Is 2009 really coming to an end already? It’s hard to believe that the year has gone by so fast, especially with all that has happened here at Go Smart Solutions! We have been able to grow our member base, even throughout these tough economic times. And while we know this is due to the value and results that our services deliver, we know that it is also due to our loyal customers. We are so very thankful.

We are excited about 2010, as we have no plans of slowing down! We will be launching even more valuable services soon, but here’s a quick look at a few notable milestones from 2009:

• EmailFlyerAds has grown to 21,600 members. Over 17,000 email flyers have been sent totaling 45,307,716 real estate emails!
• ClassifiedFlyerAds now has 23,800 members who sent out 120,000 ads in 2009!
• RentShout was launched in June this year, and since then has grown to 1,300 members who have sent out over 1,500 ads!
• RealShout is our latest reveal, launching earlier this month. This service will use Geo-targeted technology and proven Go Smart marketing systems to deliver leads to real estate brokers, MLS’s, and mortgage brokers.
• TwitBacks was a fun side project that took on a life of its own in 2009. With more than 152,000 members and 166,700 Twitter backgrounds created, TwitBacks was a fun success!

We hope your year has been as great as ours, and wish everyone the very best for 2010!

Read our newsletter for a more in-depth look at 2009.

Photo credit: Optical Illusion

Once upon a time, a long long time ago, you could get a decent response just from advertising your business in the local paper, sending out promotional ads via direct mail, or buying a spot in the yellow pages. No more. Today, hundreds of millions of people are searching the internet for information, products, and services. Newspaper circulation is way down, making those ads less powerful, promotional direct mail has become “junk mail”, and advertising in the yellow pages… wait, what’s that? Google is the new yellow pages, and the internet is the new source for gathering information, communicating, and buying stuff. Are you effectively advertising your business online?

A recent study by Nielsen Media Research found that more than 85% of the world’s population has shopped online, up 40% from just two years earlier. Combine this statistic with the fact that 87% of home buyers search for property online, and that 3 out of 4 car buyers also search online, and it’s hard to ignore the fact that people are relying on the internet for more reason than just to surf; they’re also there to buy. If you own or run a business – whether freelance, real estate, automotive sales, product sales, service provider, or anything else – then you need to be marketing online.

So, how do you advertise your business online? The options available to you are many, and if you are just getting your feet wet in this arena then things can be confusing and overwhelming. Do your market research due-diligence, consumers are not going to leave online shopping behind any time soon.  Here are a few options to get you started:

1. Website – An effective website is much more than a static placeholder. Take tips from articles like “10 Steps to Measuring Web Site Success” and the Google Blog.
2. Blog – Blogging can be very effective if done right. Refer to advice from successful bloggers like Chris Brogan, CopyBlogger, the Online Marketing Blog, and others.
3. Post Targeted Ads – These types of ads can create a broader online presence for your business and be targeted to your market.
4. Google AdWords – Create online ads based on a set of keywords and set your own budget.
5. Social Networking – This one can be tricky, and many people use it entirely the wrong way. However, if managed successfully, social networking can be a great way to build your brand and presence online. To start in the social networking arena (see Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), I suggest you do much more watching and listening in the beginning to get a feel for how it is done successfully in your market. Find and connect with others in your industry who have been successful, and define a strategy with measurable goals.

The most important thing about online advertising for your business is to start. Have questions on any of these advertising methods? Disagree with me? Have another to add? Post your 2 cents in the comment section below.

Photo credit: jaaron

If you run a business, own a brand, write a blog, provide a service, or sell a product, then you should have some kind of marketing strategy. With web development and technology making huge strides every day, there is no shortage of tools available for developing an effective plan for promoting your business. Among the commonly mentioned “Web 2.0″ marketing methods are blogs, social networks, Twitter, podcasts, and video, which all allow you to engage your audience, develop meaningful connections with clients and other like-minded people, and promote your business to people who actually want to learn about it. SlideShare is another (free) tool to slip into that marketing belt.

If you know how to use Powerpoint, then you already have what it takes to market on SlideShare. The site allows you to upload presentations from Powerpoint, OpenOffice, or a PDF file, and share it publicly on the web. As is typical with most social sites, you can connect with other people, comment on their presentations, and develop conversations and relationships with people who are interested in what you have to say. Easily share a tutorial, embed the slideshow into a blog post (like on the Influential Marketing Blog), show off your accomplishments (like Guy Kawasaki), share about your business (like Zappos), promote a property listing (like Realtor Teri Michon), or include links to it from your blog and online marketing material. There are a hundred other ways to use the service… what ideas do you have?

SlideShare presentations are placed into categories for easy visitor searching and can include hyperlinks back to your site, YouTube videos, and voice narration. This can be a very powerful companion for your existing marketing strategy; it’s easy, effective, and free.

Whether writing a title for your classified flyer ad or a post on your blog, it is very important to do it right. An effective title can oftentimes be the difference between a successful effort and a flop. Here’s a few tips to consider:

For Online Classified Flyers

Online flyer ads are great for promoting products or services online, but are most effective with a targeted title. Since these are syndicated to web directories and indexed by search engines, it’s important to keep search terms in mind. Think about what you are offering, then think about what your buyers and clients might actually type into Google. An effective title will synchronize these two concepts so the searcher finds just what they’re looking for – your ad. Many people, to their own detriment, try to title their flyers with catchy phrases, much like they would title an article, essay, or blog post. This creativity is lost on an online flyer, since buyers and clients rarely conduct a search using that phrase.

For Blog Posts

A blog post is a whole different ball game. Think about your Blogsite from the visitor’s perspective. Try to title your posts in such a way that would appeal to a visitor, as well as search engines. Search engine optimization definitely has its place, but remember,  foregoing the usability of your site and the functionality of your posts for a little SEO juice is not going to encourage visitors to return or refer others. If you are clever enough to title your posts in such a way that they will be search engine friendly and visitor friendly, then you’ve found the jackpot. Remember also that you can always use tags and titles for an SEO boost, without compromising the user experience one bit.

Whether a blog post title or a flyer title, it is often the reason that someone decides to read further or move along. It is worth the time invested to put some thought into who your audience is and what they’re looking for. Now go and title wisely!

Image credit: Paul Worthington