Category: General

My Review for – The McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Course: Online Marketing (McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Courses)

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A crash course on the most dynamic marketing platform today!
Online marketing has evolved far beyond flashy websites and banner ads shouting at customers about your product. It’s about using an array of Internet tools to build credibility and visibility, spread your message, and form meaningful customer relationships.

The McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Course: Online Marketing puts you on the fast track to harnessing the power of the Web for your marketing goals. It begins with planning and building a website and then provides in-depth coverage of essential online marketing tools and techniques, such as:

Content marketing and blogging
Social media marketing
Web analytics
Search Engine Optimization (SEO )
E-mail marketing
Online Public Relations
Earn a Certificate of Achievement Through A Free Online Examination!
The McGraw-Hill 36 Hour Course: Online Marketing spells it all out in easy-to-understand terms and actionable steps. Youre already on your way to Web marketing mastery!

Review:
Lorrie Thomas is a new author and the CEO of Web Marketing Therapy. When I read her comments in the introduction, I saw something rather intriguing:

“I am living proof that one does not need specific degrees, high-level certifications, or vast web marketing experience to become a successful online marketer… I did not own a personal computer and was no means web savvy… Online marketing tools do not sell products and services; relationships sell products and services.”

Those comments made me want to dive into this extremely practical, well-written and comprehensive guide to online marketing.

Organized Format

There are twelve chapters of approximately 20 pages in length. There are ample subheads and bulleted lists for increased readability. The author’s writing style is conversational, direct and motivational. She avoids the use of jargon and explains acronyms and other terms in easy-to-digest language. Ms. Thomas asks many questions within each chapter. It feels as if she is giving you a personal consultation or private lessons. This format likely will add more reading time; however, it reinforces the tutorial nature of this book. The detailed index is also user-friendly for quick reference.

Innovative Learning Features

This book promotes a projected learning time frame of 36 hours. The most salient feature to support that concept was quizzes at the end of each chapter. They force you to challenge what you have learned and to revisit areas that might be unclear. Another excellent complement to this concept was answers for each quiz neatly organized at the end of the book. My two favorite chapters were “Building the Website” and “Blogging.” Both shared tips and perspectives to assist a novice or experienced reader in these popular topics.

Online Examination

One appealing benefit is the opportunity to measure what you have learned with a credential. McGraw-Hill offers an online test with 100 questions. When you successfully pass the exam, you will receive a Certificate of Achievement.

Negotiating in Your Favor

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There is one commercial that has always made an impression on me. It was about a who was born with seemingly ultimate confidence. You’ll see this confidence in the way he asks girls out on dates even though he’s clearly shorter and younger; he graduates college even when kids his age are just finishing high school; and he even performs open heart surgery in the middle of a crowded concert hall. He can do all of these things with confidence and ease. However, when it comes to negotiating a price for a new car, he’s lost and paralyzed.

One reason why I think that this commercial worked very well was the fact that it was able to tap into a common fear for most people. This is the fear of negotiation. Of course, no one wants to get conned or outsmarted but this fear is sometimes what holds us back from trying to negotiate the terms that are favorable and beneficial to us. We fear that we might say the wrong thing, or forget something, and the other party can mold us into whatever they want. Because of this fear, we end up not negotiating at all.

Negotiations Happen Everyday

No matter how afraid we are of negotiations, or how much we try to avoid it, we are actually negotiating something every day. From reaching simple agreements as to where to eat or what movie to watch, to haggling at a store, these are all negotiations. However, in a business deal, there is obviously so much more at stake while negotiating, and you are quite possibly talking about large amounts of money or big liabilities. But as is always the case, buyers and sellers are always negotiating, and as the saying goes: you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.

Negotiating Properly

Many people think that the skill of negotiation is beyond them; this is not true. Don’t be afraid of speaking up and having your voice heard, especially if you don’t like the way things are going. Negotiating is something can be learned in time, and if you are always afraid of getting into it, then the skill might never develop. There are of course, certain things that would be helpful to remember while negotiating, to ensure that you curb your dealings to be more favorable to you. Here are a few things to help you gain an advantage during any dealing.

Never come out with a number first. When negotiating, don’t come out with a specific number or amount. This will allow your counterpart to have an advantage over you and flexibility to counter your proposals.
Tell the truth. The truth is always the best negotiating tool. Before starting the negotiating, make sure you know what you want, and your absolute limits – how high or low you can go. When you know this, you can effectively communicate what it is you really want.
Remember, when you negotiate, always try to be as truthful and fair as possible. Win-win scenarios will not always be the case, but aim for that with every negotiation. Don’t let one party feel resentful or unfairly dealt. With negotiating, everything can be resolved. And with a little bit of confidence and practice, you can do it perfectly too.

3 Reasons Why You Must Barter

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When you exchange goods and or services without the use of money, you are bartering. Bartering is actually a very creative way to do business nowadays especially to help lower expenses. Most importantly you do not need to own a business to barter.

Due to the flexibility, barter trade has grown in popularity. It has evolved into a more sophisticated business module when compared to ancient times. However, the concept is still the same. You exchange goods and or services with something that you want or need. Unlike in the past when such trade is done directly, modern times have embraced a commercial platform for businesses to negotiate and trade.

So what are the benefits of bartering to a business?

Generate new sales, new market penetration and customers

New sales and new customers are important for a companys’ survival. The mistake most companies do is they cut-down their advertising budget once the cash flow is tight. Businesses must constantly find ways to generate new customers and new sales and through barter exchange, it helps you reach a larger client base.

How is that possible?

Members on the exchange are looking for product and or services they need so that they can spend their trade dollars. Since they are already bartering, they know the benefits of barter and the leverage they have with their barter dollars. Hence, these are captive customers you can tap on because they would rather spend their barter dollars with barter members, instead of buying in cash from someone else.

Reduce lost money from idle inventories

Every time your employees spend their time not doing anything or whenever unsold stocks sit on your shelves means money is lost.

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