Digital Video: Create Your Own vs. Have someone do it. You need video for your business! Pay anywhere from $500-2000 or do it yourself, it only takes me a few hours to put a 30 second piece together
Cost:/Time
Social Networking: You have to do this yourself, I tried to have interns make posts for me, it just doesn’t work out. So there is no cost, but I spend about 2 hours a week on this. Many of you other crazy people I know spend hours… daily on it!
Cost:/Time
Network Marketing : You have to belong to associations! I spend about $3000 a year in memberships and another 5-6 hours a month attending meetings
Cost:/Time
On-line Directories : Most are free, but it takes about 3 hours to input my current list. I prefer to hire this out, it costs $30-50.
Cost:/Time
Email : You have a list, now what? Are you sending consistently to the list? Are you tracking your data? I use Constant Contact and pay $30/mo and I spend a few hours a month doing my enewsletter and blast, but hire someone to do additional blasts for me at a cost of $25-50.
Cost:
PR : You have a story…can you write it or would you rather have someone else do it? I do my own, but my clients pay $85 for me to write and distribute or I give them a break for $35 to distribute if they already wrote the release.
Cost:
Blogging : It helps your web site, it helps create dialog with your clients. Get someone else to do it for about $50 per 250 words or do it yourself. It takes me about 1/2 hour once a week.
Cost:/Time
Thank You Notes : About a $1.50 a card and it doesn’t take much time, well worth your 10 minutes!
Cost:
Co-Operatives : Go in with a supplier or associate to bring in a speaker, an event or an open house. It will cost you a few hundred to put it on and you may spend a few hours, but if a new client comes from it, it may be worth it for you.
Cost:
Gifts For Referrals : Promotional items still work, pens, sticky notes are the best value and I like big items every once in a while like outdoor chairs. Not much work, but minimum orders usually start at $300
Cost:
Attend Events : Usually it is a minimum cost to attend a membership event if anything, so spend an hour and mingle, it always works for me!
Cost:/Time
Gift Certificates: These are a great way to market yourself and give a lot for a little. Cost and time are minimum.
Cost:
Presentations : Get over the fear and talk from the heart on what you know and love to do. Yes I usually spend at least 3 hours preparing for a speaking gig, but it’s usually even paid and I end up picking up clients, so well worth the efforts.
Cost:/Time: 0
Keep Asking! : And not in a “obnoxious way” but maybe by a thank you note or a quick email or phone call, it doesn’t take too much time or cost anything to follow up!Cost: 0

Total Cost:__________

Total Time:__________

So is it worth your time??

My Best,

Kathy Kane
Market Insights, LLC

Ever since a friend suggested this site, I have been in release bliss with the freedom to post all my news, quick, easily and hassle free. The release is seen immediately, no waiting for committee approval…and in minutes I can then post a link to the proper web site, e-newsletter or blog for instant credibility.

<>
It works as a great archive system for all my releases and even allows for photo’s. Yes, there are a few relavent ads to content with, but after all it is free.

You can tag your material for fast search in case you forgot how to find your release. It is also a wonderful resource for other research as their search capabilities are fast and reliable. Many media sources are looking at PR log for interesting stories and I’ve had a few picked up by sources that I could never have access to before.

Just don’t copy any other materials or it will be taken down. I learn this by accident.

My Best Rgards,
Kathy Kane
Market Insights, LLC

You Tube is a great way to get your business out there, fast! You can take an interview, commercial or demonstration and download it to a spot on You Tube in a few minutes. You can now put your web link in the title to link it back to your site. I had at least 4 leads this week alone for folks visiting my sites because they found my video on You Tube. What a great way to attract younger clients! Another benefit is if you keep adding video, you have now created an archive that you can refer to regarding your various work. The unfortunate thing about working with You Tube is some companies ban it from their employee usage, so some can’t see it. The other thing is sometimes a really nasty video will come up with your based on the title or how it is tagged. People can comment on your stuff too, so you can either block comments or monitor them.

Check out my videos

Talk Fusion is a cool concept because it allows you to bulk email a video that is encased with your logo and includes all contact information. I like it because you know who watches it and if they show any interest in the program. It’s a great way to say thanks to a new client (with a personal video) and a great way to also archive tips, interviews or presentations. I also use it as a link on web sites to promote various programs. It is great because it promotes “the personal touch” with professional templates. Unfortunately some links are blocked by employers and the speed capacity of uploading and downloading needs to be improved. Some people just won’t click another link or cancel out if it takes too long and sometimes it takes too long to get it programed and new email added. But I plan to use it more in 2009 because those who can view it, do seem to take action on the message more frequently than a regular email. Here is a sample

The main thing is to start considering video for your business, it will be as necessary as e-mail in upcoming years and an inexpensive part of your marketing plan.
My Best,

Kathy Kane

When I found this site last year I was suprised how many businesses are NOT listed here. This site is a great place to link to other companies and promote your site, hours and coupons and by the way it’s FREE.

I also find the value in the reviews from this site, though many Salon’s in my neighborhood might disagree. These places of beauty seem to have a little competitive rivalry going on. While customers can post complaints and experiences, some are constructive while others are just plain crude. I noticed smart owners get working and try to correct any problems.

I like that every week you get an e-mail with updates and coupons from merchants in your city or neighborhood, what a great way to keep up with the local commerce and find out out who is dishing who.

Isn’t that how we all make purchasing decisions anyway? Find out about who we are going to work with, see what others think about how they run their business, find out how they handle complaints and decide to work with the people who have our best values in mind.

I know some people who will not allow comments on their blogs or web site… a big mistake in my opinion. I welcome reviews on my work, if it wasn’t done to satisfaction, we’ll fix it. Isn’t that what being part of a business community is all about?

Make sure to check out businesses in your neighborhood, post your business, write a review, take advantage of the coupons and check on what they are saying about your business every week on www.merchantcircle.com

She doesn’t spam and I learn something new every day. Some are very relevant to business and to my marketing industry, some topics are specifically for family and kids. I also added her link to my site since it is so popular, it helps my ratings.

I started listening to her on satellite radio and got hooked. Visit her site to find out where you can listen in or listen to her very detailed podcasts online. She is a technology guru and have found her advice so relevant and helpful.

I don’t know how she pumps out 3 emails a day, plus updating her web site. I can barely do one a week. I suppose she has peeps for that now days. She is also a marketing guru since she uses the site to build buyers for her products and clickers to pay per click… at 5 million subscribers, guess how much that check is a week!

Hope you enjoy her emails as much as I do!

My Best Regards,
Kathy Kane
Market Insights

We’ve got a Southeastern Michigan media list going, send me an e-mail I will be happy to share my latest version with you. But how do you make time to do it?

Keep a log of all the “stories” that happen evey day with you business. Look at it once a month to see what might make a good story.

Start writing. Keep in mind… what, where, how, why and when. Note why you are different than your competition. Try to get quotes form clients, employees, community members, associates. Make it relate to current events. Indicate how you re-invented your industry by this story. Think…What is in this story for the reader?

Include photo’s with your completed release.

No time to write? Call us with your idea, we ask the questions, we write it and give you a proof and send it for you. (734) 676-9561 ex. 2

My Best,

Kathy Kane
kane@marketinsights.us
Market Insights

There are many budding video entrepreneurs who can whip up a 30 second commercial in no time. You can even do it yourself by uploading pictures and clips to Microsoft Movie maker.

Things to consider when thinking about your clip:
How will it tie in with your logo, colors and tagline?

Do you have a jingle? Keep it simple. I suggest putting a tune with your name and tagline and leave it at that, that being said others like a full blown song to be used throughout the commercial as background.

Plan out your script. Write down what will be said, what words you want on screen and what you want the actors or photo’s to be doing.
How will this attract attention to your business, what will make it memorable?
Keep it simple and use only one or two locations.
Make sure to use local actors if possible, they will also help drive your traffic.

How can you promote it besides your web site?
Send an e-mail requesting comments and suggestions.
Post the link on all your organization bulletin boards.
Write about your new commercial to your friends and family and submitted it to various web sites and contests.

If you want to eventually advertise on cable or local access channels you are now all set to just transfer the file and go national! A little time and effort can reap great results in form of feedback, site hits and a positive message in more than just print for the whole internet to see. Good luck and get taping before they start charging for this great advertising opportunity!

Check out our video at www.marketinsights.us

My Best,

Kathy Kane
Market Insights

As a business you can submit to win or get involved with their sponsorship opportunities!

www.michiganbusinesshub.com is hosting a contest for a grand prize of $500 worth of professionally printed promotional products. There’s also other prizes, which makes this contest even more appealing! The other prizes include:

$250 One Year Membership to DADBA
$200 .30 second video interview of your business with video file that can be uploaded to your site.
$199 Dollars & Sense Quarter Page Ad
$100 Document Shredding by Covert Shredding
$99 Business Card set of 1,000 by Mr. Biz Cards
$50 Gift Accounts for Send Out Cards
$50 Gift Certificate from Sudden Values
$34 One Year Showcase Listing @ MichiganBusinessHub.com
$28 Free Drink from Heritage Perk
$25 Gas Card from Job Drama
$12.50 Non-Toxic Shaklee Cleaner

Another site www.cyberbellum.com is offering 3 months free advertising on its site if you just signup for it’s peroidic enews.

If you’d really like to cut office expenses just google on-line business contests and see all the additional promotions out there can sign up for. My only suggestion is that you use that extra e-mail account to grab the blasts. While Michigan Business Hub only send one email a week and Cyberbellum does not collect your address, others are not so scrupulas and may sell or share your name.

My Best,
Kathy Kane
Market Insights
www.marketinsights.us