6 Steps To Get "Slightly" Famous

Written by Steven Van Yoder


Continued from page 1

Shepherd went from blending into a sea of look-alike competitors to occupying a compelling market position. He charged higher fees, and he did not have to work as hard to get new clients. Word spread fast among accountants as they referred him to their clients. He even trained other bookkeepers to use accounting software.

4. Maintaining your visibility

When wasrepparttar last time your name appeared in print? Yesterday? Last week? A month ago? Just because you remember doesn't mean a potential customer will. To become 'slightly' famous, you need to have your message out there, if not continuously, then often enough to keep your name alive in customers' minds.

When Bart Baggett decided to make handwriting analysis his career, he embracedrepparttar 120990 media, and studied newspapers, magazines, and radio and television programs to find out what types of guests were in demand, and then looked for ways to tie his professional abilities to specific media. His strategy paid off.

Atrepparttar 120991 height ofrepparttar 120992 O.J. Simpson trial, he sent out a news release about Simpson's handwriting that resulted in several timely media interviews. He later appeared on Court TV to discuss Timothy McVey's handwriting, and was recommended byrepparttar 120993 director of that program to CNN. A feature in Biography Magazine led to stories inrepparttar 120994 London Times,repparttar 120995 Dallas Morning News, and others.

5. Enhancing your credibility

The surest way to earn credibility is by establishing yourself as a 'recognized' expert with intimate knowledge of your clients, customers and industry. Experts out-position their competitors because they are recognized as knowing more than their competitors.

Fred Tibbitts, Jr. founded Fred Tibbitts & Associates to help food and beverage companies reach global markets. He strategically cultivated a reputation in his industry as a well-connected and knowledgeable global beverage-marketing expert who is fluent in allrepparttar 120996 details of his business.

Tibbitts monitors global beverage trends on a daily basis while staying in contact with account managers at hotels and restaurants. He hosts a series of special events, 'Fred Tibbitts Spring & Autumn Dinners with Special Friends,' in key markets, including Hong Kong, Singapore, and New York. Tibbitts also contributes a column to Hospitality International Magazine and numerous industry publications.

6. Establishing your brand and reputation

Slightly famous entrepreneurs use their smallness and specialty in ways that corporate giants can't touch. They make sure their brands strike an emotional chord by bringing their business 'soul' torepparttar 120997 forefront of their marketing.

When you meet Dave Hirschkop at a trade show, don't expect to shake his hand. That's because he'll be wearing a straitjacket while standing before a simulated insane asylum to promote his popular line of 'Insanity' hot sauces.

Dave established his brand by makingrepparttar 120998 hottest sauce possible. Instead of sensual pleasure, he promised pain, even danger. Now, Dave's Gourmet, Inc. steps torepparttar 120999 front ofrepparttar 121000 crowded hot sauce category because he embraced a humorous branding strategy that resulted in fiercely loyal customers and great media exposure.

When Dave introduced his Insanity Sauce atrepparttar 121001 National Fiery Foods Show in New Mexico, he made attendees sign a release form before tasting from a bottle that came in a coffin-like box wrapped with yellow police tape. His best, if unintended, publicity coup happened when a show promoter had a minor respiratory problem after tasting his sauce, and banned him fromrepparttar 121002 show.

To enjoy 'slightly' famous status, you don't have to be insane. But, you must cultivate a brand identity that will becomerepparttar 121003 guiding star of your entire business. It will ensure that all your marketing efforts pull inrepparttar 121004 same direction. You'll waste less time, make fewer marketing mistakes, and stand out in an increasing cluttered world.

Steven Van Yoder is author of Get Slightly FamousT: Become a Celebrity in Your Field and Attract More Business with Less Effort. Visit http://www.getslightlyfamous.com to read the book and learn about 'slightly' famous teleclasses, workshops, and marketing materials to help small businesses and solo professionals attract more business.


12-Step Marketing Plan

Written by Lynn Terry


Continued from page 1

Note: If your visitor subscribes, they are then taken to a ‘thank you' page for confirmation - this is a great place to add links to make back-end sales! If you needrepparttar pop-up window code, email me and I will send it to you! Testimonials Publishing your clients personal testimonials on your website increases your credibility to new clients. When you receive a compliment from a client, ask permission to publish it on your site! Offering them a link in return is a great incentive.

Writing Testimonials can be a Powerful Advertising Technique! Be sure to send your testimonials to vendors when you are pleased with a product or service, and include permission for them to publish it (along with your byline). You can also publish Product Reviews and Testimonials in your own Newsletter or on your website - using your affiliate links! Search Engine Optimization Make sure you have Meta Tags embedded in your web pages which include keywords and a website description. Your content also matters! Make sure thatrepparttar 120989 content on your webpage is rich with keywords and relevant information... also look at image names and "alt tags" - these can be used to optimize your site for Search Engine placement as well! Be sure to exchange links with reputable sites that are complimentary to your target market - Getting listed on high traffic sites is a major plus! (Forget FFA and Free Classifieds!). You might also consider Pay Per Click options.

See: www.webservicenetwork.com/payperclick.htm Create Your Contact Lists Consider everyone that you know, that you have done business with inrepparttar 120990 past, or that has requested information from you... Send an email out to your contacts, and invite them to view your new website, subscribe to your newsletter, etc. DO NOT continue to send email - it might be considered "spam" - just a friendly invitation or announcement would be advised.

You might also considerrepparttar 120991 "Follow Up" approach. Example: "Hello, we haven't spoke in awhile. How are things going for you these days?" etc etc ... and end your Follow-Up email with a compelling Signature Line! Online Auction Sites (eBay) Listing products onrepparttar 120992 online auction sites is also a great marketing tactic! While you cannot blatantly promote your website on most auction sites, you can create a Profile (or About Me) page and add that link in your auction description. Also, if you are selling products that you offer on your website, this is a great opportunity to reach a wider market and gain new contacts. Don't Forget your Signature Lines inrepparttar 120993 correspondence with potential bidders - along with you Follow Up emails to winning bidders!

For more information on getting started & makingrepparttar 120994 most out of it, see: www.WebServiceNetwork.com/ebay.htm

For those of you who don't already know me personally, I am a 29 year old single mother of two awesome kids and I work from my home office full-time as the owner of Web Service Network . I have been in business since late '96, when I opened a storefront in Murfreesboro, TN, but I have since resorted to the beautiful Center Hill Lake and operate from my home office.


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