competition - that people will remember when the market improves.

Find more tips on how to boost your business at [http://daishocreative.com/articles]daishocreative.com/articles.

Frank Irias is the president and co-founder of Daisho Creative Strategies, a Miami-based marketing and design firm. For more than a decade, he has specialized in helping small- and medium-sized businesses mix short- and long-term marketing strategies that yield higher results. Contact Frank at 305-234-5617 or visit [http://daishocreative.com]daishocreative.com for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frank_Irias http://EzineArticles.com/?Direct-Marketing-in-Todays-Economy&id=1884325

Obama’s Marketing Magic
By Mary Nack

Whether or not you are an Obama supporter, his campaign proved one thing - his campaign’s marketing strategies worked like magic!

Obama literally came from “nowhere” to become Leader of the Free World.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been working really hard the past 12-18 months - and making less. I’m all about using whatever

Obama’s Marketing Magic
By [Mary Nack

Whether or not you are an Obama supporter, his campaign proved one thing - his campaign's marketing strategies worked like magic!

Obama literally came from "nowhere" to become Leader of the Free World.

I don't know about you, but I've been working really hard the past 12-18 months - and making less. I'm all about using whatever will work. Aren't you?

Einstein said, "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."

In these challenging times, "business as usual" just doesn't cut it.  It's going to take a different way - a NEW way - of thinking about things. Obama's campaign has shown us a different way - clearly a way that works!

Obama had to tackle 2 major issues:

1) He was a relative newcomer to the political scene without a large support base to draw upon.

2) With limited financial resources, he needed to overcome the the Clinton "money machine".

"Business As Usual" wasn't going to cut it for the Obama campaign. He was forced to devise a NEW strategy to win his election. He followed 4 steps:

I. He Created A "Bottom's Up" Unique Selling Proposition [USP] - “Change We Can Believe In”

Most candidates (and business people and sales people), sit in a room “thinking up stuff” that they think might appeal to the public. One good friend who is also a REALTOR used a tag line on all of her marketing, “We Do Our Home Work.” Catchy. Clever. But how effective is it in getting me to choose her as my REALTOR?

What Obama did was a classic marketing strategy: he held “focus groups” in the form of “town meetings”. He ASKED people what they wanted in a candidate. He listened first and THEN came up with a USP based on what he was told. People wanted change. Ergo the USP “Change We Can Believe In”.

II. He Built An On-Line Community

Now the campaign has its USP, it was time to take it to the “market”. What was so unique about what the Obama campaign did was to make extensive use of internet social media strategies - FaceBook, a blog, a website, YouTube videos. It probably started out due to lack of funding. However, the campaign utilized these tools so brilliantly that they ended up literally circumventing traditional media (newspapers, TV) to talk directly to their public. When a negative story would break on the news, the on-line community not only knew about it but had already heard Obama’s side of the story!

III. He Lowered The Barrier to “Buy In”

Instead of looking for huge donors to fund the campaign, the campaign asked for $5 donations! $5!! It was a complete game-changer. I remember thinking, “Heck, I don’t know if I want to vote for the guy - but I’ll give him $5 to give him a chance at being on the ballot.” But once I made the $5 “commitment” - now I’m no longer standing on the outside looking in. Now I’m engaged! Now I’m watching the campaign with interest! And once I’m on the “inside” - they not only asked for my vote, they asked me to help get the vote out!

IV. Post Election Follow-Up

Even though the election is past, I am still being solicited for input. Obama is brilliantly allowing the community to shape policy. He’s converting “Insiders” into Advocates! There was just an article in the Chicago Tribune on Weds, Jan 14th about “the country’s most potent political machine” and how Obama is using it to force his agenda on Congress. Do you let your advocates inform YOUR agenda?

During the Great Depression, huge fortunes were made by many. The Kennedy, Rothschild and Rockefeller families all dramatically increased their fortunes throughout the Depression. But it wasn’t just the rich who got richer - many ordinary citizens found a way to not only survive but thrive during a poor economy.

All Things With Exuberance!

Mary!

To learn more about the marketing genius of the Obama campaign and how to apply it to your business, go to http://NewMarketLeaders.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Nack http://EzineArticles.com/?Obamas-Marketing-Magic&id=1890894

Obama’s Marketing Magic
By []Mary Nack

Whether or not you are an Obama supporter, his campaign proved one thing - his campaign’s marketing strategies worked like magic!

Obama literally came from “nowhere” to become Leader of the Free World.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been working really hard the past 12-18 months - and making less. I’m all about using whatever will work. Aren’t you?

Einstein said, “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.”

In these challenging times, “business as usual” just doesn’t cut it.  It’s going to take a different way - a NEW way - of thinking about things. Obama’s campaign has shown us a different way - clearly a way that works!

Obama had to tackle 2 major issues:

1) He was a relative newcomer to the political scene without a large support base to draw upon.

2) With limited financial resources, he needed to overcome the the Clinton “money machine”.

“Business As Usual” wasn’t going to cut it for the Obama campaign. He was forced to devise a NEW strategy to win his election. He followed 4 steps:

I. He Created A “Bottom’s Up” Unique Selling Proposition [USP] - “Change We Can Believe In”

Most candidates (and business people and sales people), sit in a room “thinking up stuff” that they think might appeal to the public. One good friend who is also a REALTOR used a tag line on all of her marketing, “We Do Our Home Work.” Catchy. Clever. But how effective is it in getting me to choose her as my REALTOR?

What Obama did was a classic marketing strategy: he held “focus groups” in the form of “town meetings”. He ASKED people what they wanted in a candidate. He listened first and THEN came up with a USP based on what he was told. People wanted change. Ergo the USP “Change We Can Believe In”.

II. He Built An On-Line Community

Now the campaign has its USP, it was time to take it to the “market”. What was so unique about what the Obama campaign did was to make extensive use of internet social media strategies - FaceBook, a blog, a website, YouTube videos. It probably started out due to lack of funding. However, the campaign utilized these tools so brilliantly that they ended up literally circumventing traditional media (newspapers, TV) to talk directly to their public. When a negative story would break on the news, the on-line community not only knew about it but had already heard Obama’s side of the story!

III. He Lowered The Barrier to “Buy In”

Instead of looking for huge donors to fund the campaign, the campaign asked for $5 donations! $5!! It was a complete game-changer. I remember thinking, “Heck, I don’t know if I want to vote for the guy - but I’ll give him $5 to give him a chance at being on the ballot.” But once I made the $5 “commitment” - now I’m no longer standing on the outside looking in. Now I’m engaged! Now I’m watching the campaign with interest! And once I’m on the “inside” - they not only asked for my vote, they asked me to help get the vote out!

IV. Post Election Follow-Up

Even though the election is past, I am still being solicited for input. Obama is brilliantly allowing the community to shape policy. He’s converting “Insiders” into Advocates! There was just an article in the Chicago Tribune on Weds, Jan 14th about “the country’s most potent political machine” and how Obama is using it to force his agenda on Congress. Do you let your advocates inform YOUR agenda?

During the Great Depression, huge fortunes were made by many. The Kennedy, Rothschild and Rockefeller families all dramatically increased their fortunes throughout the Depression. But it wasn’t just the rich who got richer - many ordinary citizens found a way to not only survive but thrive during a poor economy.

All Things With Exuberance!

Mary!

To learn more about the marketing genius of the Obama campaign and how to apply it to your business, go to http://NewMarketLeaders.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Nack http://EzineArticles.com/?Obamas-Marketing-Magic&id=1890894