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