Florida Website Marketing .com

Tribe up!

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:20:33 +0000

Looking Forward to our next TRIBE meeting

Bri

Free = Anarchy

admin — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 23:04:28 +0000

It’s a Free World… Free Enterprise… Free Markets… Free Speech

We all have heard these buzz words all of our lives until now no one has challenged these popular phrases, literally. Humanity can quickly fall off a cliff if such words were actually to become reality and I am afraid they are.

Our society is moving from the noble benefits of; freedom of enterprise, freedom of markets, and the freedom of speech towards the cheapness of enterprise, cheapness of products (markets) and the cheap rancor of free speech. Being cheap and hunting for “free” bargains can suck the blood out of our economy if we let it and the Internet can be the vacuum pump.

Free; (adj) without; cost, payment, consideration or charge.

My contention is that the closer a society gets to “free” the closer it gets to anarchy. Yeah, I mean real anarchy; mobs with torches and pitchforks, bodies on the streets and Marshall Law type of anarchy. The fact is that you can’t get a good riot off the ground without someone demanding the ultimate bargain…of free “stuff”.

People don’t act much different than a frenzied pond of fish when free pellets are cast upon the water. Have you seen the behavior of “sweet innocent brides to-be” at 80% off bridal sales or midnight (commando) Christmas bargain shoppers?

Like the wedding dress, greed can tear to shreds the fabric of our society and ruin its purpose if we let it.

The internet is loaded with FREE things that bait and snare people everyday. Most of the time, the one giving out the FREE cheese is the one that gets whacked. My complaint is that people can’t recognize (or respect) a great deal when they see it.

I have a friend whose family has been in the printing business for over 50 years. Profits from their business were plowed back into buying over $20 million of equipment and hiring a staff of loyal workers.

One of the things my friends does to grow his business is to give away high quality business cards (3,000 of them) to potential new customers. Yeah, that’s what I said 100% FREE, no strings attached, just for the “good will” it earns him.

The course of our society, in my opinion, rest with the response of those people who got the free business cards. If they run away and hide like a church mouse with stolen cheese never inclined to give my friend a penny, then we are all doomed.

My business, your business, the $20 million of printing equipment needs real money to grease its gears.

How do you respond to free? Graciously, thankfully (will you do business with them?) or do you grab the loot and split?

When the marketplace considers a person who creates real goodwill as a sheep to be sheered, it just might be “game over” for all of us.

We really don’t live in a free world and none of our businesses can operate as a free enterprise can they?

Choose One: A Great Price for a Fair Service? or A Fair Price for Great Service?

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:23:30 +0000

The World of business consulting genius’s will tell you that all you have to do is provide a great service at a great price to succeed in business.

People that say such silly things have never run a successful lemonade stand. They talk about “high business ideals” in books or ponder your dreary business while smoking a pipe and then billing you a hefty consulting fee.

Execution is everything in business and providing what most people consider is “great service” is usually very expensive to implement. The reason why great service is expensive to produce is that it usually involves reaching into your customer’s world and; listening to their needs, educating those regarding alternatives and then coming up with a tailored solution. That can’t be achieved by just having a website or a sales person for your company’s products. Your service staff must become skilled business consultants, teachers and shrinks.

If you are the low cost provider of products or services in your industry it would be a disaster to try to provide the highest quality of service too. A better solution is to train your customers to accept a fair level of service to get your GREAT price. That’s the deal…take it or leave it!

If you think I am kidding go to Sam’s Club or Costco fill up your cart with goods and when you get up to the check-out counter start asking the cashier whether you should buy the Tide detergent or Cheer and ask to see their research? Or ask; how many grams of fat are in each slice of bacon within your cart? And in addition, ask them to bag your groceries and take them out to your car for you.

It won’t be long before they hit the PITA button and call security and have your keister yanked you out of line. Or as the soup Nazi would say… “no soup for you!”

Many times, consumers go after the best price in the world for a product and then wonder why the company didn’t give them the “white glove treatment”, and a ceremonial TLC kiss on the buttocks when they left?. The short answer is… you didn’t pay for it.

Solution: If you are the low cost producer in your industry I suggest you stay with your competitive advantage. Simply state in a professional way… “This isn’t the Ritz Carlton” and if your client wants your services “pimped out” or “tailored” then your prices will double or triple. Talented craftsman don’t work for minimum wage.

If your services are tailored then the cost benefit equation has to be re-calibrated. Don’t be shy about charging 200% to 300% more than the low price competitor. Your challenge as a business is to provide an “iron-clad” guarantee or proof that you are worth 200% to 300% more than the other guy. But that isn’t so easy either, is it?

If you do charge the going (fair) rate, don’t be surprised when your client comes into your office and lies down on your sofa and tells you their troubles. Or as a Don Corleone (The Godfather) would say “This is the profession we (you) have chosen”.

Please note: I have used my words very carefully above. The legitimate trade off is between a great price and fair service. Not a great price for lousy service. Conversely, a fair (higher) price for your product assumes a considerable TANGIBLE improvement in your benefits.

Good luck in the path you choose…. Feedback welcome!

The ONLY marketing idea that works for everyone

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:17:13 +0000

The good news is that there is one single marketing idea that is pretty much guaranteed to work for everyone in every industry.

The bad news is that successful marketing can only be achieved by creating your own dynamic recipe of marketing and advertising techniques…. That isn’t so easy.

Back in the “good ole days” (20 to 50 years ago)… a business person could simply take out an ad in the yellow pages and earn a living by just answering the phone, showing up and cashing the checks.

During the 1950’s to 1990’s the US economy actually had an industrial base which created income (i.e., customers) and absorbed labor. Today, the industrial labor pool has shrunk to a damp puddle.

Where did these employees go?

They went into YOUR business!

Virtually every business I know of has too many competitors and too little demand. That’s a BIG problem for all of us!

Since I was a young lad and worked for my father’s business, I would estimate that demand (i.e.,) the population of buyers has tripled. The bad news is that the number of competitors has gone up ten fold.

Conclusion: It’s a cat fight for survival now.

It gets worse…

Media and marketing used to be simple; if you were a small guy, you used the yellow pages. Most consumers during (1950 – 1990) used the yellow pages as their bible to BUY local services.

Today the yellow book has gone up 5 fold in price and rots away by peoples front door step. It doesn’t even make it into the house anymore…

Marketing today (i.e., people’s eye balls) is fragmented into 20 or more major media channels with hundreds of sub channels (like TV). These marketing channels have swung wildly in effectiveness.

Ok, now the good news… Your competitors don’t have a clue of what to do either

The only idea that works for everyone is to constantly work on your unique marketing recipe to satisfy the taste buds of your customers. There is no one ingredient that works for everyone; yeah, not even internet marketing.

Success can only be achieved by OPTIMIZING a blend or marketing channels and strategies to satisfy the taste buds of your best potential customers. Sound complex… it is.

But, who ever figures it out WINS! (or doesn’t lose).

Possible ingredients to win: internet marketing, e-mail marketing, referral management, direct mail, newspapers, micro-websites, magazines, TV & radio, blogging, reputation management, social media marketing, staff training, search engine optimization, Google pay per click & the yellow pages.

In addition, you have to become a GREAT sales person (cringe) or else all the above ingredients will spoil. (I know… you were afraid I was going to say that)

The choice is yours… someone will come up with a better recipe… it’s you or your competitor.

Want to work on a recipe together?

Call me for a free 15 minute consultation at 813 944-3190. But you only get an ACTION plan to grow your business when you ring my cash register.

“Many people know the TRUTH… but few people act upon it” – Proverbs

Carpe Diem or perish.

Bri
Brian@FloridaWebsiteMarkeitng.com

Free Speaker for your sales meeting or organization: “Turning on the Social Media Pipeline”

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:43:04 +0000

Is your sales team or organization behind the times and needs a jump start into Social Media and Internet Marketing?

(it’s OK, most companies do)

Did you know that companies are NOW investing more money in social media and internet marketing than they do for print advertising? Find out why…

We can tailor our message for YOUR SPECIFIC INDUSTRY or organization !

Cost: 100% free. We provide an education. Not a sales pitch

Speaker: Brian French

About Brian

* Founder Tampa Bay Orlando Networking Group over 5,000 members (largest in Florida)
* Owner and CEO of Florida Website Marketing
* Owns over 30 income producing websites
* Website Marketing and SEO expert (has clients worldwide)
* Former Wall Street stock analyst and money manager turned “internet geek”
* First job - Blueberry raker Camden, Maine (hard work, nice view)

To book speaker call: Brian French at 813 944-3190
Carpe Diem … or perish !
Brian@FloridaWebsiteMarketing.com

Social Media: The ONLY question you should ask yourself when you are on Linkedin!

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 13:48:18 +0000

There are millions of ideas on social media websites like Linkedin, tens of thousands of good ideas and hundreds of great ideas.

If you spend all of your time searching for your “pot of gold” great ideas, what have you actually accomplished?

The answer is… NOTHING!

Having an idea without executing on it, is like having a dream while you are in a coma. It may give you the “sensation” of success, but when you wake up, you are a total mess.

The only question you should answer for yourself when you have been on Linkedin is….

What ACTION will you TAKE to implement a good idea?

Ideas without action to implement them are worthless. It’s like making deposits into a bank account that you never withdraw from. It is far better to execute on a “half baked” fair to good idea then to constantly strategize and craft a “perfect plan” for a “great idea”.

Every great idea or invention went through hundreds of mediocre prototypes. Translation: every great invention SUCKED initially. Start your ACTION plan with what you have now.

Your ideas are like that song… “If you are not with the one you Love… Love the one you are with.”

Just because we think we “discovered” a great idea, its worth is never revealed until it “materializes” in the real world. It may actually be a dud.

Most of the time you are better off capturing a few smaller fish (ideas) you can easily catch NOW vs. going after that BIG trophy idea.

Besides, all big fish used to be small fish. Let your small fish ideas grow into big ones!

As Confucius said over 2,000 years ago…. “To know and not to DO …. Is really not to KNOW.

Carpe Deim (Take ACTION)

If you need a kick in the pants… Call me at 813 944-3190 …I give helpful boots in the keister for no charge!

Mailing Lists

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:30:31 +0000

Mailing lists

List of FINANCIAL PLANNERS over 140,000 records all with emails
List is less than 6 months old and created from opt-in sources.

Price $199

List of Physicians (34 specialties)
Over 700,000 records, 17k emails, 200k fax numbers. Created from opt-in sources.
Price $199

Questions? Call 813 944-3190
E-mail: Brian@FloridaWebsiteMarketing

Why most website & social media “experts” are a joke…

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:04:24 +0000

It’s one of the fastest growing (non-jobs) Worldwide…Someone starts a Facebook page, Tweets & joins Linkedin reads or writes a few articles and woo lay!… They declare themselves an expert.

While I am a big fan of entrepreneurship, not everyone who can put on a uniform and lift a bat is a major leaguer.

Here’s is how I judge whether someone has “major league” talent worth paying for.

Remember the adage? “Those who can.. DO, those who can’t… TEACH”

5 questions to ask an “online expert” (and demand proof of)

How many websites do you own?

Does your SEO expert OWN a website that gets found on thousands of keywords?

Does your social media consultant generate significant business online, how much?

How many clients have they brought in using Linkedin?

How many Linkedin groups do they own? How have they monetized them?

What EXACTLY have they done to help others succeed online?

When a consumer asks these questions… the hype, phony sales pitches and trumped up business profiles are filtered away.

What remains are online experts that are worth their weight in Gold.

What to ask us a few questions? Call 813 944-3190

Finding the chink in your Big Competitor’s armor… where to stick the knife and twist!

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:36:39 +0000

Let’s face it; the small business person is getting squeezed when it comes to marketing.

The traditional forms of affordable marketing for small business the Yellow Pages and newspapers have virtually collapsed in effectiveness.

Meanwhile larger competitors with huge advertising budgets can continue to pour money into high cost; TV, radio and direct mail campaigns leaving the “little guy” nearly boxed out of competing for business.

Today it’s a fight for survival for the small business owner / manager. They have a simple choice; adapt or become extinct.

The solution: Be nimble, be creative, and be leveraged online

As you know, “Mr. Big” (your competitor) does not “do change” very well. Which means that being; nimble, creative and focused is nearly your only hope.

Where is Mr. Big most vulnerable?

The internet is really the only boom economy we have today. In the last 7 years internet usage has increased 70% PER YEAR. Spending for digital advertising this year will be more than $25 billion and has surpassed print advertising spending (forever).

If you don’t have a robust internet marketing campaign you have given up your biggest and most affordable opportunity to compete.

4 Reasons why the internet is a great deal for small business

#1 The Internet favors small niche businesses not colossal big business. A website focused on a narrow niche will clobber Mr. Big in search engine optimization and pay per click conversions.

#2. Low entry fee onto the Big Stage. To advertise on TV the startup costs could be hundreds of thousands of dollars. With pay per click internet advertising you can start and manage a sophisticated marketing campaign in increments of 25 cents. By exploiting online market niches “Mr. Small” can be 3 to 4 times more effective than “Mr. Big” when advertising online.

#3. Mr. Big’s “brand” is dead meat on the internet (the good news is that they don’t know it). Mr. Big is a slave to the “old media” brand building money dump. The coolest thing for “Mr. Small” is that the internet does not give a “brand” a penny worth of value.

When people search online they primarily use keywords for solving their problem or need and not brand names. The keyword “cheap laptops” is searched for 5 times more times than “IBM laptops”. IBM is not on page one of “cheap laptops” search results. A bunch a creative small business guys are.

#4. There are powerful freebies online for the little guy. Google business maps is a total nightmare for Mr. Big. If you have a small “mom and pop” hardware store you could easily rank next to Home Depot or Lowe’s in one of the most prominent area in Google search. With a small investment, you could outrank them and kick their booty for years!

Want to develop an online marketing plan to bury Mr. Big?

Call Brian French at 813 944-31980

Comprehensive business strategies start at $999. Isn’t your business worth it?

Can the “little guy” compete online?… How?

admin — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 12:48:50 +0000

1. There is no cheaper, more effective way for the “little guy” to grow their web business than by using search engines.

We are amazed at how people overlook the potential of natural, non-paid search engine ranking and simply let the “other guy” have the free traffic.

see website success stories:

2. Search engines are a free and ongoing service. Pay Per click may bring immediate results when done right. However, when you run out of money or target too large of a market the, effectiveness of the advertising campaign will be lost.

3. Since visitors coming from a search engine were searching for your specific product or service, they are usually a highly targeted and often highly motivated group of visitors. These visitors will more often purchase your services.

4. Money invested in Search Engine Optimization has a long shelf life. If done properly your SEO investment (for as little as $199) can provide free traffic and revenues for YEARS!