Thanks for the last 7 years!

Friday September 3rd come and celebrate our 7th year of business with us and FREE Sushi, Champagne and Subway from 3:00pm onwards. Hope to see you here!

Wow can you believe it? We’ve been in business 7 years and I’d love it if you could come along and celebrate with us because without you, it would have not been possible!

Here’s the details:

• Event: Sushi, Champagne and Subway afternoon celebration

• When: Friday September 3rd, 2010

• Where: Level 1, 18 Brendan Drive, Nerang, Qld

• Entry: FREE

• Start time: 3:00pm

• RSVP: by email, phoning me or sms ing me no later than Wed September 1st

• Finishes: about 6:00pm

Really hope you can make an appearance and help us celebrate our 7th year of

business so RSVP today and myself and my team look forward to seeing you on Friday August 27th at 3:00pm.

Robyn,

Accounts, Administration & Logistics

Hi I’m really proud to let you know I now have another set of hands and another brain to help me out to cope with the outstanding growth that’s taking place here at our Copywriting & Marketing Centre headquarters the moment.

Robyn’s as sharp as a tack and core responsibilities are accounts, business development and logistics as well as everything else that comes her way.

Thanks for everything

Eddie and the team

• Phone: 0412 288 339

May Marketing Results Are In!

Remember back in May when I threw out the challenge to help 10 business owners over 10 hours tweak and review their marketing strategy and any marketing copy? Well it ended up with me seeing 31 Gold Coast business owners over 3 days across a wide sector of businesses. There were professional services, trades, start ups, retailers, inventors and even a convenience store owner!

So, and as an avid business owner, I thought you’d like to know some of the general results, outcomes and solutions these business owners had.

• Systems – 39% of business owners I had one-on-one power sessions with said they struggled with having the systems in place to market their business consistently.

• Websites – 34% said they had a fair amount of traffic hitting their website but their conversion sales or enquiry rate was very poor.

“I recently had a “power session” with Eddie. In just over an hour I came away with sales headlines, promotional ideas and a campaign plan. All in just over an hour Eddie is more than just a copywriter – he sees the big picture and can assist with business strategies on how to make your copy work best for you.”

Sarah Allan, Marketing & Business Development Manager

Active Body Therapies

Where To Spend – 11% said they understood how important marketing is, but were not sure where it was best to spend their marketing (not advertising) dollars.

• Not measuring results and sounding all the same! And last but not least, 16% said they lacked the writing skills to attract attention, create offers and separate themselves from their competitors using their USP. They also expressed that they had spent thousands on marketing and never measured the results.

“I recently had a “power session” with Eddie. In just over an hour I came away with sales headlines, promotional ideas and a campaign plan. All in just over an hour Eddie is more than just a copywriter – he sees the big picture and can assist with business strategies on how to make your copy work best for you”.

Sarah Allan, Marketing & Business Development Manager

Active Body Therapies

Solutions

• Lack of Systems – For the 39% who struggled with not having the time to create and implement a marketing system or funnel my advice was to dedicate a marketing budget no matter how big or small and work with that.

Then automate as much process as you can and outsource or delegate other duties or tasks so you as the business owner can create and set up a marketing funnel that focuses on bringing in clients from your website, print, email and whatever other marketing strategies you use for the growth of your business. Keep testing keep measuring and moving forward. Oh and if it doesn’t feel right on first impressions, don’t do it!

• Poor Website conversion rates – For the 34% who said they had a fair amount of traffic hitting their website but they weren’t converting those visitors into prospects or sales although each case is different there were a few commonalities.

1) Some of the websites looked great but were confusing and slow to load. They had lots of reverse text (white words on coloured backgrounds), which makes the copy hard to read especially on a computer screen.

2) Slow loading websites makes people click away because people are time poor and impatient so keep the flash graphics to a minimum.

3) Other websites I reviewed had headlines, sub-headers and body content that didn’t attract, connect or motivate their audience to take any form of action or add anything of value for their visitor such as free report downloads, or offer.

4) And a smaller percentage of those websites I reviewed consisted of content that was more about how the good the business was instead of answering the “what’s in it for me?” as a potential prospect or consumer.

• Where To Spend Their Marketing Dollars – For the 11% said they understood how important marketing is, but were not sure where it was best to spend their marketing (not advertising) dollars so here’s what I shared with them generally as each business had different markets, different strategies and different budgets.

1) Find one basic strategy that works the best, then do it consistently.

2) Places ads (or banner ads) in publications and websites where your target audience reads, not where you think they read.

3) Keep all communications in language and tone that speaks to your specific target audience.

4) Focus your marketing efforts on your backend or existing clients. They know you, trust you, will refer you and can be a goldmine of new and repeat business.

5) Before spending a cent, ask the magazine, website or wherever your thinking of placing a print or online ad, what is the distribution and criteria of the people who read and receive the magazine, newspaper or online marketing you may be thinking of using?

6) Determine what the outcome is for your ad online or offline? Is it a brand image ad with Britney Spears scantily dressed holding a Pepsi can to drive the brand, or do you want people to phone, contact or buy from you and beat a path to your door or website?

Best wishes

Eddie

The Guy In Charge

Eddie’s Copywriting & Marketing Centre

“For Copywriting, Marketing Strategies and Marketing Collateral That Stick!”

Yesterday I was out surfing with a mate of mine who also owns a business who said to me “I’m sick of hearing about how I have to make more phone calls and keep spending money on advertising to stay competitive or to keep bringing new or repeat business in because none of its working for me?”

So, here’s a few strategies I shared with him that I use myself and that you should at least try out for yourself as well.

1) Your Mobiles a Goldmine – Go through your mobile phone ‘received’ call log and follow up everyone who contacted you in the last 3 or 6 months that you never heard from again.

2) Re-use a proven offer – Re-use a previous offer you had that worked really well

3) Use FREE – The old processes and mindset of selling people at the first point of contact are dead and buried! These days the consumers in charge, so use a FREEBIE to attract, qualify and convert leads into business. Remember, people love to try and buy, but hate to be sold.

Any questions you have feel free to contact me or leave a comment

Eddie

The Guy In Charge

Eddie’s Copywriting & Marketing Centre

“Your service partner for copywriting and marketing that stick!”

Seven ‘Must Have’ Strategies  And Systems For  Consistent Marketing Returns, enjoy Eddie

Hi. Friends and clients often ask me as a copywriter, marketing strategist and business owner, what do I consider the most important elements or steps are to keep your marketing machine turning over?  So here are just some of the strategies and systems I use and think work the best.

1) Devote at least two hours per day on lead generation

2) Have a system that can grow and bring in new clients without you falling into a lot of the high priced empty promises out there

3) Focusing on creating life long clients instead of finding them, flogging them and forgetting them

4) Being able to create and offer educational or informational products such as CD’s Video’s, e-books gives you another arm and even income in business

5) Focus  your efforts on capturing website visitors details, building relationships and rapport, then converting people into clients

6) Have auto-responder emails that engages people, create rapport, build trust and that save you time

7) Don’t rely on one marketing stream or channel

Marketing Brainstorming Sessions And A Chance To Win A $2,000 Copywriting & Marketing Package

Replace that old dead in the water lead generation, referral or  introduction letter with a new and exciting lead generation letter in April, and you’ll receive a BONUS 90 Minute Marketing strategy session and a FREE ENTRY for your chance to win a *$2,000 copywriting and marketing package.

Instead of this package costing $1,637 like it normally would, you’ll get your new letter and a 90 minute marketing strategy session with me for just $1,211 payable in two easy payments over two months as well.

So for a fantastic new brand awareness, charm or lead generation letter to generate new or repeat sales , a free 90 Minute Marketing brainstorming session and a BONUS FREE CHANCE to win a *$2,000 copywriting and marketing package, on me, contact me today. Have a great day, best wishes, Eddie!

Stuff about the draw – *$2,000 copywriting and marketing package draw starts April 1st, 2010, closes June 30th, 2010. Winner notified by phone or email and winner will win $2,000 in copywriting and marketing services for their business. You must have a letter or other copywriting project written by us and paid for to receive free bonus entry into draw.

Thanks and until next time be safe

Eddie

Your Friend in Lead Generation

Hi!

Had an interesting meeting last week with a new client last week and even though his business is quite successful, it seemed he was like a lot of business owners out there confused about the differences between marketing and advertising. Now I’m sure everyone has their own definition, which is fine, however this is basically how I understand the difference between marketing and advertising based on my own copywriting and marketing experiences that I hope will help clarify it for you, if you are confused about it.

The difference between marketing and advertising

Advertising –  are the messages and advertising channels you use to acquire new or repeat business, build your business and your brand. An an example let’s say I do a radio ad that’s advertising. A newspaper ad is advertising. Advertising is all about what channel or channels are you going to use to get your business name out there so people are aware of your business and what your business offers?

Marketing – Is the combined strategies of research, preparation and planning leading up to your campaign, the execution of your campaign and what’s required after your advertising has finished. You know, where are we placing the ad, who is going to see it, what do we want to achieve with this campaign, are we going to drive them to our website, how is the product or service fulfilled and so on? Marketing is basically everything you have to do ensure a smooth transaction between you and your customers.

Hope this help clarify the differences for you, have a great day and I’d love to hear your feedback

or summary on what you think the differences are below.

Until next time, best wishes, your friend and service partner in lead generation

Eddie

More about Eddie here

Whether your in the UK, South Africa or Australia, post your biggest marketing challenge for 2010 and I’ll give you some free advice and potential strategies that may just help you out so I can help you overcome that challenge without it costing you a cent.

Thanks for your trust and support and be safe this Christmas

Eddie

More about Eddie here

The answer: consistency, plain and simple.

Sarah Millenson, SME, Northern Territory

30 Words Or Less Copywriting Challenge

In 30 words or less describe why you want a lead generation marketing message makeover from me on any marketing collateral you have such as a website, sales letter or anything else in your marketing arsenal for just $99!

One winner will be selected and will receive lead generation copy written by me on the marketing piece of their choice for just $99 all before Dec 24th, 2009.

The drawn winner will need to be available to visit me at my office next Tuesday. Sorry to my friends overseas, you can enter though we just won’t meet each other at my office.

Entries close this Friday Dec 18th so apply now in 30 words or less to be in the draw to win new lead generation copy for just $99 for your core marketing piece by emailing me at: Copywriting makeover

Eddie

Hi this week I thought I’d share a few of the lead generation and low cost marketing tips I use that some of you can apply and some of you won’t. Enjoy and thanks, Eddie.

36 Low Cost Marketing Ideas

1. VIP nights these are great for retail to move old stock or show off new lines
2. Launch nights, invite existing and new clients you’d like to win on premises to show off new equipment that can do xyz faster, quicker or cheaper
3. Promotional pens, sticky notes, calendars and rulers these work well for professional and trade services. Include them in invoices, quotes, thanks you’s and so on. Be careful though on what product you use.
4. Preferred Customer cards — these work well for professional and trade services
5. E-newsletters or video once a month to existing clients, educate don’t sell
6. 3 step marketing campaign

• Step 1 – send a sales letter that directs existing or new potential clients to your website for a special offer
• Step 2 – Have a video on website supporting your letter with an offer where you capture their name, email and phone details in return they may go into a draw, receive a preferred customer price saving or something of added value
• Step 3 – Follow up with either a phone call or email 3-5 days after they have downloaded the gift to convert a percentage of inquiries into sales and to start building that relationship for future

7. Focus your core marketing strategies on your top 20% of clients

8. Sponsorship of local soccer, netball or football team

9. Hold a movie night for clients

10. Pay the percentage credit card processing fee for people who want to purchase your product or service using their credit card

11. Pay the GST for your customers

12. Always thank people for their business

13. Have a product or service for the month

14. Follow up if a warranty is about to expire. “Hi Just letting you know your warranty on your new Mac is about to expire” and so on. From there you can offer to upgrade them into another warranty agreement maintenance program, or offer to buy it off from them so they can upgrade to new Mac or equipment?

15. Bookmarks work really well, most business people read. Every night, my business is in their face. Cost $150 for 200 bookmarks or so, return so far after one week of mailing and handing them out $896

16. Business anniversary functions — “we’ve been in business 6 years and have you to thank”.

17. RSL prize home tickets for clients who spend a certain amount with you or you could do it as a good faith gesture. $5 a ticket, chance to win a home and financial freedom, clients love it and it’s better than a lotto ticket plus you’re supporting a good cause.

18. Market research meetings — wear a bullet proof vest, invite 5-8 top clients and ask them how you can improve your service to them

19. Have a referral program in place

20. Signage and branding that carries across from reception to how you answer the phone

21. Surveys either in person or via email

22. Use or have a business card that has an offer on it that directs them to your website where you capture their name for future marketing

23. T-shirts with business name or website on them

24. Joint ventures with services that will benefit you, your clients and the JV

25. Melbourne Cup sweeps, NRL football or even hold a Bathurst sweep (subject to your client profile).

26. Include a brochure or catalogue of your other products or services with every order

27. Record a DVD and mail it to prospective clients.

28. Got a story? Use the media, it’s priceless.

29. Get it for better price or added bonus when you buy online. Dell computers do this really well

30. Lead generator – Hold an event where people can walk up to a laptop, enter their details then the computer randomly selects a winner where the person may win xyz.

31. Use coloured envelopes that support your brand colour when using snail mail

32. If you guarantee your product or service, the longer the guarantee, the more sales you make.

33. Use postcards to Business PO Boxes and previous clients

34. If you have a JV include their flyer, brochure or whatever in your mail outs and they do the same

35. If you have an e-book, C.D, DVD or something, offer your JV the chance for his/her clients to save and make some money promoting your e-book in his e-newsletter or something or offer a special price.

36. Offer a preferred price saving to businesses in your local district

8 Marketing Sins

Solution – check out the six lead opening sentences I have up there for you on this website.

Eddie

Input & feedback? I’d love to hear your comments at