by Craig Lock

Thought I'd share a bit about using press releases as an internet marketing tool, based on our recent experiences.

We at Eagle Productions (NZ) have done quite a bit of research on press release services recently and we use them here frequently to "spread word" about our various sites and activities from here in far-off New Zealand to our biggest market (by far), Americans. From this we find doing press releases to be quite effective.

While it's hard to quantify precise results of press releases, one thing just seems to lead to another (and usually leads to valuable "contacts and exposure" - "exciting, naughty and nice!")...and I do find submitting them to be a most effective form of advertising in "on and off-line world". Together with submitting my articles to announcement lists, like Article Announce, Free Content and Publish in Yours. That is our MAIN internet marketing strategy.

A quick word of advice in writing press releases... It is vital that press release about your business is newsworthy and try to capture attention with a good "catchy" headline. Make it "spicy and add 'zing' (like KFC) to make it sizzle!"

Also you can send your news release by "snail mail" or by e-mail. I do all my submissions to these services via e-mail.

Recently we've had a number of releases about our activities here on other side of world published by PR Web, which is a free service ("cheapskate"!)... and traffic to our sites mentioned has increased substantially already. Their web address is: http://www.prweb.com.

PR Web recommend adding a link back to them to add credibility to your web site - good idea, I think!

(Incidentally, we a press releases up there at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2001/8/prweb27548.php in case you want to have a look at our format)

by Craig Lock

I find this a most interesting and somewhat complex subject, as there has to be TRUST in any business relationship before any exchange is made. This can be quite difficult to achieve, when you have never met your customer (prospect) face to face in another part of country...or even world.

Having been on www over four years, here are a few pointers that we find helpful in online sales process:

1. Have your OWN DOMAIN NAME (not expensive - less than $20 a year from www.000Domains.com see http://www.craiglock.com )

2. Offer GUARANTEES (money-back) on your products or services

3. BE YOURSELF IN YOUR WRITING (on your web site).

4. OFFER TESTIMONIALS

5. Have a PRIVACY POLICY for your online business.

In this article I'm covering points 3 and 4. When writing copy for your website, we suggest writing down information (valuable) that can inform and most importantly, HELP others. Write in your own UNIQUE and distinctive style - what comes naturally to you. Really BE YOURSELF and "totally honest" in your writing and you will find that words will flow....and your unique personality and writing style will "shine through in cyberspace". All this adds to your credibility ... and most importantly, INTEGRITY online. Do this and you WILL get sales.

USE TESTIMONIALS

We find using testimonials from customers helps add to our credibility (these are always unsolicited). Other than having one's own domain namesWe find that PUTTING TESTIMONIALS from satisfied customers on our web sites helps greatly in sales process - through establishing BELIEVABILITY (a big word, but still shorter than credibility!) in your claims of satisfying customer needs.