10 Free Marketing Strategies - That Cost Virtually Nothing

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AppId is over the quota

1 - Reduce your advertising and marketing budget by 50%. This obviously seems a bold statement BUT the truth is that more than likely 20% of your budget accounts for 80% of your return on investment. If you're using 5 different channels of advertising and marketing then statistically 2 of those channels are dominating your results, so dump the other 3. Alternately we can use the money that we save on looking into new avenues for internet marketing. Be sure to speak with your media advertiser and ask/demand a discount, in this unstable economy they are very likely to give you a large discount.

2 - Public relations - PR. As we know, most people believe what they read in the papers, see on TV and hear on the Radio so if we can expertly position ourselves where we are able to incorporate these aspects then 'technically' we are considered an expert. For example you could write a small article or column for your local newspaper, most local newspapers are in need of good quality content. Most local newspapers are able to afford freelance writers so are very likely to welcome your input.

3 - Upselling. Many business owners are cautious about asking their customer to buy more. The idea that they have purchased anyway seems to most owners acceptable, but true success and momentum comes from selling the customer add-ons and 'up-graded' versions of the same product. If you sell a car, the idea is to also sell the alloy wheels, air-conditioning, the cleansing products etc. Remember - if you don't ask, you don't get.

4 - Know your customers. And I mean personally. Contact your top 20 customers and ask to meet, buy them a coffee or lunch and have a chat. We are not trying to sell them anything but we are going to ask them for referrals and to tell their friends about us. Now this may seem over the top and not something that is usual practice BUT remember, we are trying to defy the norm here - if no one else is doing this then it is the perfect reason for us to do it. Knowing your customers is one of the best free marketing strategies that one can do.

5 - Networking. Go to where your target market or synergistic businesses socialise and do business. I'm not on about spending money on joining a Networking Club or a Business Coffee Afternoon but anywhere they are, you should be too. Networking is an incredibly powerful business growth strategy that can take your business to the next level and the greatest thing about it is...it cost's nothing.

6 - Public Speaking. Now, for the more timid individual out there this may seem like a complete no go, but this must not be overlooked. Anytime you get the opportunity to speak in front of a large crowd - really what you're doing is Marketing. Along our business success journey we will encounter many opportunities to speak in public - we must stay aware of these and grab them with both hands. Are you still going to be shy when you realize it may make you 20K in sales?

7 - Sales skills. One thing that no one can ever take away from us is knowledge. We can never have enough knowledge. Read, read, read, learn, learn, learn. There are tons of books out there that will give you the extra skills needed to make even more sales. Becoming a great salesman will be the difference between a mediocre business and a very successful business. Books are relatively cheap, or you can go to the library - but we must learn as much as we can about selling. We must always be prepared to heavily invest in ourselves.

8 - Emails. Emails are FREE and an incredible way to contact and to stay in contact with our customers. If you are not emailing your customers at least once a week then you are not clearing up the money that is being left behind. At least once a week may seem excessive but remember that they don't (and shouldn't) be sales emails. Email them news, info, promotions something that will make them smile and that they can use. Trust me they will love it and it is one of the best free marketing strategies out there - as long as your not hard selling...all of the time!

9 - Joint ventures. What I'm referring to is non-competitive businesses that share the same customer. Lets say that you are in the Pet/animal industry & sell Pet grooming products. Now if you where to refer some off your customers to the local veterinarians then more than likely they will allow you to put some promotional material in their waiting room. You are both in the same industry with the same customer BUT you are not competing for the same customer. Be clever and work together.

10 - Internet Marketing. Become an expert in Online Marketing. Understand that there are thousands of ways to reach and attract new customers for free, via the internet. Research into this and become an expert to really take your business to the next level. There are also hundreds of thousands of sites that will teach you and give you all the tools and information needed including this site ;-) to become at expert in Online Marketing.

I hope you can make good use of these 10 Free Marketing Strategies.

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Marketing Strategies for Avatar

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AppId is over the quota

Having put in a huge amount of effort into the production, the production team was determined to make it a success, hence they came up with a very elaborate marketing plan. On 21 Aug 2009, moviegoers in more than 100 cinemas worldwide watched 16 minutes of footage from Avatar. Ubisoft also launched a trailer for a video game of the same name. Mattel showcased actions figures based on characters in the film. The day before, the teaser for Avatar broke a record on Apple.com after being streamed more than four million times.

As can be seen from the above, the producers of the film Avatar engaged in a very shrewd marketing campaign. They did not just focus on the film itself. They tried to make this a truly multi-media experience for the audience, involving multi-senses.

There seems to be an emerging trend in using new and effective multi-pronged approach in marketing. With such rewarding potential returns, it makes the expenses appear insignificant. If one is successful in engaging worthy partners/leaders of various fields to collaborate in a rewarding project, it would be a win-win situation for all sides where the risks are shared, while the rewards are multiplied. Let us look at some of the major factors of this collaboration strategy.

1) Social Networks

With the widespread popularity of digital worlds/societies like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, companies can tap on these markets, which bring unlimited possibilities, at a relatively low cost.

2) The webpage

If you have not already noticed, the webpage of most blockbuster films are carefully created and constructed to attract audiences. It would not be exaggerating to say that the webpage may even be the key deciding factor that determines whether someone watches a movie or not. On the Avatar webpage, we can access the storyline, character information, music, wallpaper downloads, discussion boards and much more. These help to enhance one's experiences in relation to the movie, so that one feels that he is not only passively watching a movie, but actively taking part in the story as well. Remember the success of the American Idol series? One of the key factors of its success lies in audience participation, where one can 'decide' the winner by calling in through hotlines, rather than just merely watching a singing contest where the judges have all the power and say.

3) Interactive Trailers

This point is related to 2), where the key word is interactive. Audiences want to feel that they are participating in a show, rather than just merely watching it.

4) Augmented/Changed Reality

High-technology has changed the way we live our lives and our experiences of it. 2D and 3D movies are vastly different in nature. The producers of Avatar cleverly marketed several products by requiring the audience to purchase several 'keys' in order to unlock some features that are non-accessible to non-keyholders. This strategy has already been employed by many computer and online game producers to entice the participants into parting with their cash in order to enhance one's experience of their product. Indeed, some would even go so far as to say that they are "not marketing a product, but an experience of a lifetime."

Having employed all of the above marketing strategies, Avatar has become the biggest box office movie of all time, exceeding US$2 billion in total ticket sales. This was the result of a strong partnership between various industries and is not merely the effort of one particular industry.

How We Can Apply This To The Translation Industry

We can take reference from Avatar's success and apply their formula to the translation industry, where a fruitful relationship between a translation company and its clients depends very much on a strategic partnership, much like the marketing strategy described above. Reaching out to the consumers does not just involve pictures. It is an art that involves more than that. A few intriguing words can rein in the imagination and steer readers towards your desired direction.

Translation is more than just handing over the documents and expecting the translator to understand what you want to convey through those words. It is about leading your translator into your world, so that he/she can make you the Avatar of that world. He/she is your bridge, that will help you communicate with your audience, to localize your brand and facilitate the conversion, so that your marketing efforts can generate optimum results.

While we all have different goals and priorities, the key is to converge our interests in such a way that will benefit all parties. Indeed, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and success is not a zero-sum game. Creating a win-win-win situation for all may involve putting in a considerable amount of time, effort and cost, but if well-planned and properly executed, it will all lead to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Visit us at http://www.whizwordz.com/ for more details.

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