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2athome
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Joined: 2 Jan 2009
Posts: 30
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# Posted: 29 May 2009 18:30
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I just finished my website and I'm not really sure how to build up my marketing. I'm not selling a product, it's a service. Any suggestions on how to build up an email list and marketing strategy? I'm not too good at blogging (but I can if I need to). Maybe someone here can look at my site give me some feedback. Thank you.
PS- This forum is great!
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johnjimat
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Joined: 31 Mar 2009
Posts: 330
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# Posted: 29 May 2009 19:32
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i am not good at this. but you can use autoresponder for email marketing. you can start build your campaign with autoresponder like aweber or getresponse. hopes this will help u. good luck for your business 
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2athome
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Joined: 2 Jan 2009
Posts: 30
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# Posted: 29 May 2009 22:42
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I have one called monsterresponse, I think. I got it during one of the many wah businesses I've tried in the past. I just pretty much ignored it because I didn't really care to learn how to use it but i sure do now. I'm more motivated because I'm promoting my own business without selling any outside products. I got tired of that. Anyway, I'm going to try to learn this autoresponder thing. I appreciate any info anyone can give me. Please check out my site and let me know what's missing and what can be improved. Thanks.
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bburt252
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Joined: 20 Sep 2007
Posts: 24
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# Posted: 30 May 2009 08:54
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freetrafficworld is a decent traffic exchange
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A8ch
Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 555
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# Posted: 30 May 2009 12:44
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Hi Sheila,
Congratulations on your website. Now the fun (and real work) begins.
Here are some ideas you could consider:
1. Reverse the color arrangement between the content background and the title of your web pages to make the text easier to read.
Example: On the About Us page, change the existing dark-blue background to the light-blue color of "About Us" and then change "About Us" to the original dark blue background color. That way the dark blue in the header would create an attractive contrast against the light blue background in the content area of your pages, and the black text would jump out at the reader.
2. Display some examples of your work so prospects could assess the quality. Obviously, because of confidentiality you shouldn't feature clients' projects unless you get their written approval first. Otherwise, you could create a fictitious company and scenario to make your point. It gives prospects a way to kick the tires.
3. Insert a form at the top of the yellow column to capture Name and Email address. As an inducement for signing up you could give away a free Tip Sheet on the benefits of outsourcing office projects, or some other useful item (information). That giveaway would include links to your site and act as a promotional piece for your services.
4. Write and publish articles about the cost savings and efficiency to be derived from outsourcing office projects. Demonstrate your knowledge about the subject and make a strong case for using such a service.
5. Visit forums where your ideal prospect would hang out. Answer questions and help solve their problems. Your signature link would get people to your site as word gets around that you know your stuff.
Hope you find this useful.
All the best!
Hermas
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2athome
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Joined: 2 Jan 2009
Posts: 30
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# Posted: 30 May 2009 14:40
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Thanks sooooo much Hermas. Great info and I'm going to get started right now. I'll post again when I'm done and maybe you can give it a once over again. Thanks one more time.
Shaye
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2athome
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# Posted: 30 May 2009 16:33 · Edited by: 2athome
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OK, I've made the changes you suggested and it does look better. I wasn't able to put the newsletter subscription in the yellow part but I did add it to the home page. I'm creating a PP presentation that displays some work. I'll publish it on my site soon. One more question...is there any way I can get my Adsense ads to show up on my site? I read that it's not possible. True or False?
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A8ch
Joined: 24 Jun 2005
Posts: 555
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# Posted: 31 May 2009 13:10
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Shaye, that was quick work! Good for you. Glad you like the changes too.
The newsletter subscription form on the home page is a good start. Ideally you want to have it on all the pages so that whichever page a visitor uses to enter the site she'll have access to it. Plus, assigning the form to its own prominent place makes it stand out and increases the opportunities for signups.
Finding the right place in the source code to put the form code in the yellow column might be a bit tricky, and you may have to fiddle with the text to avoid expanding the column. Still, half a loaf is better than no bread. 
Regarding expanding the column:
Notice on the "Services" page how the secondary links expand the width of the yellow column. You could relabel the links to shorter descriptions and maintain a uniform appearance throughout the site.
For example: Secretarial Assistance - Transcription - Word Processing - Internet Research - Information Search
2athome: ...is there any way I can get my Adsense ads to show up on my site?
I do not know for sure, but my educated guess would be "No" since it seems redundant to display an ad for your site on the site itself. The whole point is to have your ads appear on other sites in order to drive traffic to yours.
Hermas
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yahia
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Joined: 8 Oct 2006
Posts: 106
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# Posted: 31 May 2009 13:25
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May I suggest something? The kind of service that you offer can be marketed locally offline better than online, at least for the first year or so. You have a B2B service, why don't you start cold calling local small businesses and send them printed material about your service? You can get customers and/or referrals this way, and you can build a mailing list for future updates about your service.
Later you might consider giving incentives (like discounts) for bringing in new customers
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2athome
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# Posted: 31 May 2009 13:59
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Thanks, Hermas. Your feedback is great and my site looks so much better for it. I'm going to keep working to improve it every chance I get and I will definately seek out your advice. YOU R AWESOME!
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2athome
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# Posted: 31 May 2009 14:07
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Yahia, thanks for your advice. I actually just started a local print campaign and I recently attended an expo they had here that featured a lot of small businesses and I was able to network there too. My print campaign was a postcard mailing that lists my basic services. Do you suggest a different type of mailing, maybe a more specific letter?
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yahia
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# Posted: 31 May 2009 19:06
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You're welcome 2athome.
I don't know much about which print format is more effective offline, but I can tell you this: you started networking already. If you don't get business from your contacts get referrals. The word of the mouth is more effective offline than the printed material.
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ZiggyZoo
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Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Posts: 30
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# Posted: 5 Aug 2009 17:12
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Guys I am reviving this thread purely because I want some constructive critisism.
I have just finished my website and blog and would really appreciate some honest advise.
Afterall its no good having it out there if its not going to do its job properly is there. I certainly don't want to go all out promoting something thats not going to do the job.
So please... have a look at it and let me know what you all think. If it needs more work i need to know and i need to know what will make it fab!
Thanks
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