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Easy Advertising Techniques for Online Businesses

November 30, 2013 by · Leave a Comment 

If you start a business you need get the word spread around. If no one knows you’re there, you’re not going to make any money. Online businesses are the same, except that if there is no hyperlink to you then the chances of a person even stumbling across your website is almost non-existent. This is why online businesses utilize expensive SEO and SEM methods to make sure that they appear on the first page of a search engine’s results.

However not everyone can afford to lay down the cash necessary to get an expert to do this for them. Learning how to do it and then putting it into practice is also a long process and may not be an option. So for those types of people, here are some easy ways to get some advertising done.

1. Use a free online classified service. There are plenty out there, just go an list your website on all of them. A websites like Craigslist, which has huge amounts of traffic, will surely get you lots of exposure.

2. Talk to the local media. Try to get the local newspaper to run a story on you and try to get the local radio station to give you some free endorsements. Don’t be afraid to play the sympathy card – “Hey, help a small business out. You know how it’s a struggle” etc.

3. Use the resources you currently own. Plaster your car with material promoting your website, put up signs on your windows, email your friends and tell them about your website, etc.

4. Get your family and friends to help you promote your business. Word of mouth is very strong and everyone can forward your email to everyone they know.

5. Try to find someone who is willing to cross promote your product. If you specialize in doing Flower Arrangements, then talk to the nursery and get them to promote your business. In return you can reciprocate on the web.

6. Attend local networking events and trade shows and network with others and exhibitors. Most cities have Chamber of Commerces, which usually host monthly meetings. Usually the entrance fees for these type of shows are very minimal, between $10-$30.

Business Services

Minimize Overhead with Disposables

November 29, 2013 by · Leave a Comment 

Are you in the food business? Do you live with a passion to fill people’s bellies with delicious and hearty meals? If you are then you understand that the restaurant business is more than just the food you serve or the space you rent. One of the most essential parts of your business is your supplies and equipment.

While people come to restaurant for the good food and dining experience, most do not realize that in order to provide delectable meals, chefs and restaurateurs spend thousands of dollars in equipment and supplies such as stoves, kitchen utensils and dinner ware. While the kitchen is more straightforward to maintain given that it is the chef who uses it, breakage of dinnerware can be expensive. That is why, perhaps, for some restaurateurs, going disposable is the way to go.

For instance, desserts such as ice cream and gelato are usually served in bowls or parfait glass. These are very prone to toppling and breaking and good quality wares are certainly not cheap. Why not save up on overhead by going the disposable route?

Luckily, there are now countless online suppliers of good quality disposable supplies such as gelato spoons and cups. They can process bulk orders and ship it straight to your door step. On top of that, you can even have your gelato supplies customized to bear the name of your restaurant. This means that though you are refraining from using glass ware, you still show an air of professionalism with custom disposables.

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This article was submitted by Gelato Products; a leading online source of taster spoons and related goods.

Internet Marketing

5 Types of Facebook Posts that Receive a Lot Of Engagement

November 26, 2013 by · Leave a Comment 

If you own a Facebook page, you’d know that there are certain posts that tend to enjoy greater engagement than others.

Of course, with the objective being to keep people abreast of your page, let’s look at 5 posts that can help you do this with ease.

#1: Asking Questions

This one doesn’t require much research or preparation. However, if you want invite more participation, ask questions that are divisive in nature. You can ask multiple choice type or yes or no questions but keep in mind that light-hearted questions get the most responses.

#2: Quotes

Quotes by famous people tend to appear in newspapers, magazine and now with the internet a part of our lives, just about everywhere on it. No matter how old they are, you can use them to get attention on Facebook. Just make it is relevant and topical with your audience.

#3: Memes

It goes without saying that the number of people who are using the meme is really high.  After all, the internet is the home of the meme and replicates and goes viral like no other. If it’s humorous, as most of them are, then why not use it for your marketing if it already exists.

#4: Caption this image

It’s become a habit for people to caption images in the form of funny comments. This used to be done in magazines and newspapers but can be used when making Facebook posts. You’ll understand why when you make one of these on your page.

#5: Tips

Tips are usually a great option for a Facebook post because they’re sure to guarantee engagement. The reason for this is because they’re written keeping your audience’s problems and concerns in mind and offers them clear and simple solutions for these issues.

Uncategorized

Why It Pays to Have a Professional Install Your Tankless Water Heater

November 25, 2013 by · Leave a Comment 

If you’re in the market to purchase a water heater, you have no lack of options in California. There aren’t just countless systems, there are countless suppliers and even countless services for installing them. One very popular type of water heater is the tankless model. If you’ve decided on buying a tankless model for your home, you should definitely pay to have a professional install it. Otherwise you’ll buy water heater repair next.

The best tankless water heater is the kind that’s installed properly. No matter how much you spent on it or how many bells and whistles came with it, you can’t expect much from a water heater that isn’t installed properly.

Your water heater’s performance is just one concern, though. The fact of the matter is installing a water heater can be dangerous for the amateur. For one thing, it involves your home’s fuel line. Make a mistake with that and your home could be without gas. Even worse, your home could have a gas leak. If that happens, cold water will be the least of your worries.

Lastly, a tankless water heater may not need straps in your Californian home. However, it definitely needs to be installed properly, meaning attached to the wall. Lacking this can cause a number of problems. But if an earthquake hits, you’ll be happy you hired a professional to make sure your heater was installed properly.

 

Business Services

Understanding Banner Ads

November 18, 2013 by · Leave a Comment 

By Ted Dhanik

Online ads have completely changed marketing and advertising forever.  Banner ads are a great way to recruit new clients to your business.

Have you ever noticed the advertisements that appear on your screen as you browse the internet?  Have you ever realized how tailored these ads seem to your interests and search history?  These ads are known as banner ads.  Banner ads, or web banners, are a form of advertising that work by embedding ads into websites.  Advertising banners typically feature a message that is related to the material on the website.  This also helps to direct traffic to websites that are linked to the banners.

Banner ads serve two purposes.  First, they work to catch the attention of potential clients.  The other main function of banner ads is to generate income for the sponsoring company.  This is known as a payback system.  Essentially, every time someone clicks on the banner ad, the owner of the content receives a small compensation.  Most banner ads generate about five to ten cents for every click.  It might seem like an insignificant amount, but it can add up quickly.  Websites that generate a lot of traffic can make a good amount of money through the use of banner ads.

Due to the fact that banner ads don’t need to be continually updated and monitored, this type of advertising is one of the easiest ways to promote a business online.  Banner ads are an amazing way to bring in new clients for all different types of businesses.  This is one of the most successful types of advertising because it is geared towards a specific audience, which means that the company’s ROI (return on investment) increases dramatically.  Another great advantage is that instead of spending thousands of dollars to post one ad in a magazine, digital advertisements can be replaced quickly and efficiently.  One of the reasons that banner ads are so successful is that they are interactive with the audience.  Therefore, businesses can quickly evaluate whether specific ads are achieving the desired results or not.

Author bio: Guest post is provided by the president and co-founder of engage:BDR, Ted Dhanik.  Dhanik’s company serves advertisers and helps them come up with cutting edge marketing strategies.  Ted Dhanik has over fifteen years of experience in marketing, business sales, and business development.  Ted Dhanik has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to display advertising.

Business Services

Choose Construction Management Software in Order to Stay On Top of Your Build

November 17, 2013 by · Leave a Comment 

Construction has never been an easy job. If you’re managing a build, I don’t need to tell you that. Not a day goes by that you don’t have enough on your plate, but more and more things keep getting added. It can seem like the end of the build will never come. One easy favor you can do yourself, though, is using construction-specific software. In this way, many of the tasks you shoulder alone can be handed off to technology for help.

There’s no shortage of software out there designed to keep you organized or even to handle accounting. But unless your software is aimed specifically at the construction agency, they can often times end up doing more harm than good.

For example, when it comes to accounting, you will get the most help from construction accounting software. This software can take into account a number of factors that are unique to your field. Will other software come preprogrammed to understand hiring union workers and the specifics involved with that relationship?

Having construction imaging software is also a huge help. It not only makes it easier to envision the finished product and the progress made, it helps share that view with necessary parties.

While you’re in charge of the build, that doesn’t mean you can’t take on the challenge without help. Today’s construction management software can do just about everything besides swing a hammer.

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Article submitted by Accu Build. The company specializes in providing those in the construction business with construction payroll software and other technological solutions to their business needs.

Business Services

Effective and Efficient Display Advertising

November 7, 2013 by · Leave a Comment 

Author bio: Guest post is submitted by the president and co-founder of engage:BDR, Ted Dhanik.  engage: BDR offers advertisers state-of-the-art marketing solutions, advanced technology, and custom programming.  Ted Dhanik has over fifteen years of experience in marketing, business sales, and business development.  Ted Dhanik is a leading consultant when it comes to banner and display advertising.

One area that has been heavily influenced and transformed due to the widespread use of the internet is advertising.  The internet has become a very popular tool for both marketing and advertising.  Marketing is necessary in order to make a business successful because it is the way a business recruits new clients.

Many online businesses use display advertising through banners and videos.  It’s important for both businesses and consumers to understand what display ads are.  Online display ads are posted on websites that are geared towards a target audience.  They are powerful visual marketing tools.  Display advertising helps to achieve specific goals for a business’ marketing strategy, such as increasing traffic to a website.

There is significant research and thought that goes into crafting display ads.  There are various factors involved in the process, such as the amount and frequency of traffic, the times and days of the week that clients are viewing the pages, how often they refresh or select an ad, as well as other elements.  Display ads attempt to achieve two things.  First, they attempt to predict the actions of consumers.  Second, they attempt to influence the actions of the consumer.  Both of these goals are aimed at getting the consumer to purchase a product or service.

Today, advertisers have to consider the various platforms  on which consumers come across display ads every day.  Computers, mobile devices, and tablets all feature different types of ads.  An ad on a cell phone should not be the same as one which would appear on a webpage.

There are certain tips to follow in order to make display ads successful.  First of all, it’s a good idea to use a single image.  Consumers can become overwhelmed if there is too much going on with the ad or mixed messages being delivered.  For this reason, it’s wise to use one, specific image that conveys the intended message.  Display ads should produce a certain reaction or idea in the minds of the consumers.

The other critical aspects to consider are the headline and the copy.  Just as with the image, it’s important to aim for a simple and clear message.  Fewer words have proven to be more effective in ads than a paragraph of text.  Ads need to deliver the intended point quickly and efficiently.  Some clients might be willing to read a longer ad, but the majority are browsing the internet for other things and don’t want to spend a lot of time reading.  The best bet is to go with a short memo that has a powerful impact.