In improving your web sites search engine ranking you need to understand there are two sides to getting listed higher, on-site and off-site.
First you need to make sure that your web site hasn’t been developed in a way that prevents the search engines form reading your content.
Second you need to determine what phrases and search terms you would like to gain in the rankings. Then do an extensive keyword search to ensure you are targeting the best opportunities for your site and your business.
Third, look for ways to build incoming links to your web site, while staying away from paying for links. This will not only improve your sites ranking and increase the frequency your site is crawled but the search engines.
Larson Note: The above has been stalwarts for getting web sites ranked higher for years and I don’t see that changing. IN the same vain we at Larson’s are always looking for companies to set up receperiacal links with. Email or call us to see if we have your category open.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
howard@larsonassociates.ws
http://www.larsonassociates.ws
http://larsonassociates.blogspot.com
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://businesswarfare.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://www.businessiibusiness.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
P.S. We make telesales for small business affordable by offering programs down to only 15 hours a week. Maybe you could add telesales into your marketing mix call today and find out.
P.P.S. We are offering 2 free (a $75.00 value) ½ hour consultation periods per week to talk about marketing businesses. Call or email to get your spot to pick my brain for 30 minutes today.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Using Secret Shoppers In Economic Turbulence
When attempting to develop brand loyalty even in hard times is to create difference experiences that let you stand out from the pack and inspire your customers and prospects. Loyalty cards and point programs encourage repeat business but does not necessarily create long term customers. The program ends and the customers “fly south”.
Take a look at all touch points that your company has interaction with the customer. Is your phone system customer friendly? Do you invoices look professional? Is your welcome pack professional?
One way to keep you and your company in “shape” is to make use of a secret shopper. Don’t think you are too good for it. Get someone or hire a service to have someone go through the entire buying process with your staff. If you’re on a tight budget get a friend to do it for you. You could even do a reciprocal deal with them where you become a secret buyer for them.
If this person finds the purchasing experience satisfactory, great! But what about the after sale experience? This is especially important in a long term complex sale relationship. When they call or visit again is your staff ready to create a platinum experience for them?
Most marketing is focused on bring in NEW customers, but why not shoot some of that effort on keeping what you already have.
Larson note: Don’t ever think you are too good to improve. I’m not, you’re not. Believe me complacency breeds contempt. We can all do better. If you’re the best in your field raise the bar. Make it harder for your competition to out do you and WOW your business
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://www.larsonassociates.ws
http://larsonassociates.blogspot.com
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://businesswarfare.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://www.businessiibusiness.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
P.S. Want more Larson? Register to receive our monthly newsletter at larsonassoc1980@yahoo.com.
P.P.S. We are offering 2 free ½ hour consultations for marketing your business. Call or email to get your spot to pick my brain for 30 minutes today.
Take a look at all touch points that your company has interaction with the customer. Is your phone system customer friendly? Do you invoices look professional? Is your welcome pack professional?
One way to keep you and your company in “shape” is to make use of a secret shopper. Don’t think you are too good for it. Get someone or hire a service to have someone go through the entire buying process with your staff. If you’re on a tight budget get a friend to do it for you. You could even do a reciprocal deal with them where you become a secret buyer for them.
If this person finds the purchasing experience satisfactory, great! But what about the after sale experience? This is especially important in a long term complex sale relationship. When they call or visit again is your staff ready to create a platinum experience for them?
Most marketing is focused on bring in NEW customers, but why not shoot some of that effort on keeping what you already have.
Larson note: Don’t ever think you are too good to improve. I’m not, you’re not. Believe me complacency breeds contempt. We can all do better. If you’re the best in your field raise the bar. Make it harder for your competition to out do you and WOW your business
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://www.larsonassociates.ws
http://larsonassociates.blogspot.com
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://businesswarfare.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://www.businessiibusiness.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
P.S. Want more Larson? Register to receive our monthly newsletter at larsonassoc1980@yahoo.com.
P.P.S. We are offering 2 free ½ hour consultations for marketing your business. Call or email to get your spot to pick my brain for 30 minutes today.
The Week Ahead for March 30 – April 3, 2009
Monday:
Tuesday: March consumer confidence, January Case-Shiller home price index
Wednesday: March institute for Supply Management index, March vehicle sales, February construction spending
Thursday: Weekly initial jobless claims, February factory orders,
Friday: March employment report
Larson note: Aside from expecting employment to continue to be heading south the news is going to start to get better. In one respect it might be good that banks are still being tight with money making people and companies live off their given cash flow. Yet, to make a splash for larger pieces of equipment and appliances the banks have to let loose of some of that cash they have been getting from US.
People are feeling good or better about things, even if Obama’s approval rating is going down.
Larson & Associates March’s sales will be posted next week but they have pushed will past last year’s sales numbers.
In our annual training/planning trip this year to a Northern Wisconsin resort we made a few slight adjustments to the overall business plan for 2009 but it remains for the most part intact and on target
We are still looking for that elusive sales representive for the Central States but not really concerned.
As it is our focused industries we are looking to add clients in are Advertising Specialties, Trade Show Booth Builder, Sign Shop, and an Art Studio. Special bird dog rates apply in these industries
Trade show schedule: Design 2 Part Job Shop Show, Schaumburg IL May 5&6, Time slots still available to meet over coffee.
Racing schedule: Palatine Invite Alumni 1 mile run Saturday April 24, Madison Marathon Sunday May 24th.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
howard@larsonassociates.ws
http://www.larsonassociates.ws
http://larsonassociates.blogspot.com
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://businesswarfare.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://www.businessiibusiness.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
P.S. We make telesales for small business affordable by offering programs down to only 15 hours a week. Maybe you could add telesales into your marketing mix call today and find out.
P.P.S. We are offering 2 free (a $75.00 value) ½ hour consultation periods per week to talk about marketing businesses. Call or email to get your spot to pick my brain for 30 minutes today.
P.P.P.S. subscribe to our newsletter "Mastering Marketing Monthly" at larsonassoc1980@yahoo.com
Tuesday: March consumer confidence, January Case-Shiller home price index
Wednesday: March institute for Supply Management index, March vehicle sales, February construction spending
Thursday: Weekly initial jobless claims, February factory orders,
Friday: March employment report
Larson note: Aside from expecting employment to continue to be heading south the news is going to start to get better. In one respect it might be good that banks are still being tight with money making people and companies live off their given cash flow. Yet, to make a splash for larger pieces of equipment and appliances the banks have to let loose of some of that cash they have been getting from US.
People are feeling good or better about things, even if Obama’s approval rating is going down.
Larson & Associates March’s sales will be posted next week but they have pushed will past last year’s sales numbers.
In our annual training/planning trip this year to a Northern Wisconsin resort we made a few slight adjustments to the overall business plan for 2009 but it remains for the most part intact and on target
We are still looking for that elusive sales representive for the Central States but not really concerned.
As it is our focused industries we are looking to add clients in are Advertising Specialties, Trade Show Booth Builder, Sign Shop, and an Art Studio. Special bird dog rates apply in these industries
Trade show schedule: Design 2 Part Job Shop Show, Schaumburg IL May 5&6, Time slots still available to meet over coffee.
Racing schedule: Palatine Invite Alumni 1 mile run Saturday April 24, Madison Marathon Sunday May 24th.
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
howard@larsonassociates.ws
http://www.larsonassociates.ws
http://larsonassociates.blogspot.com
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://businesswarfare.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://www.businessiibusiness.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
P.S. We make telesales for small business affordable by offering programs down to only 15 hours a week. Maybe you could add telesales into your marketing mix call today and find out.
P.P.S. We are offering 2 free (a $75.00 value) ½ hour consultation periods per week to talk about marketing businesses. Call or email to get your spot to pick my brain for 30 minutes today.
P.P.P.S. subscribe to our newsletter "Mastering Marketing Monthly" at larsonassoc1980@yahoo.com
Friday, March 27, 2009
E-Mailing In Economic Turmoil
In an economic downturn like we now have, if you can add customization to your marketing attck you will improve your effectiveness.
According to Forrester Research 77% of consumers say they find personalized product recommendations valuable when shopping. If you are able to tailoring individual e-mails with product recommendations based on a customer’s past shopping experience and history, it will allow retailers to increase their chances of making browsers into buyers. That is a hard enough task even in good times but when the market goes south it becomes even harder. If you go the e-mail route, you are able to re-engage your customer or prospect and get them center stage on what is or might be important to them.
Larson note: Engaging customers with information (about you) on topics that they are interested in is so important. Engage people, even online. Don’t whack them over the head with things they are not interested in. People are buying. Give them a reason to buy from you
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
howard@larsonassociates.ws
http://www.larsonassociates.ws
http://larsonassociates.blogspot.com
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://businesswarfare.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://www.businessiibusiness.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
*Source: Forrester Research
P.S. Want more Larson? Register to receive our monthly newsletter at larsonassoc1980@yahoo.com.
P.P.S. We are offering 2 free ½ hour consultations for marketing your business. Call or email to get your spot to pick my brain for 30 minutes today.
According to Forrester Research 77% of consumers say they find personalized product recommendations valuable when shopping. If you are able to tailoring individual e-mails with product recommendations based on a customer’s past shopping experience and history, it will allow retailers to increase their chances of making browsers into buyers. That is a hard enough task even in good times but when the market goes south it becomes even harder. If you go the e-mail route, you are able to re-engage your customer or prospect and get them center stage on what is or might be important to them.
Larson note: Engaging customers with information (about you) on topics that they are interested in is so important. Engage people, even online. Don’t whack them over the head with things they are not interested in. People are buying. Give them a reason to buy from you
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
howard@larsonassociates.ws
http://www.larsonassociates.ws
http://larsonassociates.blogspot.com
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://businesswarfare.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://www.businessiibusiness.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
*Source: Forrester Research
P.S. Want more Larson? Register to receive our monthly newsletter at larsonassoc1980@yahoo.com.
P.P.S. We are offering 2 free ½ hour consultations for marketing your business. Call or email to get your spot to pick my brain for 30 minutes today.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Why Use Promotional Products
Promotional products in a targeted marketing campaign are a very effective way to get not only noticed but remembered.
When pairing your marketing attack with the right promotional products a target marketing campaign can bring your campaign to life. But enhancing the connection with more of the five senses than other forms or marketing. According to a survey conducted but LJ Market Research, more that 76% of respondents could recall the companies name on a promotional / advertising specialty product they received in the last 12 months. When you consider the cost per impressions that kind of recall is totally off the charts.
Larson note: When you consider Advertising Specialty piece you can’t just go out and buy any old piece and slap your name and logo on it. You need to be looking at how the item ties in with your company, your product and your desired outcome. People do save these little things (forever) and they can sit in a desk drawer for years.
Pick the wrong item and it goes to the kids to play with, but even “squishy” toys don’t automatically go to the children. I have a few choice items sitting in and on my desk. Where would yours go and would your marketing promo piece be remembered 12 months later?
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://www.larsonassociates.ws
http://larsonassociates.blogspot.com
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://businesswarfare.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://www.businessiibusiness.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
P.S. Want more Larson? Register to receive our monthly newsletter at larsonassoc1980@yahoo.com.
P.P.S. We are offering 2 free ½ hour consultations for marketing your business. Call or email to get your spot to pick my brain for 30 minutes today.
When pairing your marketing attack with the right promotional products a target marketing campaign can bring your campaign to life. But enhancing the connection with more of the five senses than other forms or marketing. According to a survey conducted but LJ Market Research, more that 76% of respondents could recall the companies name on a promotional / advertising specialty product they received in the last 12 months. When you consider the cost per impressions that kind of recall is totally off the charts.
Larson note: When you consider Advertising Specialty piece you can’t just go out and buy any old piece and slap your name and logo on it. You need to be looking at how the item ties in with your company, your product and your desired outcome. People do save these little things (forever) and they can sit in a desk drawer for years.
Pick the wrong item and it goes to the kids to play with, but even “squishy” toys don’t automatically go to the children. I have a few choice items sitting in and on my desk. Where would yours go and would your marketing promo piece be remembered 12 months later?
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
larsonassoc1975@yahoo.com
http://www.larsonassociates.ws
http://larsonassociates.blogspot.com
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://businesswarfare.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://www.businessiibusiness.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
P.S. Want more Larson? Register to receive our monthly newsletter at larsonassoc1980@yahoo.com.
P.P.S. We are offering 2 free ½ hour consultations for marketing your business. Call or email to get your spot to pick my brain for 30 minutes today.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Keep your Data Clean & Accurate
There is one asset you have that should be kept in perfect shape no matter what happens to the economy and that is your customer and prospect data.
Having accurate current, correct and precise data is the key drive for maximum ROI. Poor data translates into bad decisions which can impact your entire organization in a negative way. Think about it, wrong customers getting the wrong message or campaign that is irrelevant to them, leading to dissatisfied customers not buying.
Always be looking over your data, making changes where necessary, adding, subtracting new or changed material.
When you add in new data, get it accurate from the start. Intelligent tools that can validate information as it is being collected are crucial to reducing errors and pay for themselves by the elimination of errors.
Work in a hygiene regimen. Things change. So once you capture good clean data on companies or people it is important that you do your best to keep it that way. Run change of address processing on records as close to the mailing date as possible. In a report from the US Postal Service 4.7% of all mail is undeliverable. Reduce your marketing dollar waist! Prevention is cheaper than fixing the problem after the fact.
Larson Note: Addresses, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, names of key contacts. Things change. Are you one of the ones loosing 4.7% of your marketing dollars?
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
howard@larsonassociates.ws
http://www.larsonassociates.ws
http://larsonassociates.blogspot.com
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://businesswarfare.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
P.S. We make telesales for small business affordable by offering programs down to only 15 hours a week. Maybe you could add telesales into your marketing mix call today and find out.
P.P.S. We are offering 2 free (a $75.00 value) ½ hour consultation periods per week to talk about marketing businesses. Call or email to get your spot to pick my brain for 30 minutes today.
*Source: Experian Marketing Services, USPS
Having accurate current, correct and precise data is the key drive for maximum ROI. Poor data translates into bad decisions which can impact your entire organization in a negative way. Think about it, wrong customers getting the wrong message or campaign that is irrelevant to them, leading to dissatisfied customers not buying.
Always be looking over your data, making changes where necessary, adding, subtracting new or changed material.
When you add in new data, get it accurate from the start. Intelligent tools that can validate information as it is being collected are crucial to reducing errors and pay for themselves by the elimination of errors.
Work in a hygiene regimen. Things change. So once you capture good clean data on companies or people it is important that you do your best to keep it that way. Run change of address processing on records as close to the mailing date as possible. In a report from the US Postal Service 4.7% of all mail is undeliverable. Reduce your marketing dollar waist! Prevention is cheaper than fixing the problem after the fact.
Larson Note: Addresses, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, names of key contacts. Things change. Are you one of the ones loosing 4.7% of your marketing dollars?
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
howard@larsonassociates.ws
http://www.larsonassociates.ws
http://larsonassociates.blogspot.com
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
http://businesswarfare.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
http://teamcircle.ning.com/profile/HowardLarson
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
P.S. We make telesales for small business affordable by offering programs down to only 15 hours a week. Maybe you could add telesales into your marketing mix call today and find out.
P.P.S. We are offering 2 free (a $75.00 value) ½ hour consultation periods per week to talk about marketing businesses. Call or email to get your spot to pick my brain for 30 minutes today.
*Source: Experian Marketing Services, USPS
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Consumers Feelings on Receiving E-Mail
Retailers should e-mail me content based on what they know about me
37% Disagree
63% Agree
Actions consumers take on receiving e-mail from retailers
88% Download or print coupons
79% Click link in e-mail to learn more
75% Purchase product online
69% Research stores that carry product
67% Purchase product offline
60% Try new product for the first time
55% Share coupon/forward e-mail
33% Type/copy URL directly
Source: Epsilon mid-October survey of 746 consumers who receive permission based e-mail. Released February 2009
Larson Note: Would a coupon push your brand? Buy one get one free, 10% off, We see it in the newspapers and online but for your company? Never underestimate the power to the coupon. Some people are adamant about coupon clipping and using them. If the shoe fits wear it, or in this case try it. Run a test with an online coupon or a print coupon, can it hurt?
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
howard@larsonassociates.ws
http://www.larsonassociates.ws
http://larsonassociates.blogspot.com
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
P.S. We make telesales for small business affordable by offering programs down to only 15 hours a week. Maybe you could add telesales into your marketing mix call today and find out.
P.P.S. We are offering 2 free (a $75.00 value) ½ hour consultation periods per week to talk about marketing businesses. Call or email to get your spot to pick my brain for 30 minutes today.
37% Disagree
63% Agree
Actions consumers take on receiving e-mail from retailers
88% Download or print coupons
79% Click link in e-mail to learn more
75% Purchase product online
69% Research stores that carry product
67% Purchase product offline
60% Try new product for the first time
55% Share coupon/forward e-mail
33% Type/copy URL directly
Source: Epsilon mid-October survey of 746 consumers who receive permission based e-mail. Released February 2009
Larson Note: Would a coupon push your brand? Buy one get one free, 10% off, We see it in the newspapers and online but for your company? Never underestimate the power to the coupon. Some people are adamant about coupon clipping and using them. If the shoe fits wear it, or in this case try it. Run a test with an online coupon or a print coupon, can it hurt?
Howard Larson
Larson & Associates
Target Marketing & Telesales Professionals for new account acquisition
Making good businesses great and great businesses even better
847-991-0488
howard@larsonassociates.ws
http://www.larsonassociates.ws
http://larsonassociates.blogspot.com
http://member.merchantcircle.com/larsonassociates
https://twitter.com/LarsonAssociate
P.S. We make telesales for small business affordable by offering programs down to only 15 hours a week. Maybe you could add telesales into your marketing mix call today and find out.
P.P.S. We are offering 2 free (a $75.00 value) ½ hour consultation periods per week to talk about marketing businesses. Call or email to get your spot to pick my brain for 30 minutes today.
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