Making Sales, Marketing & The Internet

Making sales, marketing, and using the internet are all related when it comes to business growth.  Just like driving a car to get to a specified destination, so is it when you choose what to sell, how to sell it, and how to market to who, what, when and where.
Q.  Alycee from Hollidaysburg, PA - How does one attract customers to a small-town business establishment?
A. The way to attract customers to a small-town business is to make an offer that your target market can only say ‘yes’ to. 
When making an offer, be sure it resembles the results that your market wants.  Find inexpensive, to 'no-cost' ways of drawing customers to you, by finding pure markets to offer your product or service.  Get existing satisfied customers to lead clients to your location by giving them an offer they can only say ‘yes’ to.
Q. Gina from Los Angeles, CA - Can you give us ideas to market a business with no money?
A. The best way to market business is with ‘no’ money.  Here is a practical example:
You love to fish (your passion for starting a business) and you decide you want to create a charter fishing service.  You want to buy a boat and be the captain.  You are short by $300,000 to buy the used boat of your dreams.

First step is to find a charter service and discover their fee for charting their boat.  Next, invite 20 of your closest friends to go out on a specific date for fishing.  Charge them a nominal fee to cover your costs for chartering the boat.  At the end of the day, ask them to come back 30 days later and bring with them a friend.  Charge their friends and the original friends the nominal fee to cover the first expenses (you have now doubled your money.)  Repeat every 30 days for a year or increase your frequency to every other week.  Save a portion of the money earned towards purchasing your boat, fees, licenses, etc.
Q. Angie from Marlton, NJ - What's a good way for a busy, single proprietor to effectively plan, execute and track their marketing efforts? 
A. An effective way for a busy, single proprietor to plan, execute and track their marketing efforts is 'system-created' to automate the implementation process.
It should include an automated measurement tool which predicts results based on data supplied by previous sales results or industry standards.  A minimum total of six strategies should be employed which include; two strategies which allows the single proprietor to get in front of their target markets every 30 days; two that allow you to stay in touch with your target market by giving them something of value every 30 days (no sales offer here); and two strategies that give you high exposure to your target market every six months. 
Q. Elizabeth from Stevensville, MI - Tips on being successful in social media.
A. As we define success as ‘collecting a check’ when it comes to social media, here is a sure-fired answer.  Make an offer to a target market that will respond to the offer.  As example: 
You own a television station and you are looking to do business with a ‘fashion expert.’  You want this person to appear on a television show every 45 days.  They will be featured as the ‘fashion expert’ for your company (a local television station.)  Place your offer on Twitter, Facebook etc.  Respond to the offer with evaluation of their credibility (Do the have they image to be on live television /recorded television, are they credible in their industry, and can they pay your fee to advertise for them?)  Follow through with each so that you get what you want, and they get what they want.
Q. Leeann from Whitesburg, TN - What is the best way to route traffic to a website?  
A. Route traffic to your website by offering value.  Make your website ‘proactive’ rather than ‘reactive.’ 
Waiting for someone to discover you can be cost prohibitive.  Take action by creating a list of people who already know you.  Have them extend offers from your website, to people they know who might be interested in your service or product.  Have those friends lead their friends to your website.
Q. Christopher from Elk Grove, CA - What's the best low priced way to market a new product? 
A. The best low price way to market your product is to market it by word of mouth. 
Define the results your product or service delivers, then use the result as a draw to bring your clients to ‘your’ table.
Q. John from Greeneville, TN - How do I increase interest in niche products? 
A. Niche products are wanted by