Atilus Internet Marketing & Web Development

I posted a post recently about email newsletter marketing. I wanted to readdress the post, but specifically only discuss effective ways to acquire email addresses. I think this is a commonly asked about topic that required its own post.

Existing Associates - Tap your existing clients and network for emails. If you already have some kind of excel spreadsheet with all of your clients and vendors or if you are using more advanced CRM software start there. Compile your list from people you work with every day. Additionally the addresses of friends and family or the friends and family of your employees are other prime targets. Not only will your loved ones appreciate being notified of your company’s updates and progress, they have valuable connections that may require your services.

Networking Events - If you go to networking events ask everyone you meet if they would mine receiving your email newsletters. More often than not your list will grow incredibly fast once you start concentrating on it. Most of these suggestions involve events and people you attend and see every day.

Trade Show - Offer a free gift, guide, or consulting session to everyone who is willing to be added to your list. You’re at the trade show to network and market your products or services, acquiring a real qualified email address allows you to do that for a lifetime. This sounds like a lot of work - and it is - but it will pay off.

Your Office - have a pen and paper in your office with a short blurb about your email newsletter and a fish bowl. Any visitor that happens to walk in can then quickly jot down their information and sign-up right then and there!

Your Website - include a link or sign up form to your email newsletter on your website. You’re already spending time and money driving valuable traffic there anyway. YOU ARE SPENDING TIME AND MONEY DRIVING PEOPLE TO YOUR WEBSITE AREN’T YOU?! Leverage that traffic and make sure your email newsletter is easy to join.

DO NOT USE PAID LISTS – Paid lists or compiling randomly found email addresses from websites throughout the net - although allowed – will lead to nothing but trouble in all but the most lucky or extreme of cases. Simply put, do not solicit to anyone that you haven’t physically met or asked to a part of the newsletter – email marketing, when done right will take more time, but in the long run it will be more effective, have a higher return, and will keep you out of trouble.

16 Apr | Post by Zach Katkin. Filed under Enewsletter, Email Newsletter.

Email marketing is one of the most powerful, effective ways to market your company and its products, but it’s often overlooked. My colleague Scott Clark (Atilus’ director of Sales and Marketing) and I were recently asked to speak before local business owners on the subject of email marketing. Our presentation involved some very simple information on how to perform email marketing – start-to-finish – no matter what size company you are or what your technological skill level. Unfortunately, that speaking engagement was cancelled, but we thought we would compile our notes and information online so that those who didn’t have a chance to attend could review at their leisure and hopefully implement and help grow their business.

This article is organized in 7 major sections, feel free to click on a link to jump around:

• Email – What is Email?
• Why Email Marketing?
• Acquiring Email Addresses
• Creating Emails
• Sending Emails
• Tracking Your Emails
• Legalities

Read the rest of this entry …

21 Feb | Post by Zach Katkin. Filed under Internet Marketing, Enewsletter, Email Newsletter.

I was using Google’s video search yesterday and stumbled upon some of Matt Cutts’s videos. For those of you unfamiliar with Matt Cutts, Matt works for Google handling search engine optimization issues, answering many common questions on his blog as well as his videos.

Basically Matt Cutts is the gate keeper for how sites get ranked on Google search.

Although some of the videos are now nearly a year old, they are still very relevant, with a lot of helpful, straightforward information.

In one of the most interesting videos Matt reveals the top four biggest search ranking factors. From top to bottom here they are:

• Crawlability
• Sitemap
• Good Content
• Marketing

Crawlability

Crawlability refers to the ability for a search engine to read the content on your website and get through it, navigating to each page. Crawlability may not seem like it should be an issue dozens of years after the birth of the internet, but according to Matt it is still a major problem, with many sites being un-crawlable. This is definitely something we’ve witnessed with many web designers opting to create websites entirely with photos, embedding text, links, etc. in unreadable photo files - it may look nice, but to a search engine it is valueless.

Sitemap

Sitemaps are pages that reference every other page, much like a book’s index or table of contents. It is just one place for a user (or search engine) to visit in order to find everything on a site, or quickly find just one thing. Having a sitemap referenced on every page is a great search booster and very user-friendly addition to any site.

Good Content

Good content is a major factor in determining a sites value. Besides some rumors that Google has hired librarians, english professors, and is using its book scanning project to learn more about the flow and style of correct human generated text, good content is essential in attracting visitors, getting those visitors to return, and getting others to link to your site.

Marketing

Spread the word about your site, write good content (see above) and start spreading the word. You are only limited by your imagination in the number of ways you can market your site on or off line. Create plans to write articles and back them up with a supplemental print and e-newsletter. Attend local events with pamphlets on your website, include your website at the bottom of each email you or your colleagues send out. You must actively market your site.

13 Jun | Post by Zach Katkin. Filed under Internet Marketing, Enewsletter, SEO, WVO, Search Engine Optimization.

Just to let anyone using the following services know:

Constant Contact will be unavailable on Saturday, April 14th between 5:00am and 10:00am EDT. Please save your work accordingly.

On April 14, 2007, the Google AdWords system will be unavailable from approximately 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Pacific Time due to system maintenance. Please note that your campaigns will continue to run normally during this short downtime.

13 Apr | Post by Zach Katkin. Filed under AdWords, Enewsletter.

I have been a big fan of Dr. Jakob Nielsen since I started designing websites back in 1999. And I have always found his tips and comments on web design very useful.

Recently, he released the “10 High-Profit Redesign Priorities” which clearly outline every reason to think about your current and future web presence and how to market your business.

Several usability findings lead directly to higher sales and increased customer loyalty. These design tactics should be your first priority when updating your website.

But I want to take it further and outline some of the reasons I think a web presence is so important.

In Today’s Market, You Customers Expect It
In today’s business world, the Internet is the fastest growing source for information. Without a web presence, your business risks never being found by prospective customers.

With a Web Presence, Your Business Stay Open 24/7
A brick and mortar business can be expensive to open, operate and maintain. Comparitively, a basic web site is very quick, easy, and inexpensive to start. Operating costs are miniscule and, unlike a physical business, a website is open and available to customers around the globe 24/7! With a website, customers are able to view your products and services long after your normal operating hours. If you decide to sell products online, the sky is the limit. With automated shopping carts and purchasing systems you can accept orders from any part of the world at any time.

Your Competitor Most Likely Has One
If your competitor has one and you do not then they have an advantage. If he/she does not have a site yet, then get ahead by having one first.

Email Address - Your Most Critical Contact and Networking Tool.
Emails are quickly replacing phone calls and letters as a businesses most common tool for communication, and rightly so. Are you currently using an email address from your ISP or a free email account for business contacts? Has anyone ever asked for your business email address? The status and branding for your business can be raised with an email address that includes your company name or services. For example: your-name@your-web-site.com or info@your-web-site.com, etc.

Find Out What Your Customers Really Want (Survey)
People visit your website for a purpose and/or an interest in your products, services or information. But you want to find out exactly why they came or what they’re looking for? Unlike brick and mortar business online transactions, visits, and activity are easily gathered and can be quickly referenced when making a customer oriented decision.

Increase Net Sale by Selling Your Products and Services Online
Have you seen or heard about some of the most successful online stores like eBay.com or Amazon.com or Half.com. Although these companies have huge infrastructures and massive marketing programs to drive their online business, it is possible to set up an online store in much the same way. If you have a retail product that can be shipped via UPS or FedEx then you’re a great candidate for an online store.

Unlimited Marketplace (International Markets Open)
A website is accessible 24 hours a day from anywhere on Earth with an Internet connection. Soon after the launching of your site, you can start doing business all over the globe, at any time of day.

Use Search Engines to Attract New Business
Search Engines have changed the way we gather information. Today most researches for business and/or services are done online. By having your website listed on the top search engines, customers from anywhere will be able to access your website. For example, if you’re selling running equipment and someone searches for “running watch” your site could be the first selection listed under the results. You guess it right. He/she will most likely to click on your link from the search result.

Instant Contact Information to Prospective Clients
With a website, you give customers instant access to some of the most important part of doing business. It helps deliver details about your business to anyone with an Internet connection. It gives customer directions to your business; tell people your hours or which product lines you carry. This frees up time to focus on what you do best, running your business.

Easy to Interact with Customers
One of the best ways to keep customers coming back is to keep in touch with them. Through a website you can interact with clients via online newsletters, message board (forum), polls, chat rooms, and special deals. When you keep in contact it shows customers that you care.

There can be many more reasons why you need a new a website and need it now, but these reasons above should give you an idea of where you stand with you business in a technological prospective.

28 Mar | Post by Harry Casimir. Filed under Web Design, Design, Internet Marketing, Enewsletter.