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Traci Vanover - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
Traci has been a serial entrepreneur “since birth.” Her fondest childhood memories involve toting a little red “briefcase” stuffed with art supplies – tools she was often spotted using to create and sell her own “limited edition” releases to family and friends.
Traci spent much of her early career working for large firms – first in marketing research, then in sales and marketing for several leading industrial manufacturers. All the while, the dream of ... [More]
[View Traci Vanover's Extended Author Bio]
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Traci Vanover Email Alerts
- Melting the "ICE" Out of Price
[Business:Sales-Training] If your aim is to be the "Walmart" of your niche, then by all means, slash those prices. For the rest of us, we need to take a good hard look at our sales letters, our sell sheets, and our pitches.
- Denial - Not Just a River in Egypt
[Business:Marketing] You see, no matter how many books you read, no matter how many gurus you consult, there is one simple truth in business. If you don't have a market, you won't sell your product or service.
- Ready, Aim, Fire! 3 Steps to Designing Your Targeted Marketing Plan
[Business:Marketing] Target marketing is the strategy of focusing your marketing efforts on a distinct group of potential customers. When properly conceived, designed and implemented, target marketing can help increase customer satisfaction, improve brand loyalty and gain an edge over competitors.
- Desperado, Get Off the Fence and Get on the Net
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Web-Design] C'mon, Desperado - hop off that fence and get on the program. There's plenty of good reasons why your business should be on the web - and every day you delay is costing you money.
- Beware of the Dark Side - The Need For Competitive Analysis
[Business:Marketing] Competition is an integral part of the marketplace - it fuels innovation, controls pricing, and creates better products. What's not to love, right?
- Fairy Tales, Success & the Broken Record
[Business:Strategic-Planning] It's easy to get caught up in the daily stories of our businesses - what with the deadlines, the technology to learn, and the endless to-do lists. Understand that you will inevitably make mistakes... everyone does.
- Adding Personality to Your Business is No Small Feat
[Business:Marketing] Firms that operate with white-glove sterility and robotic auto-reply emails are a dime a dozen - and for some market segments, that may be just fine. For my dollar, I tend to prefer those product and service providers that provide a user "experience" - they provide a welcome respite from our daily lives, and leave us feeling good about our interaction.
- Close Encounters of the Product Kind
[Business:Advertising] We're all saturated with ad messages. For those of us who are fast-forwarding through the commercials, advertisers were missing out on grabbing our attention. So, they found another way in.
- Killing Them Softly - With Great Copy
[Writing-and-Speaking:Copywriting] Killer sales copy is often the difference between profit and loss, between success and failure. While there is certainly no shortage of opinions as to what constitutes great copywriting, there are a few structural points that remain universal. When used correctly, they can cast a rhythmic spell over the reader, and entice them to make a purchasing decision.
- Now Hear This - Happy Customers = Evangelists
[Business:Customer-Service] It costs less to keep an existing customer happy than it does to find, qualify, and cultivate a relationship with a new one. Make a customer happy today, and they will become brand evangelists for you tomorrow.
- Standing Room Only - Should You Steer Clear of Crowded Niches?
[Business:Marketing] The key to surviving in a crowded niche is focus. You need to focus on a particular portion of the niche. Maybe there is an area where your competitors are lacking. Focus on identifying the weaknesses in your competition, and make them your strengths.
- 3 Resources For Finding Niche Topics For Lenses
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Social-Media] Don't you just LOVE being in the know? We all know that knowledge is power, and that if you want to position yourself as an expert, you need to have knowledge that people want. Here's three great resources to help you find hot topics to create Squidoo lenses around.
- Are You a Purple Cow?
[Business:Marketing] Simply put, if you want to stand out, be the purple cow. One great way to showcase your inner purple cow-ness is the free social media site known as Squidoo (which incidentally, is also the creation of Seth Godin). You can create a fully-featured webpage (called "lenses") which showcases your unique perspective on virtually any topic you can think of.
- Spank the Competition With Superior Service
[Business:Customer-Service] If the product is identical from multiple retailers, and you've removed the price barrier - what's left? Service. Focus on providing the customer with a better experience, better service, or a better value, and you'll win their loyalty.
- A Better Way to ClickBank - Working Smarter, Not Harder
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Affiliate-Revenue] If you are doing affiliate marketing, chances are you are familiar with ClickBank. In the past ten years, ClickBank has paid out over one billion (with a B) dollars to their clients.
- Is Your Blog on Life Support?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Blogging] There are many factors that play into the ultimate success or failure of a television show, and many of these same elements can be crucial to the success of your blog. If your blog is currently on life support, I encourage you to check out this prescription for improving its health. See if you can't put some of these ideas into practice. You'll be pleasantly surprised how quickly you can improve your blog's pulse rate.
- Success and the Superhero
[Business:Small-Business] Superheroes, like business owners, have to take action. They aren't content to sit on the sidelines, and they don't stand idly by waiting to see if someone else will swoop in and save the day. Both the business owner, and the superhero know that the time for action is now.
- Tagline, You're It
[Business:Branding] Your tagline is another facet of your brand. It is you - just as much as your logo, color scheme, and mission statement are.
- The Drive to Market
[Business:Customer-Service] When I was in my early twenties, I purchased my very first new car. I was done with school, and was working in the marketing department of a large industrial manufacturer. While I was excited at the thought of driving a new car (at the time, my existing beater was on its last leg), I didn't really care all that much about what I ended up with.
- You Like Me - You Really Like Me!
[Business:Sales-Training] Of course, having customers that like you is important all of the time - but in times when the economy is sluggish, customer loyalty can be tested. What can we do to make customers really like us?
- Behold, The Power of "We"
[Business:Sales-Training] Whether we want to admit it or not, we all want to belong to something. It's only human nature to enthusiastically support being part of a group - whether it's your family, your favorite sports team, political party, or even the Little Orphan Annie Club. Nobody wants to be on the outside looking in...we all want to be included in the "we."
- Keeping Pace With Customers - No Leotard Required
[Business:Customer-Service] A few days ago, I happened to catch a glimpse of the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Normally I don't watch the Olympics; instead, I read the highlights online. What I saw in that split second in time made me downshift the remote, and linger at what was not only a spectacular visual treat, but the inspiration behind today's ramblings.
- Profit Building Strategies - Leveraging Testimonials
[Business:Marketing] Employing testimonials as marketing tools is both cost-efficient and smart marketing. Now, more than ever before, word-of-mouth referrals and endorsements can quickly take on mythical proportions, seemingly overnight.
- Profit Building Strategies - It Pays to Look Good
[Business:Branding] From the crisp lines of your logo to the personality you convey with your packaging, don't skimp on your overall brand appearance. Despite what your momma may have told you, what's on the outside really does count - at least when it comes to portraying your brand.
- Profit Building Strategies - Burn Your Brand Into Their Consciousness
[Business:Branding] Aside from the obvious competition in the marketplace, as marketers, we have to contend with consumers who TiVo through commercials, listen to advertisement-free satellite radio, and block ads with their browsers. If you are lucky enough to garner a few precious moments of visibility, you better make them count. What can you do to get consumers to remember you?
- Profit Building Strategies - Niche It, Niche it Good
[Business:Marketing] The word "niche" is all the rage these days, but it really isn't a new concept. In fact, savvy marketers have been quietly raking in their fortunes using the niche principle for hundreds of years.
- Grassroots Marketing is Dandy
[Business:Marketing] Market like a dandelion? We can learn a lot about "grassroots" marketing from those pesky little guys.
- Fonts Are Like Spandex - One Size Won't Fit All
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Visual-Graphic-Arts] Like all good things, fonts are best when used in moderation. It's always a good idea to run your selections by a trusted friend or colleague before you go "live." While a design may seem intoxicating in the moment, things may look totally different in the morning...so font responsibly.
- What's Wrong With Classic? Acknowledging That New Isn't Always Better
[Business:Small-Business] As business owners, it is easy to fall prey to a culture with a short attention span. But change, simply for the sake of change, is never a good idea.
- Product Knowledge - A True Story That Supports Its Importance
[Business:Sales-Training] A fresh-faced young sales clerk gets a lesson in product knowledge using an unlikely prop - an athletic support. This true story played an integral role in the early training of a popular internet marketer.
- A Death Sentence for Sales People - Failing to Know Your Customer
[Business:Sales-Training] Many a savvy salesman has lost a sale because he failed to know his customer. You may have infinite product knowledge, a slick sales pitch, and a phenomenal product - but, if you don't know who needs your product and why they need it - you'll be about as effective as a death row pardon at two minutes past midnight.
- Donut Forget the Lesson - a Sweet Illustration of the Power of Over-Delivering
[Business:Marketing] So, how do you over deliver in today's virtual marketplace? I'm so glad you asked. Give your customers more than what they bargained for. Whether it is a sample of a new product for them to try, or a promotional thank you gift, or offering free donut delivery to their office - going that extra mile for your customers will create goodwill and loyalty.
- News is a Four-Letter Word
[Business:PR] It is frustrating to think that there are actually companies shelling out their hard-earned money to pay for such drivel. Press release writing can be a bit daunting at first, but it is certainly a skill that can be mastered. Armed with the proper tools and a bit of patience, you can be crafting your own killer press releases in relatively short order.
- Horton Hears an Opportunity - What Dr Seuss' Beloved Character Can Teach Us About Marketing
[Business:Marketing] One of the most common challenges that small business owners face is the lack of funds to properly promote themselves. One way to stretch those promotional dollars is to focus on leveraging creative marketing opportunities. Discover how to develop a keen marketing ear by following the lead of Dr. Seuss' beloved character, Horton the elephant.
- In Praise of Press Releases - A Frank Discussion on Form And Function
[Business:PR] There is no disputing the power of a well-written, newsworthy press release. In fact, it is one of the single best things you can do for your business.
- Taking a Chapter from Amazon's Playbook - The Art of the Bounceback
[Business:Sales] Don't reinvent the wheel! Some of the most savvy sales strategies are right in front of you. Take a chapter from Amazon's playbook and learn to master the art of the bounceback.
- Viral Marketing & Why You Should Be Leveraging It In Your Business
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Video-Marketing] According to Guerrilla Marketing Expert Jay Conrad Levinson, this is due to a simple marketing truth -- "people dislike admitting that they are affected by marketing", so they will often give credit to a friend. In addition, there is no disputing the power of referrals -- and these are most likely to be received within 30 days of the original sale.
- Standing Out in Your Field - Focus On the Business Card
[Business:Branding] Few small businesses have the luxury of multi-million dollar ad budgets, or a staff of marketers to spin their brand on a daily basis. So how do you stand out in your field?
- Success - Something To Chew On
[Business:Small-Business] Even if you aren't a connoisseur of chewing gum, you'll find something to chew on in this short story: One day, Mr. Wrigley (of chewing gum fame) was traveling on a train between New York and Chicago. His traveling companion asked him why he continued to spend so much money on advertising and publicity.
- Success Isn't Magic
[Business:Small-Business] Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. He doesn't want you to learn his secrets!
- Any Press Is Good Press - Ask Sarah Jessica Parker
[Business:PR] Love her or hate her, you have to give props to Sarah Jessica Parker. Maxim has named Parker the "Unsexiest Woman on the Planet," according to this morning's featured headlines at CNN. While I must admit I have never been a huge fan, I did think that this moniker was rude and harsh.
- Clark Kent & Super Branding
[Business:Branding] It seems as if lately we've seen a huge resurgence in the popularity of the comic book superhero. It could be attributed to many things, I suppose...
- Magazine Advertising - Tips for Getting the Most For Your Advertising Dollar
[Business:Advertising] The general rule that you can run the same ad 3-5 times within a campaign period before its appeal lessens applies to magazine advertising as well, even with a monthly publication. So it makes sense to spend extra time and money to prepare a worthwhile ad that can be successfully repeated. Over long terms such as these, however, be aware that the client (you) often tires of the ad before the audience does.
- The Terminator - Small Business Guru - Who Knew?
[Internet-and-Businesses-Online:Internet-Marketing] As much as it pains me to admit this, I may have learned something from the Terminator. Well, to be clear... it was actually from the new Fox(R) spinoff series, "The Sarah Connor Chronicles." I have never been much of a fan of this series of movies, but after viewing them again recently with my husband, I must reluctantly admit that "Ah-nold" just might be on to something.
- New Year, New Perspectives - "Diet Resolutions" For Small Business
[Business:Small-Business] Now that the onslaught of holiday gift-giving idea commercials have ceased -- have you noticed all of the commercials for various diet programs -- capitalizing on our need to declare our "diet resolutions"? The whole idea of diet resolutions "weighed on me" (and not merely about all of the carefree cookie consumption of December, either). Suppose we were to take the concept of diet resolutions, and applied it to our business.
- Are You Water Cooler Worthy?
[Business:Advertising] As consumers, we're bombarded with ad imagery on a daily basis. And while one might think that would automatically make us all experts on what makes for a great ad -- that simply isn't the case. Large ad agencies employ huge teams and countless millions each year conducting market research on what gives John Q.
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