Frugal Marketing for Entrepreneurs

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Many entrepreneurs believe that in order to effectively market their business they need to have a continuously massive budget. This is not true. There are many strategies you can use to be a more effective marketer which will cost you next to nothing.

How many e-mail messages do you send everyday? You’re probable missing out on a simple, inexpensive marketing tool. Seize the opportunity to promote your business to a highly targeted market without spending a dime by utilizing your e-mail signature line.

If your email signature line only contains your name and contact information, you’re missing out on advertising to e-mail recipients that have opted for communications from you. I have sent plenty of emails out that may be forwarded to many people and it attracts tons of traffic to my website.

These people are key members of your unofficial marketing network. They are your prospects, clients, press contacts and colleagues and your signature line is the perfect, unobtrusive space for a unique promotional pitch.

Try these tactics to turn your “sign-offs” into sales:
1 Highlight what your company offers.
2 Offer an incentive for recipients taken a specified action. (Free always works)
3 Use the associated web address for the incentive, if it’s also on your site.
4 Give better visual positioning to the promotion rather than contact info.
5 Play with eye-catching fonts and colors.
6 Use less than 64 characters/line so that words don’t wrap to a new line.
7 Write a “signature” for different categories of recipients.
8 Change your signature copy frequently.
9 Never miss a chance to get your product or company noticed.

Another thing that many entrepreneurs don’t think about is the letters they send out. They are merely accepted as solving a problem or answering a need, when you can carry the e-mail idea over into every piece of mail you generate.

On the company letterhead simply add a line at the bottom of page 1. It could be a “tag line” of sorts made up of a slogan that “brands” your services or business. Try to come up with something unique so that every time it’s heard the prospect thinks of you.

Examples of this would be, “Good to the last drop,” which of course is Maxwell House Coffee. “Finger-lickin’ good,” which is KFC chicken, and so on. You get the message of what I’m saying. Play around with this until you come up with a pearl that is uniquely you.

If your business/service does not lend itself to this idea, then focus on increasing your credibility by using a “membership” tag line. For instance a funeral home would be less than tasteful using the line, “Our clients are dying to visit us;” but they COULD use the line “Members of Undertakers Assoc. of America” at the foot of their letterhead. This establishes immediate credibility in the mind of the recipient, even if the letter they received was a direct mail advertising letter. This will not cost you much to add but it can be very effective.

When you’re an entrepreneur in today’s marketplace you have to be inventive and creative to buck the “big boys” on the block. I suggest that every entrepreneur read about the life of P.T. Barnum to get a better understanding of a truly great entrepreneur. His story will show you how to be innovative and creative with marketing, without costing you much at all.

It isn’t always the almighty dollar that gets the best advertising for your business; it’s the best IDEA that makes you stand out in the crowd.

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James “The Blueprint” Williams is a Real Estate Entrepreneur, and an Expert Marketer. To learn more about how to become successful in your own business and create the wealth you deserve click this link ==> Wealth Building System!!

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The Importance of a Credit Score in America

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In the United States, higher credit scores mean more opportunities. You are considered lucky if you obtain and maintain high credit scores compared to those who have incurred no credit at all. It is popular belief that having high credit scores means you are financially responsible and have integrity. To sum it all, high credit score equals a good reputation.

Who doesn’t want a good reputation? If you are going to apply for any kind of credit and wish to see an “approved” mark on your application sheet, then you should avoid the following:

1. Having No Credit Score.

Having no credit score at all means that lending institutions have no way to measure how you handle your finances even if you are good at it. Lending institutions use credit scores to determine whether or not to approve your credit request since they cannot gauge your financial history through:

a) Race and origin. Lending institutions will not approve your credit request because you are white or black or because you are from the United States or from the European countries.

b) Type of employment and salary. Even if you are a janitor and have high credit scores, then your loan application might be approved over a company executive who has a zero credit score.

c) Education. Whether or not you have obtained a college degree doesn’t matter, what matters is a high credit score.

Lending institutions cannot measure approval of your credit request based on your religion, age and marital status. This is due to its being subjective. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act sees that the most objective determinant is by looking at credit scores.

Through credit scores, lending institutions will get familiar with your financial background. They will find out the previous and present loans you have, the down payments you have paid out, the interest rates you choose, and most importantly the payment history that you have established.

2. Low credit scores.

The average credit score in US is between 580 and 650. There are major institutions in the US who determine if you are suitable to be given credit. Equifax, Trans Union and Experian are the major institutions who compute borrower’s credit score. All three have their own distinct computing system, yet still adheres with the national average credit score.

If your credit score falls below the standard, then you are highly prone to seeing your credit applications with “disapproved” marks.

Having good credit is a must. It will look appalling if you have been immature on handling financial matters. A credit card may be handy most of the time, especially if cash is not readily available. Additionally, some may find credit cards to be safer than stocking cash in their wallet.

Loans, on the other hand are equally important as credit cards especially for those individuals who aspire to have properties which they cannot immediately pay for.

With the growing importance of having a cash substitute, it is helpful to get good if not great credit scores. It is not difficult to get high credit scores; all you need to do is be responsible in handling your finances over a period of time. If your credit score is currently low you can also restore it and get on the path to building a high score. By doing so, credit will not be a nuisance but will serve as a great aid to you.

For information about restoring your credit visit http://www.jrwglobal.com/





James “The Blueprint” Williams is a Real Estate Entrepreneur and an Expert Marketer. To learn more about how to become successful in your own business and create the wealth you deserve click this link ==> Wealth Building System!!=======================================================