Comments on: How To Throw Away $500 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/ Small Business Branding and Marketing Advice and Commentary Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:07:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Do You Know Your Critical Business Metrics? » Internet Business Blog | Entrepreneurs-Journey.com - by Yaro Starak http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-10036 Do You Know Your Critical Business Metrics? » Internet Business Blog | Entrepreneurs-Journey.com - by Yaro Starak Mon, 05 Feb 2007 22:10:24 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-10036 [...] fired away money at random, testing different methods just because I thought they should work (see How To Throw Away $500 for example). I would choose an arbitrary investment amount and see what happens. If I made money, [...] [...] fired away money at random, testing different methods just because I thought they should work (see How To Throw Away $500 for example). I would choose an arbitrary investment amount and see what happens. If I made money, [...]

]]> By: Kevin Browne http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-8945 Kevin Browne Tue, 12 Dec 2006 13:33:15 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-8945 Yaro... Great topic. (I could throw $500 away every hour on the hour.) I think what happens to many internet marketers is that they (we) get so 'drunk with possibilities' as we surf deeped and deeper, that we lose track of the fact that we should be tracking. I know it happens to me. It's very difficult to STOP. Tracking and testing MUST rule the day. We approach perfection with diligence! Kevin Browne www.become-a-copywriter.com Yaro…

Great topic. (I could throw $500 away every hour on the hour.)

I think what happens to many internet marketers is that they (we) get so ‘drunk with possibilities’ as we surf deeped and deeper, that we lose track of the fact that we should be tracking.

I know it happens to me.

It’s very difficult to STOP.

Tracking and testing MUST rule the day.

We approach perfection with diligence!

Kevin Browne
http://www.become-a-copywriter.com

]]> By: Blogtrepreneur » Blog Archive » Starting an E-Biz - Part 5: Marketing your E-Business http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-2141 Blogtrepreneur » Blog Archive » Starting an E-Biz - Part 5: Marketing your E-Business Sun, 18 Jun 2006 18:56:52 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-2141 [...] The world of PPC is constantly changing, so make sure you do good research on the best keywords before you commit to spending any amount of money. Yaro Starak at Small Business Branding reports how he lost $500 marketing his business in the wrong way. [...] [...] The world of PPC is constantly changing, so make sure you do good research on the best keywords before you commit to spending any amount of money. Yaro Starak at Small Business Branding reports how he lost $500 marketing his business in the wrong way. [...]

]]> By: Retire Young and Wealthy » Offline advertising and promotion http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-1748 Retire Young and Wealthy » Offline advertising and promotion Fri, 26 May 2006 08:59:05 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-1748 [...] Yaro at Small Business Branding has written an article on how he tried to promote his business by sponsoring an event. He writes that even though there were around 2000 people at the event, the promotion only resulted in one enquiry. [...] [...] Yaro at Small Business Branding has written an article on how he tried to promote his business by sponsoring an event. He writes that even though there were around 2000 people at the event, the promotion only resulted in one enquiry. [...]

]]> By: Centrerion Canadian Politics http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-1704 Centrerion Canadian Politics Wed, 24 May 2006 02:23:51 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-1704 "[...]offer prizes/discounts for mentioning a codeword or something when using the service. The ROI would have been a lot better." Hehe, that depends on the assumption that there would have been ROI. 0 revenue / 500 investment = 0 revenue / 250 investment ;0. Kindly excuse the cynic in me speaking. I'm just saying that maybe the fact even the prize-winners didn't follow up suggests that these people weren't a targeted, qualified audience to begin with. “[...]offer prizes/discounts for mentioning a codeword or something when using the service. The ROI would have been a lot better.”

Hehe, that depends on the assumption that there would have been ROI.
0 revenue / 500 investment = 0 revenue / 250 investment ;0.

Kindly excuse the cynic in me speaking. I’m just saying that maybe the fact even the prize-winners didn’t follow up suggests that these people weren’t a targeted, qualified audience to begin with.

]]> By: Blog Carnivals This Week » Small Business Marketing And Branding - by Yaro Starak http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-1670 Blog Carnivals This Week » Small Business Marketing And Branding - by Yaro Starak Tue, 23 May 2006 02:37:33 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-1670 [...] The Carnival of the Capitalists is at The Integrative Stream and features my two articles - Paypal Review and How To Throw Away $500. [...] [...] The Carnival of the Capitalists is at The Integrative Stream and features my two articles – Paypal Review and How To Throw Away $500. [...]

]]> By: The Integrative Stream » The Carnival of the Capitalists http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-1636 The Integrative Stream » The Carnival of the Capitalists Sun, 21 May 2006 22:56:44 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-1636 [...] Yaro Starak at Entrepreneur’s Journey provides a Paypal Review from the merchant’s perspective. The same author writes at Small Business Branding about How To Throw Away $500. Australian money, though. [...] [...] Yaro Starak at Entrepreneur’s Journey provides a Paypal Review from the merchant’s perspective. The same author writes at Small Business Branding about How To Throw Away $500. Australian money, though. [...]

]]> By: The Integrative Stream » The Carnival of the Capitalists http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-1637 The Integrative Stream » The Carnival of the Capitalists Sun, 21 May 2006 22:56:44 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-1637 [...] Yaro Starak at Entrepreneur’s Journey provides a Paypal Review from the merchant’s perspective. The same author writes at Small Business Branding about How To Throw Away $500. Australian money, though. [...] [...] Yaro Starak at Entrepreneur’s Journey provides a Paypal Review from the merchant’s perspective. The same author writes at Small Business Branding about How To Throw Away $500. Australian money, though. [...]

]]> By: Thank You Sponsors And Network Recap For May 2006 » Entrepreneur’s Journey - by Yaro Starak http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-1514 Thank You Sponsors And Network Recap For May 2006 » Entrepreneur’s Journey - by Yaro Starak Fri, 19 May 2006 14:11:35 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-1514 [...] How To Throw Away $500 If you appreciate learning from other people’s mistakes then this article offers a good lesson on how not to spend your marketing dollars. I recount my story from the early days of BetterEdit.com when I wasted $500 on a not so good sponsorship promotion. [...] [...] How To Throw Away $500 If you appreciate learning from other people’s mistakes then this article offers a good lesson on how not to spend your marketing dollars. I recount my story from the early days of BetterEdit.com when I wasted $500 on a not so good sponsorship promotion. [...]

]]> By: Clair Ching http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-1492 Clair Ching Fri, 19 May 2006 05:44:48 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-1492 Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I am sad to hear about how badly it went but at least now you know better and you were able to share it with a lot of people by posting it online :) Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I am sad to hear about how badly it went but at least now you know better and you were able to share it with a lot of people by posting it online :)

]]> By: Yaro http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-1491 Yaro Fri, 19 May 2006 03:16:19 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-1491 Yes Anthony, quite right. Although my logo and link where in the handout for the event it wasn't very overt and competing for attention with all the other sponsors. It would have probably been smarter to skip the powerpoint show altogether, ask if I could hand out flyers at the end for half the money I spent and like you said, offer prizes/discounts for mentioning a codeword or something when using the service. The ROI would have been a lot better. Yes Anthony, quite right. Although my logo and link where in the handout for the event it wasn’t very overt and competing for attention with all the other sponsors.

It would have probably been smarter to skip the powerpoint show altogether, ask if I could hand out flyers at the end for half the money I spent and like you said, offer prizes/discounts for mentioning a codeword or something when using the service. The ROI would have been a lot better.

]]> By: demetrius pinder http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-1463 demetrius pinder Thu, 18 May 2006 17:51:59 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-1463 Loved the article and Anthony's comment was right on point. Thanks for the pointers! Loved the article and Anthony’s comment was right on point.

Thanks for the pointers!

]]> By: andy bailey http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-1428 andy bailey Thu, 18 May 2006 07:27:43 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-1428 I have found out the hard way too. I'll send this article to an eager cross line affiliate that wanted to spend 2000 on a tow-behind advertising trailer. He was convinced it would bring him business just from driving it around town, it does look impressive but I told him to ask for some stats before he parted with his money. They wouldn't give any so my advice was to not get it. Sure if you earn mega-bucks then you can afford that kind of money to advertise but not for a simple home based business like mine! nice new blog Yaro, I'll come back again I have found out the hard way too. I’ll send this article to an eager cross line affiliate that wanted to spend 2000 on a tow-behind advertising trailer.

He was convinced it would bring him business just from driving it around town, it does look impressive but I told him to ask for some stats before he parted with his money. They wouldn’t give any so my advice was to not get it.

Sure if you earn mega-bucks then you can afford that kind of money to advertise but not for a simple home based business like mine!

nice new blog Yaro, I’ll come back again

]]> By: Anthony http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-1394 Anthony Wed, 17 May 2006 07:46:30 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-1394 I did student marketing with a travel agency a few years back and the thing I learned was that you've got to give students something tangible "in hand". A leaflet, a business card or a scratchie. Students wether Aussies or internationals have so much going on that you need to hit them over the head a few times with a marketing message before they get it. I know it's totally generalising but for every student there's a party tonight, tutorial on Thursday, job on the weekend and an assignment next week. With something in hand they can then absorb it later when stuff isn't happening. I would have done everything you did but added a thank you card on tables or at the exits for everyone. On the thank you card I would have directed them to go to your web site to win extra prizes. At least then there is a reason to make them check you out and a chance for you site to do it's job. I did student marketing with a travel agency a few years back and the thing I learned was that you’ve got to give students something tangible “in hand”.

A leaflet, a business card or a scratchie. Students wether Aussies or internationals have so much going on that you need to hit them over the head a few times with a marketing message before they get it. I know it’s totally generalising but for every student there’s a party tonight, tutorial on Thursday, job on the weekend and an assignment next week. With something in hand they can then absorb it later when stuff isn’t happening.

I would have done everything you did but added a thank you card on tables or at the exits for everyone. On the thank you card I would have directed them to go to your web site to win extra prizes. At least then there is a reason to make them check you out and a chance for you site to do it’s job.

]]> By: Yaro http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-1392 Yaro Wed, 17 May 2006 00:34:15 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-1392 Hi Craig - I have tried quite a few different marketing methods however I've slowly moved towards online marketing exclusively as I've started more web based projects. The only offline marketing I do nowadays is posters for BetterEdit.com, everything else is online. I couldn't really say which is the best form of marketing I have used because it depends on the business. I know it's a cliche, but it's true, the best form of marketing is word of mouth where your current clients bring in new clients. Hi Craig – I have tried quite a few different marketing methods however I’ve slowly moved towards online marketing exclusively as I’ve started more web based projects.

The only offline marketing I do nowadays is posters for BetterEdit.com, everything else is online.

I couldn’t really say which is the best form of marketing I have used because it depends on the business.

I know it’s a cliche, but it’s true, the best form of marketing is word of mouth where your current clients bring in new clients.

]]> By: Craig http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/comment-page-1/#comment-1388 Craig Tue, 16 May 2006 16:24:44 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessbranding.com/469/how-to-throw-away-500/#comment-1388 I think that is great advice. It can be very discouraging to drop $500 and see no results. Certainly makes it difficult to do it again. I think the biggest thing is no ONE technique/method is going to do the job. Whether you are marketing a Internet Business or you are a bricks and mortar business, you must implement as many avenues of marketing as you can. A little here and a little there and most of it won't cost a dime, just effort. Yaro, as I read your blogs you have mentioned many different marketing techniques, affiliate programs, referral programs, PPC, Non PPC, general participation in forums and blogs, etc. I am curious w/ your wide experience, how you would rank all of the techniques you have mentioned? Maybe a interesting topic for a future blog post :) Thanks Yaro, Craig I think that is great advice. It can be very discouraging to drop $500 and see no results. Certainly makes it difficult to do it again. I think the biggest thing is no ONE technique/method is going to do the job. Whether you are marketing a Internet Business or you are a bricks and mortar business, you must implement as many avenues of marketing as you can. A little here and a little there and most of it won’t cost a dime, just effort.

Yaro, as I read your blogs you have mentioned many different marketing techniques, affiliate programs, referral programs, PPC, Non PPC, general participation in forums and blogs, etc. I am curious w/ your wide experience, how you would rank all of the techniques you have mentioned? Maybe a interesting topic for a future blog post :)

Thanks Yaro,
Craig

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