Why most marketing $ucks

[Eric Medemar]

I am always amazed at the way that people try to market their business. With thousands of articles online about marketing people continue to make the same mistakes. I am far from perfect in the marketing department but I have a general idea of direct response marketing. Here are a few things that have helped my business tremendously.

1. Make getting information from you a two way transaction. If you are driving traffic to your website offer some valuable information to your target audience that they would be willing to leave their information for. A website is no good if people visit and leave with no trace of themselves left behind.

2. Have a purpose to your marketing materials- don't make the mistake of sending out post cards, flyers, etc without a call to action. Far too many direct mail pieces and websites tell the target audience all about the business but they don't tell the customer (Whats In It For Them) an easy way to remember is radio WIIFM whats in it for me.

3. Use a website with your classified ads and Direct mail- A website is the perfect way to let people know what you can do for them, and it creates a great low resistance way to contact you without needing to talk on the phone. Most consumer hate the phone and the last thing they want to do is immediately share there life story of why they are motivated sellers. Instead use a website that offers a free report like "how to sell your house fast in any market". If someone requests that report you will know that more than likely they are motivated sellers, because people don't request info on topics that they are not concerned with. Be sure to make them leave at minimum an email address and name, but phone number is nice as well.