Wednesday, June 20, 2012

How to Write an Advertising or Marketing Proposal

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Accidental Sales Manager www.accidentalsalesmanager.com Award-winning step-by-step book for entrepreneurs who manage sales
Expert Author Ian S Lauder
Do you specialize in developing marketing plans for products? Or perhaps you're a graphic design expert who works in the field of advertising. Or maybe you sell ads on radio or television.
Whether you specialize in advertising or in the larger world of marketing in general, you know that the success of your business depends on keeping a steady stream of satisfied clients. Mass mailing brochures or networking at meetings in person can help you identify potential clients, but to land a contract, you will probably need to write targeted proposals for specific projects.
If you're not a writer, the prospect of writing a business proposal can sound a little intimidating. This article will show you that it's not as difficult as you may imagine. First of all, you know your business and what you have to offer, so you know how to talk about your services. Now, all you have to do is put yourself in the potential client's place, and write your information in an easy to follow sequence.
No matter what type of goods or services you are pitching to a potential client, every proposal should use the following four-part structure: an introduction, a client-centered section, a detailed description of what you propose to do, and finally, a section that's all about your expertise and experience. Your proposal may be five pages long or twenty, and the content in the last three sections will vary according to your business and the project you are proposing, but the order of information will remain the same.
Let's look at each of these four parts in a little more detail. The introduction should include a Cover Letter, which briefly explains who you are and why you are submitting the proposal, states what you'd like the reader to do next, and provides all your contact information. At the top of the proposal itself you should create a Title Page, which contains a name for your proposal. Keep that simple and descriptive, using titles like "S&T Design Services Proposal to Maxxwell, Inc. for New Corporate Branding Campaign" or "Proposed Marketing Plan for the RT5 Product Line." For a simple business proposal, that might be all you need in the way of introduction. But if your proposal is more complex, you may want to include also an Executive Summary of your most important points and a Table of Contents to help readers find the sections they want.
The client-centered section often makes the difference between a successful proposal and one that ends up in the slush pile. In this section, your goal is to prove that you understand what your potential client needs and wants. You also want to discuss any concerns you're aware of. For example, a client might be worried about a specific competitor, connecting with their target market, repeating past mistakes, spending too much money, or not meeting important deadlines. Discuss all of that here. If you need to call the potential client and ask questions about the organization or the proposed project, do it. Doing a little research to show you listen to your client can pay off in a big way.
Even for a short straightforward project, you'll want a Needs page or Requirements page here to list the specifics for the project. For a more involved project, you may need separate topic pages for Specifications, Schedule, Budget, Deadlines, and other areas you want to describe in detail. It's not time yet to talk about what you can do for your client; this section is all about the client and proving you have listened to their needs.
After you have finished describing the needs and concerns of your client, move on to the next section, the description of your goods and services. Here, you will describe exactly what you propose to do for the project, how your ideas will meet the needs laid out in the previous section, how this will benefit the client, and what it will cost.
For a simple proposal, you might need only a Solutions or Services Provided page and a Price List or Cost Summary. For a longer proposal, you may want to include topics like Options, Packages, Schedule, Market Study, Venues, Subcontractors, Teamwork, Market and Audience, Sales Plan, Marketing Plan, Promotion, Advertising, Demographics, Publicity, Packaging, Brand Development, and so forth - it all depends on the project. Your objective in this section is to describe in detail what you plan to do and explain how your ideas will provide the solution to the client's needs. Be as specific as possible.
Last but never least is the all-about-you section. This is where you need to include all the information you have that will persuade the potential client that you are the best pick to accomplish their project. You'll want to include topic pages like About Us or Company History, perhaps a page named Staff, Personnel, or Teams, pages that describe relevant Experience or list Clients you've done similar work for, and lists of successful Projects you've accomplished. If you have Awards, special Certifications or Training, or Testimonials from satisfied clients, you'll want to include those, too.
There you have it--at this point, you have created the first draft of your proposal. Now take the time to perfect it. Use a good proofreader or editor to make sure all pages are error-free, and format the pages well so they are visually appealing, too. You might want to add design elements such as special fonts or bullet points, or add color or your own corporate logo.
Then print your proposal or bundle it into a PDF file, and deliver it to your client by whatever method is likely to make the best impression (email, upload to your web site, print and deliver, etc.).
Did you know that you can use pre-designed templates to help you write business proposals quickly and efficiently? Using a proposal kit is one way to get started right away--it has topic templates (hundreds, including those listed above), sample proposals (dozens), basic contracts, and of course, instructions for use. Each template page in a kit includes suggestions and examples, so you'll never sit staring at a blank page, wondering what to put on it. The sample proposals in a kit will show you what a wide variety of finished business proposals might look like. You can also find kits in a variety of graphic designs to give your proposal a professional look, or you can adapt all the pages to your own designs and logo.
Ian Lauder has been helping small businesses and freelancers write their proposals and contracts since 1997. => For more tips and best practices when writing your business proposals and legal contracts go to http://www.proposalkit.com

What Is Your Unique Selling Proposition?

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Expert Author John Bulman, MBA
In business, there will always someone bigger than you, who has more marketing money than you, has been in business longer than you, and who may even be able to deliver a product or service at a lower price. Your competitors may have higher internet search rankings and an army of followers on Facebook. How do you compete in the marketplace with disadvantages like that?
As a smaller player, you have some advantages of your own. You can address markets that are too small for large players to compete in at a profit. You may be able to serve the specific requirements of a niche better than your large competitors. Your level of service may be superior to what is available at your more established competitors. Perhaps you can offer a guarantee that larger competitors can't match. You can certainly make changes in the way you serve your market faster than larger competitors. Your products might be higher end with better quality and performance than those offered by mass market sellers. Finally, you may have an expertise that is important to a set of customers that large competitors can't match. However, in most cases the very worst thing you can do is compete on price against larger and better established competitors. It may work for a little while, but with limited exceptions, in the long run you're not going to be successful or make as much money as you should doing that.
The answer to competing in very competitive markets against larger and more established competitors is to develop your Unique Selling Proposition. The thing that makes your product or service different than all the others out there. Your product or service can't be an undifferentiated commodity. All of the possible advantages I listed above are unique selling features. They establish that your product or service is different than everybody else's, is not a commodity and offers customers a unique value proposition that they would find difficult to find somewhere else.
So what is your Unique Selling Proposition? What differentiates your offering to the marketplace? What combination of features will your customers find benefit them more than your competitors' offerings? If you're a distributor or manufacturer, can you deliver complete orders faster than your competitors, allowing your customers to keep less inventory? If you're in financial services or real estate, do you have some special education or experience that your clients would find valuable if they knew about it? Do you have so much confidence in your product or service that you can offer your customers a performance guarantee others can't or won't match. Can your customers call in and speak with a real human being on the fourth ring or better 98% of the time, making working with your business an exceptionally pleasant experience? You get the idea.
The key to knowing what your Unique Selling Proposition is lies at the intersection of two sets of information:
  • What you're really good at and are in a position to provide
  • What your customers find valuable
I've said it before: if you can't establish value, the only thing to talk about is price. So find out what your customers value and are willing to pay for that may not be evident at first glance. Ask them and keep asking them. Find out what they want, what they dislike, what they fear, what they are trying to accomplish with their purchase and what they would really like to see in a product or service offering. These are all clues as to possible points of differentiation. Then find a way to offer your product or service in a way that addresses that point of differentiation at a profit.
Once you've established your Unique Selling Proposition, customers need to know you offer it. It should be on your website, your collateral and your sales scripts. Every time a customer or prospect comes in contact with your business, they need to hear about or see your Unique Selling Proposition. When they do business with you, they need to experience it every time. It's your brand from that point forward. It's what you'll be known for. It's the reason prospects will choose your product or service over others in the marketplace, and the reason customers will keep coming back. It's what makes your business, products and services unique in the marketplace, and how you can compete with larger and more established competitors.
John Bulman is an author, business coach and corporate trainer in Orange County, California. He has an MBA and has recently published the book Profitability Thinking. John believes that when thinking and skills are changed at the same time, amazing results happen. His website is http://www.profitabilitythinking.com. He can be reached at info@profitabilitythinking.com or 949-667-6111.

Tips For Advertising With Banners

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Expert Author Lyndsay Flagel
When you make an investment, you want to know that it is secure. Not all investments are like that, such as the stock market. But real estate investments or deciding to advertise is an endeavor you want to make certain your purchase will be worth the price. I guess in a sense advertising is somewhat like real estate; in the sense that you're renting a piece of space via online or a billboard. At this point in my life, I can't say I know much about real estate. I know some things about advertisement, though. Rather I understand the way a consumer's mind works. The aim for advertisement should meet the likes of their target consumers.
Using banners as a form of advertising is old-fashioned, but just as effective as any other type of advertising. So that means you want your light pole banner brackets sturdy, durable, and able to withstand wind, rain, and snow, even sunlight. Banner brackets are easy to install and flex with the wind. Really you can promote anything with banners: fundraisers, seasons, holidays, festivals, companies, etc. When promoting specific events, banner stands come in handy since they are portable. This means that as the events on the banner changes, your stand doesn't have to. Banner hardware is available in a variety of needs. UV resistant coating is available. Street pole banner hardware can be wall mounted; as though it is coming out of the side of a wall. There are specific ones to handle strong winds and others that withstand weather just to a lesser degree.
I like colors to match. With the fact that there are limited color choices with banner brackets, it's hard to clash the actual banner with banner bracket. However, I'd advise to check out the two and make sure they work well together. That said you could customize finials. Keeping to standard looks is great when starting off, but if you've used banners to advertise before, customizing can is something fun and new to consider. Being able to trust your investments is an incentive. It might also be something that takes time to trust. Yet, isn't that how trusting works in any realm of life? Anyway, promoting anything requires thought. You want your banner to look good and the banner brackets to be durable. The banner itself will take time to consider. What you have in mind may not always appeal to the audience you're targeting.
I recommend visiting http://www.kalamazoobanner.com/index.php to learn more about banner brackets and banners.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

How to Create A Brand Story That Sells

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One Man's Story www.thoughts-about-god.com Life was good but then it started falling apart. Then dad died.
Motivation & Teambuilding www.qomps.com.my Power Motivation & Personal Mastery Adding Value - Individual & Team
Brand Thinking www.dmabranding.com New branding techniques for you - DY Works, award winning branding
Expert Author Martina Srblin
A compelling brand story is the most powerful client attraction and enrollment tool there is, and a sadly underused branding method. People love good stories they can relate to and feel intrigued and inspired by, so strategic storytelling is a highly effective shortcut to rocking the know, like and trust factor, and skyrocketing your brand to star status with an abundance of raving fans eager to work or partner up with you.
There are four key elements that all memorable brand stories that sell have in common.
White hot truth
A successful brand story tells the truth about your brand and what your brand stands for in a deliciously enticing way, so that people feel instantaneously magnetized to your message and the movement you're creating with your business. This is about sharing the big idea that's fueling your brand with the world, as well as answering a myriad of "why" questions to give your audience the opportunity to fully understand what your brand is all about, like: Why have you chosen to build the brand you've built? Why does your brand support the causes it supports, and disassociate itself from certain actions and behaviors you witness in your industry? What makes your solution to your clientele's problem stand out? Why are you able to meet your ideal clients' needs, desires and expectations better than anyone else?
Strong emotional charge
To be truly effective, your brand story needs to evoke an emotional response in your ideal prospects. Remember, we make investment decisions emotionally, and then we justify them rationally. So, make sure your story has a suspenseful "before and after" structure to it which could involve you or someone else experiencing a profound transformation resulting in a leap from pain to paradise because of your expertise, product or service. Keeping the audience engaged and interested in your story while showing some vulnerability is a winning formula for crafting stories that people will resonate and identify with. The "superhero(ine)" approach isn't nearly as impressive.
Irresistible hook
Your audience is eager to discover what's in it for them; why should they invest they time and energy into learning more about your brand and the solutions you provide. If you want to win them over, tell them why they should care. What is your brand promise? How will their life and/or business change if they get involved in your brand movement? Anytime you communicate your brand story keep in mind it's all about your (potential) clients, so put the spotlight on them - make it about them, their aspirations, their success, their dreams. Show them that you care, and they will too.
Clear call to action
To serve more people and make more money, there is another crucial component to incorporate into your brand story; it's a supportive, confident, and inspiring call to action. Think about what you want your ideal prospects to do once they hear or read your story. Do you want them to sign up for a free gift, so you can continue the conversation? Do you want them to call or email you and schedule an appointment? Do you want them to tell their friends about your brand by using an instant message option within opt-in sequence, in exchange for an unannounced bonus? Whatever it is, make the call to action clear, specific and timely, so that it incentivizes people to take the next step immediately.
You're welcome to share this article if you include this complete blurb with it:
"Martina Srblin is the Star Brand Strategist, Founder & CEO of StarBrandStudio.com and Money Breakthrough Method Certified Coach. If you'd like to only work with your ideal, high paying clients and skyrocket your income, claim your free audio training on the "Top 5 Secrets of a 'Red Carpet' Brand" at http://www.StarBrandStudio.com."

Looking To Get Design Work Done? Read These Tips First

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Design For You www.designforyou.fr Design and innovation agency : People driven innovation
Choosing a graphic designer can be difficult for many businesses because they have no idea what qualities to look for. Here are a few tips which could help eliminate problems down the road caused by choosing the wrong designer for your project:
1.) Ensure that the designer has a strong portfolio which not only looks visually appealing but whose style matches the character of your business. Although a good designer should be able to create designs in a variety of styles, starting with designer that has experience with your business' style could help save problems from arising during the design process.
2.) Check with the designer's references or previous clients. You don't want a designer who misses deadlines and needs constant prodding to get the job done.
3.) (If possible) Meet with the designer in person instead of strictly selecting a designer online. Your graphic designer is going to play a key role in how your business is perceived by the world. You want a graphic designer that has a good attitude towards your project. You do not want to hire a graphic designer who can't take criticism or seems only mildly interested in your products. This distinction is hard to see if all your communication is only via email.
4.) If your project is more than just a couple of edits on a previous project, ensure that your designer asks you to sign a contract for the project. A good contract protects both the designer and yourself, and is clear about the expectations of both sides.
5.) Cost is, and will always be, a major factor for all businesses and thus businesses will try to save money wherever they can. Everyone wants to save money but good quality does come at a cost and this is why great businesses have great designs, even though they may have paid a premium price to get those designs. Although you don't need to break the bank to get the perfect designer for your project, you do get what you pay for and thus should compare prices along with the previous 4 tips before settling on a designer. Even though you can get a great deal, getting a cheap design often results in a cheap looking design. Thus it is unwise to select a designer on price alone.
Following these tips should help during the search for a graphic designer because you will probably be introduced to many interesting designers each with a style and workflow of their own. Nevertheless, spending some time researching and interviewing the designers before-hand can help save tons of frustration and headache in the long run.
Deep P.
www.sharpshooterdesigns.com
http://www.sharpshooterdesigns.com

Creative Alternatives to Traditional Premises for Entrepreneurs

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Bulk Storage Buildings www.metalmollet.com Cement, clinker, cereals, flour. Portable. Easy and quickly assembly
Farm Land www.LakeGranburyRealEstate.com Waterfront Property Experts in the North TX Area. Search Online Now!
Prefabricated Housing www.Portable-Housing.com Preassembled units from Canada. Starting at 210 square feet.
Expert Author Bruce Hoag
You only have to look around you to realize your world is filled with businesses that have physical premises. Notwithstanding the appeal of the "4-hour workweek," it just isn't possible to eat pizza online or have your hair cut on the web. You can find out where these services are available by looking on the 'Net, but you actually have to go their if you want what they offer. What are some premises that entrepreneurs could use?
One of the challenges that entrepreneurs face when they start a business is where to put it. Few have an unlimited supply of money from which to build, buy or rent the plushest of setts, much as they would like to. So, what are their options?
Here are five creative alternatives.
1. Your garage
This may not seem like an obvious choice; but when you consider that only one in four people use them for their cars in Britain, and less than one in six do so in the U.S., you have to ask yourself for what purpose that space is being used. Most people use them for additional, temporary storage. But when you look down your street, you discover that the only thing that's not permanent is the kind of car your neighbors drive.
2. Someone else's premises
Few businesses use every square foot of their warehouse, office, lab or even factory floor. And when the economy is weak, there tends to be more left over than usual. Instead of trying to obtain these facilities for yourself from scratch, why not ask if you could share some of the unused space in a place that already has everything you need?
3. Farms
Most farms struggle to make ends meet. They also have barns and other outbuildings. To be sure, some of these edifices are little more than a wooden structure with a roof; but others have water and electricity. You have nothing to lose by asking a farmer in your area if there's some secure space that you could rent. No doubt, he or she needs the money.
4. Stately homes
Admittedly, it's quite an economic jump to go from a farm to a stately home but, after all, these are creative alternatives. The opportunities for finding this alternative will be easier in Europe than in North America. That's because Europe has a much longer history. The class system, too, enabled royals, aristocrats, and gentry to build large estates.
These houses are normally accompanied by acreage as well as a number of external buildings. You have to be wealthy to own them, and that's because the cost of their upkeep is substantial. So, opportunities abound here for the astute entrepreneur.
5. Summerhouse
Although this may not be the cheapest option to consider, it will be viable for some, especially when you compare the cost to erect one against the annual rent for a similar structure elsewhere. Some people have sufficient land behind their homes to put up another smaller building, and pre-fab designs can mean that once the foundation has been laid, you can be up and running in a few days.
By the way, if you'd like more information, then you might like to get my free eBook on How to BE an Entrepreneur.
Or, if you want some help in finding your niche, then you might be interested in http://www.terrydeaninterview.com.

design, knowledge, store design, marketing, branding, graphic, display, visual merchandiser: Strong Brand Identity Design

design, knowledge, store design, marketing, branding, graphic, display, visual merchandiser: Strong Brand Identity Design: By Maxine Mitchell Ads by Google Brand Thinking www.dmabranding.com New branding techniques for you - DY W...

Strong Brand Identity Design

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Brand Thinking www.dmabranding.com New branding techniques for you - DY Works, award winning branding
The Design www.designbyfazals.com Simple innovative design solutions 3D design, web design, print design
Design For You www.designforyou.fr Design and innovation agency : People driven innovation
Strong brand identity design is what makes or breaks a business right from the start. The importance of visual brand identity is often under-appreciated, but it is one of the most determining factors for a business to be successful. People can hardly understand how much work is put into designing a logo and how it can determine the success or the failure of a business. The logo is the first impression that a potential customer gets from a company and we all know the importance of a first impression. The visual identity design of the company is the way this first impression unfolds, revealing more information about the company's profile. This part is the most critical to gaining the trust of a first-time potential customer.
Finding online graphic design professionals to create a conceptual design for your business is one of the most important decisions that you can make. You do not just want to go with any free graphic design company that you can find. It is worth it to put a little more money into this aspect of the idea, because high quality visual appeal will do wonders for your business. A great name and a great image set up makes brand identity designers worth so much money. If you have a good name with terrible graphics, there is no point in trying to make it work. The same can be said with the other way around. Really take the time to look through graphic design portfolios so that you can find a designer that you really feel comfortable with, at a good price. Most portfolios can be found right on graphic designers websites, and will give you a good idea of what to expect from them.
A good brand identity designer is a professional that can generate creative ideas from scratch within a provided deadline. These are the people who think up the next big brand names and create the most known corporate identity designs. Looking through each artist's graphic design portfolio is the best way to find a designer that suits your style and preferences. If you are not sure where to look for them, finding graphic design articles can help point you in the right direction. Usually the artists that write these articles are at the top of their field, or close to it. That is where you are going to want to start your journey. It takes a lot of work to come up with a business concept that you know is going to stand out. It is one of the most rewarding jobs though when you see a business really take off because of the contributions that you made. Strong brand identity design is one of the world's lost arts, and if it can be mastered it is invaluable.
Los Angeles Print Media Company

Monday, June 18, 2012

Business Expansion Strategies

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Managed Metadata Guide www.surfray.com/metadata-guide Tthe ultimate guide to SharePoint Managed Metadata. Download now!
Strategic Sourcing Report purchasing-procurement-center.com Shows A Step By Step Process To Develop Sourcing Strategy & Plan
Optimal management plans www.iptim.com Integrated planning for timberland management
Expert Author Jim Macleod
If you are looking to expand your business it is important to keep in mind that you will be investing a lot in terms of money, energy and time in order to be successful. The type of business you are running, the amount of time and money you have and the available resources will determine the specific type of expansion you will be able to do. Opening a new business location is one way expanding a business. This should be done after carefully doing some research and planning by looking at the current trends.
When choosing a new location it is important not to choose according to your wallet but for the benefit of the business. Offering the business as a franchise is also another way you can use to expand your business. Here you will be conducting business on behalf of a mother company in your area. In most cases the mother company funds for everything, meaning you will not have a hard time raising capital. You can also form an alliance if you want your business to grow. This should be done with a business that is similar to yours.
Forming an alliance makes it easy trying to raise money which you can use for the expansion given that you won't have to raise the money by yourself. You can also expand your business by diversifying. You can diversify in several ways including selling complementary products or services, becoming a consultant in your type of business, importing or exporting your products among other ways. You can also expand your business by targeting other markets. Another popular way today in which you can expand your business is getting on the internet. Many people today use the internet to find various products or services and if your business is not accessible through the internet then you will be losing a lot of business.
You can either open a website or use other websites to market your business. You will also be expanding your business when you start hiring cheaply. Here you can hire interns or pay through commissions. It is also advisable to look out for free products or services that will benefit your business. You should also find out if there are any inexpensive ways you can advertise your business on a regular basis. Sponsoring events such as trade shows in your community should also help you in expanding your business as this enhances the image of your business as a trendsetter.
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