Direct Marketing Advantage - Latest Comments

Re: Is Email Marketing Dead?

Darryl DeLong — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 22:49:02 -0000

Email marketing is NOT dead. Many people still use email to followup with prospects.

Re: A List Of WordPress Plugins You Might Find Useful

wordpress chat — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 07:14:27 -0000

Wordpress plugins are very helpful to extend the functionality of the website. This post contains many useful plugins which are beneficial for website designer. I like akismet plugin very much and also i use it in my site because it protect comments from spamming.

Re: How To Start Making Money With A Blog

Liam Butler — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:18:54 -0000

for adsense to work effectively it is critical that you have accurate keyword placement, otherwise google will just select random ads. this should be avoided at all costs.
One way of getting ads to blend in is to remove the border and match the font and size to that of your website. It is more likely to look like your natural content rather than ad placement by google.
http://www.buildmylisttoday...

Re: Is Email Marketing Dead?

Liam Butler — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:06:42 -0000

email marketing is very much alive and well. How many other forms of online marketing can turn in an ROI of $40 for a $1 investment.
You need a strategy, a system. You also need some patience to test your emails
http://www.buildmylisttoday...

Re: Bill Bernbach on Advertising

Jaeyoung Kim — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:20:53 -0000

Thank you so much for sharing!! For a Foreinger, it is quite difficult to understand what he said, but you put some important message^^! Thanks

Re: How To Become A Multi-Millionaire For Sure In 7 Years

Jumarketeer — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:10:16 -0000

How To Instantly Increase The 7 Main And Often Overlooked Areas of
Your Life And Why You Must In Order To SucceedI found this to be very useful...http://secret-of-the-millionaire-m...

Re: Dennis Pennis Insults Celebrities

Really its very interesting. Usually I am not interested on this topic but now I like your write up. It spark out.

Re: A List Of WordPress Plugins You Might Find Useful

Rezbi — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:04:15 -0000

It's there. Check again.

Re: A List Of WordPress Plugins You Might Find Useful

website development — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:06:58 -0000

you have missed out all in one SEO pack :P

Re: Five Things Worth Hating About a Career in Copywriting (And How to Get Over Them)

AlanCarrOnline — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 15:36:56 -0000

I'm experiencing #1 (no response from the client) right now. Happily they loved and already paid for the main promo; this is just a little add-on for 1/15th of the main fee - but still frustrating to get no feedback or confirmation the gig is finished! Drives me nutz...

Re: Why Small Businesses Are Suffering

Mushroom — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:54:16 -0000

Hi Mary,

You are absolutely right, and this is the point of my article - to highlight the dire need for marketing in small businesses and prevent financial disasters from setting in. Online visibility isn't hard - it just needs the right focus and right attention to get things moving. Handing out leaflets in-store telling customer's they're now online and can order their favourite goods online and even reserve them is a great way to bring in even more business from existing customers. Always look at making a customer's interaction with you more pleasurable. I've got my glut of loyalty cards, and a simple email announcing in-store promotions is all it takes to get me either ordering online or visiting the shop in question.

best
Arfa

Re: Why Small Businesses Are Suffering

Special-Handmade Custom-Jewell — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:35:44 -0000

Hi Arfa,
You make some excellent points! As you are probably aware, Ireland is going through a tough recession at the moment, like many other countries, and the one thing that small business are being strongly advised to do, by the Government and economy experts, is to start becoming more visible in order to survive. They are being urged to get an online presence, even if they are not selling online, as with people using blackberry's and iphones now, telephone books are becoming redundant when people are looking for a business or service. People, and especially our up and coming younger generation, all use the internet, even if it is just for pricing.

And if you sell something people are looking for, even if you are no remotely in their area, if they are in desperate need of it, they will buy from you, pay the postage and have you send it to them. A great example of this is in December, in the lead up to Christmas. Parents are frantically trying to get hold of the latest gadget, game or console for their kids and the first thing they do if their local shops have sold out is, they hit the internet! And they will ring up stores hundreds of miles away in the hopes of getting their kids what they want.

Even the recession last Christmas did not deter them and it won't this Christmas either.

Another great thing that is in operation here in most small businesses now, and is working fantastically well given we are in a recession, is saving stamps. They builds up loyalty customers and ensures they come back and spend at your store or business. Some businesses are finally putting themselves in the minds of their potential customers and realising they now need to think outside the box to survive.

Small businesses need to work smarter, not harder and marketing is not something they should have on a "wish list", it is now an essential requirement if businesses want to do more than simply survive.

Great article Arfa!

all the best,
Mary

Re: Why Small Businesses Are Suffering

Mushroom — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:01:54 -0000

This is certainly a good start for any business – to re-assess their marketing and to actually start doing something. One thing I teach my clients is to use what I call the snowball effect – you start with small perhaps even tiny marketing and promotional steps and slowly but surely start building upon them. Eventually, your effects culminate into a huge boost for your business – but it’s starting out that’s the most important thing. I would start with word of mouth and referrals from existing customers – it’s free, easy and extremely powerful and build from here.

Re: Why Small Businesses Are Suffering

Dhakira Sardar — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:22:03 -0000

What an eye-opener this article was - and a great one at that! All the points you raised were very valid and very true - and it's important for businesses to start taking note of the power of marketing and what it can truly do for them.
Thanks again for a wonderful article!

Shabana Sardar

Re: Six Figures is Chump Change

Rezbi — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 11:33:29 -0000

Clayton's personal articles will appear every Monday, give or take a day.

There are legacy articles from Clayton's old site by other authors which are also essential reading.

Re: Six Figures is Chump Change

Tom Wanek — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:23:07 -0000

Thanks so much for the quick response! Would love to see the follow-up articles to this. Keep 'em coming!

Re: Six Figures is Chump Change

Rezbi — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:04:50 -0000

Hmm...

Good question.

Lemme go check...

Okay, I'm back.

January 14, 2008.

Re: Six Figures is Chump Change

Tom Wanek — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 09:48:01 -0000

Terrific article! When was it originally published?

Re: Six Figures is Chump Change

Rezbi — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:29:12 -0000

Thanks, Rick.

It's people like you - who appreciate the effort - who make it possible to want to do this type of thing.

Re: Six Figures is Chump Change

Rick — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:17:19 -0000

I know for a fact, the shutting down of the Makepeace site left huge crater-sized holes in the hearts of aspiring and ambitious copywriters, marketers and entrepreneurs.

Even if it was just left up as an archive site, it would have had tremendous benefit and value.

This site is the next best thing. I'm appreciative and I'm sure others will be appreciative too.

For you to take the initiative and reach out to the Makepeaces shows huge initiative and a desire to contribute to the marketing community.

- Rick Duris

Re: Six Figures is Chump Change

Rezbi — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:59:33 -0000

Thanks, Arfa. I thought that's a great piece to start off with.

I'm hoping the demand will be there so I can get more articles to post. I'm hoping at least one of Clayton's own articles a week and some of the other authors', too.

Don't forget to sign up for updates at the top right.

Re: Six Figures is Chump Change

Mushroom — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:55:48 -0000

A Makepeace classic - I LOVED the Total Package and this article is one of the reasons why. Solid, practical and I believe groundbreaking stuff which can easily make people a lot of cash. It's certainly changed my perception of freelancing and I'm looking forward to learning more over the coming weeks. Keep it up, because this stuff is golden!

Re: Why Small Businesses Are Suffering

Mushroom — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 04:12:32 -0000

Hi Richard,

Thank you for your comment! Your comment is a great example of why businesses should look at working with professional copywriters and marketing consultants - because they can really help you improve your written materials, help you position your product better and ultimately help improve conversions. This is even more relevant for businesses struggling in today's tough economy.

Best
Arfa

Re: Why Small Businesses Are Suffering

Richard Crooke — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 22:16:48 -0000

I met Arfa through the warrior forum not looking for any service. We sparked a friendship and I learned of her copywrite talent. I am running my first product launch and gave Arfa my sales copy for review and comments. I was amazed what I had received back, my sales copy was 300% improved.

I highly recommend Arfa as a friend and professional.

Richard Crooke

Re: The Most Common Copywriting Mistake

Rezbi — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:27:06 -0000

I'm still guilty of it. Especially when I'm rushing to get something done.

I have to scrutinize my writing over and over to get it right.