Bethesda List Center wants to let you know how easy it is to gain fans and followers to your companies Facebook and Twitter pages.  You have taken the time and effort to create pages that are eye catching and interesting to your customers and prospects but you have not seen the page traffic you thought you would.  Follow the steps below and your once sparce friends and followers list will soon explode!

1. Provide exclusive, shareable content.
Which came first – an audience or compelling content? I’d argue content comes first because it attracts the fans to act. Sit down and plan some fresh content for your prospective fans want. With a little creativity, you can use premium content as a means of getting fans to Like you on Facebook. (This process is known as a ‘Reveal Tab’ or ‘Fangating’.) This works if the content and the brand are cohesive and relate to each other, but this comes at the price of people tuning out later if you don’t send related or relevant updates to why they initially Liked you.

2. Promote your social media assets.
I am actually a bit surprised some businesses don’t promote their social media presences offline. It doesn’t mean you need to list all of them out, but pick two or three of them and recommend your customers and prospects like/fan/follow them. This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to get more fans … just ask them. A quick and easy solution to this is to include it in your email marketing campaigns as well has a permanent fixture to your email templates.

3. Host and/or participate in interactive sessions through social media.
Admittedly, this takes considerably more effort than other tactics, but the payoff is good. Consider hosting a session where your audience interacts and asks you questions while you answer them. It’s a great way to boost engagement with your fans as well as get some great ideas for publishing content. Likewise, it’s a good format to network with others and discover what they bring to the table to move your ideas forward. You can do this easily through either live video (UStream) or through status updates (Tweetchats).

A good example of this is at live events on Twitter. There’s usually a hashtag (#likethisone) that many events have where attendees and participants share feedback, ask questions and exchange healthy dialog. If you host an event, consider offering the opportunity to take questions from the audience on Twitter. Little things like this will add up to being active and worthy of more followers and engagement.

4. Build value through social media.
Exclusivity is a great way to build value in your social media presence. Discounts are one way to do it – but I’m not a huge fan of that because people become a fan of your discounts, not what you provide. Exclusivity might mean you provide more detailed insights about your products and services. It could also be in the form of different types of media shared – photos from the office, the team, etc. Little things like this add value to your audience in social media.

This doesn’t have to be too difficult. For us, we do this by posting news and breaking information on our Twitter and Facebook accounts. Then we follow that up with a press release or including that in our monthly newsletter. This process is effective at building value in your social media assets so people trust they are getting the latest information when you publish there.

5. Demonstrate discipline, consistency and patience.
These skills are critical to growing your social media audience successfully and sustainably. With exception to one tactic, there is no way to instantly amass thousands of people. Having patience and a little faith that you’re providing value to your fans will net you some great results later. Be consistent and share at least a couple daily updates to interact and promote healthy discussion about your brand, products and service.

6. Buy Likes/Fans/Followers.
How do I recommend this without feeling dirty? I can’t, but it is possible to run a social media campaign to buy your way to fans. This has obvious benefits and concerns. Targeting your ideal customers and prospects is good to keep it relevant. However, if you just get fans for the sake of getting fans you’ll have see that you have amassed a very odd bunch that don’t really have any stake or interest in your business or brand. If you are going through a brand-building effort and wish to advertise, it’s not a bad idea for people to stay connected and learn more about you.

(On Facebook, you can use Facebook Advertising in conjunction with your Fan Page; for Twitter, they have a higher bar to jump over, but they are accepting applicants to advertise.)

7. Leverage a contest for Fan/Follower interactions.
People love contests, but your mileage will vary with these. There is no slam-dunk contest theme that results in exactly what you want, but cumulatively, contests with your fans can add more engagement than simply reading, liking, re-tweeting and sharing status updates. Some contests to think about are done simply by raffle, others by entry or through additional interactions. These can be very helpful for a brand who wants to grow their audience quickly and for those people to be plugged-in to the brand for relevant updates. A few solutions to look at for this would be Wildfire, OfferPop or Bulbstorm for bigger and better social media campaigns.

Since your customers or prospects have choosen to friend or follow you, this is a great honor.  Make sure that you continue supplying them knowledgeble content that makes it rewarding and interesting to keep you as a friend or follower but most importantly as a customer.

Happy socializing!

Click here to read the original article posted by Infusionblog.com http://www.bethesdaemediamarketing.com/library/social-marketing/7-ways-to-get-more-fans-and-followers

Bethesda List Center, Inc., is based in Bethesda, Maryland. The company is 19 years old and specializes in business-to-business marketing campaigns with direct mail, Email, CPA / CPL – click per action / click per lead, web marketing, SEO and website landing pages.

Bethesda List Center has a sister company, Bethesda Emedia Marketing.

You are out there in the trenches.  Your company has a LinkedIn account, Twitter page, Google+ site and Facebook page, etc. you feel like you have this whole social media scene cinched.  Is this so or could you be mistaken?

Bethesda List Center wants to share some tips to make sure you are getting the most out of what social media can truly offer to your companies success.

1.) My BESTsuggestion for where to begin: Rely on the wisdom of Denise Wakeman (Founder of the Blog Squad and Online Visibility Expert) and grab a Free 7-part visibility boost e-course.I’ve been following Denise for years. She’s credible and knows more about creating a presence online than the next ten experts you’ll encounter!

2.) Submit your blog to blog directories: 23 blog directory sites

3.) Expand your blogging horizon and look for guest posting opportunities: BloggerLinkUp.com.

4.) Bookmark your blog and follow other bloggers:

• BlogEngage.com
• BlogInteract.com
• Serpd.com
• Blokube.com
• BizSugar.com

5.) Don’t stop at You Tube — Share your videos all over the net! Take advantage of this Free video distribution service: Tube Mogul

6.) Start your own internet radio show for free: BlogTalkRadio.com

7.) Create audio marketing messages, share them on social media venues, and network with fellow entrepreneurs:

• SoundCloud.com
• ipadio.com
• AudioBoo.com
• Cinch.fm
• Chirbit.com

Now, you probably have more work to do…get to doing it!

Click here to read the original article posted by Melanie Kissell, Weblogbetter.com http://www.bethesdaemediamarketing.com/library/social-marketing/online-visibility-if-you-want-to-be-found-you-have-to-be-seen

Bethesda List Center, Inc., is based in Bethesda, Maryland. The company is 19 years old and specializes in business-to-business marketing campaigns with direct mail, Email, CPA / CPL – click per action / click per lead, web marketing, SEO and website landing pages.

Bethesda List Center has a sister company, Bethesda Emedia Marketing.

Bethesda List Center  has just updated Building Supply Dealers in the USA.  This list identifies those companies and individuals who own and operate building supply companies. These organizations sell directly to contractors – everything from nails to doors to bricks and wood – and in some cases, directly to the general public. Building supply is one area that should not see as deep a dip as general construction as many people will remodel,rather than move their homes during times of economic uncertainty.

Detailed industry and geographic selections are available.

Full details are available on these marketing lists: http://www.bethesda-list.com/lists/building-supply-dealers-in-the-usa.htm

Bethesda List Center, Inc., is based in Bethesda, Maryland. The company is 19 years old and specializes in business-to-business marketing campaigns with direct mail, Email, CPA / CPL – click per action / click per lead, web marketing, SEO and website landing pages.

Bethesda List Center has a sister company, Bethesda Emedia Marketing.

Bethesda List Center  has just updated the HME (Home Medical Equipment News) file.  Reach the subscribers to “The business newspaper for home medical equipment (HME) providers.” The publication reaches two major groups: Home Medical Equipment Providers and Other Related Businesses. The HME Providers include: HME Rental/Sales Dealers; Rehabilitation Technology Supplier (mostly wheelchairs); Pharmacies and Mass Merchandisers with HME; Hospitals with HME; In-Patient Facilities including sleep labs, rehabilitation centers and skilled nursing facilities. The Other Related Businesses include HME Wholesalers, Distributors; Home Health and Visiting Nursing Associations, Home Health and Hospice; Insurance Carriers and Health Care Providers.

Selections available include: Job Title/Job Function, Business/Industry, Employee Size, Products Purchased or Specified, and Gender.

Full details are available on these marketing lists: http://www.bethesda-list.com/lists/hme-news-subscribers-home-medical-equipment-news.htm                                                                                    

Bethesda List Center, Inc., is based in Bethesda, Maryland. The company is 19 years old and specializes in business-to-business marketing campaigns with direct mail, Email, CPA / CPL – click per action / click per lead, web marketing, SEO and website landing pages.

Bethesda List Center has a sister company, Bethesda Emedia Marketing.

Bethesda List Center  has just updated the Security Systems News Subscribers file.  Subscribers are in the security system-installing marketplace. The list reaches:  Dealers; Systems Integrators; Systems Resellers; Access Control/Locksmiths; Utility/Telecom and Cable Companies; Government/Military and End Users of security products. This BPA audited publication has 12 issues per year.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Among the selections available on this list are:  Job Title/Job Function, Business/Industry, Employee Size, Work Type Performed, Products Specified/Purchased and Gender.

Published by United Publications.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Full details are available on these marketing lists:  http://www.bethesda-list.com/lists/security-systems-news-subscribers-2.htm                                                                                        

Bethesda List Center, Inc., is based in Bethesda, Maryland. The company is 19 years old and specializes in business-to-business marketing campaigns with direct mail, Email, CPA / CPL – click per action / click per lead, web marketing, SEO and website landing pages.

Bethesda List Center has a sister company, Bethesda Emedia Marketing.

Bethesda List Center  has just updated the Rheumatology and Arthritis Medical Professionals Worldwide file.  Rheumatology health professionals treat a group of about 100 diseases, the best known of which is arthritis. Among the other well-known diseases are: osteoarthritis, gout, lupus, back pain, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia and tendonitis. These diseases of the muscles, joints and bones are generally treated by a doctor who has an additional two years of training in this area, in addition to a certification in Internal Medicine. These specialists are frequently involved in research studies as well.

You can select from this database by job function, business/industry, gender, discipline, and geography.

Full details are available on these marketing lists: http://www.bethesda-list.com/lists/rheumatology-and-arthritis-medical-professionals-worldwide.htm                                                                                    

Bethesda List Center, Inc., is based in Bethesda, Maryland. The company is 19 years old and specializes in business-to-business marketing campaigns with direct mail, Email, CPA / CPL – click per action / click per lead, web marketing, SEO and website landing pages.

Bethesda List Center has a sister company, Bethesda Emedia Marketing.

Below are 16 tips that Bethesda List Center wants you to make sure you are following so you  on the road to success in your mailing list acquisitions.

1. Do the Math – Plan your mail marketing campaign as an accountant
would. Start by figuring out how much income and unit sales the
project must generate to break even. Remember, it’s money that matters
first; percentage response rate comes second. In other words, your
campaign might actually be a big money maker, even if it has a low
percentage response rate.

2. Always Key Code, Record and Analyze Results – Assign a key code to
each list, record and analyze the responses for each code. You’ll see
which files are working better than others. Do this on every mailing.
When email marketing, use coded links to a special order page in your
web site. Many mailers do the key coding but neglect to record and/or
analyze, so they never learn what works and what doesn’t.

3. Test Everything Else, Too – Copy, package design, offer, pricing
and timing are key elements that can also affect a direct mail
campaign. Key code, record and analyze results of each change in your
mailings.

4. Be A Smart List Buyer – Keep in mind a few things when you’re ordering lists:

- One time use – Lists are for one time use only. The names are the
property of the list owner. However, mailers do own the names of those
individuals who respond to their promotion.

- Be flexible – Direct mail lists offer many options; however, all the
bells and whistles may not be available on every list.

- Samples – List Owner Links usually require a sample; even if it’s
just a rough sample of what you plan to send.

- Time – Many lists can be shipped in 24 hours. Others may take a week or more.

- Minimums – Most List Owner Links require a minimum order of 5,000 names.

- Prepayment – Most list suppliers require prepayment from first time customers.

5. Build Your Own Mailing List – Your customers, trade show leads,
other prospects, inquirers and former buyers are the feedstock for
your own comprehensive and direct marketing list. Be sure to include
opt-in email addresses. Many BLC list customers have also asked us to
market their organizations’ mailing lists. Got an up to date list of
10,000 or more names? Ask us about marketing your file for additional
income.

6. Focus on Your Audience – Your selling message should address the
specific needs and interests of your audience. A good list
professional will be specific too. With the details you give them,
they will recommend lists that home in on your best customer
prospects.

7. Types of Lists:

- Direct Mail (Snail Mail) – For use in direct mail marketing programs
conducted by the marketer. Many of these lists are also available with
telephone numbers at additional fees for telemarketing programs.

- Email – For use in email marketing programs. Reputable and effective
email lists use only opt in names. Email list owners nearly always do
the mailing for the marketer.

8. List Sources – Keep in mind a few terms when considering lists:

- Association – Professional or trade association membership buyers.
Many of these individuals also purchase other offerings from their
organizations.

- Subscriber – Magazine or continuity subscription buyers. Sometimes
offered along with names of expired subscribers at a lower price.

- Buyer – Proven buyers of a list owner’s product or service. Often
offered with a “hot list” or “recent buyers” subfile at an upcharge.

- Compiled – Names of prospective buyers compiled by a third party.
While not usually considered as productive as association, subscriber
or buyer lists, compiled files can be effective.

9. How Lists are Priced – Direct mail lists most often have a base
price per thousand names, expressed “/M”. Options to select geographic
areas, job titles, industries, or to add key coding and the like are
additives also priced by the thousand names. Shipping and handling
charges are charged by the order.

10. How Mailing Lists Are Supplied – Today, most mailing lists are
sent via email. However, they can also be provided on floppy, CD,
Cheshire and pressure sensitive label stock.

11. Get Your Envelope Opened – A live stamp, instead of pre-printed
indicia or meter mark, short teaser copy and name and address printed
directly on a closed face envelope will go a long way toward keeping
your mailing from landing in the trash unopened.

12. Use Color in Your Letter Effectively – Try a blue signature and
sparing color use elsewhere to emphasize your most important points.

13. Give all the Product Details in Direct Mail – Give your reader
everything he/she needs to make a decision. Features, functions and
benefits… the more the better.

14. Be Extra Brief in email – You have just fractions of a second. Be
quick and tempting. Use the subject line as your teaser copy. Link to
your home page in several places.

15. & 16. Work with a List Professional – (This tip has two numbers
because it’s so important.) Use a list pro with years of experience,
hundreds of regular customers and a solid reputation throughout the
business. They should have access to the best lists and work with
sources around the world. List professionals can help you find
promising new names that you never knew existed, and they’ll steer you
away from those files you ought to avoid. A list pro will also
coordinate the time-consuming list acquisition process (ordering,
tracking, shipping, billing, etc.) at no additional charge to you.

Click here to read the original article  http://www.bethesda-list.com/lists/renting-mailing-lists

Bethesda List Center, Inc., is based in Bethesda, Maryland. The company is 18 years old and specializes in business-to-business marketing campaigns with direct mail, Email, CPA / CPL – click per action / click per lead, web marketing, SEO and website landing pages.

Bethesda List Center has a sister company, Bethesda Emedia Marketing.

Fifteen years ago as you browsed the latest catalog that arrived in the mail, land line phone in hand ready to give your item number to a willing customer service agent, would you ever have though that today as you wait in the carpool line at school, you could simply touch a cell phone screen and place an order?  This is the wondrous place that technology has taken us.  It has given us the ability to research, browse and buy 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  If you are a retailer, this has opened up a world you want to be a part of.

According to The Yankee Group, mobile transactions are expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2015.  Forrester predicts $10 billion alone in 2012.  As a retailer, you need to make sure that your website fully supports mobility and that you are taking advantage of all the tricks of the mobile selling trade.   Staying abreast on the ever changing trends is an important step in making sure your company thrives.   

Customers are starting to depend on a customized mobile shopping experience that integrates reviews, rewards, social media and coupons.  In fact just today I was shopping and while in line to checkout I hopped online from my iphone and found a 15% off discount code to give to the cashier.  This made me incredibly happy and I will be shopping at this particular store again.

Smart phones are just going to keep getting better and faster.   Make sure that you are staying ahead of the game.  Bethesda List Center certainly wants to make sure you don’t lose out on a piece of the $1 trillion pie.

If you need assistance is turning your site into a mobile marketing mecca, look no further.  Bethesda List Center can create an easily navigatable mobile site that fits the needs of your customers.  From supplying QR codes to couponing and texting, click here http://www.bethesda-list.com/lists/mobile-marketing and let BLC find the right fit for you.

Click here to read the full article http://www.bethesdaemediamarketing.com/library/mobile-marketing/mobile-marketers-classic-guide-to-mobile-commerce

Bethesda List Center, Inc., is based in Bethesda, Maryland. The company is 18 years old and specializes in business-to-business marketing campaigns with direct mail, Email, CPA / CPL – click per action / click per lead, web marketing, SEO and website landing pages.

Bethesda List Center has a sister company, Bethesda Emedia Marketing.

Bethesda List Center agrees that direct mail is still one of the best ways to reach your captive audience.  A well thought out and creative direct mail campaign may still bring the biggest bang for your buck.

According to Verified, Inc. below are ten reasons to why direct mail is alive and well.

1) Since a direct mail campaign can be angled to a specific demographic, this gives a leg up.  You can customize an offer for a well appreciated customer or make sure a new prospect becomes a well appreciated customer.

2) Direct mail allows for that personal touch.  People like to be addressed as an individual.  Using personal information allows them to see you have thought about their individual needs.

3) Since a direct mail piece is touchable, you can be most assured that the targeted recipient is going to be in possession of your ad.  People are more likely to believe what is being offered when they are holding it in their own hands.

4) With the amount of spam each email recipient receives, a tangible piece of mail makes them feel secure that the offer and the company making the offer are legitimate.

5) Direct mail can be sent in numerous formats, from postcards and brochures to ride-ins and catalogs, any marketing agenda can be accomplished.

6) Tracking results is made much easier.  You simple count the number of coupons received or inquires made under your offer.

7) With so many free and inexpensive publishing websites, a direct marketing piece can be created easily.  There are also easy sites that allow a marketer to create their mailing piece, upload their mailing list and have the ad printed and sent.

8) Direct mail stays within the budget.  Creation is a breeze and and inexpensive and by taking advantage of USPS bulk mailing rates, the postage is cost effective as well.

9) Direct mail is a building block to symbolizing your company to your customers and prospects.  Beginning with a targeted direct mail campaign then allows you to build with other forms of media to make your brand stand above the competition.

10) Direct mail is a tried and true marketing technique with years and years of proven results.  You typically always get well more than your monies worth with a direct marketing campaign.

Click here to read the full article http://www.bethesdaemediamarketing.com/library/direct-mail/direct-mail-is-not-dead-top-ten-benefits-of-direct-mail-campaigns

Bethesda List Center, Inc., is based in Bethesda, Maryland. The company is 19 years old and specializes in business-to-business marketing campaigns with direct mail, Email, CPA / CPL – click per action / click per lead, web marketing, SEO and website landing pages.

Bethesda List Center has a sister company, Bethesda Emedia Marketing.

Even in this age of technology, studies show that there needs to be a balance of digital and physical marketing communication.  From an article originally posted on mediascopeinc.wordpress.com, their findings show this balance should be a large part of your marketing strategy.

Below are their proven findings:

Part of Ideal Marketing Campaign
A recent Pitney Bowes Inc. survey found that 76% of small businesses agreed that the ideal marketing campaign includes a mix of digital and physical communications. (Deliver Magazine, October, 2011)

Boosts ROI
Integrating direct mail into marketing campaigns can boost ROI 20%, according to recent research in the UK. In U.S. dollars, the return increased from an average of $4.17 to $5.03 for every dollar spent. (Royal Mail Group, 2011)

Increases Consumer Awareness
Direct mail catalogs were the second highest ranking marketing effort that sparked a consumer’s awareness and familiarity with a product or service. The highest ranking marketing source was TV Commercials. (Google/Shopper Sciences, 2011)

Accepted Communication Method
A study of multi-channel marketing campaigns showed that direct mail was an effective communication method in the overall marketing mix of an auto dealership. The dealerships’ customers were accepting of more than twice as much direct mail (as compared to emails and phone calls) before spending levels began to decrease. (Journal of Marketing, July, 2011)

Consumers Want Promotional Mail
Recent research by Nielsen, a measurement and information leader, showed that 87% of shoppers say they want to receive sales and promotions via direct mail. (NielsenWire, 2011)

Number of Standard Mail Users Increases
In 2009, 85.9 of merchants sent Standard Mail pieces addressed to specific households. This number is up from 72.1% in 1987. (2011 DMA Statistical Fact Book)

Cost Efficient
Direct mail is cost-efficient. When select media were measured according to a cost per order/lead, catalogs at $47.61 per order/lead were more cost-effective than either email ($53.85) or paid search ($99.47). (2011 DMA Statistical Fact Book)

Effective for Fund-Raising
The typical non-profit organization receives more than three-quarters of its total gives through direct mail and only 10% of its gifts online. Direct mail acquisition is also responsible for three-quarters of all new donors. (Blackbaud, 2011)

Four Out of Five Households Review Advertising Mail
According to a U.S. Postal Service study, 81% of households read or scan the advertising mail they receive. Almost everyone has used a coupon or flier they’ve received in the mail. (Mail Moves America, 2010)

Direct Mail Share of Budget
The share of total advertising dollars devoted to direct mail has remained near 12% for much of the past 20 years, even with new media introduced into the mix. (Deliver Magazine, October, 2011)

These statistics will hold true for the foreseeable future.  Happy marketing!!!

Click here to read the full article on the Bethesda Emedia Marketing website.

Bethesda List Center, Inc., is based in Bethesda, Maryland. The company is 18 years old and specializes in business-to-business marketing campaigns with direct mail, Email, CPA / CPL – click per action / click per lead, web marketing, SEO and website landing pages.

Bethesda List Center has a sister company, Bethesda Emedia Marketing.