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Greetings -
Thanks for the question.
Firstly, you need to create a web site. In this day and age, it's
almost as important as a phone number. This will be a vital part of
any campaign you choose to pursue. Most advertising online is going
to point people to a web site.
A very direct, and most cost effective means of reaching small
businesses is via direct email [non-spam] marketing. Nowhere else can
you reach literally millions of businesses at a comparatively low
price point. Big corporations utilize this every day. Various
companies specialize in [B2B - business to business] email marketing.
Check out these links [make sure you specify you want a SPAM-free or
"opt-in" list]:
Netvention
http://www.netvention.com/ebizlist.php
Flying Post
http://www.flyingpost.com/
Vertexera.com
http://www.vertexera.com/proserv/industry_b2b.aspx
InfoUSA
www.infousa.com
5-Star
http://www.5star-email-marketing.com/email-marketing-sic-codes-y.htm
Namalists
http://www.namalists.com/
Search Strategy:
B2B Mailing Lists
B2B mailing
Business mailing lists
businesses bulk email
The next route to take is to advertise on prominent web sites and
search engines. There are many. First, you might want to think about
increasing your exposure when people search for companies like yours.
Something like:
Search Engine Submission Registration
http://www.search-engine-submission-registration.com/
DSR1
http://www.dsr1.com/
Register Everywhere
http://www.registereverywhere.com/
123 Search Engine Optimization
http://www.123searchengineoptimization.com/index.asp?google=search+engines
...might help to increase your hits when people search for the type of
products you market. Here are links to search engines and their
advertising info:
Google
://www.google.com/ads/
Overture [includes Yahoo, AltaVista, Lycos, InfoSpace, Infoseek, MSN]
http://www.overture.com/d/advertisers/p/mbr/?o=U2304&_requestid=608914
AOL
http://mediaspace.web.aol.com/
Netscape
http://mediaspace.aol.com/index.adp?fname=net
WebCrawler
http://www.infospaceinc.com/advert/ops/search.jsp
Iwon
http://www.iwon.com/home/companyinfo/advertise_overview/0,3552,,00.html?PG=home&SEC=foot
About
http://beanadvertiser.about.com/index.htm
Espotting
http://www.espotting.com/advertisers/login.asp [click on FAQ]
Search Strategy:
search engines
Next thing is business magazines, both online and off. Here's a list
of magazines that target small business. If you just type these names
into Google, it should bring you the home page. Much of your
advertising in these magazines will depend on your budget -- the
smallest being back-of-magazine ads; the biggest being full-color,
full-page.
Business Start-Ups
Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur's HomeOffice
Family Business
Franchise Times
Home Business
Home Business Journal
Home Business Report
HomeWorker
Inc.
Industry Week Growing Companies
Minority Business Entrepreneur
Nation's Business
Self-Employed America
Small Business Canada
Small Business Computing
Small Business Journal
Small Business News
Small Business Tax Review
Spare Time
Success
Wealth Building
Your Company
Primedia Business Magazines and Media
http://www.primediabusiness.com/services/foradvertisers.asp?page=Advertise
Search Strategy:
business magazines
Snail mailing is still very effective. It's more costly than
electronic mail, but many still respond to this age-old approach.
You'll need to get ahold of some snail mail business lists. Here's
some links:
BuyListOnline
http://www.buylistonline.com/
USA Data
http://mip1.usadata.com/usapub/default.asp
Direct Mail Connection
http://www.directmailconnection.com/mailing-lists/businessmailinglists.html
A1 Mailing List Express
http://www.a1mailinglistexpress.com/mailinglists/business-mailinglists.html
Believe it or not, telemarketing works. There are firms that do
outsourced telemarketing for you. Here's a list:
Cerida
http://www.cerida.com/service.cgi?cid=4&tid=11
BuyerZone.Com -- telemarketing quotes
http://www.buyerzone.com/marketing/telemarketing/qz_questions_65.jhtml?_requestid=18239
Manage Your Leads
http://www.manageyourleads.com/
The Advantage 500 Grou
http://telemarket.info/
Here's a sizeable list from boomarket.com:
http://www.bookmarket.com/tele.html
Search Strategy:
B2b telemarketing
business telemarketing
telemarketing
There are various marketing firms around who specialize in sales lead
generation and business start-up assistance:
Reach thousands of small to medium-sized businesses through
Small Biz Technology
http://www.smallbiztechnology.com/advertise.htm
contact Ramon Ray (advertise@smallbiztechnology.com)
Biz-community
http://www.biz-community.com/Companies.aspx?c=11&l=196
<arketing w/ traditional and new media
http://www.digitalstore.com/marketing/mstern/#anchor2010365
Contact mstern@superlink.net for marketing guidance.
Blue Mine Group
http://www.blueminegroup.com/services.asp
Nail It Online
http://www.nailitonline.com/about.html
Internet Marketer
http://www.internetmarket.org/services/marketing_promotions.htm
Search Strategy:
B2B Marketing
Business Marketing
Marketing Directory |
Clarification of Answer by
jbf777-ga
on
18 Jan 2003 21:30 PST
Hi -
There are literally thousands of associations in North America. You
first need to obtain a comprehensive directory of associations that
you want to target [which I have a link for below]. Then you have 3
primary means of contacting their members:
"1. Find out if the association has a monthly publication like a
newsletter or magazine. Send them a press release stating your web
site as a useful, new resource for its members. Of course you've
really got to make sure that your site is as useful as you say it is!
2. Join the association. By joining you'll be able to keep abreast of
the needs and trends in your industry. Plus you'll also receive a
membership directory. This is a priceless resource for sending out
announcements about your web site.
3. Offer the association an opportunity to be a sponsor on your web
site. Of course this may mean that you'll have to give them a free web
page or two, but everybody will benefit in the long run. The
association will gain increased exposure and an opportunity to pick up
some new members through your site. And you'll have the backing of a
major industry force, in addition to access to your prime prospects
who will know and appreciate you as THE information resource on the
Web."
Taken from:
Marketing your web site through associations and societies
by Monique Harris-Hackney & Ian Traynor
http://www.marketing-magic.biz/archives/archive-internet-marketing/marketing-your-website-through-associations.htm
I hightly recommend you read that article.
The following link is a definitive source for reaching over 35,000
associations. It will cost you a little, of course [the database is
$400 for online access per year or $600 for the CD].
Concept Marketing Group's Directory of Associations
https://secure.marketingsource.com/associations/secureorder.html
All records in the database contain:
- Association Name
- Accurate mailing address, city, state, zip
Most entries contain:
- Phone/Fax numbers
- Key contact and title
- URL/Email Address
- Membership statistics
- Publications and Conventions
- Non-Profit/For-Profit status
- Category
The company also offers targeted emailing services. They can be
contacted at 800-575-5369.
This service's database would be vastly more comprehensive than my
listing individual organizations. But please let me know if this is
not suitable.
jbf777-ga
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