Small Business
Marketing News

In this issue:
A Note From Our Sponsors
Thought For The Day
Feature Article: "Give It Away - Get More Business!" by Terri Gray
On-line Marketing Quick Tip
Off-line Marketing Quick Tip
A Note From Bizine.com

Please Visit This Week's Sponsors!
Increase Your "Net" Profits! Affordable website design, hosting and e-commerce solutions designed to help you REALLY do business online. Visit us at: http://www.austinwebdesign.com" target="blank

Announcing the Brain Train! The first storybook for children on creating a healthy brain. Includes a guide for Parents and Teachers. Order your copy today at: http://www.Bizine.com/braintrain

Food For Thought:

"What I do today is important because I am paying a day of my life for it. What I accomplish must be worthwhile because the price is high."

-- Unknown

Feature Article:

"Give It Away - Get More Business!"
by Terri Gray

This week’s article was prompted by a post to one of my message boards. I’m the Webmaster for MuralsPlus.com, which is a Decorative Painting Resource Center. The comment posted on the board was from a decorative painter. Basically, the post was a plea to other decorative artists to not share information with the public. This person felt that sharing information was giving away their knowledge and would hurt their industry.

Now, my degree was originally in Education. I didn’t go into Business Management and Marketing until later. So for me it is quite natural to share information and to enjoy doing it. I was really taken back by this comment.

I began to wonder how many other people felt this way. How do you feel about giving away information for free? WAIT - before you answer, consider the following . . .

Giving away information can give you more exposure, generate more leads and eventually make you more money. Yes, it’s true! Would you like to know how?

Here’s a few ways to do it online:

1. Write articles that are informative and of interest to your target market. You can then post them at your website. Update these frequently and you’ll build steady traffic to your site. Don’t forget to include a way for people to be notified of updates to your site.

This method works GREAT. You’ll increase traffic, get more exposure and generate more business.

2. Submit those articles to other sites and e-zines for possible inclusion. You’ll reach more people, be demonstrating your expertise and getting your marketing message out to more folks all at the same time. Just remember to include your name, brief marketing message and contact information at the bottom of each article you submit. Or you can even start your own e-zine on a topic of interest to YOUR target market. You can find a list of ezines to submit to here: http://www.bizine.com/ezines.htm For more information on this topic, read Kevin Nunley’s article “Use E-mail Newsletters to Market Your Small Business On The Internet. How to buy ads, write articles, and put out your own email newsletter” at: http://www.bizine.com/emarket.htm

3. Every time you see a message board online, stop and read the posts. Can you answer any of them or include additional information? If so, do it! Again, people will be browsing these posts and just might click over to your site to find out more about you. PLUS the search engines have “bots” roaming the web and they index these posts. This is another GREAT way to get more links to your site from the search engines. Here’s a few great message boards: Decorative Painting: http://www.muralsplus.com/wwwboard Home Repair: http://www.homeimages.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html Hunting/Fishing: http://www.osweb.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html Marketing: http://www.bizweb2000.com/wwwboard MLM: http://www.mlmwoman.com/bb.htm Parenting/work at home: http://www.ivillage.com/boards/

4. Participate in mailing lists (email discussion groups). Don’t join just to promote your business. Join to share information and to build relationships. Business is conducted between people. Network, share information, make referrals to others and they’ll do the same with you. Help make a difference and your business will be remembered and will become more profitable. Search for mailing list topics at: http://www.sparklist.com/ For an overall great place to search for tons of stuff visit: http://www.iTools.com/research-it/research-it.html

5. Offer a FREE consultation or a FREE sample of your product or service. You’ll build good will, get more leads and close more sales.

Remember, no matter how much information you give away, you’ll never give it all away. You know far more than what can be covered in a brief article, consultation or message board post. Sharing information provides you with FREE exposure and an opportunity to demonstrate your area of expertise.

I hope this article inspires more people to share their knowledge with others and in so doing that it helps them reap the rewards of personal and business success.

Get busy giving it away and increase your “Net” Profits!

*****************************
Terri Gray's Internet Consulting, Web Design & Hosting http://www.austinwebdesign.com" target="blank
Helping your business succeed on the Net!
Community Websites just $10/month
Domain Name Websites starting at just $25/month mailto:websites@bizine.com
copyright 1998 Terri Gray

Quick Online Marketing Tip
by Terri Gray

New Discussion Lists Online!

These lists are meant for Women in Business, however I know that the WTB list doesn't mind men joining in ;-)

Women Talk Back (WTB) to subscribe go to: http://www.listhost.net:81/guest/RemoteListSummary/WTB

WebWomen - Women Doing Business Online to subscribe mailto:majordomo@sweethomes.com in the body of the message enter: subscribe WebWomen

Do you know of a good networking/business list? Let us know! Email: webmaster@bizine.com

Off-line Quick Marketing Tip
Pick up a copy of your local paper and scan the help wanted ads. Do you see any one looking for your someone with your skills? If so, contact them and find out if they are interested in outsourcing this work to a Freelancer.

You can also discover other small businesses who might be able to utilize your services by scanning the Service Directory ads.

Don't be afraid to pick up the phone! All they can say is that they can't use your services at this time. And if that happens you can always ask them if they know someone who might need your services.

- - - - - - - - - - F r o m B i z i n e . c o m - - - - - - - - - -
We are your one stop shop for FREE marketing tips, articles, business profiles, small business start up ideas and more . . . including affordable website and e-commerce solutions.

Want to get your own DOMAIN NAME? We can put your biz online with your own "www.yourbusiness.com" Virtual Server! Visit us: http://www.Bizine.com

Be sure to ask us about sponsor advertising and our website design and hosting services!

You may not reprint this information in another publication (print or electronically) without the express permission of the respective author(s).
Just ask and your request will most likely be approved!