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If youve been in business long enough, you know gaining new business is important to the growth of your company. In some industrys new blood is the lifeblood of the business and without it, you die. If you want to reach your full potential in your venture, then you will need to have ongoing marketing strategies that will grow your business each year.

A large number of Award Shop owners desire to develop corporate business and gain them as a regular account. After all, who wouldnt want to have a nice repeat account with a corporation like, American Airlines or Wendys? Gaining these type of monthly accounts can increase your business and can also be used to secure other accounts as well.

Consider this you have an engraving business and you supply numerous products from plaques, trophies, badges, pens, etc and you want to develop an account with your local McDonalds. You may or may not know the owner, manager or anyone employed there on a personal basis at this time. However, when you do introduce yourself and your line of business, be prepared to hand the decision maker an impressive item. Not just a simple business card with your contact info, give them something that will cause them to remember you.

Heres the idea Most people enjoy receiving something that has been personalized for them, something with their name on it. You as an engraver have all sorts of items you can engrave and present to the manager as gift, introducing your business. Another impressive look is to have their company logo or corporate insignia engraved on the piece as well. I suggest creating a sample of what you would like to do for them on a monthly basis and plant the idea for them to present an Employee of the Month award.

Present the owner (or manager) with a 7x9 designer plaque that has their corporate logo and name engraved on it, along with wording that best describes the appreciation award. If you do not currently have their logo on file, you can obtain it quite easily by searching the web for logos & clip art, one great source is LogoFax.com. Additionally, create for them a name badge that also has their name and logo on it. Plan to leave these items behind as a free sample, demonstrating your products and services.

Another nifty thing to do is show them a large perpetual plaque. Something around a 10x13 with a nice brass header plate that has their corporate logo engraved large. If you own a laser engraver, laser their logo on black brass and present it on a walnut board. Also, double plate the header with an additional piece of gold brass and it will cause the engraved logo to stand out more on the brass plate.

Having an Employee of the Month award is great for showing appreciation to workers who do their job well. This will create an ongoing month-to-month award program that will enable you to show off many other products you have available for them. Think about it, if you are the one doing their awards and then they need a banner for a special promotion, theyre going to call you. Its your company that is on the forefront of their mind, due to them calling or seeing you each month for their Employee of the Month awards. Including getting additional nametags made for new employees that are hired each week, month or quarter.

Establishing this type of account will enable you to generate more accounts just like it. Imagine going to other establishments with the same idea and adding the fact that you already do it for McDonalds, Wendys, etc This gives you more clout and in turn builds your corporate business faster.

Using these type of ideas to get your foot in the door is sure to capture new business for your award shop and continue to grow your business.

Aubrey Richardson is the founder of http://www.logofax.com - logos & clipart site. Find out how you can tap into earning money online http://www.internet-based-business-opportunity.com.

"A powerful global conversation has begun. Through the Internet, people are discovering and inventing new ways to share relevant knowledge with blinding speed. As a direct result, markets are getting smarterand getting smarter faster than most companies." The Cluetrain Manifesto

The explosive growth of many ecommerce websites may be directly linked to conducting business differently than their storefront counterparts.

It is estimated that 17-20% of the earths population taps into the worldwide web on a regular basis. Savvy web proprietors see the amazing possibilities in ecommerce. That power is very simple to define. It is the power of response.

Prior to the advent of the Internet most business relied exclusively on mass marketing in hopes someone would pick up a paper, listen to a radio station, watch a television program or read a sports guide. Obviously this form of marketing has a semblance of success or it wouldnt be used. However, as online marketing has become more sophisticated, web-based netreprenuers are discovering that they can actually gain significant control over how to market their ecommerce site and who to target with their message.

The new information technology, Internet and e-mail, have practically eliminated the physical costs of communications. Peter Drucker

The list of online marketing resources is significant, but it is continually fueled by instant, effective and global communication between client and staff. The use of email has rendered mail a component of product fulfillment instead of client correspondence. The same tool can be used to inform your client base of new products, services or special online events.

Most customers like the ability to communicate instantly. Email can allow this objective without wait times on a phone service with menu choices longer than a local fast food joint. It is understood that the use of an online retailer offers both an impersonal and highly personal means of shopping. Impersonal because the customer receives no high-pressure sales pitch personal because customer service is standing by to handle any difficulties.

The Internet will help achieve "friction free capitalism" by putting buyer and seller in direct contact and providing more information to both about each other. Bill Gates

Online marketing provides the means to draw customers to your website in very specific and targeted ways that were never achievable by standard mass marketing campaigns.

The process for developing a comprehensive online marketing strategy involves mobilizing your resources to optimize your site, provide meaningful content to visitors, making sure your site is easy to navigate and providing goods or services the customer needs.

As with a brick and mortar store it is important to always keep the customer first. An effective online marketing strategy allows you several means of managing follow up as well as ongoing client relations.

Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of http://HighPowerSites.com and many other web projects. Get your own website online in just 5 minutes at http://www.HighPowerSites.com

You want to start an online business, but don't have your own product to sell. But you do have the option of starting with affiliate marketing - selling other peoples' products for a commission. Affiliate marketing is a great way to make money. In just the last few years, affiliate marketing has become a very powerful force in ecommerce. Everyday, thousands, if not millions, of merchants rely on affiliate marketing to drive their businesses.

So, is online affiliate marketing right for you? Well, you will never know unless you take the necessary steps. If you don't try, then you cannot expect to succeed. Make today the day that you commit to changing the direction of your life. However, like any other business, whether it's online or off line, affiliate marketing cannot guarantee you success unless you work at it.

As with any business start up, and affiliate marketing is no excpetion, you will need to spend some money on the basics to get you started. However, through proper budgeting, your initial outlay can be reduced. So, you need to decide how much money you can afford to invest in your affiliate marketing business. There are some expenses that you will have if you want to be successful and there are others that you can put off until the time that you start earning income from your affiliate products. Some items that you will need to budget for are:

Domain Name. The domain name should relate to the subject and keep your domain name simple and easy to remember. There is quite a span between the low-cost and the high-end cost of domain names. If you shop around, you may even be able to find something less expensive. But make sure it's a well-established company! You don't want to lose your domain name once you have decided on it! You will likely get a better deal if you register your domain name for two or more years in advance. Namecheap.com and Godaddy.com are both excellent domain providers.

Website Hosting. Web hosting fees will vary dramatically between hosting providers. Set up a comparison chart and write down each company you are considering. Some companies offer rates as low as $2 a month, while others charge over $100. The highest rates don't always translate into the best service. Some of the lower-priced hosts offer a reliable, stable environment that allows your website to be accessed around the clock for years. Hostgator.com provide quality hosting at reasonable prices. Shop carefully and if possible avoid free hosting which can be unreliable.

Merchant Account. You dont have to invest thousands of dollars to open a merchant account. Find a merchant account vendor through a local financial institution, like a bank, and discuss the possibilities that will best suit your business and your customers. A merchant account will let you start accepting credit card payments for customer purchases, which will enhance the shopping experience for most customers and earn your company a progressive reputation. Never assume you will have extravagant monthly charges when you open a merchant account. Shop around, ask questions, and compare costs to get the best low cost merchant account available for your business. Your customers will thank you with repeat and additional business.

Software. You will need to track your expenses and income from your affiliate business and the simplist way is to use Miscrosoft Excel or similar program. Seeing your expenses for the whole year is a great way to keep them under control. What is the final total? Does that seem extreme? Remember, this is for an entire year. Keep it in perspective. If you intend to have a real business, you must treat it as a real business.

Advertising. The best marketing tip you will ever hear is to advertise your product or business. In today's market, anyone in business knows that advertising is the backbone to their success. Even with the greatest product on the planet, a product that you know everyone needs and wants, without advertising, it's just an idea going nowhere. Make sure you check out the best ways to advertise your business. It can be a fun, profitable, and easy experience with the right tools.

Education. Ongoing education is going to be extremely important to your affiliate marketing success. You will not have to purchase a lot of educational materials if you don't want to. There are many free resources, such as newsletters, that you can study. Sign up for a few newsletters and use the information to gain experience.

Affiliate marketing can be a a great way to create a business on the internet but you will need to learn and understand the basics before you set off on your online adventure. Choose your affiliate programs carefully and make sure that you get the support and backup from the affiliate program.

Ian Simpson reviews and writes about software and informational products on the internet. Further affiliate business advice can be found at http://information4income.com/sfpr.