By Debbie Allen, All Rights Reserved Whether planning a new web site or making enhancements to an existing one, the following list of marketing principals will help you build your expert status online.  These proven direct marketing concepts form a comprehensive checklist that you can use to get more attention from the media online.

PUT YOUR FACTS UP FRONT
. Add your branded catch praise to your home page and share your uniqueness upfront
. Present a brief overview of your business from your home page featuring your expertise
. Write in a friendly, welcoming and benefit oriented tone the media can relate to
. Show your expertise in your bio, mission, philosophy, goals and/or market position
. Develop credibility while building desire to contact you as the expert of choice

LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES EVERYWHERE
. Note that most of the media prefer to be contacted via email these days
. Share your articles with other experts who can promote you on their websites
. Forward your articles to online newsletters and media for free at www.web-source.net
. Get tons of media leads for expert articles for under $500 per year at www.prleads.com

CREATE AN ONLINE PRESS ROOM
. List all media appearances and major publications who have featured you
. List topics of interest that you are an expert on
. Add idea and topic summaries for future media interviews and/or featured articles
. Ask for a free copy of the taped show from radio and TV appearances Read more ...

By Debbie Allen, All Rights Reserved

While writing my book, Confessions of Shameless Internet Promoters, I contacted dozens of Internet marketing experts from around the world. During just one hour via e-mail, I had written to and received e-mails from all over the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK and Australia. That is five countries around the globe in just ONE HOUR. The power and the access to the world is now available to all of us at lightening speed.

Here’s an example of how the amazing power of the Internet can find endless opportunities: A year ago, I had a client in Australia that was in search of another speaker like myself that is an expert in marketing and retail, but that lived in Australia. Since I live in Phoenix, Arizona US, I did not know a soul in Australia, much less a great speaker in the same niche market and the same topic of expertise my client was looking for. But, following my motto to “Never Throw Business Away”, I set out to find my Australian client a dynamic expert that lived in her country.

First, I did a search on Yahoo – Australia. Since my site comes up very high on the search engines and directories when typing in the keywords retail speaker, I was surprised that another speaker appeared first on the list. John Stanley – who is this John Stanley I thought. I clicked onto his site and viewed it in great detail. I discovered that I had some tough competition on the other side of the world. Not only was John an expert in retail, he was the perfect fit for my client. So I sent him an email with the client’s contact information. Now you may be thinking, why would you send your client to your competition? Read more ...

By Debbie Allen, All Rights Reserved
1. Send Them An Email With Your Signature

Always use a well-crafted signature file at the end of your email message. It amazes me that so many people miss this simple online marketing strategy. It is easy and very effective! You not only give prospective customers every way possible to contact you - you also have the opportunity to drive them to you Web site. Always include your email address, snail mail address, phone, fax, catch praise and/or unique selling proposition, something for free on your
Web site and a hyperlink directed to your site.

2. Become A Shameless Email Marketeer

Look for opportunities to network online via email. Search for organizations and associates that you can do business with, send out emails to share links, send emails to anyone that
may help and support your success. I have met friends and business associates from around the world. Many have added a link to their site and some have formed successful joint ventures that lead to more magnified marketing. The world is now available to you at a click of the mouse. That is just too exciting!

3. Develop And Effective Website With Descriptive Keywords

Use keywords that best describe and summarize your business and expertise. List the keywords in your Web site title bar and throughout the text on your home page or link page. This strategy is crucial for search engines and directories to locate your site. If you are missing out on this - you are missing out on TONS of online exposure.

4. Post Your E-zine In Online Directories Read more ...

By Debbie Allen, All Rights Reserved

While writing my book, Confessions of Shameless Internet Promoters, I contacted dozens of Internet marketing experts from around the world. During just one hour via e-mail, I had written to and received e-mails from all over the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK and Australia. That is five countries around the globe in just ONE HOUR. The power and the access to the world is now available to all of us at lightening speed.

Here’s an example of how the amazing power of the Internet can find endless opportunities: A year ago, I had a client in Australia that was in search of another speaker like myself that is an expert in marketing and retail, but that lived in Australia. Since I live in Phoenix, Arizona US, I did not know a soul in Australia, much less a great speaker in the same niche market and the same topic of expertise my client was looking for. But, following my motto to “Never Throw Business Away”, I set out to find my Australian client a dynamic expert that lived in her country.

First, I did a search on Yahoo – Australia. Since my site comes up very high on the search engines and directories when typing in the keywords retail speaker, I was surprised that another speaker appeared first on the list. John Stanley – who is this John Stanley I thought. I clicked onto his site and viewed it in great detail. I discovered that I had some tough competition on the other side of the world. Not only was John an expert in retail, he was the perfect fit for my client. So I sent him an email with the client’s contact information. Now you may be thinking, why would you send your client to your competition? Read more ...

By Debbie Allen, All Rights Reserved Building your expertise online is a no brainer – simply write great text!
Some of the most successful online marketeers are just good copywriters. They know how to build trust with their viewers, connect with their emotions and needs and then get them to respond – this is done by building their expertise in the form of well-written words.

Here are some ways that you can start to build your online expertise today:

· Write A Dynamic Biography
· List your expertise shamelessly – don’t hold back.
·Tell viewers why YOU and YOUR company are THE experts

Most people hold back from shamelessly promoting themselves and their expertise – but you must tell people how and why they need to trust your expertise. List everything you have done to build your business expertise.

Here are some questions to get you thinking about what to add to your bio:

· Have you ever won an award or even been nominated for an award?
It does not matter if it was ten years ago – there is no time limit on promotion and your expertise.
· Have you overcome business obstacles and turned around your business or consulted with someone that has?
· Are you listed in a Who’s Who of Experts?
· Do you belong to numerous community organizations, served on boards of a non-profit company, supported and served your community? Get the idea? List it ALL in a well-written format.

Get Lots of Endorsements
Third Party Endorsements Are Powerful! In fact, they are effective that in Read more ...

By Debbie Allen, All Rights Reserved 

Letting go of any fears that hold you back from contacting more prospective customers will set you free and open you up to more sales opportunities than ever before. When you let go of your fears, or act in spite of them, your sales will skyrocket.  Great salespeople put themselves at risk, no matter what their fears.  

Fear is a powerful restrictive force that can have a fundamental influence on salespeople.  It stops them from doing what they want to do, it forces them to do things they don’t want to do, and it hinders progress and prevents them from reaching their sales goals.  There is no need to live with fear; just because you cannot see a solution doesn’t mean there isn’t one. 

  Read more ...

By Debbie Allen, All Rights Reserved 

Salespeople who are successful have confidence in their abilities and creativity.  Unsuccessful salespeople, on the other hand, expect to fail. They lack confidence in themselves and their abilities.  Because they lack the confidence in themselves, they see obstacles and are unwilling to take risks. 

It’s normal for salespeople to occasionally question, have doubt, and subsequently lose confidence regarding the superiority of their company, product, service, pricing, and even themselves. During these times of doubt, it’s important to think back to all your successes, how you felt at that time and why you felt that way.  Let those positive feelings recharge and revitalize your beliefs that you and what you are selling are indeed the very best. 

Everyone has confidence in something!

  Read more ...

By Debbie Allen, All Rights Reserved 

The key to your sales success is to raise your own energy and enthusiasm; when you do, people will automatically be attracted to you and what you have to offer. Enthusiasm and energy attracts!

You have a tremendous responsibility to your organization to always be ON.  When you step on to a sales floor or walk into a sales meeting, you are on stage.  Just as an actor walks onto a stage, you need to be ON every time your audience is watching you.  Your customers are your audience.  They always can tell if you are ON or just acting the part.  Your attitude, energy, and enthusiasm play out your results.  Make every effort to be ON during every moment you actually communicate with your potential customers. 

So how do you get ON when you’re feeling OFF?  If you find yourself in a slump, it’s a pretty good bet that you put yourself there on your own.  Therefore, you can move out of that slump on your own too.  Read more ...

By Debbie Allen, All Rights Reserved 

Sales resistance should be viewed as an opportunity, not a roadblock. Your prospect is letting you get to know him or her better, and helping you to uncover their needs, wants, and concerns more effectively.  A prospect who shows resistance to something is actually participating in the sale and connecting with you at some level, instead of moving away from it.  When handled correctly, this opportunity can be turned into a positive, long-lasting customer relationship.

Consider any sale’s objection, resistance, or complaint as a way to get better.  When a customer resists, it is simply a nudge for you to move in another direction. You are being told to take another road or see it from another view–your prospect’s point of view.  With nonverbal communication, your prospect is saying, “Don’t go down that road, let’s go my way instead.”

  Read more ...

By Debbie Allen, All Rights Reserved 

Your personal belief system will either move you ahead – or hold you back.  Period! 

The power of your belief system truly is amazing!  It is like your own personal barometer that gauges the power (or lack of it) in your subconscious mind every day. 

Most of our beliefs have been programmed deeply into our minds since childhood. Therefore, we all act and feel according to what we believe to be true about ourselves and our environment, much from beliefs formed when growing up.

Many of those beliefs and thoughts are negative and self-defeating.  We all have negative self-talk from time to time, nagging at us and beating up our confidence even after we worked so hard to build it up.  The good news is that you are an adult now, and you have the ability to take control of those voices in your head.  Read more ...