How to Promote Your Business Using Content Distribution

Use content distribution through content sharing sites to leverage your existing content .

Content is your most valuable asset when promoting your business online. But producing quality content is also one of the most time consuming tasks. So it's critical that you get the most from your content by working smarter not harder. Here are some content sharing sites to get more mileage from your existing content.

Start your content distribution efforts by distributing your content to these top content sharing sites:

scribd.com

Types of files allowed

• Adobe PDF (.pdf)
• Adobe PostScript (.ps)
• Microsoft Word (.doc/ .docx)
• Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt/.pps/.pptx)
• Microsoft Excel (.xls/.xlsx)
• OpenOffice Text Document (.odt, .sxw)
• OpenOffice Presentation Document (.odp, .sxi)
• OpenOffice Spreadsheet (.ods, .sxc)
• All OpenDocument formats
• Plain text (.txt)
• Rich text format (.rtf)
   

docstoc.com

Types of files allowed

• Adobe Acrobat files (.PDF)
• Word Files (.DOC and .DOCX)
• Spreadsheets (.XLS and .XLSX)
• Presentations (.PPT and .PPTX)
• Ttext files (.TXT and .RTF).

slideshare.net

Types of files allowed

• pdf
• docdocx
• rtf
• xls (MSOffice)
• odt, ods(OpenOffice)
• Apple iWork Pages.

More sites:

• yuku.com
• lulu.com
• issuu.com
• download.com
• thefreesite.com
• free-ebooks.net
• e-library.net
• calmeo.com
• esnips.com
• doocu.com
• blurb.com
• pdfoo.com
• authorstream.com
• bookdepository.com
• doxtop.comebookdirectory.com
• gazhoo.com
• edocr.com
• twidox.com
• free-n-cool.com
• tradebit.com
• bookgoldmine.com
• webook.com
• slideboom.com
• memoware.com
• myebook.com

Don't worry about duplicate content. The search engines will decide where your content has the most authority and give that site preference. But there is no penalty for the same content on other sites. Of course the more quality unique content the better. Each piece of your distributed content has the ability to send traffic to your site. Avoid placing the same content in multiple pages of your own site as this may result in the content not being indexed by the search engines.

Content Distribution can build backlinks to your site, raise your visibility and drive traffic to your blog or site. Next we'll explore even more methods for turning your content into other formats and futher exploiting content distribution.

Topics: Content | Give Your Two Cents »

Social Media buzz.

Social Media, it’s on TV, it’s on the radio, it’s on smart phones, it’s all over the web.

Advertisers, businesses and consumers have flocked to it. So it only makes sense for you to invest your advertising dollars in “it”. Or does it?

According to The ForeSee Results E-Retail Satisfaction Index (U.S. Holiday Edition):

“Social Media: Only about 5% of online holiday shoppers report being primarily influenced to visit top retailer sites by social media channels, yet retailers continue to put vast resources into this type of marketing. Meanwhile, 19% came to the website primarily as a result of a promotional email and 8% as a result of search engine results, suggesting that tried-and-true online marketing tactics should not be abandoned or ignored in favor of newer media.”

Surprised? It’s easy to get caught up in the latest trends but your marketing methods should be based on tried and tested systems, not the latest buzz. Social Media will undoubtedly continue to grow in influence. Incorporating it into your marketing mix makes sense. Use Social Media marketing as an addition to your marketing tool box, not as a replacement and separate perception from reality .

Topics: social media | Give Your Two Cents »

Use Competitive Research to Gain a Competitive Advantage

Online Competitive Research

In a previous post – What It Takes To Build a Winning Internet Marketing System – we talked about using a Google search to spy on your competition and evaluate their marketing. To follow up you can perform a "phrase match" search of your competition to discover where they are advertising and where they are getting backlinks – one way external links back to their site. Check here – What are keyword matching options? – to learn more about search qualifiers.

Another useful tool is Yahoo Site Explorer.  Again you can analyse backlinks, adverts and postings in the results.

Here are some other sites and tools for competitive research:

• backlinkwatch.com
• (free download) link-assistant.com/seo-spyglass/
• opensiteexplorer.org/legacy/backlinks

Offline Competitive Research

• visit the establishment and note the "good, bad and ugly"
• order/purchase the competitions product/service – take notes on the entire order process from offer to delivery
• call them and note:
  • how quickly do they answer
  • how friendly they are or are not
  • how helpful are they
  • how consistent are they in all of the above
• request any mail out literature which they might provide – study it (including the request procedure) and possible improvements

Use your competitive research to gain a competitive advantage and take advantage of your competition.

Competitive research "done for you"

Topics: Competitive Research | Give Your Two Cents »

What does it take to craft a winning internet marketing system?

Building a Winning Internet Marketing System

When considering just what it really takes for your small business to put together a winning internet marketing system, the choices can be mind boggling and so overwhelming that your frozen into doing nothing. It's understandable but not acceptable. In today's always connected environment you must go where the action is and that's cyber marketing space, a.k.a. the internet.

So let's look at our choices and then break it all down into easily digestible morsels to fill your online marketing plate without causing after dinner bloat.

• SEM: Search Engine Marketing
• PPC: Pay Per Click Marketing
• Article Marketing
• Blogging
• Social Media
• Directory Listings
• Press Release
• Video Marketing
• Email Marketing
• RSS Feeds
• Mobile Marketing
• Banner Marketing
• Classified Ad Marketing

and the list goes on and on and….

Ok, so where to start? Start with a plan and a budget. Without a steering wheel and a rudder, your chances of reaching your goal are doubtful.

Once you know what resources you have available, start with a simple plan. If you're starting from square one then here's a suggestion. Pick just one of the above marketing mediums and master that medium. Resist the temptation to start any other methods until you've mastered that medium and can give it an honest thumbs up or down in terms of results.

No matter which one you pick the odds of striking gold immediately are slim. Be patient and constantly test your one chosen medium, keeping what works and dropping what doesn't work.

But how do you pick that one? The one that might have the best chance of success for your business? Why not study what your "successful" competitors are doing. Why spend needless time and effort guessing what works when your "successful" competitors are already showing you what works? Put the name of their business in Google search in quotes i.e. "A1 Plumbing". Scan the results noting the different types of sites where you find their business.

TIP: You may be able to advertise or get your business listed with a link to your site on these same sites!

Find more business building tips: Local Internet Marketing for Small Business

If this still seems overwhelming and you'd rather just "have it done", click here to get started building your winning internet marketing system.

Topics: Internet Marketing System, local internet marketing | Give Your Two Cents »

Are you actively using different local internet marketing strategies to take your business to the next level. There's a myriad of consumers out there who want to find your product or service, and the internet is the best way for them to find you. If you employ local search marketing to build a stronger online presence than your local competitors, you've won a major battle and can look forward to a profitable future as your business grows exponentially. 75% of Americans use search engines on a regular basis. 56% of all Americans use one every single day. 40% of all search engine searches are for local businesses & services. 54% of Americans regularly use the internet to find local services 92% of all local searches will eventually convert into a sale Can your business afford NOT to employ the full power of local search engine marketing? If you don't do it your competitors will, game over.

Topics: local internet marketing | Give Your Two Cents »