Article Marketing & Online Marketing Strategies from IdeaMarketers - Where Your Ideas Shine

Marketing 101: Stop Interrupting and Start Interacting!

A radical change has occurred in the world of marketing. Just five years ago, before the onset of the internet and social media, most marketing entailed "interrupting the consumer." TV commercials are a perfect example of interruptive marketing. As you watch your favorite Thursday night program, suddenly a commercial breaks onto the scene and interrupts you. Obviously, consumers are beginning to rebel against interruptive advertising, because, let's face it, no one likes to be rudely interrupted.

According to Kirby and Marsden (authors of Connected Marketing), 90 percent of people who can skip TV ads, do skip TV ads. In addition, 65 percent of people believe that they are constantly bombarded with too much advertising. So, as a marketer, the first question that you must ask yourself is, "How effective is interruptive advertising?" The answer should be blatantly obvious!

Read Jessica's entire article Marketing 101: Stop Interrupting and Start Interacting!

Jessica Swanson, our official Shoestring Marketing Expert

5 Reasons Why The Fortune Is In Your List!

You've probably heard time and time again the old marketing adage "the fortune is in your list." Whether or not you are familiar with this motto, the truth of the matter is that there truly is no better way to build your business.

No matter what small business you operate, you absolutely must take the time to build a targeted list of interested prospects and satisfied customers. The most effective way to accomplish this is to have a simple opt-in form on the first page of your website that offers your prospect a free and valuable gift in exchange for their name and email address. This gift can be a special report, ezine subscription or downloadable ebook.

Read Jessica's entire article 5 Reasons Why The Fortune Is In Your List!

Jessica Martin, our official Shoestring Marketing Expert

Marketing 101: Don't Put Your Eggs In One Marketing Basket

Many years ago, poultry farmers would gather their eggs, place them in baskets and put them on wagons to bring them to the market. Of course, the poultry farmers didn't need to be reminded that if all their eggs happened to be in one basket, and that basket fell off the wagon, financial tragedy would occur. The very same rules apply in today's world of marketing. Too often small business owners rely on just one or two marketing methods to sustain their businesses. They are then surprised when their business remains stagnant or, even worse, loses money.

However, shoestring business owners implicitly understand that in order to obtain the best results, they must arm themselves with an abundance of marketing tools.

Read Jessica's entire article Marketing 101: Don't Put Your Eggs In One Marketing Basket

Jessica Swanson, our official Shoestring Marketing Expert

3 Tips For Marketing Through The Noise

Every single day, consumers are exposed to over 2,000 advertisements in magazines, newspapers, billboards, television, radio and the internet. As a marketer you have an incredibly difficult task to accomplish: you need to find some way to get through all the "noise" and grab your prospect's attention.

However, in order to cut through 2,000 other marketing messages it's blatantly obvious that you need to be armed with an arsenal of excellent marketing tactics and techniques.

There's no doubt that your marketing message needs to be well-crafted.

Read Jessica's entire article 3 Tips For Marketing Through The Noise

Jessica Swanson, our official Shoestring Marketing Expert

Discover The Real Secret To Your Success

"The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you're willing to work." - Oprah Winfrey

One of the most interesting phenomenas that I often encounter when working with new business owners is that they are looking to "get-rich-quick." They want something for nothing, a free-lunch. What a strange thought.

Business is not easy. That doesn't mean that it's not fun. In fact, I love every minute that I spend on my business. But, I will be the first to tell you that business success doesn't happen while sitting on the couch, eating Doritos and watching Oprah. (I think that she would wholeheartedly agree!)

Read Jessica's entire article Discover The Real Secret To Your Success

Jessica Swanson, our official Shoestring Marketing Expert

7 Shoestring Marketing Secrets

There are several steps that you must take to effectively market your business. If your ultimate goal is to be a master marketer and catapult your business to the top, then you must understand, memorize and implement every single one of these important marketing secrets.

1) You Do Not Need To Spend Money In Order To Make Money. Nowadays, there are hundreds of places to market your business for zero-cost. In fact, I have utilized over 200 different free marketing platforms! The best news is that many of these free marketing platforms work better than paid marketing platforms. So, take heart in the fact that you can truly market your business for no-cost and reap huge rewards in the process. 

Read Jessica's entire article 7 Shoestring Marketing Secrets

Jessica Swanson, our official Shoestring Marketing Expert

7 Headlines That Produce Powerful Results!

Successful copywriters understand that all ad-copy, whether it be your landing page, email letter or sales letter, start with a compelling headline.

The headline is vital to your success. Its job is to grab your reader's attention and keep them reading! However, you only have about three seconds to accomplish this task. If your headline isn't exciting, intriguing and interesting, your reader will stop reading.

However, there is a formula that you can follow to produce more effective headlines. Here are seven types of headlines that have proven to work over and over again.

Read Jessica's entire article 7 Headlines That Produce Powerful Results!

Jessica Swanson, our official Shoestring Marketing Expert

Stop Selling and Start Teaching!

The other day I walked into a local furniture store and three salespeople almost knocked each other over trying to get to me first.

The lucky winner who did manage to reach me, took my arm and said slickly, "I'm Stan, you just tell me what you're looking for sweetheart."

Despite the fact that I'm not a big fan of the "sweetheart" phrase, I smiled, "Oh, I'm just looking . . . ." But, I could tell that Stan would not be shut down so easily.

Read Jessica's entire article Stop Selling and Start Teaching!

Jessica Swanson, our official Shoestring Marketing Expert

Apply The 80/20 Rule In Your Marketing Efforts

In 1895 an Italian economist by the name of Vilfredo Pareto made an interesting discovery. He found that 80 percent of Italy's land was owned by just 20 percent of the population. Although his research was based on land acquisition, the theory behind his work remains intact today and is referred to as Pareto's Principle or the 80/20 Rule.

Interestingly enough, the Pareto Principle can be applied to your marketing efforts as well. Basically, 80 percent of your marketing results come from 20 percent of your marketing efforts.

Read Jessica's entire article Apply The 80/20 Rule In Your Marketing Efforts

Jessica Swanson, our official Shoestring Marketing Expert

Discover Who Is Responsible For The Life You Are Living

I want to ask you a very simple question. More importantly, I want you to take the time to answer it reflectively and honestly. Before I ask the question, however, take a moment and look at all aspects of your life. Look closely at your family, your relationships, your finances, your career, your spirituality and your happiness. Once you have taken a good, long look at your life, here is the question that I want to ask of you, "Why are you living the life that you are living right this very moment?"

Read Jessica's entire article Discover Who Is Responsible For The Life You Are Living

Jessica Swanson, our official Shoestring Marketing Expert