Typical Customers Can Save Your Small Business

Your Typical Customer is the Heart of Your Business
If you are a small business owner, the chances are high that you do not have a profile for your typical customer. You probably have not taken the time to write out a description because you assume that you know; especially if you have been in business for a few years.
A typical customer profile provides specific demographic and psychographic details that are unique to each product or service. Small bits of information like, what they do for a living, marital status, where else they shop or how often.
It does seem like a lot of work; doesn't it?
If you asked that question, tap yourself on the shoulder
Your customer is your business. Your typical customer sustains your business. There is really nothing more important than your customer in your business. Any time you spend getting to know your customer will pay large dividends to your future business. Knowing who they are, and what they need, is the first step to your business success. Realizing and accepting the importance of your typical customer is this is the only way you will stay in business.
Somehow this first cog in the wheel to success is left to one side and the product, the marketing and controlling cost becomes more important. Without customers, none of those things will matter.
Life's contradictions say otherwise.
The reality is that many businesses stay in business for many years without ever taking the time to identify who their customers really are. Businesses view this as proof that there is really no need to know that much information about the customer
We see it every day.
A business that is doing well will double and possibly quadruple productivity. For no apparent reason a business thrives while other similar businesses around are closing their doors. It appears as if a business owner is fortunate enough to have hit the nail exactly on the head with no apparent systems in place.
The fact, however, is not controversial. Knowing your typical customer will give you more leverage and generate more profit.
Without doubt, almost every customer who has purchased a specific item shares a common characteristic with other customers. The task for small business owners is to identify that common characteristic: a want, need or experience that the customer desires.
This common characteristic is the key to opening doors and attracting more customers. Preferably, this should have been done before a product is manufactured. However, given the nature of business the task would not be changed, it would just become more laborious/labour-intensive.
This characteristic should be included in the business value proposition and clearly shared with prospects and existing customers. It must offer a solution to satisfy the customer's need.
Getting to know your typical customer inside out is simple; however, it does require in-depth research. The main benefit is that you will attract more customers, without incurring any costs..
Your customer is the reason for building your business in the first place. Take the time to get to know them.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8862443

Watch The Video »

Typical Customers Can Save Your Small Business

Your Typical Customer is the Heart of Your Business
If you are a small business owner, the chances are high that you do not have a profile for your typical customer. You probably have not taken the time to write out a description because you assume that you know; especially if you have been in business for a few years.
A typical customer profile provides specific demographic and psychographic details that are unique to each product or service. Small bits of information like, what they do for a living, marital status, where else they shop or how often.
It does seem like a lot of work; doesn't it?
If you asked that question, tap yourself on the shoulder
Your customer is your business. Your typical customer sustains your business. There is really nothing more important than your customer in your business. Any time you spend getting to know your customer will pay large dividends to your future business. Knowing who they are, and what they need, is the first step to your business success. Realizing and accepting the importance of your typical customer is this is the only way you will stay in business.
Somehow this first cog in the wheel to success is left to one side and the product, the marketing and controlling cost becomes more important. Without customers, none of those things will matter.
Life's contradictions say otherwise.
The reality is that many businesses stay in business for many years without ever taking the time to identify who their customers really are. Businesses view this as proof that there is really no need to know that much information about the customer
We see it every day.
A business that is doing well will double and possibly quadruple productivity. For no apparent reason a business thrives while other similar businesses around are closing their doors. It appears as if a business owner is fortunate enough to have hit the nail exactly on the head with no apparent systems in place.
The fact, however, is not controversial. Knowing your typical customer will give you more leverage and generate more profit.
Without doubt, almost every customer who has purchased a specific item shares a common characteristic with other customers. The task for small business owners is to identify that common characteristic: a want, need or experience that the customer desires.
This common characteristic is the key to opening doors and attracting more customers. Preferably, this should have been done before a product is manufactured. However, given the nature of business the task would not be changed, it would just become more laborious/labour-intensive.
This characteristic should be included in the business value proposition and clearly shared with prospects and existing customers. It must offer a solution to satisfy the customer's need.
Getting to know your typical customer inside out is simple; however, it does require in-depth research. The main benefit is that you will attract more customers, without incurring any costs..
Your customer is the reason for building your business in the first place. Take the time to get to know them.

Tony Puckerin is an independent business consultant based in Trinidad. He works with small and medium-sized businesses to develop strategic business models, helping them to build a business based on a solid foundation. Find out more about how he is helping Trindad and Tobago

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8862443

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How to Promote a Business Through Online Advertising?

What is Google's business? The million dollar question may seem rather silly to the casual onlooker. Believe it or not, more than 90% of Google's revenue is being generated from advertisements! The advent of the internet and easy access to online tools has increased the reach of online advertisements.
Types of Internet Marketing
Old-fashioned PR managers have a hard time navigating the complex labyrinths of advertising online. The nuances of creating, planning and releasing advertisements to media whether print or electronic has changed remarkably due to innovative transformations that have metamorphosed the marketing industry into a futuristic technological mammoth. Online marketing is though simple may not be appealing to past generation advertising gurus due to its reach and easily analytical nature. Deciding upon the correct portal and format is a very important factor for the internet based announcements.
Email advertising
The oldest, well known and basic form of advertising is email marketing. However, when the email provider comes up with novel schemes to filter a message and classify it as spam, the advertiser is forced to search for other avenues as well. At the same time, the email client also gives the advertiser an opportunity to use their mail banner option to ensure that the email is seen by the user. Madison Logic Company published in April 2014 that over 122 billion emails sent every hour, and hence the reach of the oldest online marketing tool is not a gag.
Search Engine Marketing
The example of Google in the very first sentence was used to impart the idea about the strength of a search engine. Altavista, Webcrawler, Netscape, etc. were the known search engines during the nineties. When Google was launched, it was only a minor player and online marketing did not have any takers at that point of time. Google revolutionized the whole concept of online promotions and even found its way into the Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary of current English. The most commonly used word for the internet search is 'Google' as in, "Sheila Googled to find the location of the store."
The basic concept of Search Engine Marketing or SEM is to increase the visibility of a website or page that contains a particular product. It happens when the link appears on top or the first page of a search result for a set of keywords.
Social Media Marketing
Who could have imagined that online hang-outs would evolve into effective PR tools to deliver promotional messages to consumers? The old fashioned cliche, that the consumer is king was prevalent when Google phased out its social media portal 'Orkut' into oblivion a few months ago. More user-friendly platforms and applications for file sharing along with a voice note to mention the social media giant Facebook 'forced' Orkut out of business. However, Google had planned ahead and had already introduced Google +.
Word of Mouth (WoM) propaganda is the basic idea behind any social media and news spreads like wildfire if used effectively. Every major player in any industry now has a social media page dedicated to its services.
Display advertising.
Giving promotional matter on websites on spots that are easily noticed by visitors is referred to as display marketing. The common forms are banner, flash, images, audio, video and even text. Studies have revealed that people react differently to each mode of display. So it is very important to choose the right variety. The technical variants are being classified as expandable, overlays, sponsorship and video. Most display advertisements serve in increasing or directing traffic towards the desired the web page and so they are also called backlinks. Usually, a central ad server is put to use for banner advertisements.
Conclusion
Infosys co-founder and Chairman Emeritus N R Narayana Murthy has summed up the force and reach of Internet Marketing in ten simple words, which in the current context is especially appropriate. "In God we trust, the rest must come with data"

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8888852

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Online Reputation Management: How Much Is Reputation Worth?

Before you go for a status development campaign, it is very important to understand the value of reputation. You should analyze the return of your investment and judge if your investment on reputation management is worth it. You should have a clear idea of reputation management and how your brand image can benefit from it. Here is the list of the various benefits of building a reputation in the market may it be online or off the web. People often neglect the importance of reputation management online but that brings them into serious problems in the long run as revenue of the company is often affected.
Importance of Character Management:
Online Reputation Management can be very useful for various corporations and companies that are trying to pace up in the race of business through efficient marketing and brand promotion. They can significantly influence your business reputation and control it in whatever way you ask them to. The reputation management agencies take care of their client's online presence. A company's reputation is directly related to the brand image it carries.
Value of branding
People prefer buying branded products because once a brand image is established the company gets a tag for quality. People judge product quality by their brand. Reputation management on the internet has very less to do with the product quality of a company. It actually deals with the public image of the company on the internet and what is the reputation of the company in people's mind.
The might of the internet as a branding forum
An online status maintaining service helps businesses to uphold their reputation on the internet and helps them manage it time to time. Reputation management requires deep knowledge in the way brands can be promoted on the internet. Reputation damage can be a big problem and managing an existing brand image in the market is equally difficult as building one. Reputation management helps you market your product more efficiently and also increases your sales, but you should not hire any company to do that for you until you find the cost within your budget.
Role of SEO and Social Media
People may have a different view over reputation management but all that matters is that it is ethical. SEO or Search Engine Optimization is a very useful way of modifying your web content to get the website a better rank on the search results in different search engines. You should have a mark on the social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter. Having a company page on Facebook and promoting it through a proper PR scheme can be of great use and can prove to be a successful branding method.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8891348

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Tips On Church Banner Making: Fixing Mistakes

From time to time, errors are made on fabric church banners. Some can be resolved and others cannot. If the mistake is irreparable, it is sad but one must scrap the banner and start over. Below are a couple of problems that I have found can be resolved and therefore the banner spared from starting over.
If a letter is ironed on crooked or a word is misspelled, there is hope as long as the letters have not already been outlined with the permanent Tulip fabric paint. To remove and adjust a letter that has already been ironed on, one must allow the fabric time to cool from the heat of the iron first. Second, one must use a dampened clean soft cloth to DAMPEN only the letter itself from the front side or the backside of the banner behind the letter. It is very important that the there is not too much wetness as that can leave a "water mark" on the banner itself. Some dampness may absorb beyond the borders of the letter but it should dry okay as long as it is very little. The dampness will loosen the transwebbing adhesive on the back of the letter and you should be able to lift the letter(s) off the background banner. It lifts easier if you are using letters on satin banners because of the tight satiny weave. Sometimes you can lift the letter without adding dampness, rather the cooling alone may be enough to peel the letter off. This procedure works with lifting off design errors as well.
Another area that can cause mistakes on your banner is paint where you don't want it. There are a few tricks to resolving this mistake. Paint bubbles (burps) happen and cannot be avoided. But in order to lessen their occurrence, keep the bottle upside down to avoid air pockets in the thick paint. Also dragging the tip slowly where you are painting can alert you to when a bubble is about to happen and therefore lessen the damage. If you are using a glitter type paint, the base is a clear substance so you can carefully wipe the "burp" with a q-tip or other small tool... maybe a small paint brush to minimize the damage. If the paint is a solid color, it is much more difficult. I suggest waiting until the "burp" has completely dried and then touch up with another paint that matches the color of the fabric that the burp spilled over onto. You may even be able to peel the dried "burp" off the banner. This only works if the error is small.
If the paint error is too large there are still a couple of "saving graces". For example, you can figure out a way to cover a smudge. Sometimes I have added golden rays if appropriate for the design. Other times I add an extra detail like a vine or curling tendril from a grape leave vine design. I have also used gems in a sky background to simulate sparkling stars in order to cover unwanted dots or small fabric flaws.
These are some creative methods to resolve errors without throwing the whole banner away. You will probably come up with a few of your own. But the bottom line is that you are making something to represent a Holy God and that will be used in a church as a worship banner, so you should only fix errors to the extent that they are not readily seen and appear as meant to be apart of the church banner.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8899460

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Why Don't Mexicans Invest? 4 Hidden Truths For Businesses Courting Latinos

Why don't Mexicans invest? This is a billion dollar question for U.S. companies. There'd be a whole bunch of champagne drinking if investment enterprises could somehow figure out how to get into the Mexican-American pocketbook consistently.
To say that all Mexicans/Mexican-Americans don't invest would be false. I'm Mexican/Mexican-American and I invest! Still, many of my people don't. I wish they would. Perhaps then things on a societal level could be different.
My goal is to inspire all of my readers to invest so that they have a more secure future. I'd like more Mexican-Americans to pay attention of course and convince themselves that they too can take part in this "American" experience. However, I realize that I am just one person. So, having as much assistance as possible, recruiting allies of all backgrounds, would be a huge benefit for "the cause," so to speak. Here are four reasons (in no particular order) why Mexican/Mexican-Americans don't invest and some possible solutions for each one:
The future does not belong to us. It belongs to God.
For Protestants, one of the key elements of an individual's path toward economic prosperity in America is the notion of self-reliance and diligent personal effort. Most Mexicans are Catholic. I was raised Catholic, though today I don't practice any religion. I can't speak for Mexicans of other faiths, but for Catholic Mexicans there is a very deep-seated expression our parents and grandparents often use to "excuse" themselves from any future endeavor. It is: Si Dios quiere. The literal translation is: If God wants. However, it's actual meaning is more like: If God permits. This says a lot, doesn't it? What is investing if not a vote of confidence about the future and one's future in relation to "expected" outcomes? For Mexican-Americans with deep ties to Catholicism, one's future is in the hands of God, so why prepare or plan for it? Indeed, as a child, any time I heard this saying at the end of a sentence (a conditional statement) my mother or father uttered, I knew the request was dead in the water. For example: "Mom, can we go to Disneyland?" Parental Response: "El año que viene, si Dios quiere." What are solutions to counter this deeply ingrained belief for businesses who want to court the Mexican-American? Consider working with Church leaders. Many of them sermonize about community issues such as drug use, violence, and education. Why not include a sermon on the value of investing? For example: "God wants you to live a long and productive life. God doesn't want you to burden your children with bills when you leave this world. God wants you to be able to take care of yourself when you can no longer work... therefore, doing a little investing... " You get the point.
Money is the root of all evil.
For Mexican-Americans with ties to Mexico, having money has never been associated with "good," per se. In Mexico, people with some money are congratulated. People with too much money are questioned (not openly). If a person in Mexico has money to burn, they're either in cahoots with the Cartels or worse, with corrupt politicians. Have these two factions ever done "good" for the people of Mexico? No, they've scarred the country for generations to come. Is it reality? No, of course not. There are plenty of law-abiding wealthy people in Mexico who are also philanthropic. Nonetheless, perception is what dictates behavior. The masses do not see how all wealthy Mexicans have made their fortunes, so they speculate instead. Also remember that people with money have power. And how has power been wielded in the home country? Enough said. The problem for investment companies in the U.S. then becomes how to cast money in a positive limelight. You start by showing them how money can be used to do good, i.e., to help others. Do you have a go-to charity or foundation? Is it visible on your website? Do you make it a point to blog about the good work your company is doing, and not just about the benefits of investing with your company? Do you invite investors to donate to your go-to charity or fund raise for a particular cause? No? Then money has no meaning! You are in essence an organization that doesn't stand for anything, and both Latinos and Millennials will not want to do business with you.
We don't trust Whites.
Do you have anyone in your organization that has taken a course in Mexican-American/Latino studies? Ask them how the typical Mexican-American feels about the historical treatment of Chicanos, Mexicans, Mex-Americans (by Whites) in the U.S. Do you have Mexican-Americans that work for you? Ask them if they or someone they are related to has ever experienced racism. Or if they have ever been undeservedly harassed by the police? Personally, I can't inspire minorities to invest with CCM blog if every other month their attention is focused on social media by a Mike Brown or an Eric Garner situation. And this is just what's pumped up by news outlets. In Los Angeles and Santa Ana there are plenty of cases where Mexican-Americans have been wrongly accused, convicted, murdered (by police), and so on. Not excusing people who break the law, as they deserve punishment, but simply stated... Racism is bad for business. What can companies do? For crying out-loud stop having all White boards or management teams. Yes, we notice! You can't find qualified candidates? Invite people of color in other professions (Professors, successful businessmen(women) and entrepreneurs to be, "Advisors." Make sure you put their faces in key pages on your website. Make your About page more "colorful." Build trust with minorities by partnering with companies owned by people of color. Let them vouch for you! Look at the above Census Bureau projections. Do you want in on that or not? 2015 is only a few weeks away = 68 Million Hispanics.
We're not that great at investing. Probably even worse than most Americans. But we do make great entrepreneurs!
Indians, Chinese, other Asians... not to stereotype, but many of them have a cultural tradition of both investing and entrepreneurship. Mexican immigrants and their children have success in entrepreneurship more so than investing. We know food (restaurants and food products), retail (clothing shops), maintenance (gardening and cleaning services), infrastructure (construction companies), but lack skills in the major wealth producing sector: tech. Similarly, though we can make plenty of money as professionals or business owners, we often do not know, for lack of financial literacy, how to invest it. What can companies do to recruit more Mexican entrepreneurs and professionals to their investment opportunities? Make sure you offer investor education on your site. Indeed, many companies already do this, educate investors about their investment product or service. Is any of it in Spanish? Why not? For companies that do crowdfunding and where the minimum point of entry ($) is doable financially for most people, it may behoove you to do some of your investor meetings/gatherings in a separate room for Spanish speakers. Hire an interpreter that can understand your business, its model, and has sales experience. I'm available!
Okay, whoever you are, I expect that in return for these insights, you will go back out there and re-evaluate how you interact with Mexicans from a business standpoint. If you understand the impact of these 4 hidden truths, you might just be able to surpass other entities for Mexican-American feria (slang for "dough" or "bread," i.e., money). If you claim to provide access to special services for the "little-guy," make sure you're not just picturing a white man or an Asian. Latinos and Blacks are "little-guys" too. Thanks for reading! And good luck!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8895665

Watch The Video »

Tips On Church Banner Making: Fixing Mistakes

From time to time, errors are made on fabric church banners. Some can be resolved and others cannot. If the mistake is irreparable, it is sad but one must scrap the banner and start over. Below are a couple of problems that I have found can be resolved and therefore the banner spared from starting over.
If a letter is ironed on crooked or a word is misspelled, there is hope as long as the letters have not already been outlined with the permanent Tulip fabric paint. To remove and adjust a letter that has already been ironed on, one must allow the fabric time to cool from the heat of the iron first. Second, one must use a dampened clean soft cloth to DAMPEN only the letter itself from the front side or the backside of the banner behind the letter. It is very important that the there is not too much wetness as that can leave a "water mark" on the banner itself. Some dampness may absorb beyond the borders of the letter but it should dry okay as long as it is very little. The dampness will loosen the transwebbing adhesive on the back of the letter and you should be able to lift the letter(s) off the background banner. It lifts easier if you are using letters on satin banners because of the tight satiny weave. Sometimes you can lift the letter without adding dampness, rather the cooling alone may be enough to peel the letter off. This procedure works with lifting off design errors as well.
Another area that can cause mistakes on your banner is paint where you don't want it. There are a few tricks to resolving this mistake. Paint bubbles (burps) happen and cannot be avoided. But in order to lessen their occurrence, keep the bottle upside down to avoid air pockets in the thick paint. Also dragging the tip slowly where you are painting can alert you to when a bubble is about to happen and therefore lessen the damage. If you are using a glitter type paint, the base is a clear substance so you can carefully wipe the "burp" with a q-tip or other small tool... maybe a small paint brush to minimize the damage. If the paint is a solid color, it is much more difficult. I suggest waiting until the "burp" has completely dried and then touch up with another paint that matches the color of the fabric that the burp spilled over onto. You may even be able to peel the dried "burp" off the banner. This only works if the error is small.
If the paint error is too large there are still a couple of "saving graces". For example, you can figure out a way to cover a smudge. Sometimes I have added golden rays if appropriate for the design. Other times I add an extra detail like a vine or curling tendril from a grape leave vine design. I have also used gems in a sky background to simulate sparkling stars in order to cover unwanted dots or small fabric flaws.
These are some creative methods to resolve errors without throwing the whole banner away. You will probably come up with a few of your own. But the bottom line is that you are making something to represent a Holy God and that will be used in a church as a worship banner, so you should only fix errors to the extent that they are not readily seen and appear as meant to be apart of the church banner.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8899460

Watch The Video »

Why Don't Mexicans Invest? 4 Hidden Truths For Businesses Courting Latinos

Why don't Mexicans invest? This is a billion dollar question for U.S. companies. There'd be a whole bunch of champagne drinking if investment enterprises could somehow figure out how to get into the Mexican-American pocketbook consistently.
To say that all Mexicans/Mexican-Americans don't invest would be false. I'm Mexican/Mexican-American and I invest! Still, many of my people don't. I wish they would. Perhaps then things on a societal level could be different.
My goal is to inspire all of my readers to invest so that they have a more secure future. I'd like more Mexican-Americans to pay attention of course and convince themselves that they too can take part in this "American" experience. However, I realize that I am just one person. So, having as much assistance as possible, recruiting allies of all backgrounds, would be a huge benefit for "the cause," so to speak. Here are four reasons (in no particular order) why Mexican/Mexican-Americans don't invest and some possible solutions for each one:
The future does not belong to us. It belongs to God.
For Protestants, one of the key elements of an individual's path toward economic prosperity in America is the notion of self-reliance and diligent personal effort. Most Mexicans are Catholic. I was raised Catholic, though today I don't practice any religion. I can't speak for Mexicans of other faiths, but for Catholic Mexicans there is a very deep-seated expression our parents and grandparents often use to "excuse" themselves from any future endeavor. It is: Si Dios quiere. The literal translation is: If God wants. However, it's actual meaning is more like: If God permits. This says a lot, doesn't it? What is investing if not a vote of confidence about the future and one's future in relation to "expected" outcomes? For Mexican-Americans with deep ties to Catholicism, one's future is in the hands of God, so why prepare or plan for it? Indeed, as a child, any time I heard this saying at the end of a sentence (a conditional statement) my mother or father uttered, I knew the request was dead in the water. For example: "Mom, can we go to Disneyland?" Parental Response: "El año que viene, si Dios quiere." What are solutions to counter this deeply ingrained belief for businesses who want to court the Mexican-American? Consider working with Church leaders. Many of them sermonize about community issues such as drug use, violence, and education. Why not include a sermon on the value of investing? For example: "God wants you to live a long and productive life. God doesn't want you to burden your children with bills when you leave this world. God wants you to be able to take care of yourself when you can no longer work... therefore, doing a little investing... " You get the point.
Money is the root of all evil.
For Mexican-Americans with ties to Mexico, having money has never been associated with "good," per se. In Mexico, people with some money are congratulated. People with too much money are questioned (not openly). If a person in Mexico has money to burn, they're either in cahoots with the Cartels or worse, with corrupt politicians. Have these two factions ever done "good" for the people of Mexico? No, they've scarred the country for generations to come. Is it reality? No, of course not. There are plenty of law-abiding wealthy people in Mexico who are also philanthropic. Nonetheless, perception is what dictates behavior. The masses do not see how all wealthy Mexicans have made their fortunes, so they speculate instead. Also remember that people with money have power. And how has power been wielded in the home country? Enough said. The problem for investment companies in the U.S. then becomes how to cast money in a positive limelight. You start by showing them how money can be used to do good, i.e., to help others. Do you have a go-to charity or foundation? Is it visible on your website? Do you make it a point to blog about the good work your company is doing, and not just about the benefits of investing with your company? Do you invite investors to donate to your go-to charity or fund raise for a particular cause? No? Then money has no meaning! You are in essence an organization that doesn't stand for anything, and both Latinos and Millennials will not want to do business with you.
We don't trust Whites.
Do you have anyone in your organization that has taken a course in Mexican-American/Latino studies? Ask them how the typical Mexican-American feels about the historical treatment of Chicanos, Mexicans, Mex-Americans (by Whites) in the U.S. Do you have Mexican-Americans that work for you? Ask them if they or someone they are related to has ever experienced racism. Or if they have ever been undeservedly harassed by the police? Personally, I can't inspire minorities to invest with CCM blog if every other month their attention is focused on social media by a Mike Brown or an Eric Garner situation. And this is just what's pumped up by news outlets. In Los Angeles and Santa Ana there are plenty of cases where Mexican-Americans have been wrongly accused, convicted, murdered (by police), and so on. Not excusing people who break the law, as they deserve punishment, but simply stated... Racism is bad for business. What can companies do? For crying out-loud stop having all White boards or management teams. Yes, we notice! You can't find qualified candidates? Invite people of color in other professions (Professors, successful businessmen(women) and entrepreneurs to be, "Advisors." Make sure you put their faces in key pages on your website. Make your About page more "colorful." Build trust with minorities by partnering with companies owned by people of color. Let them vouch for you! Look at the above Census Bureau projections. Do you want in on that or not? 2015 is only a few weeks away = 68 Million Hispanics.
We're not that great at investing. Probably even worse than most Americans. But we do make great entrepreneurs!
Indians, Chinese, other Asians... not to stereotype, but many of them have a cultural tradition of both investing and entrepreneurship. Mexican immigrants and their children have success in entrepreneurship more so than investing. We know food (restaurants and food products), retail (clothing shops), maintenance (gardening and cleaning services), infrastructure (construction companies), but lack skills in the major wealth producing sector: tech. Similarly, though we can make plenty of money as professionals or business owners, we often do not know, for lack of financial literacy, how to invest it. What can companies do to recruit more Mexican entrepreneurs and professionals to their investment opportunities? Make sure you offer investor education on your site. Indeed, many companies already do this, educate investors about their investment product or service. Is any of it in Spanish? Why not? For companies that do crowdfunding and where the minimum point of entry ($) is doable financially for most people, it may behoove you to do some of your investor meetings/gatherings in a separate room for Spanish speakers. Hire an interpreter that can understand your business, its model, and has sales experience. I'm available!
Okay, whoever you are, I expect that in return for these insights, you will go back out there and re-evaluate how you interact with Mexicans from a business standpoint. If you understand the impact of these 4 hidden truths, you might just be able to surpass other entities for Mexican-American feria (slang for "dough" or "bread," i.e., money). If you claim to provide access to special services for the "little-guy," make sure you're not just picturing a white man or an Asian. Latinos and Blacks are "little-guys" too. Thanks for reading! And good luck!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8895665

Watch The Video »

Explainer Videos - Why They Are Perfect For Your Business

Visitors are what you will need on your website and the content you have will determine just how long they take on your site and how many times they come back. It is through the visitors that you experience growth as a business and this makes it very important to have content that works for the target audience you have. Explainer videos make some of the best and excellent marketing tools. They have become very popular in the recent past as more and more businesses find ways of staying afloat the competition. The videos will offer your business plenty of advantages including the following.
They increase the conversion rates
Apart from attracting visitors to your site, you also need to effectively convert them into sales. This is exactly what the explainer videos will do for you. People have a way of trusting more on products that come accompanied by videos explaining what the product is all about or how to use it. They will also put you in a better position to keep track of the number of potential visitors you receive.
They help clarify the product objective
Text becomes very tricky to use when telling more about a product since different people interpret what is included differently. By using the explainer videos, you will eliminate the guess work for all your customers. They get all details they truly need regarding the product function and usefulness. By hearing and seeing what your products or services are all about better understanding is created with the visitors hence making it easier for the visitors to choose you over the competition.
They generate more interest
Visitors will generally be curious to find out what a video is all about than reading through a block of text to get your message. There is so much expectations with the videos thus they end up increasing the interest of your target audience making sure they end up watching the video and probably also go for the product or service you have to offer.
They offer better search engine ranking
This is considering that people are always looking for simple and quick ways of understanding products and services. The videos will definitely take the day over pages of text and images most of which rank very low on search engines. Your business enjoys greater exposure and this is what turns into better search engine ranks. A good animated explainer video for instance gets immediate attention and the higher you are ranked the better for you. You can definitely increase traffic to your website using the videos.
They make it easy for your audience to retain information
The fact is that the average person has a higher level of retaining information seen compared to information heard. By using a good explainer video, you will be making it easier for your target market to remember the content included in the video. This is advantageous since it makes word of mouth advertising simple and easy and so will sharing the video.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8908661

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Digital Signage Buying Considerations

Digital signage options are numerous making it of importance to make important considerations to ensure your purchase is worthwhile. The applications are different, but when you know exactly what you are looking for, you will make the right selection for your business. Here are some of the most important things to consider before buying your system.
Business Needs
Are you looking for a system that purely advertises what you have or would you rather settle for an interactive system where customers can touch the screen to get the information they need? When you clearly establish the business needs you have, you will not only be in a position to select the right system, but you will also choose the most appropriate locations for the systems within your premises or outdoors. Customer interaction can be more important to one business than another; know what is best for you then make the right selection.
Reliability
Can you fully rely on the digital signage system you are about to buy? Power supply, disk drives and fans are some of the major areas of concern with such systems and can lead to frustrations and failure. Heating is also a major issue thus the need to look for a system with proper ventilation for safety purposes. A system that can withstand sustained use even in retail areas and tough settings could be the way to go. Consider your business settings or the locations you wish to place the systems in to buy a system you can fully rely on every single day.
Long Term Solution
Will your system offer you long term solutions to the needs you have? This trickles down to the quality of the system and how functional it is. Apart from being made using materials that last, it should be an easy to use system whose technology can be updated to match with the current market needs for your business. You don't have to get rid of the entire system simply because you need to migrate from one technological generation to the other. It should be equally easy to have your system repaired when the need arises to have it running as new without cutting its functionality.
System type
Digital signage offers monitors, digital video walls, and advertising pillars among others. The type of system you select can have direct effects on the content you can run, the location of your system, maintenance costs and the installation charges. For instance, outdoor pillars can be a little higher in terms of maintenance and they need to be of superior quality to withstand harsh outdoor elements. You might even need enclosures for your outdoor monitors. When looking at the system types, first choose what is best for your business needs, but factor in all other important considerations such as the pros and cons of each to make the right choice. You can have a professional advise you on your options and what's best for your business if you are not too sure about the digital signage options available to you.

Digital signage makes it very easy for you to inform your customers about your business and can also offer an easy interaction platform between you and your customers. There are so many benefits when you have the right system in place.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8904641

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Want To Know What The Catch Is?

We all know the old expression the only guarantees in life are taxes and death, and if I may add another one being there is always a catch!! No adult should ever be naive enough in this world to think that any business deal or personal relationship comes without conditions. Especially as a consumer learning how to protect yourself, and that extends into all aspects of your life. Being book smart is great, but having those street smarts are equally important.
There is no company in North America that can stay in business without being profitable, and knowing how to protect themselves legally. They are experts at marketing making appealing deals attracting you to such things as free items, warranties, and sealing the deal with an agreement. Understanding the game eliminates the pain, they all come with conditions, and companies count on many consumers for going them for a great deal. Cellphone companies are amazing when it comes to this, get a free phone with just a few year contract. There are so many people more excited to get the latest device for free than actually reading and understanding the agreement. Then maybe somewhere down the road the customer wants to cancel, but in doing so according to their agreement it will cost hundreds of dollars. Perhaps they did not read the overage or roaming pricing clause calling complaining about their bill.
There is always a catch, do you sincerely believe any car company could have longevity giving an extended warranty without conditions? Sharp consumers understand the hitches before assuming they are totally covered. Maybe some companies have clauses in the agreement that if you don't change your oil every 5000 miles with proof it is null and void. Others could be the parts are covered but you pay the labor, or only valid to a certain amount of miles. Whatever they might be it is our responsibilities to understand the conditions before committing putting our John Henry on the dotted line. In a car dealership the business manager is the wolf in sheep's clothing. They do your financing, but make their living trying to scare consumers into extended warranties, and when they are finished with many inexperienced consumers they just sign without reading the contract. The reason is they are worried something could happen thanks to the business manager, and he/she was so smooth they trusted he/she is helping them. There is nothing illegal about what they're doing, and sucker is born every minute.
Do you truly believe that any business will provide you something free without catch? Companies are skilled at making you think you're a winner. Some of those marketing campaigns might be buying a certain dollar amount then receiving an item free. Just sign-up and get a gift, the reason is they now have your information sending offers betting a percentage of people will buy, and they are able to write the gift off as advertising and promotions. How about we will give you this item for a ridiculously low price, all you pay is shipping and handling. The handling is where they make their money, but consumers are just happy they paid so low for the product.
I am not implying we should not take advantage of some of these deals, but the important part is knowing what you're getting into in advance making educated decisions. If you are taking a strangers word as the gospel, not reading the agreement understanding all the conditions, asking for more clarity if you do not comprehend, then afterwards you need take ownership learning your lesson. Blaming companies for your short comings is a cope out!! There is nothing in life that doesn't come without catches jobs, relationships, and as consumer purchasing products or services. I believe the quicker someone recognizes that people and businesses have their own agendas, they can protect their interests better!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8911724

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Digital Signage Advantages For Your Business

There is nothing as important for any business as passing the right content to the right audience. It is this process that makes sure the target audience has all the information it requires to take action towards the products or services that the company has to offer. Marketing strategies are numerous to pass the message out there. Digital signage is basically an electronic display type of advertising. It is the modern way of passing the relevant business info to the audience and it can make a huge difference for your business.
The signage is what is usually used in retail stores, hotels, airports, train stations and fast food establishments to pass quick info to the customers depending on what services or products are being offered. Images are displayed on LCD and LED monitors and can also be projected to fetch the desired results. There are so many options available to suit different business needs; hence, you will find one that is best for your kind of business to enjoy all the benefits.
It offers web connectivity - The digital monitors used in this type of signage makes it possible for you to connect to the web and hence there are possibilities of enjoying news feeds, currency updates and even weather updates among many others. You therefore have the liberty of incorporating what you feel is most helpful to your customers on the display. You can actually also include video content and blog posts if necessary. It is an advantage you wouldn't enjoy with most other advertising mediums.
It reduces cost - In as much as digital signage can seem like a costly affair, it actually does have a way of reducing your costs. This is because after installation, you can make changes to your content fast and easy without having to go over the entire process of having fresh print outs done as it is the case with print ads. You will also have a long term system to serve your needs without the risk of content getting lost.
It attracts attention easily - The visual part of digital signage makes it effective in grabbing the attention of everyone coming across your system. The displays are in high definition and with vivid colors making them easier to engage the customers. They will want to know what the display is all about. With the right content included, you will enjoy effective passing of your message.
You can update content easily - This is considering that pricing changes, new products and new services can pop up at any given time in a business. When you have digital signage, you can make the updates as soon as they happen thereby keeping your customers in the know without incurring too much cost while at it. It offers time flexibility you would have not enjoyed with some advertising mediums.
It influences purchasing power - The digital displays can be very enticing to the customers, thus greatly influencing their buying decisions. You basically have a flexible platform for showcasing what you have to make an impact on customers and potential clients.

A digital pillar is one of the options you have when looking for effective digital signage. It gives you the chance of advertising content most relevant to your business, hence bringing in flowing sales.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8906435

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Why Digital Signage Can Be Beneficial To Your Business

Advertising is part of creating brand awareness. Any serious business will therefore make efforts in making its products or services known through the right advertising channel. Digital signage has become very popular among businesses because of how effective it is in reaching out to the targeted audience. It comes with plenty of benefits for your business, regardless of what you have to offer and could be the step you need to take to start reaping fruits of your hard labor.
Cost Effectiveness and Dynamic Control
Cutting costs is something every business yearns to enjoy, especially when looking to grow and expand. Print advertising can be a good option, but it can be costly every time you need to print fresh content or make a new product entry into the market. With digital signage, however, you cut on costs since you can play around with your content as often as you wish or when the need arises. You have the dynamic control of your system to present what you want at any given time without incurring expenses of posting and printing it.
Targeted Content
Knowing your target audience and finding an effective way of reaching out to them is what every business needs to enjoy growth. This is what you can do with digital posters. This is because you get to decide on the location to place your monitors or pillars depending on what you have selected for your business. You will also be in a position to put together content that is appealing enough to the specific audience you are targeting. At the end of the day, therefore you would have directed all your efforts to the right group and you can expect reactions immediately or with time.
Audience Engagement
Content packaging plays an important role in attracting audience attention, passing the message and stirring the expected reactions. Digital signage manages to do this with ease thanks to the fact that it is a multimedia based channel of communication that's dynamic. It therefore effectively harnesses audience comfort levels creating an engaging experience in the end. You can work on your content in such a way that it attracts attention all through and leaves the customers wanting more.
Accessibility Convenience
The site layout offers you the convenience levels you feel you deserve since you can control messaging on the systems either remotely or locally. This means less footwork to make sure that all messaging campaigns are well handled. The signage saves you costs and time at the same time when you have selected the right option for your business.
Generation of Revenue
This is in the sense that it increased breadth of content available. You can actually use the systems to display adverts for other business-like hotels or restaurants and even events within your locality. The ad space allowance offers you the chance of generating more revenue without compromising on your advertising efforts. You can work both messages in such a way that your products and services still remain prominent.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8906441

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Simple Steps To Buy The Right Digital Signage System

There is no doubt about how beneficial digital signage can be for any business. However, you will need to do your homework and give the solutions a serious thought if at all you are to make the right decision with your system. Advertising strategies can be numerous, but the system you settle for can determine what content you have displayed to your customers and the results you get from such message sharing. A few simple steps can help you greatly in making the right digital signage decision.
Step 1 - Decide whether digital signage is really what your business requires. Smaller start-up business might find it easier and cheaper to choose other advertising mediums while others will find the digital signage as the way to go. Compare all advertising mediums available to you to be sure that the digital solution is what will work best for your products or services and in reaching out to your customers.
Step 2 - Know your signage options and relate them to your business needs. This is important because there are lots of products under this type of electronic displays. You can settle on the advertising pillars, video walls or monitors depending on the coverage you wish to enjoy and the settings within which you will be using your signs. The best you can do is find out all helpful information on all the options and clearly defining your needs before making a choice.
Step 3 - Find a good signage company. This is the company that will offer you all the units you need and make any necessary installations in your given area. A reputable, experienced company should be the way to go any day. You, however want to start by also looking at the digital solutions the company has for you as well as the charges of acquiring and installing the systems. Some will require maintenance so check on the maintenance fees and levels your system requires. A good company will offer a free quote for your project. You can get different quotes from different providers before making the final decision.
Step 4 - Seek professional advice on your project. This is important, especially if you are not too sure about the digital signage options and what would work best for your business. After finding a company you can rely on, ask about solutions available and most suitable for your business. When you make your expectations known to the professionals, they will be in a better position to lay the best options on the table for you. They will even take you through the process of how they will function so you are completely satisfied with what you are about to purchase and have installed.
Step 5 - Establish your target audience and create the right content for your signs. The target audience should be the determinant factor of what you include in your displays. Whether you are working with static images or videos, make sure the message included is attractive and moving enough for your targeted audience for the desired results to be enjoyed.

A digital poster can do the magic for your business when everything is done right. By considering your digital signage options, you should make a decision most suitable for your business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8906447

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Simple Steps To Buy The Right Digital Signage System

There is no doubt about how beneficial digital signage can be for any business. However, you will need to do your homework and give the solutions a serious thought if at all you are to make the right decision with your system. Advertising strategies can be numerous, but the system you settle for can determine what content you have displayed to your customers and the results you get from such message sharing. A few simple steps can help you greatly in making the right digital signage decision.
Step 1 - Decide whether digital signage is really what your business requires. Smaller start-up business might find it easier and cheaper to choose other advertising mediums while others will find the digital signage as the way to go. Compare all advertising mediums available to you to be sure that the digital solution is what will work best for your products or services and in reaching out to your customers.
Step 2 - Know your signage options and relate them to your business needs. This is important because there are lots of products under this type of electronic displays. You can settle on the advertising pillars, video walls or monitors depending on the coverage you wish to enjoy and the settings within which you will be using your signs. The best you can do is find out all helpful information on all the options and clearly defining your needs before making a choice.
Step 3 - Find a good signage company. This is the company that will offer you all the units you need and make any necessary installations in your given area. A reputable, experienced company should be the way to go any day. You, however want to start by also looking at the digital solutions the company has for you as well as the charges of acquiring and installing the systems. Some will require maintenance so check on the maintenance fees and levels your system requires. A good company will offer a free quote for your project. You can get different quotes from different providers before making the final decision.
Step 4 - Seek professional advice on your project. This is important, especially if you are not too sure about the digital signage options and what would work best for your business. After finding a company you can rely on, ask about solutions available and most suitable for your business. When you make your expectations known to the professionals, they will be in a better position to lay the best options on the table for you. They will even take you through the process of how they will function so you are completely satisfied with what you are about to purchase and have installed.
Step 5 - Establish your target audience and create the right content for your signs. The target audience should be the determinant factor of what you include in your displays. Whether you are working with static images or videos, make sure the message included is attractive and moving enough for your targeted audience for the desired results to be enjoyed.

A digital poster can do the magic for your business when everything is done right. By considering your digital signage options, you should make a decision most suitable for your business.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8906447

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How To Blow Your Ad Agency Client Away With Awesome Reports

Everyone likes to impress their clients, and ad agency reporting software can do that for you. Any opportunity to show them how their time and financial investments are paying off is always a plus. In this tight economy, it is smart to take every step possible to blow away your clients. That keeps them interested in what you will create next, lets them know you are always looking for what is new, and reminds them that you are interested in their success. Whether the client has complicated PPC ads, a simple website, or a large mix of marketing channels, they will appreciate a clear report showing their money and advertising campaigns at work.
For proper client support, ad agency reporting software is necessary. Target metrics are needed in order to provide projection guidelines and expected results in the planning stages of a marketing campaign. The problem is that metrics can be used to project and then help see if a project is generally on track, but they don't provide a real-time and constant update of hard data. Software that pulls data in a digestible form is the answer. This option puts the metrics to work, to show how the campaign is progressing.
A good ad agency reporting software makes the results of all manor of channels easy to understand for both the agency and the client, so decisions about future can be made. Even the most experienced ad agency client might not know how to understand all of the details when it comes to reading data. New options and technologies provide new opportunities for marketing almost every year. This is especially helpful with complex, multi-tiered campaigns that include PPC results, social media posts, and website optimization.
Let's be honest. Reading reports isn't exactly exciting. However, one of the best aspects of a good ad agency reporting software is its aesthetic value. Visually pleasing tables make complex information easier to understand and use as a go-to tool and can help take the monotony out of reading piles of information. Dashboard analytics is a relatively new marketing option, but it is no wonder that more companies rely on using them to help wrangle all of the marketing data that constantly being harvested. With an attractive format, it can be intuitive to use. One channel can be monitored, or they can all be compared to each other for a comprehensive view.
With a smart product, you can watch marketing trends as they happen. This creates great content to share with the client, because they can get a feel for the progress of the campaign in real time. It also helps validate your role in their business. By watching for trends, you can make changes to maximize impact during the campaign, rather than making notes afterwards about what to do next time. It can also help your client keep their eye on the large goals, by watching what is happening and how those actions relate to the overall brand. Not only does your main contact receive this helpful information, but they can also easily share the trends with their superior staff.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8912543

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Prevent Digital Advertising Fraud

The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) recently speculated that ad fraud will cost online advertisers an estimated $6.3 billion globally in 2015. ANA closely tracked several campaigns of active advertisers and discovered that 11% of bot fraud occurred through display traffic while an alarming 23% happened via video advertisements.
Anyone actively participating in online marketing knows that their campaigns are susceptible to fraud and that revenue generated via fraudulent activity cannot be recovered. However, while some people may shy away from boosting their sales via internet advertising, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) have helped the affiliate marketing industry thrive through the implementation and enforcement of regulations created to fight deceptive and fraudulent marketing activity.
The IAB Self-Regulatory Program
The IAB Self-Regulatory Program Principles, which serve as guidelines for online advertising practices.
The IAB's Self-Regulatory Program established the following principles:
1) Educational Principle - advertiser will educate themselves, partners and consumers on best practices for online marketing
2) Transparency Principle - advertiser will disclose intent of sharing consumer data with third party entities
3) Consumer Control Principle - advertiser will offer consumer the option to not allow sharing of their information to third party entities
4) Data Security Principle - advertiser will secure acquired consumer data with reasonable and necessary means
5) Material Changes Principle - advertiser will notify consumers and receive express consent prior to making material changes to their operational procedures and data sharing policies
6) Sensitive Data Principle - advertiser will be especially diligent with the protection of sensitive information including data acquired from minors as well as financial information, social security numbers and other data that requires privacy protection
7) Accountability Principle - advertiser will hold themselves, partners, consumers and competitors to the standards and best practices set in place by the IAB
The FTC Division of Marketing Practices
Since 1914, the FTC has made concrete efforts to protect consumer rights while not interfering with the normal lifecycle of legitimate business opportunities.
As online marketing and sales activity has increased rapidly over the past decade, the FTC established the following rules to prevent fraud and make ecommerce more secure for consumers:
1) Telemarketing Sales - prohibits deceptive sales calls and protects consumers from abusive telemarketing practices, including late-night and/or incessant calling
2) CAN-SPAM - requires advertisers to clearly label their emails as an advertisement or having adult content as well as giving the consumer a physical and electronic method for opt-out of future advertisements
3) Franchise and Business Opportunity - requires franchise and business opportunity sellers to clearly disclose the earnings structure to prospective buyers prior to purchase
4) 900 Number Rule - requires 900 Number (pay-per-call) sellers to disclose pricing for services, prohibits marketing to minors, and requires that advertisers give consumers a clear procedure for disputing accrued charges
5) Funeral Rule - requires that funeral directors disclose all costs related to services rendered
6) Magnuson-Moss Act - requires merchant to give consumers warranty information prior to the purchase of a product
In addition to the above rules, the FTC also established the Division of Marketing Practices, which developed the Internet Investigation Training program. This program regulates marketing practices for federal, state, local and international law agencies. The Division also holds regular symposia on current legal issues regarding emerging technologies and actively prosecutes companies and individuals who violate legislation.
Although fraud will continue to happen regardless of the instated rules and principles, the future of affiliate marketing is bright. Both advertisers and consumers have mostly cooperated with best practices to create a more efficient and secure ecommerce climate. As long as participants continue to educate themselves and implement the proper procedures put in place by organizations like the FTC and IAB, affiliate marketing will continue to be the most efficient means for brands to reach their ideal demographic online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8932517

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Prevent Digital Advertising Fraud

The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) recently speculated that ad fraud will cost online advertisers an estimated $6.3 billion globally in 2015. ANA closely tracked several campaigns of active advertisers and discovered that 11% of bot fraud occurred through display traffic while an alarming 23% happened via video advertisements.
Anyone actively participating in online marketing knows that their campaigns are susceptible to fraud and that revenue generated via fraudulent activity cannot be recovered. However, while some people may shy away from boosting their sales via internet advertising, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) have helped the affiliate marketing industry thrive through the implementation and enforcement of regulations created to fight deceptive and fraudulent marketing activity.
The IAB Self-Regulatory Program
The IAB Self-Regulatory Program Principles, which serve as guidelines for online advertising practices.
The IAB's Self-Regulatory Program established the following principles:
1) Educational Principle - advertiser will educate themselves, partners and consumers on best practices for online marketing
2) Transparency Principle - advertiser will disclose intent of sharing consumer data with third party entities
3) Consumer Control Principle - advertiser will offer consumer the option to not allow sharing of their information to third party entities
4) Data Security Principle - advertiser will secure acquired consumer data with reasonable and necessary means
5) Material Changes Principle - advertiser will notify consumers and receive express consent prior to making material changes to their operational procedures and data sharing policies
6) Sensitive Data Principle - advertiser will be especially diligent with the protection of sensitive information including data acquired from minors as well as financial information, social security numbers and other data that requires privacy protection
7) Accountability Principle - advertiser will hold themselves, partners, consumers and competitors to the standards and best practices set in place by the IAB
The FTC Division of Marketing Practices
Since 1914, the FTC has made concrete efforts to protect consumer rights while not interfering with the normal lifecycle of legitimate business opportunities.
As online marketing and sales activity has increased rapidly over the past decade, the FTC established the following rules to prevent fraud and make ecommerce more secure for consumers:
1) Telemarketing Sales - prohibits deceptive sales calls and protects consumers from abusive telemarketing practices, including late-night and/or incessant calling
2) CAN-SPAM - requires advertisers to clearly label their emails as an advertisement or having adult content as well as giving the consumer a physical and electronic method for opt-out of future advertisements
3) Franchise and Business Opportunity - requires franchise and business opportunity sellers to clearly disclose the earnings structure to prospective buyers prior to purchase
4) 900 Number Rule - requires 900 Number (pay-per-call) sellers to disclose pricing for services, prohibits marketing to minors, and requires that advertisers give consumers a clear procedure for disputing accrued charges
5) Funeral Rule - requires that funeral directors disclose all costs related to services rendered
6) Magnuson-Moss Act - requires merchant to give consumers warranty information prior to the purchase of a product
In addition to the above rules, the FTC also established the Division of Marketing Practices, which developed the Internet Investigation Training program. This program regulates marketing practices for federal, state, local and international law agencies. The Division also holds regular symposia on current legal issues regarding emerging technologies and actively prosecutes companies and individuals who violate legislation.
Although fraud will continue to happen regardless of the instated rules and principles, the future of affiliate marketing is bright. Both advertisers and consumers have mostly cooperated with best practices to create a more efficient and secure ecommerce climate. As long as participants continue to educate themselves and implement the proper procedures put in place by organizations like the FTC and IAB, affiliate marketing will continue to be the most efficient means for brands to reach their ideal demographic online.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8932517

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Digital Signage Strategy For Newbies

The most important thing to recognize when you start communicating by a digital sign is to realize that viewers don't care about your message just because it's digital unless you give them a reason to care. Certainly this applies to any communication effort. Just presenting information on a digital sign does not nullify lazy thinking or uninspiring content or other communication snafus.
Fortunately for anyone using digital signage, it has proven to be a great platform for breaking out of boring routines by experimenting with content, having a bit of fun, maybe even jolting your audience with something unexpected, and then seeking to engage your audience beyond a casual glance. For example, if your content produces a smile instead of a glance, you might just be on to something.
Because of its ability to change messages on the fly, by schedule, by data, or by various environmental triggers, digital signage represents a new way of thinking about communicating. It empowers communicators to address the ways consumers, customers, and employees think and act at the point-of-sale, point-of-wait, and in the point-of-transit environments. Since digital signage is not print, and it's not television, it requires a different approach.
Modern digital signage products and services provide tools to help make your in-house messages or advertising reliable, consistent, on time and of high quality. However, a tool is not a strategy in itself. No worries! These guidelines will equip you with some key facts to make your messages more engaging and appealing.
Digital Signage Content Basics
When people are on the move, you have only seconds to engage them. Here are some attention-grabbing strategies to incorporate into your messages:

1. Use bright colors.
2. Use motion in the narrative to help tell the story.
3. Refresh signage content often to reflect sales, special offerings--and sales goals.
4. Reinforce product and branding messages.
5. Know your customers. Speak to their interests. Content should be dynamic and reflective of what people are doing.
6. Make sure the digital media experience complements all marketing objectives, from merchandising to branding.
7. Keep the look and feel of your content consistent with your brand equity.
8. Avoid excessive text. Keep your messages as visual as possible.
9. Don't try to deliver full advertising messages, as you would for television, print or long-form video. Show product glimpses that pique curiosity or provide information.
10. Create designs that can exist independent of sound; assume that it will not be heard. On the other hand, see the next point.
11. Use sound when the signage location allows it.
12. Try to incorporate product tips and information.
13. Experiment. Have fun.

Digital Signage Deployment Strategies

1. Use larger displays when possible and practical. Bigger increases WOW factor!
2. Make sure your messages are relevant to the time, place and purchase opportunities at hand.
3. Incorporate touch screen technology when interactivity is appropriate and useful to the audience.
4. Utilize motion sensor technology when appropriate and useful to the audience.
5. Utilize custom data when appropriate and useful to the audience.
6. Keep the customer experience at the front of your mind as you choose content. Digital signage should enhance--rather than intruding upon--the shopping experience.
7. Use an editorial calendar to determine the best timing for content.
8. Incorporate frequent brand IDs for your company and its products.
9. Use your signage to create add-on sales: accessories with that dress, extra cheese for that burger, etc. This strategy has created double-digit sales increases for many companies.

A Few Thoughts About Digital Signage Placement
Don't make this mistake: not giving much thought to sign placement, or even worse, wasting your efforts and budget on misplaced digital signs. People are not likely to look up to your ceiling for product announcements. Instead, place product-specific content where products are, preferably at eye-level or shelf level. The closer the advertising to the purchase opportunity, the more effective it will be.
Even more than just hanging a digital sign where it's convenient to see, think a tad further about the bigger picture. For example, digital signage can influence the ambiance of a building by the way it is integrated into the environment. Have you considered that your digital sign may be way too small and unimpressive to make your point? Try a video wall instead! Get creative... think of your digital displays as canvases for creative expression.
Finally, by locating your signage in the optimal place and choosing the best size, the creative content can now fully stimulate the senses, arouse and influence behavior that complements the purpose of the building's design, which reinforces and extends the core brand image. Empowered with great design, you can inspire your viewers with an aesthetic experience.
Feeling overwhelmed or out of your comfort zone? Consider asking a full-service digital signage provider with a good reputation to help design your first campaign. This will reduce your learning time and increase your chances of success considerably. A provider of professional creative services will do their homework by performing a thorough discovery process. They will maintain your brand standard, and if you don't have a brand standard, they will help establish one. From there they will research your audience to understand what they care about and create a call to action. Finally, a successful campaign will have various forms of measurement based on your return-on-objectives (ROO).
Given the time and willingness to learn from trial and error anyone, regardless of background, can be successful with digital signage; but, it's important to shake off the common "a slide show is good enough" mentality -it's not an effective strategy for digital signage. Sure, everyone is not a Picasso per se, but everyone is creative to some degree. A well-conceived strategy masters content that transforms digital signage from mere displays, computers, and cables into a dynamic communications medium with a limitless ability to inspire, inform and motivate.

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How to Use Cartoons to Promote Your Business or Service

I am one Professional Speaker/Cartoonist who uses funny and relevant cartoons in all my presentations, memos and promotional activities. People begin to expect and really look forward to hearing from you when they know there will be a little humour attached to every message. As I always say:" Humour makes great things happen."
Note: The New Yorker Magazine did a readership survey and found that the first thing their subscribers read was the cartoons.
Why Use Cartoons?
1. Not only do cartoons get your message across but they also get and maintain audience attention. I try to use some form of humour every 6 minutes in all my speeches.
2. Cartoons keep people on your page longer and direct their attention to a specific item or offer. They are also great at creating a sense of urgency.
3. They make you and your offer stand out and in a world where we are exposed to hundreds of ads daily standing out is important.
4. Cartoons are fun and people are attracted to what's fun.
5. We were all raised on cartoons and still find them captivating.
6. People will remember you, your message, product and service because of your humorous ad.
7. Cartoons are effective marketing tools. They make both you and your product unique.
8. Cartoons entertain, inform and persuade in a gentle yet compelling manner.
9. Cartoons are great ice breakers at a meeting or conference. They relax the audience, lighten the atmosphere, and make your reader/audience more receptive to you and your message.
10. Cartoons deliver your message to your audience quickly.
Promotion Strategies Using Cartoons
1. Use cartoons on your printed ads, fliers etc.
2. Have a cartoon on your business card
3. Use 10-15 cartoons in a booklet to give as a gift to customers. (Minimal printing cost - maximum gain)
4. Hand out cartoon CDS to your customers/clients as a promo item.
5. Use cartoons to make your webpage come alive and keep potential clients on your site longer.
6. When you promote an event or sale use cartoons on your posters.
7. Never create an ad without a funny cartoon.
8. Just before your speech ends project a cartoon on the screen that promotes your speaking service and gives your contact information.
9. Use a cartoon on promotional items like those listed below.
Office Memos
T-shirts,
Mugs,
Business cards,
Web sites
Note pads
Mouse pads
Logos
10. In all communication with friends, clients and customers use a cartoon.
It is always suggested that your promotional activities should always make you stand out from the crowd and using cartoon humour does exactly that.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8935502

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How to Make the Most of Exhibition Banners for Advertising

Now give an elegant look to your next presentation by adapting display banners as your advertising companion
Exhibit displays play a vital role when it comes to advertising & promoting your company products and creating a better atmosphere for your exhibition. These exhibits are available in different shapes and designs in order to catch customer's attention. They are widely used in seminars, trade shows, conventions and other promotional events. They can easily provide a new look to your upcoming exhibition as they are well-known for creating an eye catchy flawless graphic display to suit all your needs. Also, these exhibits are affordable, lightweight, portable, and can easily be set up in seconds depending upon your requirements.
No doubt these portable stands play an indispensable part in each of your marketing campaign but it's important that you use them effectively in order to present your product in best way. You need to choose the exhibition design very carefully, depending upon the nature of product and services offered by your company.
There are different kinds of exhibit stands available in the market these days, which includes:
• Pop booths
• Pull-up banner exhibits
• Kiosks
• Exhibit Flooring
• Presentation boards
• Banner stands
• Demonstration Counters
• Outdoor Signs
• Brochure Stands
• Exhibition Plinths
• Display Boards
• Posters
Things to be considered before choosing proper exhibit stands
a) Size of the exhibition - One of the most important factors that play an indispensable part while choosing a banner is the size of the exhibition in which the displays are to be put up.
b) Re-usability - no doubt many companies prefer to carry out different exhibitions within the same year, so it is important that these customized banners are reused over and over again instead of spending tons of money on buying new set of displays every time.
c) Budget - budget is the most important factor involved in buying customized exhibits, so it is important that you take care of your budget before buying these displays.
d) Take feedback from others - it's important that you take feedback from other customers in relation to the reputation of the company, type of products & services they offer, and then decide accordingly.
For setting up a perfect exhibition, it's better to take help from the companies that provide banner displays on rent, as this definitely help in saving both your time and energy. Modern exhibits include a wide variety of materials, graphics, lighting, audio & video effects, that helps in making the banners more striking and professional.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8935118

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Reasons to Use Variable Data Printing

Variable data printing, referred as an opportunity to market directly to each person customer in an easy and effective way. You can take your entire customer database complete with buying trends and then market so without slowing down or having a staff member spend days trying to print out all the relevant information.
This printing solution enables you to change wording such as names and addresses on each letter without the printer slowing down.
Professional print companies offer this service and can print out all your marketing letters within a few hours, ensuring a fast and effective turnaround time to help you promote your company effectively.
The first reason to consider variable data printing is that it enables you to appeal to your audience on a personal level. The letter or brochure that's addressed to them at their address with information that is appealing to them.
Bear in mind that each customer is unique and you will have some customers who buy certain items that you stock and customers who buy different items, this makes marketing tricky and requires you cover across the board. With Variable data printing you can target your marketing at each person customer with ease.
Variable data printing gives you the ability to change the wording and images in your marketing to suit each customer based on their interests and past purchases.
Most companies these days keep a list of customers and their buying habits, which will prove useful when it comes to variable data printing, saving you time and energy and also ensuring that your marketing efforts as directed towards each customers, reducing how much time and money you waste on your marketing moving forwards.
The third reason to use variable data printing is the time you will save. When designing marketing letters and direct marketing mail shots to clients you want the information is relevant to them.
If you have a staff member sitting pouring over information and then individually printing out each letter, making the necessary changes to each one, you can expect that employee get stuck on the task for days, if not weeks. With Variable data printing this get accomplished within hours, saving you so much time and energy in the process.
You can print the entire run to all your customers without slowing down. You command the information to your print shop and then print it as one run with the printer working throughout.
It's amazing to think you can target each customer, change images and wording and it can all be printed as though you were printing the same sheet hundreds of times.
Many customers have different needs and requirements based on their demographic area. This is why companies try to create marketing materials for different areas based on customer needs. With Variable data printing you can do this with ease, tailoring each mail drop based on area and requirements.
Because you connect with each customer on an individual level, you increase your positive response rates.
Doing a mail drop of the same thing to a wide audience, means you are only appealing to a small percentage of your audience. Where tailoring each mail drop means you are appealing to one hundred percent of your audience at all times, in turn this increases the number of responses you get off one single drop.
Variable data printing is carry out in the shortest period and a print shop can print them at the same speed as if they were printing one hundred of the same letter.
The last reason to use variable data printing is your return on investment. You can use the research and earlier purchasing history of each client to target your mail drop and then sit back and enjoy the orders rolling in as a result of your efforts.

Data Colour is a Melbourne based print shop with over twenty years' experience in the industry. The company offers black, white and colour digital and offset printing services using the latest technology and printing equipment. They are focused on attention to detail and high quality, ensuring each job is completed to the customer's satisfaction.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8853110

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How To Win Customers And Influence The Market Via Advertising

Advertisement is one of the methods of promotion that has worked very well for the past ten years and plays a very important role for long-term sustainability in a monopolistic economy. Although experts have given many theories of advertising, the actual market demands more than that. Advertising is an art and not a science so; traditionally defined methods may not be helpful in the modern era of competitiveness. We need to understand the expectations of customers, the number of choices they have from our competitors and what pushes them to buy.
Understanding Customers
It is sometimes very difficult for the marketer to know what actual expectations of customers are. Price, quality, timely availability, brand, and return policy are few features that every customer asks for. The first important step in gaining customers' confidence is defining the target audience. It may be in the form of location, income and/or age group. Grouping customers will help in determining how the products & services will be sold and what kind of customer service tactics work best. Furthermore, it will facilitate strategic management of marketing for the product.
Strategic Advertising and Gaining Confidence
Since you have defined whom you want to target, the advertising method will be based on requirements of your target audience. If targeting includes kids of age groups 3-5, the second step would be to see who is going to buy for them. In this case, it will be parents, thus, the product will be advertised considering parents in mind. Attracting parents through television advertisements is very common because generally kids come to know about their products through TV. Now, and in number of times, the advertisement will come as a commercial in kids' favorite program and how it will be shown is very important. The marketer will have to keep in mind that decision-making power will be in the hand of the parents and whatever is being shown in the advertisement should attract them too. Showing how the product is useful for the kids and how it is going to help in further growth of the child can motivate parents to know about it more. In addition, relating such information with kids' favorite cartoon characters will attract both parents and kids. Thus, each step for winning customers and influencing the market should be taken by understanding the basic psychology of customers.
Influencing the market
The market speaks the language of the customer. Spreading positive word for the product in the market can change the whole thought process of all probable consumers in the market. It is the power of advertising that helps in bringing this change.
With the growth in popularity of social media, market players have become very active in getting awareness of each product. Thus, product's market presence is facilitated through advertisement in social media also.
Understanding the market demands including legislative requirements is the key that open up doors to success for any company.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8938752

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