- Advertising tells a story about something to attract attention. Advertising is a step in the marketing process.
- In business, “marketing” is the planning of, and steps taken, to bring merchants and consumers together.
1. Building a Professional Network
Getting to network face-to-face is exciting and rewarding because you get to talk about your business with others who are like-minded. When others share your enthusiasm it can help restore your vision and passion for your own business.
2. Direct Marketing
Direct marketing is just what it sounds like - directly reaching a market (customers and potential customers) on a personal (phone calls, private mailings) basis, or mass-media basis (infomercials, magazine ads, etc.)
Three commons types of direct marketing include:
- Telemarketing: Direct marketing that involves calling people at home or work to ask for donations, an opinion, or for sales purposes.
- Email Direct Marketing: This form of direct marketing targets consumers through their Email accounts. Email addresses can be harvested from websites, forums, or purchased. Some companies require you to receive announcements to use their websites.
- Direct Mail Marketing: Advertising material sent directly to home and business addresses.
3. Social Networking
Smart business owners take advantage of free social networking sites including Ning, LinkedIn, Plaxo, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.
To promote your business, participate in forums and blogs. The more your name is "out there" the more likely people are tocome to your own website.
4. Network Marketing
Network marketing is a business model that relies on a network of distributors to grow a business. Network marketing typically involves using three basic strategies: lead generation; recruiting; and building and management.
One of the more common network marketing models is Multi-Level Marketing (MLM); a type of network marketing in which a business is built by creating a tiered network of independent distributors to promote and sell a company's products or services. MLM is also sometimes referred to as "magnetic marketing."
Another type is called Seller Assisted Marketing Plans (SAMPs.) SAMPs are types of business opportunities regulated by California law and include multi-level network marketing business models.
5. Marketing Scams and Schemes
- Ponzi Schemes: The term "Ponzi scheme" originated in the 1920's after a shady entrepreneur named Charles Ponzi duped thousands of people into investing in mail coupons. Ponzi promised an irresistible 40% return on investments within ninety days and collected more than $1 million dollars from over eager investors in less than three hours.
- Pyramid Scams: A pyramid scheme is an illegal type of multi-level marketing program in which people pay an entrance fee for the opportunity to recruit others to do the same. Pyramid schemes usually have no products or ability to sustain the business.
- SEO Marketing Scams: SEO companies that promise top rating and outrageous results in little time are typically marketing scam artists.
