Category Archives: Starting Out

Can a Psychic use Affiliate Marketing?

eMarketing, Starting Out

I’m a phone and email reader with great reviews, reputable, etc. What kind of network might I use are there networks that will pay by performance or by sale? Looking for a site that does this.

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Jay’s Answer: While I’m sure there are affiliate networks that you can use, my strong suggestion is not to use them, for the following 3 reasons:

  1. Since there are lots of competition for affiliates, to get any quality leads, you’ll need to give a large % of your fee to your affiliate.
  2. Affiliates are best used for selling a concrete product, not a service. Products are easily quantized, but services are hard to compare/contrast.
  3. Affiliates may misrepresent you/your services.

The fantasy is that you can have an army of people who’ll act as your 100% commission sales force. And it’s just that – a fantasy. To help others sell your offering, you need to help them do it. You’ll need marketing materials, case studies, guarantees, etc. to help them to learn about you. Then, if you do get a lead, you won’t know what the “magic” was to attract them, so you’ll never be able to grow your own business.

My suggestion is to get crystal clear about who you’re trying to attract as your customer, and consider why they should use your services (instead of a personal coach, or a business coach, or take classes in a local school, etc.) and trust your advice. From some of these questions are the kernels of your marketing strategy.

Tagline For New Travel Company

Names + Taglines, Starting Out

Along with a couple of friends we are starting our new travel company..cannot think of a good tagline..we would really be grateful to you if you can suggest us something good..we have great deals on holiday packages and we specialise in tours..we thought a few like..best deals always and travel deals simplified. i look forward to your reply. Our company name will be travista.

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Jay’s Answer: The name you chose is already the name of a worldwide travel company: travistaworldwide.com – if this isn’t your company, you’re likely to find that you’re attracting your prospective customers to their website or have their lawyers request that you change your company’s name.

As to a tagline, “specializing in tours” and “best deals always” are promises that many other travel companies make as well. That’s why you’re having problems creating a great tagline for your business.

Instead, you need to start at the very beginning of your marketing strategy:

  • WHO specifically are you looking to attract to your business?
  • Where are they located? Where do they travel? How often do they travel? How exclusive are their travel needs? The narrower your niche, the easier it is to market to them.
  • HOW do you differ from your competition?
  • If you’re offering the same things as everyone else, then you need to find something that no one else does (that people care about) and do it well. For example, do you send your customers movies about the area they’re planning to visit for free? Perhaps a bonded housesitting (or petsitting) service at no additional fee?
  • WHY should they believe you?

Anyone can make a claim, but few can back it up. What proof can you present that shows what you’re saying is true. Consider testimonials or 3rd party independent investigators.

 

Name My Highly Professional Mortgage Company

Names + Taglines, Starting Out

homeI have been in the mortgage business for 8 years in Hawaii. I have focused mainly on high-end jumbo loans and have become almost too niched. No one thinks of me for conforming or average loans. I am starting my own company. I am looking for a name that exudes professionalism, confidence, knowledge, trust, etc. I want to cover the entire market not just jumbo. We may want to get licensed in other states so the name has to cross state boundaries. I am really looking for something new and fresh. Any help would be appreciated.

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Jay’s Answer: Here are a couple of names to play with:

  • The Loan Wizard
  • Mortgage Master

 

Help Me Launch my Indian Electronics Store

Starting Out

How to launch a electronic retail store in a mall in India?

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Jay’s Answer: Since you’re hoping to open a shop in a mall, your target audience are initially the people already visiting the mall. What other electronics stores are in the mall? What are they NOT selling? What are people visiting the mall likely to need/want? If you don’t know, visit the mall and survey the visitors.

Next, focus on WHY they should visit your store, instead of any of your competition’s locations (including online). Will you have a selection of impulse items? Do you carry products that are hard to find? Will you offer amazing service guarantees? Do you have knowledge about the electronics that no one else does? Will you offer complete customization of their purchase?

Finally, focus on HOW to attract people to come to the mall and your store. How can you co-market with other stores in the mall to make it a smart use of people’s time and money?

Help Me Start My Wedding Planning Business

Names + Taglines, Starting Out

I am currently a student and wanted to start being a wedding planner. I need help. Can u help me by  suggesting the name and the work regarding it. i would be thankful to u

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Jay’s Answer:   You don’t start building a business with a name. You start building a business with a plan. Once you have the well-thought out plan, then you can begin to craft your marketing strategy (where you name is one part of it). By starting with a name, you’re assuming you know how to find your customers, what they need, why they should trust you, and how you compare to your competition.  I suggest starting by reviewing this article of mine: http://www.manygoodideas.com/2008/10/01/unpeeling-your-marketing-onion/

Name My Wedding Planner Business

Names + Taglines, Starting Out

I need a name 4 my wedding planner business.

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Jay’s Answer:   The process for naming your business should start with your marketing strategy.

Who are you targeting (other than “people who want to get married”)? Are these people located in a specific region? A certain age? Men and women? A certain income bracket? A certain religious background?
Why you’re different. Assuming that the people you’re targeting already know they want a wedding planner, how do THEY decide on who to hire. It’s not about (simply) price – it’s about the value, the skills, the contact, and the special knowledge the planner has. What do you offer than others don’t?

For example, you can call yourself “Chicago’s Wedding Planner” (which clearly says you specialize in wedding in Chicago) or “Pagan Wedded Bliss” (for specialty for a type of wedding). The narrower you define your target audience, the easier it will be for them to find you and for you to be seen as the specialist for them.

I Want To Start A New Business – But What?

Starting Out

I am looking for a business for myself.  I have been told to get into business for myself many years ago and always worked for someone else!  I have been unemployed now for 9 long months and need an income.  Sorry about being drawn out!  The things I like beauty, making people feel special, and travel. all combined into one!  I also love feet and had a great idea and found out that was already taken!

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Jay’s Answer:   You’re halfway there – identifying some things that you like to do. The next step is to figure out what people will pay you to do that involves your passions. Maybe you can be a tour guide to pampering locations, or teach people the tricks of looking good while traveling, or being an aesthetician. The trick is balancing your loves with other’s needs. Ideally, find a need that people are asking for but haven’t be able to find (look online at discussion groups to see what people are talking about).

Also, any of these ideas may be able to make you successful, the fact is you need to balance the dream with reality – needing an income today. So, perhaps by working for a tour operator, or in a spa, or for cruise line can both help to pay your bills TODAY and to learn more about the business and identify things that people would pay you for.

Starting a Dental Lab in Dubai

Starting Out

I was working as a dental technician now am working a tourism company in Dubai. I really love my past job and now am thinking to start one dental lab, recently I heard about one dental lab is going to close and am trying to take that on lease. I kindly request to send me some advice about marketing and name changing.

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Jay’s Answer: Before you take on the lease, can you sit down with the previous lab owner to understand why they are closing their business? What can you learn from their marketing efforts and business expenses?

Next, why change the name of the existing dental lab? The past owner spent time and money establishing the name – why not benefit from it?

Finally,  the key to your marketing is clearly identifying what your lab can do that the other labs in your area can’t or won’t do. It may be the speed of your services, type of services, guarantee of services, etc. How can your lab enrich your client’s lives? Once you understand the message, then you need to figure out how to get the message to them. Can you offer a lunch-and-learn seminar for the dental office managers?

Bringing In More Companies To United Arab Emirates

Services, Starting Out

I have two companies:

1- General contracting and general transportation
2- Business set up in UAE.

Like I arrange a local sponsor and manage all government transactions.  The question how shall i get new companies in UAE ? If any foreign company would like to establish company, factory…or any business in uae how shall i knew them before they start as services is to establish their companies and arrange their visas.

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Jay’s Answer: You need to establish yourself (your company) as creating business introductions to UAE. That means making personal introductions to business owners, government organizations, NGOs, etc.  By establishing your value in networking,  you’ve positioned your organization as a UAE “concierge” – making it easier to do business.

Start by taking a look at: http://guide.theemiratesnetwork.com/, http://uaetrade-usa.org/, http://www.uae-embassy.org/business-trade/doing-business, and http://www.communicaid.com/. These organizations have positioned themselves for businesses interested in doing business in UAE to connect with. Can you become a trusted vendor with them? Can you model your marketing after them? Can you do something they cannot? Can you target a country or industry that’s not well-served by these organizations? That’s where I’d start.

Name My Wedding/Event Planning Business

Names + Taglines, Starting Out

I am starting my wedding and event and wedding planning.  I am very creative and have the ability to create high class events and weddings and still keep it on a budget. What name would you think best describes this service?

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Jay’s Answer:   You have some conflicts I wanted to point out. People who are looking for wedding planners don’t think about event planners. People looking for event planners, don’t think about wedding planners. To you, both are parties with guests. But you’re dealing with a very different clientele, and they have different needs (wedding = emotion/love, events = celebration/money).

Also, it sounds like you’re targeting people who don’t have a big budget but want to look like they do. That’s fine, but it’ll limit how your profit (how small a budget are you willing to work with?).

Here are some names to consider:

  • Weddings To Treasure
  • Events For a Song (or Weddings For a Song)
  • Thrifty Events (or Thrifty Weddings)