Ever hear the saying “penny wise, pound foolish” and “time is money”?  I know. They’ve become tired clichés, albeit, at times very appropriate ones. Too often organizations spend more time and energy developing business lists than working the leads themselves. Buying a Business List can save the time you once spent building business lists on actually getting business done and generating more revenue.

I for one used to spend countless hours searching the internet for new sources of information, leads, etc. At times when I found some great nuggets of information I thought the time spent was productive and justified, however, often time I spent hours with little to show for it. The end simply didn’t justify the means so I decided to analyze it a little more closely. I came up with simple metric system to perform a cost benefit analysis which included my time, what it’s worth, target revenue numbers, conversion rates, price points, etc. In summary I found that it was costing way too much to reach and convert a customer. Although I had a good product/service and an average conversion rate, I didn’t have the pure number of sales leads or businesses it took with my conversion percentage to hit my revenue goals, which lead me to the conclusion that not only I alone couldn’t “find” the number of businesses or sales leads required to hit my revenue goals, but that it was a waste of money searching for this information myself. There’s just not enough time in the day and I didn’t have the infrastructure to support it. I finally came to grips with the reality that I was wasting my time as it was better focused on selling rather than researching. So I began to seek out alternative solutions to reaching more businesses: buying business lists. The story has many twists and turns as it isn’t as easy as simply buying a business list and you will start to generate instant business. First, buying a business list can be tricky as there are numerous variables to consider and many companies out there to choose.  Plus, you will still need to get the attention of you target audience and give them a compelling offer/reason to take action. However, in the end buying a business list was a smart investment.  The time I saved searching for businesses/leads was transformed into talking too and converting more customers. In the ending generating my company more revenue. I understand in this tough economy businesses are trying to save money and cut back on expenses. However, it makes sense to look at the numbers more closely and perform a simple cost benefit analysis as buying a business list can save lots of time and be money well spent.

In my last post I spoke about the tightening economy and how businesses tend to focus on cutting costs in a recession. Sounds good to me, but when it comes to cutting your marketing budget other business-to-business marketers based on recent surveys are doing just the opposite. (see the blog “cutting costs in a Recession..”) What these b-to-b marketers’ top goals were and in particular, which media vehicles they are most intent on spending their marketing budget on in 2009?  

Marketing Goals for 2009

When surveyed the number one focus of Businesses’ marketing budget was on customer acquisition with approximately 65%. The number two goal was customer retention at approximately 30% with Brand awareness falling behind as number three.  All are very important, however, and especially in tough economic times, savvy business marketers see the need to manage their marketing dollars more effectively and focus heavily on customer acquisition.

Marketing Vehicles Used Mostly in a Recession

It should come as no surprise but online media was the biggest beneficiary of the downward economy, which costs less than traditional media. Topping the list was email marketing, followed by website development within social media outlets, banner ads, and webcasts. With the increase in internet usage when it comes to researching and purchasing products/services, businesses are flocking to this medium for marketing purposes. However, and as I’ve pointed out in previous posts and will dedicate another post too in the next few days, there are pitfalls to email marketing and other online marketing mediums mentioned above that people should take into consideration.

Although B-to-B marketers sited online media as their medium of choice for increased spending (55%) other areas businesses will be spending their marketing dollars on are Direct Mail (28%), Telemarketing (15%) and print. Interestingly, direct mail is probably the most costly in terms of its entire package, but many still argue it is the best medium for reaching your target audience, which is probably why it is second on the list. More people are prone to open an interesting package or letter with a targeted offering than any other form of marketing. Don’t forget the 40-40-20 rule will still apply.  It is of no surprise to me that direct mail will still be heavily used by b-to-b marketers as it is and/or can be very effective. Telemarketing, although some people despise it (cold calling is not always fun), can be very effective as you can present your product/service offering to the target audience, respond immediately to any obstacles, perhaps close a deal and create instant business. Not bad if you ask me but labor intensive.

In short, many business owners are focused on spending more money on their marketing budgets heading into 2009 and there are focused mostly on customer acquisition. Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate your marketing budget and campaign. Make sure you are focusing on the right marketing initiatives

There is no questions that buying a Business mailing list to market your product or service in a great way to get instant business. When you buy a Business mailing list you are gaining access to wealth of valuable information for a variety of industries including the names and addresses of the decision makers within your target audience or area of business. Buying a mailing list is a great way to open up a lot of proverbial “doors” to a wide range of people (potential customers!) to speak to and inform them about your product/service.

However there are a lot of things to know and consider when buying a mailing list including various factors pertaining to the specifics of the mailing list. There are a wide variety of mailing lists that can help you reach your target audience so you need to do some research. (For more information go to www.instantbusinesslist.com and sign-up to receive a free report on “7 Dirty Little Secrets The Marketing List Companies Don’t Want You To Know!”)

One of the most significant factors to be considered when buying a business list, or any list for that matter, is how accurate the information is and whether the list has been NCOA validated for change of address updates. This helps to ensure that the address for a particlur business is correct and that you are getting what you paid for. Think about how frustrating and expensive it is when a direct mail piece is unsuccessfully delivered.

So I’ve been asked numerous times, “which is a better resource or tool for marketing your product/service to businesses and generating instant business (or revenue)?” Well, I hate to break it to you but there is no simple or right answer for that matter to that question.  Debate, yes. Clear, no. Essentially both can be an effective resource to utilize in your marketing campaign, but the devil is always in the details. In short, a Business List can be cheaper to obtain, but more costly in reaching your audience by having to utilize direct mail or telemarketing tactics. Conversely, an Email List is typically more expensive to purchase, but obviously the medium is much cheaper. In either case the old 40-40-20 rule (40% Data, 40% Offer and 20% Creative) will apply no matter when measuring your marketing campaigns success not matter which resource you choose. Whether it is a direct mail or an email marketing campaign, I believe you will find statistics which show both will and/or can achieve similar results.

However, it would stand reason when developing a marketing campaign not to exclude any medium when trying to reach your target audience and generate instant business. Direct mail, Emails, Telemarketing, targeted ad campaigns, etc. All should be considered, weighed and perhaps all should be incorporated to some degree.

Note: before buying a Business List you should read 7 Dirty Little Secrets The Marketing List Companies Don’t Want You To Know! by registering at www.instantbusinesslist.com to receive your FREE copy!

I have saw thousands of ad copies online and offline over my lifetime. I have was reading excellent ad copies that made me buy right away and chosen that may have had a decent product, but had a poor ad copy that turned me away.

Now that I am in business, I have written some of my  own ad copies. Some of them have worked, some ofthem own bombed. The key is to keep affecting and testing instant business ad copy, do not easily come up with one and then stop. I don’t have a college degree in copywriting, but I know to find out based on what i read in the mistakes and never give up.

Below I’ve made a record of 42 deadly ad copy sins that I’ve made over the decades and that you can figure out from:

-no compelling headline
-no believable testimonials
-no sub headlines
-no alluring benefits
-no features
-no steady guarantees
-no asking or answering questions
-no proof of advantages offered
-no contact information for questions
-no endorsements
-no conversational writing
-too long of sentences
-no deadline to order
-no free trials
-spelling mistakes
-grammar mistakes
-too light of text
-too dark of background
-ad mimic does not blend together
-no breaks in ad copy
-no bullets
-ad copy in all CAPS
-few ordering options
-no visual aids
-no comparison to competition
-no reminding of help or deadlines
-no information about instant business business
-no appealing adjectives
-no appealing phrases
-too large of text
-too small of text
-no emotional appeal
-too huge of paragraphs
-no story telling
-no underlining or bolding of keywords
-too very brief of ad copy
-too for a while of ad copy
-no facts or situation studies
-hard to understand jargon
-no free bonuses
-too low of price
-too high of price

Don’t get me wrong, not all 42 of my ad copy sins will apply to each and each ad you write. It is simply a list you can use in the future. If you currently have an ad copy, compare it to the list right now. instant business ad copy could make or break instant business sales .

1. You will offer instant business visitors a discount on all the products you sale if they subscribe to instant business free e-zine.

2. You can send back instant business visitors a free ebook if they subscribe to instant business free e-zine.

3. You am able to produce instant business visitors a free subscription to instant business private web site if properties subscribe to instant business free e-zine.

4. You could offer instant business visitors a free of charge advertisement in instant business free e-zine if they subscribe.

5. You could offer instant business visitors a free tangible gift if properties subscribe to instant business cost free e-zine.

6. You are able to offer a free of charge automatic entry into instant business contest or sweepstakes if they subscribe to instant business
free e-zine.

7. You are able to tell instant business visitors that you offer original content in instant business free e-zine.

8. You could tell instant business visitors to read a sample issue of instant business free e-zine on instant business web site.

9. You might come up with instant business visitor’s cost free software if they subscribe to instant business free e-zine.

10. You could cost instant business visitors a cost free clue up to instant business affiliate program if properties subscribe to instant business free e-zine.

11. You are able to submit instant business visitors a free web service, like free e-mail, if properties subscribe to instant business free e-zine.

12. You could publish one or two of instant business the most recent e-zine subscriber’s testimonials on instant business web site.

13. You would publish any positive reviews you have received about instant business free e-zine on instant business web site.

14. You could tell instant business visitors what’s happening to be published in instant business next e-zine issue.

15. You could say to instant business visitors which they have the right to republish instant business e-zines content on the own web site if they subscribe to instant business free e-zine

16. You might publish a list of well-known famous, or respected people that suffer subscribed to instant business free e-zine.

17. You could inform instant business visitors what a subscription to instant business cost free e-zine is worth in dollars.

18. You could tell instant business visitors all the major benefits of subscribing to instant business e-zine.

19. You could tell instant business visitors how various people have already subscribed to instant business e-zine.

20. You could notify instant business visitors that a subscription to instant business free e-zine is one and only obtainable for a limited time.

1. People sttink to get free stuff. A free eBook is perfect. They will visit instant business web site to get the free valuable information.

2. Give away the full version of instant business eBook in exchange for testimonials. You can use these customer statements to increment instant business ads’ effectiveness.

3. When you write and supply away a free eBook  you will become known as an expert. This willgain people’s confidence and they will buy instant business main product or care quicker.

4. Publish instant business web site in eBook format. Put the eBook on a disk or CD-ROM when that happens include it  with instant business direct mail packages. This can increase the number of purchasers that buy instant business product or service .

5. Offer instant business eBook as a free bonus for buying one of instant business primary products or services. People will buy the product or service a large amount of often when you offer a free bonus.

6. Allow people to download instant business eBook for free, if they give the e-mail addresses of 3 to 5friends or associates such a would be interested in instant business eBook. This plans to fast build instant business e-mail list.

7. Create a listing of web sites in eBook form.  List peoples web ones in the directory that should agree to advertise the eBook on their web site or
e-zine. This serves to end up with them an incentive to give away or advertise instant business eBook.

8. Allow a good deal more persons to produce away instant business free  eBook. This is planning to increase the number of people that will see instant business ad in the eBook. You could  also record a mini catalog of all instant business product or services too you offer in the eBook.

9. Gain new leads by having people sign up and give you their contact hints before properties can download instant business eBook. This is a remarkably effective  way to conduct economic research.

10. Make traffic selling advertising space in instant business  eBook. You could charge for comprehensive page color ads,classified ads or banners ads. You could also trade advertising space in instant business eBook for other forms of advertising.

11. Give away the eBook as a gift to instant business fresh  customers as a way of letting them recognize you  appreciate their business. Place an ad in the eBook for a new back end product you are offering

12. Get free advertising by submitting instant business eBook to freebie and freeware/shareware web sites. This will increase the number of people that will down-load instant business eBook and see instant business ad.

13. Make money by selling the reprint rights to those that may like to purchase the eBook. You could also make that much !no! money by marketing the master rights. This would allow other people to sell the reprint rights.

14. Hold a contest on instant business web site so people can win instant business eBook. You’ll get free advertising by submitting instant business contest ad to free contest or sweepstakes directories.

15. You will inflation valuable referrals from people telling others about instant business eBook. Word of mouth  advertising can be very effective.

16. Make money cross promoting instant business eBook with some people’s products or services. This  technique will double instant business marketing effort with-out spending more time and money on instant business part.

17. Increase instant business e-zine subscribers by giving  away instant business eBook to people which subscribe to instant business e-zine. This is planning to extend people an incentive to subscribe. Allow instant business e-zine subscribers to also give it away to multiply instant business subscribers.

18. Give away the eBook to people that join instant business affiliate program. This will substantiate the number of people that sign-up. You am able to also create an eBook for them to use that would help them promote instant business product or service.

19. Give away the eBook in exchange for people leaving their contact information. This could help you  follow-up with the prospects who buy instant business main product or service.

20. Offer a free of charge eBook that contains a couple of sample chapters. If they like it, give them the  option of ordering the full version. It would work
just like a software demo or shareware.

1. Offer a good deal more web sites free content to provide on their web site. Include instant business link on all of instant business content. The content may related to instant business web site because it will be in front of instant business aspiration audience.

2. When you visit a web site you have enjoyed a lot, write a review for the site. Write about the benefits you gain based on the web site. Tell them they can publish it on their web site if properties link to instant business web site .

3. Allow supplementary people to publish instant business e-zine on their web site. Include instant business web site’s ad and link in each issue you publish. This may also help you increase the number of people so subscribe to instant business e-zine.

4. Market instant business web site as a free of charge web book. Design instant business web site with a title page, table of contents, chapters, etc. Just allow other families to give away the web book by linking to instant business web site.

5. Give instant business visitors an instant article directory. Tell instant business visitors properties can instantly add a free of charge article directory to their web site by linking to instant businesss. Just place instant business ad or banner ad on top of the article directory for instant business main web site.

6. Allow larger amount of web ones to use instant business discussion board  for such a web site visitors. Just have them link directly to the discussion board. Include instant business web ones ad or banner ad at the top of the discussion board.

7. Start a members only web site. Tell visitors what’s in instant business members only site and what it costs to gain access. Offer them a cost free membership if, in exchange, they link to instant business web site.

8. Offer instant business visitors a cost free signal up to instant business affiliate program. Pay them group to sell instant business products or services. Just give them an affiliate link to track their sales. People will link to instant business web site to make extra money.

9. Create instant business own award site for other web sites. Give the winners a graphic or text link to place on their web site when properties win. This might link instant business web site to theirs and draw a good deal more traffic to instant business web site.

10. Are you an expert on a particular subject? Offer people free consulting via e-mail if, in exchange, they either link to instant business site. People will mull over such a a huge value because consulting fees can be very expensive.

11. When you obtain a product and it exceeds instant business expectations e-mail the market a testimonial. Make sure instant business statement is detailed. Give them permission to publish it on their web site if properties link to instant business site.

12. Create a catalog of web ones on a specific topic. Give mortgage holders the option of adding the directory to their web site by linking to it. Put instant business business ad at the top of the directory’s home page.

13. Exchange content investing in other web sites. You could  trade articles, top ten lists, etc. Both parties could include a resource box at the end of the content.

14. Allow people to download utility at no charge from instant business web site, if they link to instant business web site. The software are able to be freeware, shareware or demos.

15. Trade a good deal more forms of advertising to people that link to instant business web site. You am able to trade e-zine ads, print ads, autoresponder ads, classified ads, ebook ads, etc.

16. Give away web space to people for free. Since you are providing it away for free, request they link to instant business site by placing instant business ad or banner to the site.

17. Join or create a web ring. A web ring is a group of web ones on a similar subject agreeing to link together. To find a web ring to join type keywords
web rings into instant business search engine of choice.

18. Create an online club or association. Tell instant business visitors what is included in the membership and what it market values to join. Offer them a free membership if, in exchange, they link to instant business web site.

19. Allow people to use an online benefits or utilities from instant business web site if, in exchange, properties link to instant business web site. The online advantages am able to be an e-mail account, search engine submission, web page design, copywriting, proofreading, etc.

20. Offer a free of charge e-book to instant business web site visitors. The ebook should be related to instant business target audience. Allow them to offer the e-book to their own web site visitors by linking directly to instant business web site.

1. You do not give free hand made content.

2. You don’t use a signature file on instant business e-mails .

3. You don’t supply free software.

4. You do not have instant business own domain name.

5. You don’t offer a free contest or sweepstakes.

6. You don’t test and gain instant business ad copy.

7. You don’t offer a free web site directory.

8. You do not find people any urgency to buy now.

9. You do not offer a free e-zine.

10. You don’t attract the aspiration audience that would buy instant business product or service.

11. You don’t offer a free community.

12 You don’t let everybody read instant business ad before properties get instant business freebie.

13. You don’t offer a free affiliate program.

14. You don’t make instant business web site look professional.

15. You don’t offer a free of charge online service.

16. You don’t produce individuals as many ordering options as possible.

17. You don’t supply free of charge current information.

18. You don’t let people know everything roughly instant business business.

19. You don’t offer free samples of instant business product or service.

20. You don’t make people feel safe and secure when they order.

1. Does the affiliate program give you a free way to join without buying the product or service?

2. Contact other affiliates presently in the program to see if they have had any problems.

3. Is the product or service related to instant business ambition audience ?

4. Can properties notify you by e-mail when a sale is made?

5. Do they offer backend packages so you can get repeat sales from the same person?

6. How often will you receive a commission check?

7. Do you get credited for a market if people come back in month and when that happens create a purchase.

8. Can you get around-the-clock godsend online or offline?

9. Do you get a sizeable percentage of each cash in on as commission?

10. Do they provide you with established transactions material? (links, banners, classified ads, sales letters etc)

11. Will they give you the leeway to create promotional ads.

12. Do they offer you entrance to an online dealings stats page?

13. Do they use a reputable method to track instant business sales?

14. Does the affiliate program pay commission for sales of people who sign up underneath you?

15. Can they offer customers a lot of different ordering options, so in come up with you won’t waste sales.

16. Will they keep in contact with you on a regular basis by e-mail?