By Dawud Miracle

The internet is full of resources with misinformation, theories, and even myths about what makes a website successful.
But you don’t need myths and theories. You don’t need the latest trendy features. And you don’t need to waste your time or money on hype whose only result is a website that’s little more than fancy electronic brochures.
The truth is, you don’t need a website. Why? Because just having a website is not going to increase your sales. And it’s not going to magically deliver hundreds of clients to your service - or fill your teleclasses.
By now you might be asking, “Then what do I need?”
What you need is something more than a website. You need a solid strategy for solving the problems you and your business face. Problems such as:
* How to attract more clients to your business
* How to make it easier for you to answer questions about your services
* How to keep your business in front of potential clients
* How to increase sales of products
* How to deliver electronic media such as PDFs, mp3’s and video automatically to save you time (and money)
* How to streamlining the signup process for special events, saving you time and money
* And more…
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The Internet has changed the publicity game. Before this digital space was around, almost all publicity came from publications and media outlets that “covered” you and your news. Now there are online publicity tools allow you in some respects to cut out the middle media man and put your message, your brand directly and quickly before your target audience.

In essence, what the Internet has done is given companies the opportunity to spread their news using online environments where their message is distributed throughout a regional and global network of people who are connected digitally. This Word of Mouse as we call it, happens when people pass on information to their friends, family and classmates by email, instant messenger, forums, social media and blogs. The benefits of this aspect of online marketing are great:
- Online publicity gives you exposure within your target audience.
- Online publicity drives targeted traffic to your Web site.
- Online publicity gets fast results - no long lead times to wait for.
- Online publicity is inexpensive for the results provided.
- Online publicity works for almost any business, big or small.
If you’ve read this far it means you want to know some of the things you can do, you can put in your integrated marketing plan- so here are five tools you can put to use.

1. Online Press Release Services. Once you’ve passed the hurdle of making your press release search engine optimized, it’s time to tap into online services to get your message out. Here are a few of them - Caribbeanpressreleases.com where you can add your press release to their site by extension before the eyes of their readership for US$20 per release; Jamaicapressreleases.com where you can submit your release for free and; Caribpr.com the pioneer, which offers Caribbean, Caribbean Diaspora and African American target audiences for fees ranging from US$100-US$600.
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1. Mobile - Everybody’s got one.

In Jamaica mobile phone penetration is 94%, which presents a fresh opportunity for marketers to connect with customers anywhere, anytime, anyphone for brand awareness, loyalty programmes and to increase sales. There are over 2 million Jamaicans texting, are you connecting with them?

Mobile marketing is direct, personal, immediate and cost effective compared to the traditional TV and radio marketing budgets. As long as marketers don’t spam, by creating an opt in database gathered online, at events via sign up forms, mobile marketing may be the missing link in personalized communications. Companies can start off by making special offers, giving deals, sending information, bill reminders, daily menus and there’s so much more.
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