But I’m back and I want to share with you some of the low cost marketing strategies that are making a huge impact today.

I’m going to share these with you one at a time so you can go and do some extra research on them.

The first is article marketing. This is one of my favourite marketing techniques. Purely because it’s free and it gives such an impact to the reader. It positions you as an expert in your field.

And to potential clients – this is incredibly important. Would you go to someone who is an expert, or someone who is mediocre for your services? And how best to establish this expert status? By being written about.

When you write articles, you write them not about your business, but about a particular topic. For example, I am going to write an article on low cost marketing strategies and creating action plans. I’m not going to mention anywhere that I actually can create a personalised action plan for you as this is deemed advertising.

Instead, I’m going to give you so much good, useful information that you can use right now in your business that you are going to come back to me and my site when you want more info.

Think about it.

If you read an article in a business magazine for example. How many times have you read that and thought – “wow, that was so helpful” and then visited that persons website.

And the good thing is, is that you can write that article!!

I know – I’ve done it! I’ve been published in a few different magazines from articles that I’ve written. And I don’t have any formal knowledge in writing articles.

It’s easy, it’s cheap and you’re missing out on a lot of business if you don’t start exploring the concept of article marketing.

Until next time,

Emma.

 Marketing Strategies – www.divapromotions.com.au

Our winner was Rachel Quilty from Jump the Q. Congratulations Rachel – you’ve just won 80 “Diva Dollars” to spend anywhere on the site!

Diva Promotions- not just advertising.

On the downside though, I didn’t back up my previous blog before beginning. (lesson learnt). As such, we have lost a few posts about building strategic alliances, sales letters and writing proposals.

 Not to worry though, I will be updating with more good stuff as time rolls on!!

And, I have to confess, a change is coming to Diva Promotions with some fantastic new products and services so make sure you keep coming back and checking this blog or our facebook group for more info!

Diva Promotions- for Women in Business.

Melinda Dunlop from Virtual Sanity!

Melinda won a Mums in Business Membership, and was told on her birthday!!

Yes, at Diva Promotions, we know how to keep our visitors happy!!!:)

 Stay tuned for a new competition winner to be announced shortly!

So if you are finding the same kind of feelings, here is a quick few tips to help get you going again and make this new year fantastic!

1) Get your desk and office organised. Clean up and clear all the clutter off your desk. Do all the filing that has been sitting waiting and give your computer a good clean.

2) clean up your emails. If you are anything like me, I like to hoard all emails in case I need them again!! Get rid of them! Start from the bottom of your email list and work through them- deleting those that you really don’t need and following up on any business leads sitting there. It’s a good excuse to touch base again and say happy new year!!

3) Get your invoices in order. Pay any outstanding debts, and clear up any to-do’s left in your accounting. This will help keep your accounts nice and tidy and make handling your money a lot easier this year.

4) Join some business networks. Take a look around and start posting on forums. Other peoples motivation can help give you a kick along!

5) Write down some goals. Write down what you want to achieve this year and then come back and fill out the ‘how’ of your goal list. Once you get the goals down on paper, the job is much easier!

Start now!!!

All the best,

Emma.

Diva Promotions- not just advertising.

No wonder we have such an obesity epidemic!!

The top 10 were listed in this order:

1) 7-eleven

2) Subway

3) Dunkin’ Donuts

4) Pizza Hut

5) McDonalds

6) Sonic Drive in Restaurants( ??)

7) KFC
Intercontinental Hotels Group

9) Dominos Pizza

10) RE/MAX ( real estate)

I was actually suprised that there are no cyber business in there, or no health related business.  Let’s keep an eye on this and see what comes about at the end of 2008!!

Diva Promotions- not just advertising.

I can feel the kids getting a bit antsy with the christmas period upon us!! I think putting the xmas tree up had something to do with it. I’m finding it harder to get work done as I’m slowly slipping into holiday mode too!!

Diva Promotions- not just advertising.

Nearly had a small fatility yesterday. Whilst cleaning the biscuit and juice out of the fishtank that my darling daughter gave to the ‘hungy fishies’ the motor went kaput. So we had the decision- either find a replacement lid for the tank, buy a new tank, or let the fishies die and get a new one down the track. So being a RSPCA volunteer, the last option was out for me and I opted for a new tank. Little did hubby know what kind I had in mind!! We’ve now got a 60L tank, on a wooden stand with a flip top wooden lid!! Quite a change from our old little 18L tank that sat on our coffee table.

now hopefully only mummy gets to feed the ‘hungy fishies’!!

Diva Promotions- not just advertising.

There were heaps of us there- over 65 I’m told and the food was delicious!! I made some new contacts, renewed some old ones, have a laugh, drank some champas, and won a prize!!! I won a family portrait from Tessa Gallery Studio valued at $450! Yes, I did a little song and dance and pumped my arms in the air and let out a “woohoo!!” and made a bit of a fool of myself, but I was chuffed!!

Then Alison took the time to thank me for all the help I had given her over these last few months which was great to be recognised. I returned the favour and thanked her for providing such a valuable network for all of us.

So, my last two weeks have been so busy, but it’s back to normal next week and if you called and I didn’t answer- I’m sorry!! Try again this week!!

Diva Promotions- not just advertising.

Yep- right then!! I had completely forgotten again!! So I ring up and we had to make a new one for next week but I felt like such a ditz!!

So we went out and bought a new diary for next year- and I pledge to use it!!!

Diva Promotions- not just advertising.

Sally talked about the various avenues for media, using the TRUE system. Take a look at her site and also her ebook that she is selling on Ebay for the moment.

The last week was so hectic! It started with my first ever venture to the Redland Women in Business meeting. Of course I went to their christmas party as my first event and found it quite fun. That was last Tuesday night. Then I was out all day Thursday, thursday night, Friday, Friday night, down the coast all weekend, came home on Monday- straight into a committee meeting at the kindy which went forever and was actually a little feisty!!
Then today- as above, and then did one thing that I will remember for quite a long time to come!

I set up a business meeting with one of the women I met at the Redland Women in Business Meeting and then totally forgot to go! Luckily, she rang me as a reminder and only had to wait about 10-15 mins for me to get there. I was very embarressed and have made a note to use my diary more often!!

Anyway, lots of information has been learnt over the last couple of weeks and I will be posting here more regularly!

Diva Promotions- not just advertising.

Congratulations Sarah and hope it brings in some new customers for you!

Things have been pretty hectic the last week with Diva Promotions. I’ve been working with Mums in Business and I must say, we’ve been making some headway!! Also I’ve been looking into finally getting a CRM program so I can keep track of all of these campaigns, and when people have paid, and when to follow up. My excel and whiteboard just aren’t doing it for me anymore!!

I’ve got my kids Art Show tonight at the Kindy. This is where they display all your child’s art work from the year and put it up for auction! It’s a fantastic way to raise money- our centre is a not-for-profit centre so we need to get as much as we can. Should be a good night- wonder how much I’ll spend this year….

Finally, we have launched with ClixGalore. After so much umming and aahing, I decided to ’screw it and just do it’ to use the words of one very famous business man!

So, visit clixgalore- www.clixgalore.com.au and look under ‘business’ and you will find Diva Promotions. We have 3 different banners to use, plus a text advert.

Fingers crossed this will go ok!!

It’s pretty hard to do sometimes!! I’ve actually found a routine that is working for the moment, and allows me to keep my service up- which is something I have found to be incredibly important.

Hubby goes to work around 5:30 am every morning. I *try* to get up with him, and go out to my office. Whilst the kids are asleep, I action my emails that came in throughout the evening and night-time.

Then I write down anything that needs extra time to action, and turn the computer off. I lock the door and walk away.

Once the kids go down for a sleep during the day, this gives me approx 1 hr to action emails that have come in throughout the morning. Again, anything that needs extra time to action, gets written down on my ‘email action’ list and when the kids wake up, I turn the computer off, lock the door and walk away.

After dinner, or when the kids are in bed for the night, I turn it back on again, and this is when I action my emails, and so some of the action points I have written down for the day. If there are no action points, I work on developing my site, or getting new leads, or devising new advertising plans etc.

I have found this works for me, however has taken huge amounts of discipline!!

One day I will get myself a shared office so I can get out of this house!!!