|
|
Clickbank Killer on the Horizon?
Rumor has been milling on the various marketing-related forums that a long-needed competitor to Clickbank is soon to be launched to the public. At this point, not much information has been leaked, but from what it seems we could have a real big...
IS Permission Email Marketing In Trouble... And Is RSS The Answer?
Copyright 2005 The IWE, LLC. All Rights Reserved. "Permission Email Marketing", the only way to market your business via Email without getting yourself into trouble and giving you the ability to stay in touch and build a ongoing relationship with...
What 15 Years in the Network Marketing Industry Taught Me.
Just whisper the words “network marketing” and you’re bound to get an emotional response from your listeners. Many people are still saddled with antiquated ideas of how the old multilevel companies were run in the 60’s and 70’s. Remember? Those...
What Is Drop Shipping? The Perfect Solution
This article is free to publish with resource box If using this article, please send a brief message to mailto:palyn@futureinternetmarketing.com - Word Count: 717 words, 25 word resource box - Format: 60 characters per line - URL:...
Which Affiliate Program Makes You the Most Money?
The Internet is an awesome phenomenon. Think about it. To become an affiliate for a Fortune 500 company can cost thousands of dollars and takes time. The Internet has opened a whole new world of money making opportunities. I should know. I left...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Target the Little Guy. This Could be a Reely BIG Shoo!
Out once again to illuminate the dark corners of internet shows for the tiny shining light of small business tools, I have just returned from AIIM 2002 where they describe the show thusly:
Enterprise Content Management creates successful SYNERGIES between paper, document, and web content. It focuses your best marketing on the best opportunities. It streamlines processes. Cuts costs. Edges your competition. Boosts customer loyalty. Spurs growth. And sustains innovation. But only if you have the know-how and the tools to set up your BEST ECM Solution.
Would anyone argue those goals and values apply to the small business? Without a doubt! Is anyone there interested in that customer? Not a chance! They prefer BIG (enterprise) customers.
I use a now familiar introductory line when speaking with sales representatives on the show floor at major conferences. As I approach with my "Press" badge prominently displayed to alert them to the potential of that coveted "free promotion" that is so vital to growing companies and say, "I'm covering solutions of interest to the small business. Does your company offer anything targeted at that market?"
They usually stare back blankly and respond with confusion saying, "Not really." They look me over quickly noting the lack of the corporate uniform three piece suit, I wear instead blue jeans and polo shirt. "Who are you with?" Meaning, of course, "Are you BIG enough for me to care?" They inevitably shunt me over to the "Marketing Director" because, "She'll be able to answer your questions better."
As Miss Marketing Director approaches, all smiles, I ask again adding, " . . . or do you partner with any resellers or offer hosted applications to microbusiness?"
Inevitably she'll stumble, steady and then with furrowed brow often makes it clear she is thinking, "No, but what a great idea! I'll have to propose that in the business development meeting on Monday!" And sometimes she'll even say it directly, "Not currently, but I sure do wonder why we're not persuing that market!"
I recently stumbled across a wonderful application for small business through affiliate tracking firm, Commission Junction. It was promoted via their in-house forum to members of other affiliate programs who use their tracking services. Oddly, it is offered by one of the MONSTER's of ebusiness, Oracle.
Just as strangely, it is one of the most powerful and yet affordable programs I've ever seen for the small business owner online. It's called "Small Business Suite" and it's based on their Enterprise Customer Relationship Management software. (That's ECRM for you corporate geeks.)
I'm baffled at why it takes so long for the BIG boys to find a way to offer hosted solutions like this Small Business Suite to what amounts to 50% of the economy,
microbusinesses.
I have to admit that I attend these shows partly as agitator for the cause of the little guy. Nobody wants to "find" that sector of the market as it is inevitably fragmented and hard to reach. But Oracle has seen the light and Microsoft is after the little guy with their own suite of tools through their small business portal, bCentral.com offering a far less power- ful suite of solutions broken up into modules to appeal to the penny-pinching needs of small business owners.
As for the AIIM show, I found an email solution offered by one company AIIMing at BIG boys of ecommerce who became VERY interested when I suggested they seek out a partner to buy their software and offer it as a hosted solution to small businesses. Fifty percent of the economy? Yeh! That's worth persuing! Damn! I gotta mention that in the business devel- opment meeting on Monday! This could be BIG!
I'm so glad he thought of that! Damn! Why has BIG business mostly abandoned the small business market? Some of the most successful corporations rely primarily on the small business market to become the megalithic behemoths they are.
Staples, Office Depot, Costco, Home Depot and dozens of BIG corporate discount stores got huge by offering solutions (read, cost savings) to the small business person. Where is the ecommerce superstore? How about eDepot.com? (The name has been reserved, could it be the small business ecommerce superstore arriving at last?) Shopping carts, payment gate- ways, merchant accounts, web hosting, site development, SEO services, ebusiness software, do-it-yourself-ebooks and tutorials. I wish I'd thought of that! Wait, I did!
Oooooh, if only I had some venture capital or angel investors! Not to say that this idea hasn't been badly attempted by some well-meaning small busines portals. The problem has always been that they partner with BIG businesses who insist on immediate, BIG growth and vast volumes of business before losing interest and pulling the plug on 50% of the economy.
How BIG a market is 50% of the ecommerce pie? Must BIG dogs eat ravenously at the market before the scraps are left to the little guy scavengers? Go for the vast quantity that is represented by the little guy and stop relying on premium prices and the rare BIG single purchase by monopolistic corporations. Why just rely on the fortune 500 when you could just as easily tap the Fortune Five Million?
Let me see now . . . 157 Billion dollars in Ecommerce divided down the middle is just under $78 Billion for small business. Market worth persuing? Doh!
About the Author
Mike Valentine does Search Engine Placement for the Small Business http://website101.com/Search_Engine_Positioning WebSite101 "Reading List" Weekly Netrepreneur Tip Sheet Weekly Ezine emphasizing small business on the Internet http://website101.com/arch/
|
|
|
|
|
Email marketing services and email marketing tools from SubscriberMail |
SubscriberMail is the leading provider of email marketing services and technology, enabling clients to send email marketing newsletters and campaigns ... |
www.subscribermail.com |
  |
ClickZ Internet Marketing Experts |
You are in the: ClickZ Network arrow. ClickZ Network Navigation, ClickZ Network Home, News, News Blog, Experts, Stats, Features, Search Engine Watch ... |
www.clickz.com |
  |
Email Marketing Solutions from Constant Contact |
Email marketing software that makes it easy to create professional HTML email campaigns with no tech skills. Sign up for a 60-Day FREE trial. |
www.constantcontact.com |
  |
Constant Contact Learning Center – Email Marketing Resources |
Articles on email marketing best practices, including tips on building an email list, writing email newsletters, and tracking email campaigns. |
www.constantcontact.com |
  |
Email Marketing | Email Campaigns |
Online resource for Bulk Email Marketing Services, Email Address List, Email Marketing Campaigns, Email List Builder, Permission Email Marketing, ... |
www.benchmarkemail.com |
  |
Email Marketing Reports |
Hundreds of articles and reviews on email marketing and advertising. |
www.email-marketing-reports.com |
  |
MailWorkZ Email Marketing Products and Services |
Full suite of email marketing products and online services. Create effective campaigns, manage deliverability, evaluate and track results. |
www.mailworkz.com |
  |
Email Marketing, Internet Marketing Tool, Bulk Email Marketing ... |
Email marketing, internet marketing tool and bulk email marketing strategies from StreamSend. |
www.streamsend.com |
  |
Email Marketing - About Email |
Email is a very powerful marketing tool. In spite of spammers abusing the medium, email can still be used and is still valued by users for timely, ... |
email.about.com |
  |
Email Marketing Software - Email Marketing Solutions - Lyris |
Email Marketing Solutions from Lyris - The most popular email marketing software, list hosting services, email deliverability and antispam solutions since ... |
www.lyris.com |
  |
Direct email Marketing |
eFuse.com is a virtual primer for creating great web sites-offering information, inspiration, assistance and entertainment. |
www.efuse.com |
  |
Topica: Online Marketing and Sales Solution |
Email Marketing Solutions - Topica's Direct Email Marketing Solution boosts lead generation, increases conversion rates, and shortens the online sales cycle ... |
www.topica.com |
  |
Pure ))) Email Marketing and Email Advertising |
Provides web-based email marketing solutions to improve brand awareness and advertising communications. |
www.pure360.com |
  |
Email Marketing Software & Services from Email Marketing Solutions UK |
Email Marketing Solutions UK: Private label, multi-user mailing list management and email marketing software solution for designers and marketers. |
www.emailtools.co.uk |
  |
Email Marketing Software from Bronto |
Email marketing software for managing lists and sending newsletters, surveys and other communications. |
bronto.com |
  |
IntelliContact - We Simplify Email Marketing |
IntelliContact is more than email marketing. It represents the future of ... "We Simplify Email Marketing" and "Intelligent Email Marketing Software" are ... |
www.intellicontact.com |
  |
Email marketing | Business Link |
How to use email to promote your business in a constructive way that stays clear of anti-spam rules. |
www.businesslink.gov.uk |
  |
Email Marketing Software: Direct Email Marketing from Listrak |
Email marketing provider, Listrak is a permission-based application that provides an easy and affordable method of managing, sending and tracking the ... |
www.listrak.com |
  |
Mass email marketing software for email newsletters, email merge ... |
Internet marketing tools that mean business: e-mail personalization and marketing tools for professionals. |
www.arialsoftware.com |
  |
Email Marketing Software & Services from Emailcenter UK |
Email marketing software solutions and services from Emailcenter UK. |
www.emailcenteruk.com |
  |
|