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Table of Contents Introduction 1 Chapter 1
Create a Stunning Website 3 Chapter 2
Capture Leads Effectively 9 Chapter 3
Learn Blogging and SEO 13 Chapter 4
Engage in Social Media Marketing 16 Chapter 5
Follow an E-‐Mail Marketing Plan 18 Chapter 6
Optimize PPC Marketing 21 Chapter 7
Following Up Consistently 24 Conclusion 27 About Us 28
Introduction
“Innovation is the speci.ic instrument of entrepreneurship. The act that
endows resources with a new capacity to create wealth. “ – Peter Drucker
Adding value to the lives of people is our goal when creating a sustainable and successful
business as entrepreneurs. We help our customers, clients or even our patients become
happier and lead more meaningful lives with what we offer. Whether you are selling
products or providing services, you need to have a venue where you can encourage people
to take a look at how you can make their lives better.
You can open a clinic if you are a doctor or a dentist. Building a store where you can
showcase your products if you are into business is also a good option. However in these
modern times, good will not cut it anymore. You have to be exceptional. You need to
embrace innovation. The best platform to communicate with the people you wish to serve
today is the internet.
Entrepreneurs love to get their hands on new knowledge which can help their businesses
thrive. Whether you own a brick and mortar business and you want to optimize it on the
internet OR you wish to jumpstart your online business, essential knowledge on creating
websites and excellent marketing strategies will be valuable to you.
1
In this day and age, following the changing tides of information technology is the answer to
developing your business from a local brand to a global one. If your aim is to get more
customers in your area and gain a competitive edge, going online is your best option.
The internet can bring wonders to your business in terms of improving exposure and
getting more customers. We have gathered numerous practical tips and steps that you can
follow to maximize available online tools for the success of your business.
• Make a stunning website
• Capture leads online
• Learn blogging and SEO
• Choose social media platforms
• Follow an e-‐mail marketing plan
• Optimize PPC marketing
• Develop a follow up strategy
This book in your hand right now is precious. It is a collection of effective ways
of putting your business in the online map. Let us help you take the leap forward
and gain more customers for long-‐term success.
2
Chapter One Create a Stunning Website
Taking your business further means utilizing available tools to reach out to more customers.
A vast majority of people today rely on the internet for information on products and
services that they need. This is one piece of fact that you should pay close attention to. The
time is ripe for your business to be a part of the online community. Modernity has
encouraged people to favor more convenient and accessible means of transaction and the
internet offers amazing solutions. Create an outstanding website to establish your presence
and people will gravitate to you.
How Will a Website BeneUit Your Business? Online transactions are much more convenient for customers. What you have to discover is
how this can work to your advantage, too. Less cost, less mobility and less time. Since almost
everything can be done on the internet, you can explore possibilities of how your business
can function within a website. Consider your website as the online counterpart of your
store, clinic or showroom. It is an inexpensive marketing and sales platform. Your business
will beneOit greatly from an outstanding website in several ways.
1. Make the Best First Impression
Your website will tell the world who you are and what you can offer. If you are an architect
whose goal is to widen your clientele, creating a website will make you more accessible to
people who need your services. Make the Oirst encounter impressive by showcasing your
best works at the homepage of your website. Your online design portfolio will be the main
attraction and the ultimate reason why prospective clients would avail of your services.
3
2. Attract More Customers
Having your own website can establish your credibility as a business entity or a provider of professional services. You now have the venue to communicate with your customers in a platform that can be accessed by anyone all over the world. Instead of limiting your reach to clients and investors in your area, with a website, you have the capacity to attract more customers, stakeholders and like-‐minded individuals and groups. It is an opportunity to dazzle people with your track record in a subtle and more professional way.
3. Manage Updates and Promotions
The internet makes it possible for you to streamline the process of your business operations. With your website, you can easily launch a new product and promote it on social media. Updating clients and peers in your industry is also more manageable because
publishing blogs and articles online is easy and fast. You can be a source of information for people which in turn will make you or your business the go-‐to place when they need and want products and services.
4
7 Helpful Tips in Creating a Website
1. Create a Clean and Navigable Homepage
The homepage is the ultimate tool to create a Oirst impression to visitors and customers. You
can put a unique logo here that represents your products and services. Your business name
and tagline should also be highlighted in this area of your website so people will remember
them easily.
Be creative in designing your homepage by telling a compelling story about your business.
The concept of your homepage will depend largely on your goal as an entrepreneur. In
addition, you need to package your message in a way that is relevant to the industry you
belong to.
Your target market should be fascinated by your homepage at the initial moment of
exposure. You can incorporate videos and images but keep in mind that it should be clutter-‐
free with a clear call to action or CTA. Make sure the time visitors spend on your page is
valuable and will yield the results you both want.
2. About Us Page
This area is often renamed as Our Story because it should tell a fascinating account about
how your company, business or career came to be and where is it headed. Make sure you
provide an accessible link from your homepage to this page. Here, your accomplishments
should be emphasized to gain trust and respect from visitors and customers. Often,
companies include their mission and vision statements in this page to show a clear picture
of their goals. Your About Us page is your business' introduction to the online and ofOline
community. Make it unforgettable!
5
3. Add a Service or Product Page
After highlighting key products and services in your homepage, you should put a clickable
link that would point out to this area of your website. You have already served the
appetizer, this page is your main course. You can be as detailed as possible with your images
and descriptions as long as you are mindful of the short attention span of a majority of
online users. Make your service or product page crisp, clean and easy to navigate. If you are
selling products, ensure a fast and manageable transaction starting from the shopping to the
payment process.
6
Add professional product images
Always include ONE call-‐to-‐action. This can be „buy now“, contact us“, „Request a Quote“ etc..
Add a compelling product description
Write beneOit-‐orientaded headlines.
4. Easy Access -‐ Contact Page
In the homepage of your website, you should already include relevant information on how
your customers can get in touch with you. By incorporating a Contact Page, you are
improving your communication channel with existing and prospective customers. They can
input their inquiries and you can respond to them in a systematic way.
Including a Contact Page is a good opportunity for you to get e-‐mail addresses for marketing
and promotions. Opening this door will lead to anticipated future interactions which would
be a great help for your business. Make the contact form simple and easy to Oill out. Always
think of the convenience of your customers.
5. Share Valuable Ideas -‐ Blog
People subscribe to newsletters and articles to keep abreast with the developments in
different industries. You can impart your knowledge on a speciOic niche by integrating a blog
in your website. This will enable you to update your clientele regarding the latest trends
and innovations which are making waves in a particular industry.
If you are a doctor and there are technological developments or new science that you wish
to share to the public, your blog is the best platform to do this. Establishing yourself as an
authority in the industry will make people trust your advice and recommendations. They
are more likely to seek your help and services. Keep your blog relevant and updated at all
times to retain customers and gain new ones. You don’t know the exciting opportunities for
expansion or business collaborations unless you try to explore the world of blogging. You
will not only communicate with clients, you will also meet many interesting entrepreneurs.
7
6. Make Your Website Mobile-‐Friendly
Thanks to technology, we are now able to shop, book Olights, avail of services and engage in many other useful transactions through our mobile phones. Websites of your competitors are already optimized for mobile phones. You should take the plunge as well.
It is convenient for your customers and clients to contact you and view the latest updates in your company if you have a mobile-‐friendly website. Everyone who has a mobile phone can access your website which means you can cater to more customers. This is especially
helpful for the immediate needs of your customers. If you have built your own mobile app, it will be more convenient to engage in transactions simply by clicking a few buttons. The advantage of tracking your progress is also a plus point for having a mobile-‐friendly website.
7. Hire a Brilliant Web Designer / Web Design Company
Designing your own website is easy to do nowadays but will the end result be as
professional-‐looking as you want it to be? When you hire a pro web designer, you are putting this important task of creating an outstanding website in the hands of an expert. This will give you peace of mind, zero wastage on time and effort and a website that's well-‐designed and fully functional. Delegating this task to professionals can be the best decision you could make. You can maximize the talents and skills of a great designer and you will be left with ample time to tackle other areas of your business which are more signiOicant to
you.
In selecting web design agencies or companies to collaborate with, you should also take into account their portfolio to ensure that you are working with creative and strategic people. They should also have your best interest at heart. Their aesthetics, design sensibilities and work ethic are factors which should be considered. If you are unsure of the direction that you wish to take regarding website design, the best designers can provide you options and make this path more navigable for you.
8
Chapter Two Capture Leads Effectively
Similar to brick and mortar businesses, we want to engage prospective online customers so
they will patronize our products and avail of our services. We do this by attracting their
attention and offering them irresistible freebies.
After building your website, you can set up landing pages which will persuade visitors to
take a look at your products and services. This landing page is a chain that you must
strengthen so the visitors will be converted to customers. By giving out free and valuable
stuff like e-‐books, newsletters and podcasts in exchange for personal or professional data
such as an e-‐mail, a mutual pact is sealed between you and your target market.
Top 7 Goodies to Give Away to Customers
E-‐book
A lot of people today have shifted from tangible pages to e-‐pages and for good reason. E-‐
books were created to give us a more convenient reading experience. When you give away
e-‐books with valuable content, you are helping people gain access to digestible information
that they can use in their professional or personal lives. You can dedicate an entire landing
page for this free e-‐book in exchange for the e-‐mail addresses of your customers and leads.
By giving away e-‐books with relevant links, you are hitting two birds with one stone. You
are establishing relationships with customers by sharing ideas and at the same time, you are
giving them the opportunity to explore the types of products and services that you provide.
9
Newsletter
Naturally, giving your customers and clients newsletters for free simply shows that you care enough to send them advice, updates, tips and recommendations which concern the industry that they are interested in. You are establishing connection and a consistent relationship with existing customers as well as the new ones. Your newsletters should be informative and helpful. Avoid posting too many advertisements that promote your products and services so as not to appear too blatant with your promotional efforts.
Remember you are not selling yet, you are only marketing.
Slide Presentation
We must admit that people online have an incredibly short attention span. They cannot digest huge pieces of information especially if it is fed to them simultaneously. Through giving free slide presentations, you can put your ideas out there without overwhelming your audience. Slides that are well-‐prepared, succinct and relevant are helpful to people who
want to understand a certain topic without going through the long process of research. You are certainly doing them a favor by making the message interesting and digestible.
http://www.slideshare.net/InspiredbyCG/worklife-‐balance-‐at-‐cg-‐consulting-‐magazine-‐Oinal-‐no-‐notes-‐v2
10
Webinar
Giving your target market free access to helpful and informative webinars is an excellent
marketing strategy. An interactive online seminar will enable you to reach out to local and
international audiences. People can tune in and watch interesting videos regarding a topic
that they want to learn more about. Make your webinar something that people can get value
from and can use to beneOit their lives. It is not solely for marketing purposes. Posting
webinars on your website will encourage people to visit more often and this is a great
opportunity to win them over.
E-‐course
A treasure trove of precious ideas are found online and when you put e-‐courses in the mix,
people have a lot more to look forward to. When you offer free e-‐courses to your target
market, you are helping them advance in their goals. Joining e-‐courses allows people to
learn so much more and track their progress. They also feel a sense of accomplishment
when they Oinish several parts of the e-‐course.
If you are an expert on online business and you want to help entrepreneurs from all over
the world, providing a comprehensive e-‐course about how to succeed on the internet is
something your clients would be grateful for. In your website, setup an e-‐course that
visitors can easily enroll and participate in so that they will have a convenient and fulOilling
experience.
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Podcast
A subscription on a podcast which people will Oind useful in their daily lives is a great
freebie to give away to your customers. They can download and listen to the podcast while
they are on their way to a meeting or at the ofOice to remind them of practical tips and
advice. Sometimes, everyone needs reinforcement in order to continue similar to the
journey an entrepreneur embarks on. With an informative podcast, you are not wasting
people's time. Instead, you are adding something to their lives which is relevant to their
progress. You can talk further about the beneOits of your products and services in the
podcast thus gaining your target audience's approval and patronage.
Free Consultation
Sharing your expertise online draws people in. Giving free consultation encourages people
to communicate with you regarding their concerns. When you Oind out their issues, you are
in a better position to recommend products and services that they need. It’s not a direct
approach to selling. On the other hand, you are simply providing a medium for initial
interaction with your target market. People appreciate the time you put in to help them with
their problems.
When you establish yourself or your company as an authority in the industry, your target
market will come running to you for advice. Giving free consultation is a way to earn
people’s trust. It is a subtle and effective way to encourage them to listen to your ideas
initially and eventually, they can be converted to paying customers.
12
Chapter Three Learn Blogging and SEO
Your business or professional service needs people to prosper. You need to be found by the
right people on the street and these days, online. Blogging is a helpful and cost-‐effective tool
in opening the communication channel between you and the rest of the world.
When you communicate with people, you have a great opportunity to determine the pulse of
your target market. What products and services do people need and what speciOic things are
they looking for? As you share valuable insights in your blog, you are also gathering relevant
information from the people who read your blogs. Not only that, your blogs can rank higher
in search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing which means you're gaining more exposure.
We are sharing a few reasons why you should engage in the art of blogging for the success of
your business.
7 Ultimate Reasons to Blog
1. Reach out to more people
Waiting for customers to come to your store or betting on word-‐of-‐mouth to get more
customers is the traditional way of doing business. Today with the advent of blogging,
advertising and marketing just became a lot more convenient. When you blog, people see
what you and your business are all about. They catch a glimpse of your offering and if they
like what they see, they are deOinitely coming to you for recommendations. Blogging is
sharing valuable ideas to your target audience. Since millions of people are online, always
looking for relevant information, there is a high chance that you can persuade more people
to visit your website and avail of your products and services.
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2. Convenient market research
If you master the art of blogging, it will help your business tremendously. You can cut cost by simultaneously performing your market research while you blog. You don't have to go out there to gain feedback on certain products and services. People online, speciOically the readers of your blog, will give you comments and suggestions right below the article or blog that you posted. When you put social media links to your website, your blogs can be easily shared online which again will result in more valuable feedback on whatever it is that you
want to know from your target market.
3. PR and Promotions
If you have already set up your blog, the media will have an easier time picking up news and updates in their online radar. Promoting new products and updating the public about enhanced services becomes a walk in the park. Please keep in mind that it is so easy to gain a bad reputation online and for that negativity to spread like wildOire. Ensure that you blog
responsibly and only post content that highlights your best products and emphasizes the quality of services your company or business is willing to offer the world. Refrain from getting involved in bad publicity especially if your profession is at stake. Stick to positive promotions and you'll be on your way to success.
4. Credibility and Good Reputation
As you blog, you are providing an online identity to your company or business. Through the ideas you share, you are representing the values and ideas that your business stands for.
The content of your blog should be beneOicial to your target audience in order to establish a good reputation. Remember that you are speaking for your company or brand, your professional advice should be consistent. Blogging can boost your marketing efforts and your sales once you have already established a good name for your business in the online community.
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5. Higher SEO ranking
Search engine optimization or SEO is a term you will often encounter as you research on
how to make your website a success. It simply means being on the Oirst page of search
engines like Google when people are searching for a particular niche or topic. If you are
posting relevant and up-‐to-‐date blogs on your website, chances are you will rank higher in
search engines. People who are interested in your products or the services that you offer
will have an easier time accessing your website. This gives you a great competitive edge.
6. Retain Customers
Online customers and ofOline clients will not avail of your services every single day. This
would depend on the nature of the services that you offer. With a blog which you update
regularly, you will keep your existing customers informed about your latest products and
services. Since you are posting relevant material, they are encouraged to respond thus
making your communication more consistent. Your customer and supplier relationship is
strengthened through this medium.
7. Keep your business initiatives current
Blogging gives your business the advantage of staying relevant. Creating great content
requires research which means you have the opportunity to look into trends and
developments in your industry. You keep yourself informed and share your updates with
the rest of your clientele. When you are 100% involved in all these online initiatives, you
gain a better understanding of what the future holds and where you want to take your
business as technology advances rapidly.
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Chapter Four Engage in Social Media Marketing
We have shown you the power of owning a website and we hope you are more eager to
explore this online adventure further for the advancement of your business and your career.
Now, you are ready to take the next step which is social media marketing. This is crucial to
the continuity of your journey as an entrepreneur. Your website is live and can be seen by
everyone online but in order to attract more people, you have to market your content on a
few reliable and effective social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.
We understand that you may not have felt the need to engage in social media for your
business or profession before but stick with us and you will discover what you were missing
out on. We have collated the major advantages of promoting on social media and these will
make your decision much easier to make.
7 Advantages of Social Media Marketing
1.Brand Recognition
You may be a member of a social media platform for personal reasons and you have
Oirsthand experience of how this method improves communication. It is the same with
putting your brand or business in social media platforms. When you create accounts on a
few major social medial platforms, you are encouraging communication so that people will
recognize your brand and understand your offerings. By constantly updating your Facebook
and Twitter status, your brand becomes familiar to people who check social media on a
regular basis.
16
2. Higher Conversion Rate
When you share articles, images and videos on social media, people resonate with you
because you are making your brand or company more interactive and accessible. Many
people are comfortable throwing comments your way and with each SHARE, they become
your marketers for free. Your target audience in social media are more than happy to share
with friends, family and colleagues regarding memorable experiences with your brand.
Since they are familiar with your business already, they are more likely to convert from just
spectators to buyers and customers.
3. Promotions
Promoting your products and services just got a ton easier with social media. The magic
word is followers. If you have established your brand's presence on Instagram, Facebook,
Twitter and other major platforms, chances are you have already gained a steady following.
Your promotion efforts can be hyped up and even become viral on the internet which is
deOinitely good news for your business. Once you have earned the admiration and trust of
the social media community, you can rely on them to take care of the modern version of
word-‐of-‐mouth marketing for you.
4. Easy Market Research
These days, your target market is on social media. All you need to do is to follow its lead. By
posting informal surveys and updates on social media, you can get the feedback you need on
certain services that you wish to offer. If you are a fashion or interior designer, just by
simply posting your creations, you are sure to get a feel of your target customers' tastes and
opinions. It's incredible how interactive social media is and how helpful it is to the progress
of your business. Your existing customers and prospective customers are just clicks away no
matter where they are in the world.
15
5. Less Marketing Costs
Membership and creating an account on various social media platforms is free so you have
nothing to lose but more to gain from this marketing initiative. It will not cost you to post or
market a product on Twitter. You can go in-‐depth in describing products and services
through fascinating videos and infographics. Just make sure that you don't invest a lot of
time on social media or you will be swallowed whole by them. Manage your social media
interactions and limit your posts to once or twice a day.
6. Higher SEO ranking
Helpful articles that you post on your website can rank higher in search engines if you post
them on social media. Since your readership are members of Facebook and Twitter, you can
post blog teasers in your status and provide a link to the original content so interested
people can read in your website. If more people are exposed to your updates, you gain more
trafOic to your business website which translates to higher SEO ranking.
7. Improved Customer Experience
After all that's said and done, you can count on social media to improve the overall
experience of your customers in interacting with your brand. Social media is here to stay
and even in the future, you will still be able to keep in touch with your customers. Through a
series of communication via social media, can build conOidence and trust. You have the
opportunity to prove to your customers that you are all about helping them. Through social
media, you can even express your gratitude for their continued support. This type of
personalized relationship with your clients and customers makes business worthwhile.
17
Chapter Five Follow an E-‐mail Marketing Plan
People communicate through e-‐mail everyday. We can't imagine our professional and
personal lives without e-‐mail. It's easier to communicate using this method and when it
comes to marketing for our business, it still remains as an effective and efOicient tool. You
can keep your customers and leads informed about your company's new offerings. Through
e-‐mail, you can invite people to join events, show them how they can avail of free e-‐books
and newsletters OR simply get in touch through holiday greetings. All these marketing
efforts are more convenient to carry out with the help of e-‐mails.
Still not convinced? We are sharing with you how e-‐mail marketing can improve your
business. Whether you are a recognized brand or you own a small business, communicating
with the people you serve through e-‐mail is effective.
Top 7 Advantages of E-‐mail Marketing
1. Simple and cost effective marketing
E-‐mail marketing only requires little effort and money from your business. You can
compose your e-‐mails anytime and anywhere. If you can delegate this task to a dedicated
staff then you can further simplify the process. You have to count on the reality that people
still check their e-‐mails once or even several times a day. You have a great chance of
reaching out to speciOic leads that you want to convert simply by grouping your contacts and
sending customized e-‐mails their way.
18
2. Tracking is systematic
What's great about e-‐mail marketing is you can track the response of your target audience
which will help you identify what you did correctly and what you did wrong. You can track
positive and negative reaction through analytics and click-‐through. Through the
subscription response, you can also determine what type of group is interested in your
content, product or service. DeOinitely, you can segregate your prospects in order to manage
your marketing efforts and not waste more time on unresponsive people or groups.
3. International target market
One of the great advantages of e-‐mail marketing is how it can reach a much wider audience
than what you're probably accustomed to in a brick and mortar business. You can send
anyone in any country in the world an e-‐mail packed with marketing content. Those
untapped markets that you may not originally thought were for you, you will soon realize
that they can possibly convert into YOUR speciOic target market. If you're product isn't
popular locally, it might be a bestseller in Asia. The world is yours to conquer.
4. Creative and personalized approach
You may already have several groups in your e-‐mail contacts which will make it easier for
you to customize the e-‐mails that you send to have a more personal impact on your
recipients. In terms of creativity, you can pretty much play with the content of the e-‐mail
especially if you included eye-‐catching images and taglines. You can enhance your database
in order to include prospective clients especially the ones who have already provided their
e-‐mail address through your website.
19
5. Interactive
Your e-‐mails can generate fast response from customers which means that you can design
them towards this speciOic purpose. Utilize different strategies such as surveys, quizzes and
videos which can propel people to reply to your e-‐mail. Keep in mind that an e-‐mail is a
direction communication line to a person or a group of people. Take advantage of this
opportunity and make it as fun and interactive as possible.
6. Inclusive
Unlike posting on social media where your target market is almost everybody, e-‐mail
marketing is more direct and inclusive. You can choose a group with a speciOic socio-‐
economic background and write e-‐mails that target their needs in a much more focused
way.
7. Ease of following up
When you e-‐mail customers on a regular basis, they warm up to you and it becomes easier
to follow up when the time comes. Remember to extend your gratitude for their patronage
by sending thank you messages. In this messages, always put a teaser for the next
interaction so that they will have something to look forward to. E-‐mails are powerful
because they can be used to secure present deals as well as provide the promise of future
deals.
You have already baked the meal, you only need to reheat it so it will be ready for eating
again. It's good to start early with e-‐mail marketing so that through the years, you can
already count on loyal online customers.
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Chapter Six Optimize PPC Marketing
PPC or Pay-‐per-‐click marketing is beneOicial for small and big businesses because it will help
you grow your business online. Did we mention that this method is cost-‐effective? You only
need to pay for your ads that were clicked by online users which translates to zero wastage
on marketing cost. Your advertising and promotion efforts will also be measurable and
easier to track which is important if you want to study your target market and present
products and services that matter. Let's take a look at some of the advantages of PPC
marketing for your business, shall we?
Top 7 BeneUits of PPC
1. Inexpensive marketing tool
As an entrepreneur, it is important to take into account budget for everything including
marketing. With PPC, you can set your own budget and opt for a cheaper or more expensive
ad or campaign. Your marketing expenditure will depend on how much you can afford to
shell out. PPC marketing is convenient to track which means you can pretty much determine
if you are spending the right amount on marketing or if you need to increase or decrease
your budget.
2. Independent of SEO
Once you have created your ad and posted online, you no longer have to worry about search
engine optimization because PPC is not directly impacted with the developments in Google
or any other search engines out there.
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3. Measurable and Scalable
It is good to be updated with your marketing strategies and you can certainly experience
this with PPC. You can measure several factors when engaged in PPC campaigns including
cost, views, visits and revenues. Determining areas of strength is important as well as
identifying areas where you need to improve. You can track the cost of your marketing
efforts and Oind out if you are making a proOit or not. Your team will surely have an easier
time scaling and measuring your progress with this type of system in place.
4. Connect to a speciUic audience
Starting PPC campaigns is easy and you can customize your audience to cater to a speciOic
group. Factors such as keywords, device, websites and dates can be predetermined so that
you can select the location and duration of your campaigns. This type of free reign and
convenience will give you more opportunity to reach the right kind of audience. Through
PPC, your products and services have a better exposure on the internet and on the mobile
devices of your target market.
5. Brand recognition
Letting your brand shine online is important in order for your business to succeed. When
you use relevant keywords in your PPC campaigns, more people who are within your
industry will have access to your ads especially when they are searching online. Optimizing
your ads for mobile searches should also be top priority because people check their mobile
phones to check out products and services several times a day. You will clearly stand out
and your brand name will be retained in the minds of your target audience.
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6. Get quick results
With PPC, you can achieve efOiciency in your marketing initiatives. The straightforward
approach of ads linking to your website or online store is hassle-‐free and convenient for
prospective customers. It is easy to have your ad up and running and it is easier to get the
results you want in a short amount of time.
7. More options for local entrepreneurs
For local business owners, running a PPC ad will help people access your business faster.
Imagine people looking for a speciOic product or service. Naturally, they will localize their
search on the internet by inputting speciOic locations. If they stumble upon your ad right
away, they can get more details on your store especially your location and be on their way
to visit you. It is that simple.
PPC ads are straightforward and for immediate results, your customers can rely greatly on
it. You can double or triple the people that frequent your store through PPC marketing and
who knows how your brick and mortar business will be changed with such an
improvement. There’s no stopping you from expanding your business if you are only open
to online opportunities.
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Chapter Seven Following Up Consistently
We have the heart of an entrepreneur and we realize that in order to succeed, we must be
consistent in our efforts. When you have set up all of the previous marketing initiatives that
we have talked about, you need to move on to the next step. Similar to your efforts in
keeping in touch with your clients ofOline, you are also required to follow up with customers
online. The difference between failure and success in business lies in your capacity to follow
up. We have rounded up several tips on the right way to follow up customers online.
7 Practical Tips on Following Up
1. Post on social media regularly
Sometimes, it is the less straightforward approach that customers respond to most. People
don't want to be forced or reminded incessantly about what products they have to buy or
what services they need to avail of. When you post on social media regularly, you are
conditioning the minds of your followers to anticipate posts from your business without
your blatant efforts to sell your product to them. They are discovering their needs on their
own but with a soft reminder from your end.
2. Newsletter subscription
If you can persuade your target market to subscribe to your newsletters, following up will
be easy breezy. By simply releasing new issues twice or once a month, people will be
consistently reminded of your brand.
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3. Freebies
Who doesn't love freebies? As mentioned in the Oirst part of this e-‐book, you can give away
tons of valuable gifts to your customers in an effort to capture their attention once again.
Since many people love to get freebies, us included, we have more appreciation for the
bearer which means we are warming up to your brand. Give well-‐thought-‐out freebies to
your customers as promotion for new products and services.
4. E-‐mails
Lucky you for collecting the e-‐mail addresses of your prospects. This gives you the chance to
follow up on them and inform them about any upcoming events, projects, products or
services that you have in store for them. If they were not converted the Oirst time, you can
still re-‐establish the signiOicance of your business through interesting e-‐mail content.
5. Blogging
Following up through blogging is a subtle and effective way to keep your customers in the
radar. They are not in any way obligated to respond or comment but when they read your
blogs, they can be enticed to re-‐explore your website again.
Your blogging style can be geared towards your target market so that they will be more
inclined to interact with you. You can open and end blogs by asking questions to encourage
people to contemplate and think of your solutions more. Current and controversial topics in
the industry can also be explained which can create timely interactions with your readers.
Don't underestimate the social media buttons in your blog page. Readers who are intrigued,
fascinated or pleased with what they read can certainly share your posts on their account.
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6. Update customers with articles
Numerous articles fresh from writers permeate the online community and some of these
articles are going to beneOit your target market. You can e-‐mail them links of the articles that
you think will give them more knowledge and help them with their lives. Even the articles
that you did not write yourself can be sent to your clientele as long as they are relevant to
their current needs.
Remember that people want to feel valued and when you take the time to send thoughtful
updates, you are going above and beyond their expectations. It doesn’t hurt that seeing your
brand name appear on their e-‐mail or social media makes it more ingrained in their mind.
Don’t underestimate the capacity of people to recognize good customer service and
diligence . When you go the extra mile, they reciprocate with positive response.
7. Tagging and sending links
Establish an open communication with clients whether through e-‐mail or social media. Keep
them in the loop by tagging them on social media when you have articles, blogs or videos
which are useful and helpful to them. You can also send them links about relevant content
because this will remind them to keep in touch. Please keep this tagging activity in
moderation to avoid annoying customers. Once or twice a month is a good time frame.
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Conclusion
“There’s a lot of fear-‐mongering about “losing control” of your brand online,
when in fact, you’ve got control over as much as you always have: how you present your business and how you act.” – Amber Naslund
As entrepreneurs, we have a responsibility to our customers and to the rest of society to
share ideas that will beneOit humanity. We help. We advice. We build trust. We succeed
when we address the needs and wants of our customers.
Whatever your business or profession is, learn to be consistent with the quality of service
you are willing to provide your target market whether online or ofOline. Building a solid
reputation in your locality is the tested and proven method in business and although it is a
different platform, the internet is also a community hence requires the same reliable
approach. The content that you feed online will reOlect the kind of entrepreneur, brand or
company that you wish to project. Responsible and accountable marketing is crucial to
building a solid foundation for your business or career.
You have the capacity to stay on top of things when you transition from being a brick and
mortar business to an online venture. You do not have to choose between the two options.
The direction to have a physical store and a website is yours to follow. This book is a
straightforward guide to starting your online adventure as a well-‐rounded entrepreneur.
You can go back to its pages whenever you need inspiration in improving your website or
polishing your marketing strategy.
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About Us
The Customer Pipeline is an international Web Design & Online Marketing Company with
branches in Berlin (Germany), London (UK) and Los Angeles (USA).
We have trotted the globe to help make your business look great so you can get more
customers. Our goal is to help you succeed and our passion is rooted in our genuine love for
entrepreneurship. We are entrepreneurs by heart. We love working with like-‐minded
business owners and we aim for long-‐term relationships. If you grow -‐ we grow. So let´s do
it together!
We at The Customer Pipeline welcome you to the world of proUit-‐pulling websites and
effective online marketing. This world is not just another market for your business. It is
THE marketplace to explore and expand your reach as a global entrepreneur. Are you ready
to get to work, meet lots of new customers and watch your business grow?
We are here to help. All you have to do is say “Let´s Get More Customers Into My
Pipeline!”
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Want to work with us? Contact us at: [email protected]