Could you imagine building an entire house with just one tool like a hammer? Yes, I’m serious, no other tools, just a hammer. How long would it take you to build a house with just a hammer? What would this house look like?
Now imagine your website is a hammer. Would you build your entire business using just this one tool? Many people put up a website and expect the world to come clamoring to their door to buy products or services. Major disappointment sets in when results are not immediate. A website is an extension of your business and takes time to evolve and get discovered by your ideal clients. Your website is one of many tools in your marketing tool box. Here are a few affordable, do-it-now marketing tools to get you excited about promoting your website.
AUTO ID PLATES
How often are you stuck in traffic and end up staring at the license plate in front of you? This is the perfect place to discreetly display your web site address. If you have a short slogan or tagline, it can be placed on top with your web site address on the bottom. This is a more random marketing approach and similar to the magnetic car signs. Have you ever searched for a pen and paper while trying to memorize the magnetic sign on the truck for handyman services, plumbing or hardwood flooring? The person in the vehicle behind you could be your next customer.
CD BUSINESS CARDS
Some of the best and most unique marketing tools for business are CD Business Cards. These are the size of a credit card and look like a miniature CD. The first thing I thought was, “Do I put this in my CD/ROM drive and does it work?” Sure enough! It fits neatly into the inside circle of a CD/ROM drive. It can hold about 50 Megs of multimedia information about your company or products and plays in less than three minutes. If the customer is online when viewing the CD, they can click on links and be taken to your web site. It’s unlikely that anyone would toss this business card into the trash. They come in all shapes and sizes for less than $1.00 each.
LABELS
Use labels with your web site address and catchy slogan to seal your correspondence. This is one more way to flash your web site address in front of a potential customer. I recently purchased some artwork at a craft fair. Luckily the artist had placed a label on the back of the picture so I could go to the website and order more artwork for friends. Without that label she would have missed out on some sales after the craft fair was over. Create your own labels for wine bottles to give as gifts. Lots of fun ideas at online websites to spark your creativity.
WEB POSTCARDS
Did you know that a large percentage of new business comes from referrals? How often do you stay in touch with your clients? At a minimum, quarterly correspondence will keep you fresh in their minds. Several online companies offer full color postcards, business cards, bookmarks and note cards of your business web site. They take a picture of your Home page and you can insert your text message. A proof is emailed to you to edit or accept. Web PostCards are great for direct mail campaigns or to hand out at trade shows. Got a new web site? Tell everyone about it with Web PostCards. Bigger than a business card, your prospect is more likely to place the card by the computer and look up your web site. Web PostCards are rarely discarded and frequently passed on to other potential clients. Free samples are mailed to you by request by most companies.
Have fun with these and will you please send me an email about your other creative marketing ideas? Remember, if you’re not promoting your site - who is?
Anita Larson, The Web Muse & Co., Creating websites and marketing strategies to attract your ideal clients. Sign up for the free Museletter for do-it-now marketing tips and web wisdom at http://www.thewebmuse.com/museletters.html
The Web Muse & Co
Website: http://www.thewebmuse.com
Phone: 303.791.9539
Email: anita@thewebmuse.com
Writing a cover letter can be like cleaning your garage — you don’t know where to start … and you just want it done.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could use a few “underground” techniques to write cover letters that get more job interviews? Faster and easier than you ever thought possible?
Well, pay attention. I’m going to share 3 cover letter secrets that should get you more interviews, while a lot of the guesswork out of your letter writing.
To dig up these “cover letter secrets,” I interviewed career expert and author, Jimmy Sweeney (www.amazing-cover-letters.com).
Read on!
Cover Letter Secret #1 - Drop The Big Words
Always keep one thing in mind: when you write a cover letter, you’re not trying to impress readers with your vocabulary. You’re trying to land an interview.
“Write your cover letter in language anyone can understand. Bring it all together with a friendly tone throughout and chances are you’ve got yourself a winner,” says Sweeney.
So, don’t write gibberish, like this:
“I have consulted, choreographed, compiled and specifically isolated technological solutions for challenging, yet highly inordinate retroflex samplings that have lead me to a potential mathematical resolution.”
Write in plain English:
“I have taken the time to research your company and am very impressed. I have a real passion for this industry. I would love the chance to interview with (company name) for the position of account executive. Thank you in advance for the opportunity. I really look forward to meeting you.”
See the difference?
“To improve your cover letter, simply read it out loud. If you find tongue twisters or wording that sounds a little too impressive, fix them! Write as you speak and let your personality shine through. Show your enthusiasm and clearly ask for the job interview,” says Sweeney.
Which leads to the next tip …
Cover Letter Secret #2 - Ask And Ye Shall Receive
Want more job interviews? The answer is simple. All you have to do is ask — clearly and directly.
Most job hunters beat around the bush in their letters. But this is a mistake, according to Sweeney. “Use your cover letter as the marketing tool to bring home the one result you most desire — the job interview. And you get that interview by asking for it,” he says.
Here’s one way to ask for that interview:
“I am excited about meeting you for an interview at your earliest convenience to discuss how my credentials meet your needs. I can be reached at 555-555-5555 and will call you to follow up, as well, to make sure you received my application.”
This approach can work as your final paragraph. Remember, you are asking the reader (HR Director, Hiring Manager) to take a specific action. You want him or her to pick up the phone to call you for the interview. Don’t leave it to chance — ask directly.
Cover Letter Secret #3 - P.S., Hire Me!
Here’s a blockbuster cover letter secret, one proven by decades of advertising. It’s this: add a P.S. to your cover letter.
What the heck for, you ask?
A P.S. is nearly impossible to ignore. When you see one in a letter, you are practically forced to read it. Smart marketers have known this for nearly 100 years. (To prove it for yourself, read any 10 “junk mail” letters and you will find a P.S. at the end of at least 9. Try it!)
“A few years ago, my background in marketing led me to insert a P.S at the end of a job-search cover letter. I figured if it worked so well selling things by mail, it would help job-seekers who want to ’sell’ themselves to employers,” says Sweeney.
And what happened?
“My clients immediately experienced a dramatic increase in job interviews when they started adding a P.S.,” says Sweeney.
Here’s an example:
P.S. I would like to restate my desire to interview for the position of {insert job title }. {Company name} is #1 on my list of companies I want to work for. I am available immediately and can be reached on my mobile phone at 555-555-5555. Thank you!
In the above example, your P.S. can directly ask for the interview and tell the reader what action to take. You can also restate why you believe you’re such a strong candidate for the job.
“Take advantage of the fact that people are trained to read a P.S. — be sure to include one in your next cover letter,” suggests Sweeney.
Note: you can download a Special Report, with 10 of Jimmy Sweeney’s best cover letter secrets, at this link - http://www.gresumes.net/sample-cover-letter
Now, go out and make your own luck!
Kevin Donlin is President of Guaranteed Resumes. Since 1996, he and his team have provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in all 50 states and 23 countries. Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, CBS MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal’s National Business Employment Weekly, CBS Radio, and many others.
As a reader of this publication, you’re eligible for a special offer. Get your Free Job Search Kit ($25.00 value) at the Guaranteed Resumes Web site - http://www.gresumes.com
The Maharal explains that the spiritual world of the after-life
is not available to us in this world because it is beyond our
senses and we have no way to represent it to ourselves or to
perceive it’s reality.
Similarly Rav Yisrael Salanter emphasized that we do not have
any direct access to our subconscious yet the foundation of our
decisions and actions are rooted there.
Consequently, it appears that our struggle for holiness,
righteousness and a spiritual life are in vain. In order to
succeed in perfecting our character and reaching completeness
(shleimus) our Torah values must penetrate our inner
being. How can we expect to overcome the darker side of our
personality if we don’t even have a way to break through and
communicate to our inner self?
Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler in his book “Strive for Truth” explains
that it is this realization that “there is no way out”, which
actually opens the doors to our inner reserves of strength and
heavenly assistance, paving the way for our success.
The dynamics of our “no-win” situation, together with our
“must-win” dedication and love of G-d, skyrockets us above the
impossible. Miracles only happen when one has reached the end of
their ability to succeed. Abraham was saved from the furnace
when he accepted the challenge and marched forward to a miracle.
(Yalkut Shimoni). The Red sea spilt only when the
Israelites jumped in the sea. As it says. “The Lord said to
Moses, Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the children of Israel
and let them advance.” (Shemot -14:15).
During Chanuka it was clear that a handful of Jewish Priests
could not defeat a mighty army. However, since there was “no way
out” and they accepted their absurd challenge they received a
miracle above the bounds of nature. It was this “chutzpa
for the sake of G-d” which caused their success beyond any
reasonable logic.
The number eight represents that which is beyond the confines of
this world. The eight days of Chanuka are here to tell us that
if we do the will of our Creator we can succeed beyond all the
odds. History has shown us that this has always been the story
of the Jewish nation.
Have a Happy Chanuka!
