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Internet Marketing Campaign for My Offline Business

by JEL0221
10 replies
Hello Warriors,

For a few months I had tried to generate leads to build my business as a Commodities Broker(similar to a stock broker). What I was doing was just writing articles to drive traffic to my "educational blog" I have in my signature.

My link in my article resource box would then send the reader to an opt-in page either for a demo of our trading platform, or a free ebook.

The problem is, I got barely ANY traffic at all In addition to this, I did not collect many emails at all


.....SO, after not using the blog for a few months, because it was ineffective, I have been trying to brainstorm what I could do to generate leads with it.

I was thinking of trying a PPC campaign, but have never used PPC before, and also think that getting just a lead's email is a waste(emails rarely convert with my follow-ups), I am looking to collect phone numbers essentially so I am able to call some good, qualified leads.

So, what I am looking for from my fellow Warriors, are opinions-insights-critiques-etc on what I have BEEN doing, and also what I should be looking into doing.

....and I forgot to mention, I have been TERRIBLE driving traffic to the blog. And by TERRIBLE, I mean TERRIBLE. When I was actively trying to drive traffic, I averaged 2-5 visitors PER DAY...it's not comforting to see that written down.

Thank you for your insight into my situation!!
#business #campaign #internet #marketing #offline
  • Profile picture of the author BigVin
    I took a quick look at your blog and first of all...

    you need to put a signup form on the top right of your blog. There's no way anyone will click on the near hidden link to go to your signup page.

    Put a strong offer right there on the page and make it obvious what you want them to do.

    Oh, and you can put a phone number box on your optin too.

    As far as conversions from emails... there's a lot of variables there but it probably has to do with your followup.

    If you drive traffic from PPC then send them straight to the optin page. If you increase steps then you'll lose conversions.

    And since this market is competitive it will take a little while to get traffic to your blog. More of a long-term traffic strategy than short, and a way to build a relationship with your prospect.
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    • Profile picture of the author JEL0221
      Originally Posted by BigVin View Post

      I took a quick look at your blog and first of all...

      you need to put a signup form on the top right of your blog. There's no way anyone will click on the near hidden link to go to your signup page.

      Put a strong offer right there on the page and make it obvious what you want them to do.

      Oh, and you can put a phone number box on your optin too.

      As far as conversions from emails... there's a lot of variables there but it probably has to do with your followup.

      If you drive traffic from PPC then send them straight to the optin page. If you increase steps then you'll lose conversions.

      And since this market is competitive it will take a little while to get traffic to your blog. More of a long-term traffic strategy than short, and a way to build a relationship with your prospect.
      The opt-in box is fairly obvious, don't know why I did not think of it before...but have no clue how to make an opt-in box or put it on a wordpress site, so for I guess the other "hidden" opt-ins will have to do.
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  • Profile picture of the author BigVin
    It's simple.

    Log into the back section of wordpress. Click on "Appearance" then "Widgets" and add a text box on the sidebar.

    Then take your optin form code and insert it into the text box and click "save".

    Use the search function or search Google and there's plenty of info on this.

    Or you could just pay someone a couple $$ to do it for you.

    Vin
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  • Profile picture of the author gjabiz
    This may or may not be helpful.

    Where do your current customers come from? How do they find you? I think THEY would be the best source of new customers. IF you are doing a good job for them, why not ask for referrals?

    I can see how your blog site did NOT work. It is difficult to read, long text, poorly designed. Compare your site with Dennis Gartman's site. Dennis is fairly well known in commodities and a heck of a golfer too. The point being, he looks like a successful broker/investor. Your site looks very amateurish.

    That being said, let's go back to your service and current customers. What is the standard operating procedure for brokers to get business? Also, what kinds of clients are you looking for? Newbies? Casual? Full timers?

    Look, you asked for opinions OK? So don't take it personal. But you are dealing with a subject that is near and dear to us...MONEY...and Wall Street ain't the pretty thing it used to be...so you MUST convey and establish confidence. YOU MUST look successful, heck, appearances worked for Bernie Madoff and other's, like Enron. People "buy" appearance.

    And so I think you need to take down your site, it does not inspire confidence. You need some powerful copy to get people to even get your FREE product, which is, hopefully, a sales piece for your services.

    Make a list of all your clients, call them up, ASK for a referral, or ASK if they know someone who would like a FREE report on Commodities, and put up a capture page or squeeze page ONLY, and take down all the "informational and educational" stuff you have.

    You may be doing a good job EDUCATING people, but then, apparently, they turn elsewhere for the "paid advice", ask yourself why?

    I've read a lot of stuff at your site, it is good, but you can break it out into articles, get articles posted up and put up a squeeze page.

    IF you want to get profitable as a broker, get out of the EDUCATION business, make the point of the education to HIRE YOU as a broker.

    Good luck with your efforts.

    gjabiz

    Originally Posted by JEL0221 View Post

    Hello Warriors,

    For a few months I had tried to generate leads to build my business as a Commodities Broker(similar to a stock broker). What I was doing was just writing articles to drive traffic to my "educational blog" I have in my signature.

    My link in my article resource box would then send the reader to an opt-in page either for a demo of our trading platform, or a free ebook.

    The problem is, I got barely ANY traffic at all In addition to this, I did not collect many emails at all


    .....SO, after not using the blog for a few months, because it was ineffective, I have been trying to brainstorm what I could do to generate leads with it.

    I was thinking of trying a PPC campaign, but have never used PPC before, and also think that getting just a lead's email is a waste(emails rarely convert with my follow-ups), I am looking to collect phone numbers essentially so I am able to call some good, qualified leads.

    So, what I am looking for from my fellow Warriors, are opinions-insights-critiques-etc on what I have BEEN doing, and also what I should be looking into doing.

    ....and I forgot to mention, I have been TERRIBLE driving traffic to the blog. And by TERRIBLE, I mean TERRIBLE. When I was actively trying to drive traffic, I averaged 2-5 visitors PER DAY...it's not comforting to see that written down.

    Thank you for your insight into my situation!!
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    • Profile picture of the author JEL0221
      Originally Posted by gjabiz View Post

      This may or may not be helpful.

      Where do your current customers come from? How do they find you? I think THEY would be the best source of new customers. IF you are doing a good job for them, why not ask for referrals?

      I can see how your blog site did NOT work. It is difficult to read, long text, poorly designed. Compare your site with Dennis Gartman's site. Dennis is fairly well known in commodities and a heck of a golfer too. The point being, he looks like a successful broker/investor. Your site looks very amateurish.

      That being said, let's go back to your service and current customers. What is the standard operating procedure for brokers to get business? Also, what kinds of clients are you looking for? Newbies? Casual? Full timers?

      Look, you asked for opinions OK? So don't take it personal. But you are dealing with a subject that is near and dear to us...MONEY...and Wall Street ain't the pretty thing it used to be...so you MUST convey and establish confidence. YOU MUST look successful, heck, appearances worked for Bernie Madoff and other's, like Enron. People "buy" appearance.

      And so I think you need to take down your site, it does not inspire confidence. You need some powerful copy to get people to even get your FREE product, which is, hopefully, a sales piece for your services.

      Make a list of all your clients, call them up, ASK for a referral, or ASK if they know someone who would like a FREE report on Commodities, and put up a capture page or squeeze page ONLY, and take down all the "informational and educational" stuff you have.

      You may be doing a good job EDUCATING people, but then, apparently, they turn elsewhere for the "paid advice", ask yourself why?

      I've read a lot of stuff at your site, it is good, but you can break it out into articles, get articles posted up and put up a squeeze page.

      IF you want to get profitable as a broker, get out of the EDUCATION business, make the point of the education to HIRE YOU as a broker.

      Good luck with your efforts.

      gjabiz
      Thank you for your comments! I always look at these types of comments as constructive criticism, which is why WF is a GREAT place for feedback.

      One of the problems is, I am just starting up out of college so I do not have a client list to ask for referrals from.

      Dennis Gartman is someone who I follow closely in the industry, so I will look further into how he advertises online and maybe try to mirror him, a well-known broker in the industry.

      Essentially, I am looking to be a full-service broker for newbies in the markets, or people who have been unsuccessful in the markets, which is the reason why I focused on education in my blog.

      BUT, I have to agree with you. I think the site is too overloaded with information, and even if traffic was going to the site, people would be deterred away from my opt-ins.

      What I am thinking of doing is driving traffic to only a squeeze page, as you mentioned...very professional looking(thinking Gartman).

      Now, this is where I would need further criticism...

      In an email series, I would send them:

      1. Downloadable Futures Trading eBook(very basic information)
      2. A demo account request to our trading platform(we have one of the best platforms in the industry)
      3. Educational articles, similar to what you see on my site.
      4. MOST IMPORTANTLY, the trade results of transactions I have done with my clients, and the returns of our Managed Futures Fund....both of which have been very successful!

      I would love some additional input on this! I really appreciate the help I have recieved so far!
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  • Profile picture of the author SurviveUnemployment
    Freshen up your content from time to time. In theory, you'll be improving it. Every time you update a post, ping away. This will tell the search engines that you're serious.

    Keep adding posts and sharing them. Eventually, you'll develop a readership. In your business, 5-6 leads a month will make it worth it.

    You might want to add some pictures too.
    Signature

    The best link-building strategy you never heard of...

    Article Spinning Is Not a Crime    !

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  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    Hi,

    I think you shouldn't be trying to get to this traffic yourself at this point - there are already lots of people who have spent a lot of time and effort finding the same people you're targeting - look for them and work out how to make it a good idea for them to link to your site or tell their readers about your site/products.

    Check out Youtube channels and see who's got popular videos and lots of viewers.

    Andy
    Signature

    nothing to see here.

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    • Profile picture of the author JEL0221
      Originally Posted by Andyhenry View Post

      Hi,

      I think you shouldn't be trying to get to this traffic yourself at this point - there are already lots of people who have spent a lot of time and effort finding the same people you're targeting - look for them and work out how to make it a good idea for them to link to your site or tell their readers about your site/products.

      Check out Youtube channels and see who's got popular videos and lots of viewers.

      Andy
      I understand the field is very competitive. I'm assuming you are inferring that instead of trying to target keywords and traffic, to instead look at some type of JV with someone who is already getting all the traffic in my niche?

      The only problem I would see is that another broker marketing him/herself online will probably not be willing to point there leads elsewhere.
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      • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
        Originally Posted by JEL0221 View Post

        I understand the field is very competitive. I'm assuming you are inferring that instead of trying to target keywords and traffic, to instead look at some type of JV with someone who is already getting all the traffic in my niche?

        The only problem I would see is that another broker marketing him/herself online will probably not be willing to point there leads elsewhere.
        That's why you need to be creative and approach them in a win-win way that means they'll want to work with you.

        Many people see competition as restricting but in my experience there are always a lot of people who are open to working in a way that everyone wins.

        If you're trying to help the same people - there must be a way you can do it better together than alone.

        You could interview your competitors and create a great product listing them all as experts along with yourself. Find something that makes each one of them different and use that as the reason why they're all a good option for different people.

        Andy
        Signature

        nothing to see here.

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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Peters Benn
    Remember, the primary thing that they want, and that you should be offering is making them more money. Therefore, don't get too hung up with what you do or how you do it - instead choose the services that will provide the biggest difference to them.

    I see quite a lot of people get stuck in some sort of SEO war of attrition. This is daft when your time (and your clients money) could be better spent on other, higher return marketing exercises.
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