| With ever changing and increasing options, having a | | | | advertising space on their sites. This is a great way |
| game plan of effective advertising options are | | | | to produce a back link which in turn will boost your |
| essential. | | | | own website placement in the search engines. Before |
| Not only do we work hard for our money, but who | | | | you purchase advertising space on a website, I |
| wants to put money into a source of advertising that | | | | personally recommend that their Alexa traffic ranking |
| no longer brings in prospects. | | | | should be no higher than 150,000. (i.e. you are looking |
| I have been with Coastal since August 2001 and | | | | for rankings 1-150,000) |
| have seen many changes. 5 years ago I would have | | | | 6. Magazine advertising. Business opportunity specific |
| recommended that you purchase an ad in a major | | | | magazines still offer a great offline method of getting |
| national newspaper, purchase a Fax broadcast and do | | | | your message out. If you can swing it, a ¼ |
| some safelist advertising. Sadly, none of those 3 | | | | page or better sized ad, will give you the best |
| methods, in my opinion, work for this business today. | | | | results. Do not forget to include a website as well as |
| | | | a contact Toll free number for your prospects. Please |
| But I am happy to report that there are things that | | | | also note that you will have prospects call you who |
| work and work well. Here is my top 10 list for you. | | | | do not have a computer, so be prepared to mail |
| 1. PPC. Pay per Click. I know that you have already | | | | materials to them. |
| gasped. Yes PPC is expensive and can cause you to | | | | 7. Smaller, community specific newspapers. Look for |
| go broke if you do not know what you are doing, | | | | papers with a local and loyal following. I recommend |
| but it is also a very effective way to bring qualified | | | | circulations of 150,000 or less. |
| prospects to your website. | | | | 8. Online Forums. Join a coastal specific thread and |
| 2. Article submission. To demonstrate yourself as a | | | | give your candid opinions. Do not go on just to place |
| knowledgeable authority in your industry is important. | | | | a link or to advertise your website, never to return. |
| People flock to those who know more and those | | | | This is not looked upon nicely in an online community. |
| that can and are willing to help. Also, you do not need | | | | Joining a forum will also have a way of creating a |
| to know how to write. You can pay for articles to be | | | | back link to your website, so increasing its ranking. |
| written for you, on and other sites. | | | | 9. Signature line in your emails. A very overlooked |
| 3. Press releases. There is something attractive | | | | and easy way to advertise what you are doing. Keep |
| about reading a press release. Those who do not | | | | the message short and sweet. Do not try to sell, but |
| know how the internet works, think that the press is | | | | to tease a person to see what you are up to. No |
| writing about a person or business. In reality these | | | | one appreciates blatant in your face advertising. |
| are cleverly disguised self promoting articles | | | | 10. Business cards. In the day of modern advertising |
| submitted to the press. Again, you can have | | | | resources, the business card is overlooked. If you do |
| someone write a press release for you, if you are | | | | not have a business card, it may be that you are |
| unable to: is a trusted source. | | | | ashamed of your business, so you need to |
| 4. Ezine advertising works. It is always tempting to | | | | re-evaluate what you are doing. I was guilty of not |
| purchase the inexpensive classified ads, as they are | | | | having card, after all 99% of my advertising is online. |
| less expensive, but save your money and only | | | | But when I was asked for my business card and did |
| purchase solo ads. You can find ezines (electronic | | | | not have one, I suddenly realized that I was missing |
| magazines) by doing a search. Don't be hasty to | | | | out on an incredible form of marketing. Not only |
| place an ad. Subscribe to the ezine first to make sure | | | | would you have your website and contact |
| you like the format and content. | | | | information on one side, but the back side could have |
| 5. Advertising on other peoples websites. Many | | | | a tasteful sales message, or this year's calendar etc. |
| websites with high search engine rankings offer | | | | has a good selection at a low price. |