Search
Related Links

 

 

Informative Articles

Advertising On A Budget - Part 2: Thinking Small
This is the second article of a three-part series. I'm illustrating the marketing challenges of a small business, PrescottWeddings.com. Our goal was to both build the PWC brand and drive traffic to the Web site. Advertising regularly was...
Do I really need to write articles for e-zines?
When I was first advised to start writing articles, this was the first question I asked. As I was totally freaked out at the thought of me writing for others to read. Many people subscribe to e-zines and the readers often trust the recommendation of...
Harness the Power of the Personal Touch
Gone are the days when a company could hope to succeed by offering a good product and backing it up with respectable customer service. In today's overstocked, cutthroat global economy, consumers demand a superior experience from start to...
Mona Lisa Your Branding
Have you mistakenly trained your branding to fall over and play dead? Do you know how to use psychology to create branding that lights up with the voltage of a thousand neon bulbs? And can you play Scrooge with your budget, yet get huge branding...
The Power of Why: Your Psychological Ally To Marketing Success!
Here's why ‘WHY’ is such a profit-making marketing trigger. “Stop taking two and three plates of food,” my mother said to me angrily. I was at a wedding and seven years old. Back then, at a lot of the weddings we used to go to, the food...
 
The Million Dollar Idea Maker

We’ve all seen some absolutely fantastic products, services or systems which are incredibly hot profitable money-spinners, and many of us have often wished we had thought of it first.

But just where do the ideas come from? How do the creators come up with the products and concepts?

Surely it’s based on massive research and development, huge capital investment, public scrutiny, market assessment - and that’s just a start.

WRONG! Whilst the above may be true of some products, services, systems, ideas and so on, the absolute best don’t involve any such in-depth planning - far from it.

I’m going to reveal to you the secret of how some of the biggest, best and hottest ideas are conceived. - and how some of the most successful ever product ideas, were positively the simplest.

Don’t get me wrong, product testing and market analysis is still very important, but completely pointless until you have clambered over the initial hurdle of ’thinking up’ a product.

Let’s look at a couple of brilliant examples of a product which is a world-wide name and multi-million dollar profit centers,

Firstly, just about everyone on knows about Duracell Batteries, and how they came from nowhere, and trounced the competition virtually overnight.

Was it because their batteries were better than the competition? No, not really….. Not in general terms. But the marketing people behind Duracell came up with not one, but TWO pieces of absolute sales and marketing brilliance.

Firstly, they looked at the competition, the market-place, the mode and method of battery sales, then compared their product side-by-side with other leading batteries. It seemed that their battery was just as good as the rest, or at least as good as the market leader.

But in the marketing world, trying to sell a product on the basis of “It’s just as good as the rest” - doesn’t really work.

They needed an EDGE.

During comparative product testing, it revealed the Duracell was in fact, better than the leading battery, in a particular way. They had discovered that Duracell batteries lasted longer, much longer than the others….. during ’continuous use’.

EUREKA! That was it! They had found their edge….. The marketing angle….. The secret weapon.

So now, we all know that …. “ Duracell lasts longer any other battery during continuous use “…..

They had found a NICHE in the battery market……. ‘continuous use’.

Why is this so important? Simple. Most people who use products which require batteries, seldom actually use the product (and therefore the battery) for long periods, i.e. continuous use - but rather use them in shorter, regular periods - like flash-lights, electric door-bells etc.

But that was of little importance - they marketed heavily on the ’lasts longer… ’ concept - with the funky little Duracell Bunny going on, and on, and on… and on……..

Duracell were not misleading anyone - they were completely truthful in their advertising, and with it, became a virtual household name overnight.

BUT - they also wanted a second scoop of the market, and devised yet another unbelievably simple, but so effective concept….. of gigantean proportions. What was it? Sell the batteries in PACKS! Simple but Brilliant!

Many readers may not recall, but before today’s multi-packs of batteries, they were simply sold loose, separately, individually. If you wanted just one - you went to the local store, and purchased just a single battery.

Now, Duracell decided to sell in multi-packs, and that was the only way to buy their new batteries. No singles. Period. Instead of selling one at a time, they sold FOUR At a time. Battery for battery, against the competition, they blew them away.

The multi-packs have another great side-effect. Some products which require batteries, need perhaps just one, or maybe three batteries, leaving an odd number of batteries left in the pack for future use. Next time the consumer needed to replace the used batteries in the product, they went to the drawer, and noticed perhaps that there were ’some’ Duracell batteries left, but not enough. So the consumer had to purchase more. And if they had already looked at Duracell’s, and had some Duracell’s left to use up, what are they likely to buy?

You get the idea.

This is a perfect example of taking something which already exists, and remodelling it, re-branding it, re-marketing it,


finding a niche for it - and away you go.

Look at the music industry. It’s rife with similar concepts, which make millions. Bands, groups, singers, performers…. often do ‘cover versions’ - that is they will copy a song or track previously done by another artist.

Sometimes music is a ‘fusion’ - a mix of existing styles, but blended together to create something new. How about ‘sampling’? Taking a beat, rift, chord, chorus, few lines, track….. From another artist, and remixing it to create something different.

All they have done is to use something that already exists, make a few changes, amendments, alterations, improvements - and RESELL IT.

Unless you can reinvent the wheel, or perfect ’cold fusion’ - the World is jam packed full of existing markets, products, systems, services, concepts, ideas and customers - all of which can be used as your drawing board to get started.

First of all, where to locate great concepts?

Look around. What do you like? What do you dislike? Can it be improved? Can you take a hot product and improve it? Can to take a mediocre product and develop it? Can you take a completely useless product, and turn it in something better? Listen to what others say.

Can you re-package something? Bundle it? Deliver it differently? Re-brand it? Find a different, untapped market for a product which already exists, but is focussed on a different customer-base?

Can you add more value, more options, better support or service?

Do you use a product and think to yourself…. “Wow…. That’s great… but if only it did this too….”

Here are the vital tools and tips which you will need to start you off creating your own Million Dollar Ideas.

1. Your Eyes - seems obvious, but always be aware and on the ‘look-out’.

2. Your Ears - keep them open listen to people, those around, what they say about products, especially the things they dislike, as this could be a great start for you, if you can remove the problem with an existing product, you may just have a seller.

3. Your Mind. Keep this open too. And try to think ‘laterally‘.

4. A notebook and a pen / pencil (write your ideas down - don’t forget them!)

5. Go back to number 3 and remember to do this!

6. A ‘sounding board’ - a way of discussing your ideas with a few trusted others.

7. Patience. It may take a little time, the best ideas don’t necessarily come instantly -stick with it.

8. Don’t get down-heartened if some of your ideas don’t pan out. Just start again.

9. Don’t’ spend too much time over ideas. Give yourself 60 seconds (no more) to think of a product, service, system etc., Then Stop. Then spend 9 minutes writing down as much as you can, all the pros and cons of the ‘idea’, how it can be improved, simplified, delivered - just write as much as you can in those 9 minutes. Then STOP. Take a break. A good break. In fact put your notes away till the next day. Then review them.

When you do finally come up with a really hot idea for a product, service, system etc., don’t tell the World until you’ve taken a few steps to protect yourself! Get advice from experts - Lawyers, Business Professionals…… Patents…. Copyright…….. It’s important to get these right, or else someone may steal your idea, register it first and make HIS/HER fortune from YOU!

That leads me on to the last area. Don’t outright steal someone else’s idea, product etc. Breach of Copyright can be serious, Patents are relatively easy register, but a little care is needed - and plagiarism is just downright nasty!

In summary, Million Dollar Ideas can be found in TWO PLACES.

1. Everywhere in the outside world.

2. Inside YOU.

It’s just a case of putting them together. Some of the best ideas, really are the simplest.

© Copyright Gary Durkin 2005 - All Rights Reserved worldwide.


About the Author: Another article by Gary Durkin Founder of the Internet Advice Center® http://www.InternetAdviceCenter.com Gary has more than a decade of offline international business success behind him - each day controlling millions of dollars of investments world-wide, and has been doing business online for nearly 7 years.

Source: www.isnare.com

 

Brand - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The brand, and "branding" and brand equity have become increasingly important ... From the perspective of brand owners, branded products or services also ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
Branding - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Livestock branding, the marking of animals to indicate ownership; Human branding, ... Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branding" ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
AllAboutBranding.com : Home
Provides resources and opinions on branding. Includes brand development, management and communications.
www.allaboutbranding.com
 
brandchannel.com | branding resource produced by Interbrand | brands
An international online exchange and resource about brand marketing and branding.
www.brandchannel.com
 
Branding Company Corporate Branding Internet Brand Identity ...
Brand Identity Guru Inc. creates, develops and promotes powerful brands. Our clients enjoy an array of innovative, creative and powerful branding solutions ...
www.brandidentityguru.com
 
Branding Blog
Branding and positioning news and opinion.
www.brandingblog.com
 
Branding Asia
Free articles, news and columns on branding in Asia. Market research and Asian marketing.
www.brandingasia.com
 
Pages tagged with "branding" on del.icio.us
All items tagged branding ??? view popular ... industrie./design and branding consultant specialists./ · save this. by kittim to design branding graphic ...
del.icio.us
 
The Brand Called You
Big companies understand the importance of brands. Today, in the Age of the Individual, you have to be your own brand. Here's what it takes to be the CEO of ...
www.fastcompany.com
 
Branding: See what people are saying right now on Technorati
See all blog posts tagged with branding on Technorati.
www.technorati.com
 
Mozilla Branding
The purpose of this document is to describe mozilla.org's branding strategy during and after the release of what has generally been called Mozilla 1.4. ...
www.mozilla.org
 
What Brand Are You? A branding viral by The Design Conspiracy
What Brand Are You? has since been picked out as Site Of The Day by the likes of the Financial Times, Yahoo, USA Today and BBC News, and has received more ...
www.whatbrandareyou.com
 
Julie & Company: Affordable branding, web design, graphic design ...
Julie & Company creates stellar branding, integrated marketing, advertising, web design, web development, Flash, trade show booths - all at affordable ...
www.julieandcompany.com
 
Forty Media - Web Design, Web Development, Branding, Great Websites
a professional web design agency based in Phoenix, Arizona.
www.fortymedia.com
 
Branding - Yahoo! Small Business
Find information to help grow your online business with business plans, Thomas Register, news articles and more.
smallbusiness.yahoo.com
 
Lexicon
Lexicon Branding appears on KTVU News; Lexicon Branding creates Ridgeline for Honda, Viiv for Intel, and GameTap for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. ...
www.lexicon-branding.com
 
Branding and Usability
We're finding that a site's usability can dramatically affect branding. ... There are two basic techniques for branding: direct experience and indirect ...
www.uie.com
 
iMedia Connection: Research & Metrics - Branding
Majority of marketers feel branding opportunities -- online and offline -- aren't ... IAB case studies prove real-world power of online in branding mix. ...
www.imediaconnection.com
 
Small Business Marketing And Branding
Small business marketing and branding advice and how-to guides for small business owners. Learn how to start and grow your own successful business.
smallbusinessbranding.com
 
Beyond Branding
Beyond Branding, published in hardcover in 2003 and paperback in 2005, presents innovative business models for the survival of 21st century organizations.
www.beyond-branding.com
 
 

 
Content Menu
  • 10 powerful networking tips using business cards

  • 1 800 get rich can toll free 800 number domains pay off

  • 42 killer domain secrets exposed

  • 4 steps to unleashing profits in your online business

  • 5 secrets to beating your competitors everytime

  • 6 steps to laying out your competitive strategy

  • 7 steps to highly relevant search engine friendly and people useful web site content

  • 7 ways to profit from other peoples products

  • achievers interview with stupidman

  • adult add a disorder or a secret of success

  • advertising and pr

  • advertising on a budget part 2 thinking small

  • affiliate marketing promoting your own web presents

  • an aspirin or an autoresponder

  • are cyber criminals phishing your identity from your computer

  • are you an entrepreneur whos not afraid to think outside the box and make some money

  • are you brand worthy

  • aspiring webmasters want to know what makes a website grow

  • attract your dream customer

  • benefits of corporate gift giving can never be understated

  • beyond ebooks 10 powerful alternative infoproduct formats part 1 of 2

  • be a web site reviewer

  • be unique and build a brand

  • blogs podcasting and rss ecommerce impact

  • blogs podcasting and rss how will these technologies affect ecommerce

  • book summary the brand called you

  • branding and internal communication

  • branding and marketing

  • branding basics

  • branding do you stand out from the crowd

  • branding fiasco better be who you say you are

  • branding for profits

  • branding its more than just your usp

  • branding more than just a statement a memory scar

  • branding your business

  • branding your business to make more money

  • branding you are the brand

  • brand big deliver a great experience

  • brand moie make your mark with a personal brand

  • brand smart its about the relationship not the transaction

  • brand your business

  • brand your consulting brilliance

  • brand your consulting business

  • building your brand

  • business branding

  • business exit strategy

  • buyer beware business opportunity scams abound

  • buzz marketing marketing to non marketable customer

  • can i advertise my site with a 150 monthly budget

  • can three words in websters dictionary be the key to customer loyalty

  • can you convert your marketing into a religion

  • career warfare a book summary

  • check cashing the future is now

  • choose the right format for your ebooks

  • committing to and succeeding with your new years resolutions

  • communicate your brand

  • company logo design tips for success

  • company logo watches the 30 times a day reminder of your business

  • corporate blogging 7 best practices

  • corporate promotional gifts the fridge magnet is dead long live the computer desktop

  • corporation buys texas town

  • cosmetic toiletries global outsourcing private label manufacturing

  • create viral traffic with brandable ebooks

  • creating an irresistible brand

  • creating a landing page campaign 7 things to avoid

  • creating a space of your own

  • creating value with streaming video content

  • creative people presenting seminars to bump up sales

  • credit cards

  • cultivating the trust factor

  • debunking the myth that search engines bring in the most traffic

  • determining the best web site for your business

  • developing your school brand

  • does your e newsletter or e zine pass the so what test

  • donald trump

  • dont dare brand your business because you may lose

  • dont punish yourself doing type x business

  • don t punish yourself doing type x business

  • do i really need to write articles for e zines

  • do you know where your brand promise is

  • do you make these 7 mistakes in your business

  • dreambiznews

  • ebay buys shopping com boon or bust to online merchants

  • effective advertising

  • ethical finance who benefits from our spending

  • executive resumes 101

  • finding your niche what do you want to be known for

  • franchise resolution in 2005

  • fundamental strategic marketing mistakes to avoids

  • future business leaders of america fbla

  • getting to know the search engine superstar

  • get branded part i

  • get branded part ii

  • get out of your head to improve your business

  • gifts that carry a marketing message

  • global market in the cyber worldgo and get it

  • greasing the path to success finding the confidence to step up to key moments

  • growing your company in todays chaotic market

  • growing your company in today s chaotic market

  • hang tag or swing ticket manufacturers

  • hardcore sales vs the relationship part iii tips and techniques for relationship selling

  • hardcore sales vs the relationship part ii building a relationship with your prospect

  • harness the power of the personal touch

  • has your design firm run amuck with your web site

  • have you forked your fishs tail

  • have you forked your fish s tail

  • hire the right marketing company

  • hologram to protect your business

  • homelanddefensestocks com acquires premier homeland security web portal twotigersonline and the national homeland security knowledgebase

  • home based business opportunity secrets of success in home based business opportunity exposed

  • how can job fairs help your company

  • how coaches find clients online

  • how important is vaule of brand to the consumer company

  • how the brain learns

  • how to become an expert in your niche business

  • how to brand your home based web business

  • how to build and manage a winning brand

  • how to build a business website

  • how to calculate the lifetime value of a client

  • how to choose an affiliate program that will make you money

  • how to commit brand suicide

  • how to create your own 24 7 little sales machines in 5 simple steps

  • how to double your profits peters way

  • how to get customers to flock to your home based business

  • how to get massive sales by increasing your brand

  • how to get more people at your site

  • how to get your contact details across when the organisers wont let you

  • how to maintain a steady cash flow

  • how to start a new business

  • how to start your own business

  • how will your visitors remember you and your business brand yourself from the crowd

  • image and branding advertising­kget over it or go broke

  • importance of branding whats in a name

  • im talking but is anyone listening

  • increase your leads with search engine and lead optimization strategies

  • increase your page rank through seo

  • index

  • industry pro interview branding turning your customers into evangelists

  • inexpensive ways to promote your business part 1

  • innovation makes leaders

  • internet marketing

  • interview with michael murray autoresponder basics

  • in the beginning

  • is a work at home business right for you

  • is nature a marketing guru

  • is network marketing easy

  • is your ad killing your brand

  • is your logo helping or hurting your business

  • its one thing for people to buy your product or service but its another for them to tattoo your logo on their biceps

  • i have nothing to say overcoming the fear of writing

  • key ingredients for starting a catering business

  • know who you are and your brand will follow

  • learn how to make money with reprint rights marketing

  • lessons from the olympics for your business

  • lessons from the power brands

  • lets just get to the bottom of this hill mr frodo

  • list building through cooperative partnerships

  • little know method will make you more sales

  • logo design and branding points to remember

  • loosing my virginity

  • make mine to grow building your solo business to outgrow you

  • make money buying from ebay

  • make your mark by building your reputation

  • make your own brand

  • managing your brand

  • marketing revolution with blogs and rss

  • marketing the government for profit

  • million dollar idea maker

  • minding your own business

  • mona lisa your branding

  • more than just a logo creating your companys corporate identity

  • move over mcdonalds sumosalad expands into uae

  • new content for your website

  • new job tips starting a new job next week

  • new uniforms could be the gold charm for the golden arches

  • new years resolutions and branding

  • no time for ezine

  • one minute feedback

  • on branding

  • part i sales how revolting part i sales how revolting

  • pharmaceutical branding

  • preparing your business for january

  • presenting seminars to bump up sales

  • push button publishing product review

  • quick tactics to brand your business and make more sales

  • raising your rates can increase your business

  • rating the ebook compilers

  • reality branding are you taking advantage of the 40 year social pendulum

  • real estate post card marketing million dollar mailings

  • resources for staying current of it advancements for online business owners

  • road kill mentality why employers arent calling you

  • rotator

  • running your own casino

  • search engine optimization custom graphics and logo creation and newsletter campaigning

  • search your soul the psychology of a search engine

  • selling on ebay

  • setting up your dream home office space

  • setting yourself up for internet success

  • seven smart marketing strategies every business should use

  • shattering the branding myths

  • signage for your business

  • six questions to ask before committing to business web site

  • small business and branding why and how

  • so youre thinking of having your own website

  • start doing online business using b2b portals in six steps

  • stop is your business missing its mark et

  • stop is your business missing it s mark et

  • storytelling for high concept and high touch

  • strategies of successful market offers

  • strategies to increase expression of interest conversion

  • stuck with a zero marketing budget for client gifts

  • swot analysis

  • ten basic steps for building a web site that works

  • text vs pictures shedding light on the debate

  • the 12 reasons why most ads fall flat on their face costing you a fortune instead of making you the money you deserve

  • the 4cs of branding

  • the 5ws of world class customer service training

  • the 5 ws of world class customer service training

  • the 7 deaths of a salesman

  • the advantages of rss websites

  • the arrival of the founder of modern day advertising

  • the art of self branding

  • the art of upselling three tips to generate more sales effortlessly and 3 ways people blow it

  • the branded customer experience we never say no

  • the choice between yes and yes a psychological revelation

  • the expert advantage why it pays to establish yourself as an expert

  • the goldmine known as private label rights

  • the hidden traffic strategy that skyrockets your profits

  • the importance of branding can it really make a difference

  • the incredible image 8 steps to put your business best foot forward

  • the microsoft brand

  • the million dollar idea maker

  • the newbies guide to profiting online part 5

  • the other 80 20 principle insights on selling to women

  • the power of a self brand

  • the power of small business branding through private labeling

  • the power of why a psychological revelation

  • the power of why your psychological ally to marketing success

  • the relationship between colour sales

  • the revolt of the poor the demise of intellectual property

  • the super brand marlboro

  • the top 10 questions for socially responsible leaders

  • the true facts about mlm and downline builders

  • thoughtleading the art of separating yourself from the pack

  • tips for business websites

  • top 10 business e mail basics

  • top 7 tips for new businesses

  • top end alignment

  • top inventory keeping secrets

  • top ten ways to communicate work effectively

  • to website or not to website

  • transform your image and accelerate your success

  • turn your marketing pieces into marketing masterpieces with these five design techniques

  • understanding the different methods of offline promotion

  • using seminars to bump up sales

  • viral marketing techniques every web site should be using

  • walmart and the rules

  • want more money and less stress

  • want more money less stress

  • want more money less stress set some boundaries

  • website design tips by san diego internet marketing professionals

  • web strategy and powerful persuasive writing

  • what does she have that i dont

  • what is the purpose of corporate gifts

  • what part do commodities play in the market and in our shopping

  • when do you stop marketing to customers

  • which web business model is right for you

  • why are customers so indecisive

  • why branding is vital for your home business success

  • why does a business fail and what can you do to stop it

  • why free agent thinking is good for your company

  • why free business cards just dont cut it

  • why is my restaurant not full every monday night

  • why radio advertising could be the best thing you ever did for your business

  • why santas marketing works better than yours

  • why you need to have your prices upfront

  • writing a basic web design proposal

  • your assumptions about job descriptions can harm you

  • your knowledge could be earning you a fortune

  • your website on my forehead

  • you dont have time to sit and wonder when the traffic will come

  • you never have a second chance to make a first impression position your company wisely

  • you quit your job and started up your own business now how do you make it work