Learning What Marketing Works – The Hard Way!

Having being in business for a long time I have learned many lessons the hard way. The purpose of this blog is to point you in the right direction when it comes to marketing, so you don’t make these same mistakes!

In the past I had many sales people call me and say that their marketing would bring me more clients. I would say how many? They would say no marketing company can give a guarantee. So, if I liked the sound of what they were saying and they showed some empathy, I would usually “give it a go”. Guess what, apart from the hayday of Yellow Pages, nothing worked. To the point where I wouldn’t even make the money back on the investment I laid out.

There is a clue there. Marketing MUST be an investment, you must get some kind of guarantee. I was so annoyed at being ripped off by big National companies that I decided to put my electronics and software training to good use. I decided to do all the marketing for my companies myself. That was a long time ago, and I have never looked back.

Around 2005 a close friend said why don’t you offer these services to other businesses? And I now do. Over the years there has been many changes on what works best, but here on the cusp of 2014 is my advice for all you business owners.

1.     What works best today is a powerful mix of onsite optimisation together with a flexible, fully managed online ad campaign. (Flexiads)
2.    All this is great to know, but 100% useless unless you give it a go.

The marketing that didn’t work for me included: All paper advertising, email campaigns, linkedin, facebook, facebook ads, having someone else run an adwords campaign for me, Yell.com now hibu and still as bad, BT customer street and lots of others.

My mission is to help businesses like yours achieve your goals, get more customers and get the reward of more profit for a job well done. Some of you are scared to invest, I know, I have been there. This is why I came up with FlexiAds.

Starting at just £59 or the Dollar equivalent you get one months worth of online marketing which I guarantee WILL get visitors to your website and even calling you directly! After one month we will know whether your campaign has been a success or not. One business who started with us in November received 98 visitors to her website and converted these visits to 8 new clients worth £2,400 per year! For just £59. The thing is we know that by doubling her investment we can get even more visitors and more new clients and more profits! Isn’t this what you want?

We listened to people and they told us they didn’t like contracts. So FlexiAds don’t have a contract. You just pay for a month at a time. This gives you confidence as only companies who are unsure about their services would LOCK you into a 12 month contract. FlexiAds also give you FLEXIBILITY. If like our lady with 8 new clients, if that was enough for now you can stop your ads. If you wanted more clients and more profits you could increase your budget. This has the effect of smoothing out those peaks and troughs in your business cycle.

Also with FlexiAds you get a Duncan, a me on the end of a phone 9am to 9pm everyday! I’m also on Skype or you can visit me, whatever is best for you.

More information on FlexiAds can be found by CLICKING HERE.

10 Interesting Digital Marketing Techniques - CLICK HERE

Thank you and Happy New Year 2014

About the author:

Duncan Malloch is an entrepreneur from the UK with specialism’s in online marketing, website design and search engine optimization. If you are looking for a one stop shop to promote your business online, visit the PWP Web design website by CLICKING HERE. Thank you

Get Success – Get a Website!

If you don’t have a website, it’s the same as trying to compete with a farmer who has acre upon acre of land, and you have a small back garden. You are simply missing out. That said it doesn't mean that by having a website, you are guaranteed business success. You need to recognise its potential and commit resources to take advantages of all the benefits. If you want to increase your brand recognition, or want more potential clients to visit you online, your website is the ideal place to make this happen.  Most businesses conduct themselves in ways that are professional, efficient and ethical, yet their image, as portrayed by their website paints a completely different picture. If this rings any bells, please consider the following advice:

Despite what People Say – A Book is Judged by its Cover!
Your website is sometimes your first impression prospective clients have of your company. What does it say about you? Not so much in words, but in the design, the overall feel of the site? We’re not saying your website has to be a masterpiece winning design awards. What we are saying is if you fall below the standard of design quality set by your competitors, you can’t expect to win business from them, can you? If your website looks like it was put together by a school boy, then people will correctly or incorrectly assume that your business is unprofessional, incapable and untrustworthy. You only have 2 seconds to Wow your potential customers. If you were a client, would you be compelled to stay?
A well designed website that engages with your clients can work wonders for your business. It instantly feels right and that your company is professional, reliable and trustworthy – top quality. This professional, polished look for your website doesn't have to cost you a lot. It should be looked at as an investment; you just need to find a web design team that can give you these benefits.

Content is King!
Your potential client will most probably have found you by typing specific search terms into Google. Make sure that the web page they land on gives them exactly what they are looking for. It’s important to understand your target market and know what they want and how they like to be treated. Are they visual people? Do they like images, or detailed text?

Your home page should be about your company, tell the world who you are, what products and services you provide, and the benefits of choosing you over your competitors. Keep the text short here your customer could be put off by information overload. You can always add Click Here for more product information. Give your potential customers reasons to keeping coming back to your website. Engage with them by offering things like tips, tutorials and special offers. Keep your content interesting and informative.

Guide Your Client with Excellent Website Navigation.
No-one likes being lost, do they? Your web designer should make sure that no how complex your business is, your website is easy to follow. Being able to effectively direct clients by channeling them to the products and services they need is of the utmost importance.  We suggest creating a plan, like a family tree, to understand the navigation aspects of your website before you do anything else! Make sure that it is user friendly and allows customers to easily find exactly what they are looking for.

I’ve Got a Ferrari!

Actually, I haven’t, but, if I did I would want people to know that I had one. It would be no good tucked away in the garage 24/7. It’s also the same as having your business card sitting on your desk or in your wallet, they do no good there! A great website gets you noticed, gets your business out there and this aspect of getting your website found is called SEO or Search Engine Optimisation. It is the fine tuning of your website so that the search engines, like Google, find it and place it in front of all those prospective customers. Search Engine Optimisation is a difficult subject to keep abreast of. But you don’t have to be a specialist; you hire one to make sure your website is found by the search engines and your target audience. PPC (Pay Per Click) is another way that can get you in front of them. You control your budget, keywords etc; under the umbrella of a campaign. If SEO isn't for you, maybe this will enable people searching for your products or services, find you more easily.

Link Juice
Link Juice is how some people describe the effect obtaining a link from another website to yours affects its ranking. An easy way to add link juice is to add your website link to your listings on online directories. Most directories will also give you the option to give a brief description of your business too. Adding your web address will help direct prospects to your website where they can find all they need to know about your business. Be careful though, other websites which take payment for links, or, all they do is provide links and nothing else are sometimes called link farms. A link from one of these link farms can damage your website, sending it the wrong way in the rankings. This is one reason why we would recommend professional help from a specialist SEO consultant.

Would You Prefer New and Fresh, or Old and Withered?
There is nothing worse than being out-of-date. The same is true for your website; it has got to keep your customers informed of new product lines, new offers and new services. There’s nothing worse than visiting a website in Easter to find all the Christmas offers still there! Make sure you choose a web designer who will manage these updates for you as frequently as necessary.

Have You Heard About The Latest Movie? 
Facebook and Twitter are the places where you hear about the latest happenings. New movies, new albums and your new products! Yes today, more and more businesses are using these forms of social media to inform online communities about their line of work. You can create your own Facebook page and post articles about your company, promote new products and offers and invite people to follow and like you. These forums, tweets and blogs provide a means for customers to interact directly with you and each other. It is this ability to share knowledge with others that will help to build your company’s brand and elevate your company’s position within your specific sector. It is easy to post press releases, hint and tips onto your website and then share them to your blog, Facebook and Twitter. When visitors see them, they too can share with their friends. Utilising these social media facilities also has the added benefit of giving your website SEO links which help you rank even higher in the search engines.

Summary.
There are many things you can do to make your business website more successful, and reflect the professional qualities of your products and services.  Your website is a marketing asset, a true business investment.  Take time and ensure the design feels appealing. The content is interesting, informative, and the site is easy to navigate. Next see what you can do to promote your website using SEO techniques to get it found more easily by the search engines.  Don’t forget the simple things too. Things like adding your web address to your business card and including it on other forms of advertising like posters, brochures and your company vehicles.

Links:
Newcastle Website Design Middlesbrough Website Design Darlington Website Design York Website Design
Search Engine Optimisation
Facebook Web Designer
Google Plus Web Designer

Help for Small Business in Darlington

Darlington Councils, Business Engagement Team

The Business Engagement Team works with other business support agencies and directly with local businesses to help promote and support a thriving economy in Darlington. Highlighting the town as a great business location.

The council’s engagement team offers a wide range of business services with the principal aims to create and safeguard jobs in Darlington. Achieving this by stimulating business opportunities,  attracting new investment from outside Darlington and by offering encouragement and support to new businesses and existing businesses wishing to expand. The team acts as a focal point for businesses looking to communicate with the Council, providing named points of contact to assist the smooth transition of business enquiries.

Business Support & Advice in Darlington

Darlington has a dedicated team of business advisers on hand to offer support and advice to established businesses or individuals considering a move in to self employment. This is achieved by providing 1 to 1 sessions; mentoring and follow up support. The business support team can provide advice on a range of subjects including developing a fledgling business idea; business planning, ICT,  marketing,  expansion of existing businesses,  trading with the public sector, moving business location, identifying local sources of training, recruitment needs and sources of finance. The council’s advisors can also direct enquiries to other agencies that may be able to assist with elements such as improving productivity, new product development, energy efficiency and reducing a business’ carbon footprint.

Networking & Keeping Businesses Up to Date in Darlington

The council’s Business Engagement Team works closely with other organisations to support businesses within Darlington, encouraging collaboration through the promotion of inter-trading events, hosted company visits and various seminar programes. Networking opportunities offer local businesses the opportunity to share best practice and to enhance their knowledge of general business issues. You will probably meet fellow businesses who can help with accounts, website design, marketing and promotion, lots of  like minded business people.

Darlington Markets Free Market Stall for Business Promotion

Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Morrisons all started out as market stalls and are now hugely successful businesses. Markets are therefore a fantastic testing ground for a budding entrepreneur with a bright idea and a limited budget. Not everyone want to grow to become a multi-million pound industry, but market stalls can make great contributors to the local economy and central to the vitality of Darlington town centre and regeneration of the wider area.

These markets offer local Darlington business start-ups the opportunity (as a one off) to have a stall on a Monday and Saturday, completely FREE of charge, to help promote and showcase your business, with the potential to reach out to a new customer base.

A fully weather proof gazebo can be provided, together with tables and lighting/power if required. Businesses can book an available stall and stock up with an attractive display. You may not want to sell anything but just use a market stall as an advertising medium where you can hand out literature, leaflets or business cards. Once you’ve had a taste of trading at Darlington Markets for FREE, you can sign up for a series of non contractual stall hires for just £20 a day on a Monday and Saturday. Established businesses are also entitled to this excellent opportunity. View this as an inexpensive way to reach new customers. Why not use the stall to advertise your business, get your company noticed.

Useful Links:

Darlington Council Business Webpage

Darlington Web Design

Darlington Online Marketing Company