You don't have to win the whole world: you just have to become huge in your own niche.  It all comes down to branding.  

What would a person be without a name?  Forgettable! 

They say that 85 percent of small businesses fail: what are some of the reasons?

• Inadequate ongoing training for employees – therefore: inconsistent results.
• Inadequate funding – IE the money was spent on the wrong things.
• Inadequate Branding & Marketing – Insufficient demand was generated before the money ran out.
• Charging to little for goods & services – Lack of Confidence.  With the right marketing you can get what its really worth!

Humans are herd animals.  Whenever you deliver the goods to your customers: they naturally start talking about their good experience.  But what if they have their conversation and can't remember the name of your company?  Or: a listener goes later to look for you on the web: but can't find you in Google?  Or: you have a weird spelling that no-one would get?

We have a great article on creating a total recall name at http://www.RealDreamBrands.com/

This name should be turned into a visual statement: a clean powerful logo that focuses on your dot com name.  Just one glance can create a lifetime impression.  Just seeing your dot com name on the back of your car will enable people to find you: even if they don't have time to write down your number.

If people have seen your logo just once: even if they are not conscious that they saw it: the brain still makes a record.  In the future they are far more likely to select your offer over others due to internal familiarity.

There are casual logo programs that build an attractive design for next to nothing.  And this is not a total waste.  However: it pays to get into the motivations of your market – and visually capture some of that energy and meaning in your logo design.

A great logo-design can be embroidered on shirts, placed in Yellow pages ads, on business cards, back window vehicle decals, trade-show graphics, eBay listings, Craigslist ads etc.

This is the beginning of building your brand on a shoe-string.

When starting business: why blow money on anything that isn't central to the process of making money?   You need a location: but with powerful marketing – your website COULD become your store front.   Even a local business could substitute a convenience-oriented web shopping experience for prime real estate.  The physical location could be a little bit off the beaten track: if 90% of the shopping process happens online.

Powerful marketing can include targeted color post card mailings: which drives the customer to a multimedia webmercial.  Create an emotional connection for your Church,  Custom Gift Baskets, Childcare Center, your Home Improvement Services or a Cosmetic Surgery Practice.

Show case what is DIFFERENT about your product or service.

But for those with highly specialized markets: the web offers unparalleled ability to help your exact target markets find you in the search engines & social media sites.

Let's say you are an author or a product manager.  You are releasing a new book or product.   By pre-positioning on your website: you can already have a built-in market for your release.

Custom Social Media Website features offered by CashBoxoptional Hosting.com enable you to build authority & credibility in your niche.  Create and maintain a following through our Web 2.0 blogging, forum and newsletter features.

Save money & build customer relationships with online customer support.   Don't force your customers to pick up the phone!   Once questions have been asked and answered in your forum: many users prefer to check there first!

As you grow beyond the bounds of your starting position in your home office, basement or garage you may decide to outsource telephones and order fulfillment to specialty houses.

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In the past business was done on the golf course and people met each other in places like work, school, church, associations etc.    With virtual social networks you can make contacts and find opportunities without the traditional limitations.

Millions of dollars went into creating these mega online social networks:   However now it has come within reach of anyone to run a private social network on their own website.

Our social networking platform is available from $1599 setup and includes the ability to post an article or news item and instantly launch a forum discussion thread.   You can be the moderator or invite guest commentators.   Your visitors can sign up for an account and create a profile.   You select what information they can include – such as demographics, personal bio and even a user photo.

We offer the ability to feature a business directory, opt-in newsletter and even your own Craigslist-style classifieds.

Establish a private social network that is dedicated to your own niche or topic.  By doing so you become positioned as an authority in your market.  

The more often people come back to your web site, the more likely they are to trust you and buy what you recommend.  

Repeat visitors are at least 10 times more likely to do business with you than a first-time casual stop-in.   It's critical to your long-term to success to have features that motivate the user to bookmark your site.   By creating curiosity and engaging their long-term interest, you can create a permanent relationship.   Every dollar you spend on marketing your web site then begins to earn interest. 

Having a targetted social network provides benefits and opportunities for end-users.   Many times the bait is an opportunity to learn from each other and from you.   By offering valuable information as your "kicker",  you begin to establish your brand as an expert authority and resource in your market.

For those firms with a pre-established client base – this is a mission critical means of KEEPING your own people interested & engaged.   Otherwise they may ultimately be lured elsewhere.   It's also a huge customer service tool.

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As the latest Wired Magazine explains, anyone with an idea can develop, manufacture and market their invention: without ever leaving their own garage.

Nowadays you can even skip the investors.

At CashBoxoptional Hosting.com we help you build market share on nickels and dimes.  From your own brand name identity that can be recognized for its distinctive value proposition: to delivering your own infomercial on the web:  affordably creating an emotional connection with your product or service.

We train you on a wide range of affordable online marketing techniques such as social media and Search Engine strategies that you can implement to bring in the exact people who NEED what you sell and are willing to pay for it.

Provide valuable information in your blog and interact with your customers by hosting your own discussion forum.

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Whether or not you believe in evolution – the survivors were the ones who found opportunities that others missed: even in a bleak environment. These days there are many, many Real Estate Agents who will tell you that they USED TO BE Realtors – but times got too tough! Everyone sympathizes with them of course.

For all those who say it can't be done. There is that one-in-a-thousand agent who nods their head in mock agreement – but also has a sly smile! Somehow they ARE making money: even now! Maybe they are doing that in a different way. But they ARE making money.

What sets these Real Estate Winners apart??

Real Estate Skill Diversity

Add-ons such as loan brokering and property management have special value.

Times are tough. The previous homeowners who were foreclosed on now need to rent. Investors want to buy rental units: both single and multi-unit (at bottom dollar). They also need management. Bring all the parties together!

Vacant properties can be turned into short-term corporate or vacation housing – depending on the region. It's easy to market these properties online. We have succeeded in renting our beach property in the past using http://www.vrbo.com/ Just managing and marketing these vacant rentals for their owners can bring in great opportunities. Luxury properties are less sensitive to economic fluxes and many owners will entertain the dual opportunity of allowing you to rent their property to vacationers and also list it.

Niche Market Opportunities

What about economic proof segments such as health-care workers. Why not market to first-time buyers in the health-care market or veterans coming back from the middle east who are entitled to get VA loans? Become an expert on government programs designed to spur economic recovery and match them up with the intended recipients.

Hospital HR departments and Credit Unions are a great way to leverage co-marketing to offer any unique opportunity that upgrades the financial well-being of their constituency.

In military communities: advertising in the base newspaper shows your interest in the armed forces and starts that relationship with individuals and families who are leaving the service.
 

Branding & Name Recognition

Yes. Your name is your brand identity. Our partner RealDreamBrands.com offers a powerful mini-education on how to tap into human motivation with your marketing.

If people forget your name after seeing or hearing it – all your marketing efforts are ultimately like a cup with holes in it! For those with a strong brand identity – their name itself becomes a value proposition in the minds of the public. That name continues to accrue worth over the long-haul.

In real estate: networking and word-of-mouth are often critical.

If a customer with a great experience mentions your name in a locker room or at a PTA get-together – you need a name that creates Total Recall. Visit our "name web site" for a fascinating tutorial on creating a name that sticks forever: after just one verbal mention or view of your signs.

You also need that customer to be able to go to their favorite search engine, type it in, and pull you right up. CashBoxoptional Hosting.com also offers an introductory guide getting ranked in the Search Engines – check it out!

All your signs should have your name – in the dot com form: and it should be easy to spell.

What Sets You Apart from Run-of-the-Mill Real Estate Agents?

Too many Realtors are intimidated by the web and sign up for the same cookie-cutter web listings as everyone else. What makes you any better than the next guy or gal? …in the Customer's mind that is. Having a strong web presence is critical – especially when times are tough: because to actually MOVE your properties you might have to spread your net wider: a LOT wider. How about NATIONWIDE or greater???

Your own web site with MLS backend and custom videos for your clients might just be the ticket. Do a little research into feeder markets by talking to the local board, the newspaper, convention & visitors bureau, the local chamber or commerce. Find out which out-of-town markets people are coming from. Back up your custom web listings with Real Estate classifieds in these target feeder-markets. Drive visitors to enjoy a sumptuous multi-media preview from the comfort of their own home.

Many people will actually buy a plane ticket – just to meet with you and see your property.

Include key resources for people moving into town. Names and numbers for utilities and schools.

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Here we are focusing on the basic marketing viewpoint that leads to long-term success for artists.

The basic key to Earning an Income in Art is having your own Brand Name identity that supports word-of-mouth advertising.  This name should be translated into an easy-to-remember dot com website – where people can find you.

Once you have a Great Name and a consistent "location" on the web – every showing becomes an opportunity for growth and recognition. Even a customer who bought your piece at a street show – might have a guest visiting their home or office who complements them.

If your web URL is on the back of your pieces – that guest might be inspired to seek you out and look at your other work. This advantage supports repeat business. Over time it is a sure way to build a following.

Whenever you visit an art district it's a nice idea to get the card of gallery owners – and email them a picture with a link to your online-gallery. If they like the sample that is included with your email – they will click on through to view the rest of your works. This also permits them to look at your material unrushed. It enables you to cover a lot more territory and avoid the personal impact of rejection: when scouting for gallery opportunities.

If you have the ability to create affordable reproductions from your work – it is also a great idea to open an online store. Someone may have purchased a piece and then want to give your work for gifts. This builds a solid long-term recurring revenue stream.

Our newsletter features enable you to build up an email list of your visitors and update them whenever you release a new work or have a showing.

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As author Seth Godin proved: it doesn't have to cost a pretty penny.

Branding your self is only the beginning.  

Having your own custom social networking website enables you to publish material that targets your readership out on the web.  Proper search engine positioning of your content enables casual visitors to find you by searching for topics related to your subject matter.

Once they arrive at your site: you can interact with them in member forums.

Use our newsletter feature to insure that your guest appearances are well attended by local followers.

Create immediate cash flow by selling works-in-progress & completed works directly from your website: or by linking into the Amazon Market Place.

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These two methods are intimately related – as Search Engines determine how valuable of a resource your site is – mostly based on how many other web sites are providing one-way links to you.

So the first step to becoming a valuable web site is to start figuring out what valuable kinds of information, services and opportunities you can provide to your visitors at no charge.

This information needs to be built around the words your customers use to describe their needs.   You are offering answers.   By focusing on these words – the search engines can "read" your web page and automatically determine that you have something relevant to say on this topic.   Once the customer gets to your web site – they should be engaged with the information or offers you have in a way that clearly identifies their need and the solutions you are offering.

There is a pretty straight-forward but little-mentioned method of organizing the information on your website that actually makes sense to Google.  We provide all the tools to do this and teach our customers how to use them.

After the website has been built and stocked with the right kinds of useful material – its time to let people know that you exist.    We have a list of established web directories that you can submit your site to.    Getting linked on serveral of these important directories will definitely get you noticed by Search Engines such as Google.

CashBoxoptional Hosting provides advanced research assistance to help you determine which other valuable web sites would be possible candidates to review your web site.    Getting linked on high-ranking web sites in your niche is the key to moving to the top of the search engine results pile.

Search Engines place a big value on social media sites such as discussion groups, Twitter, Youtube and Craigslist.   Writing articles and posting relevant comments on related sites can definitely boost your Search Engine relevance as long as you are free to include a links to your website.

The key attitude to becoming a valuable resource on the web – is an orientation towards generosity and giving of valuable information.

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We have a big place in our hearts for people with Big Dreams and limited means.  Take a little time to read our articles and you will see how you can start launching your ideas today with even a tiny amount of resources.  

We take world class tools and bring them within reach of small business start-ups.  Now you can be on a level playing field with the big players.

CashBoxoptional Hosting is part of a community of websites that are designed to empower YOUR dreams.

Read Bootstrapping: When All You've Got is a Dream!

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Let's say your dot com business name comes up in a conversation.   The people who hear that name should be able to go to their favorite search engine and type it in to pull you up.

Once they arrive at your site – you have an opportunity to start building a relationship with that person.   Simply providing valuable information and putting your best foot forward in terms of your image begins to shape their perceptions and build your identity in their mind.

Converting your name into a logo creates a visual statement that sums up the energy of your endeavor in a single glance.   Using this logo on your web site, business cards and other media is like a bank account that continues to acrue interest over the long term.   It sticks in their mind and allows them to recognize you again later.  

Products and services which are represented by a strong, coherent identity – begin to take on a familiar feeling to the potential customer.   If someone saw your logo only one time – they will be more likely to select YOUR offers in the future. – even though they have consciously forgotten about it.

Free Article.  Learn about how to create a name that sticks in your customer's mind.

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