So here are 7 killer Internet marketing tools that you can implement on a shoestring budget without having to have a website of your own:

If they don’t promote and directly lead to a sale for you, they don’t get paid. For do-it-yourselfers, there are plenty of tools out there to help you set up this type of program. For everyone else, there are excellent service providers out there who can coordinate and manage this process for you. 

6. Viral Marketing
Again, a great approach to getting others to promote and help create a buzz about you, your business, your products and/or your services. The best and most genuine way to get this started is by creating raving fans out of your existing clients and then helping them help you spread the word.

7. Public Relations
If I tell you I’m the best at what I do, you’ll take it with a grain of salt. Maybe you’ll believe me, maybe you won’t. However, people tend to believe what they read. So if a respected publication tells you that I’m the best at what I do, that usually holds more weight and adds instant credibility to me.

Spend some effort here.  Become a resource for the press.  You help them and they can significantly help you.

I highly recommend you spend some time with these. Explore how you can implement one, some, or all of these Internet marketing tools to help explode your business.

Answering that question is one of the most fundamental tasks your website needs to accomplish - and it's as simple to do as it is important.

By using testimonials - reviews and comments from your satisfied customers, in text, audio, or video - on your website, you not only answer the question, you also transform your sales pitch into a credible, unbiased recommendation for your product.

"I love this product! I can't get enough! I'm so glad I bought your stuff and I'll be back to get more, for sure!"

What could be wrong with that? It sounds like you have a happy customer on your hands!

But what does this testimonial really tell your visitors? Does this prove that the product works, or explain exactly how your customers benefited from using it? While the feedback is definitely positive, the testimonial does not provide enough detail to have any real impact on your visitors.

Here's an example of the kind of effective, benefits-driven testimonials that's worth including:

"I used the methods you told me to use and for three days my phone's been ringing! I sold over $3500 in goods and services in three days! It's the first time in 5 months that anyone had really purchased anything..."

Now that's a great testimonial! But what makes it so powerful?

Let's break down the elements of an effective testimonial in more detail...

A good testimonial is filled with benefits: A comment like, "This product is great!" is nice to hear, but it doesn't tell visitors what your product can do for them. You want the benefits of what you offer to be front and center in every testimonial: "This product doubled our profits in a month!" or "This product caused the pain in my back disappear completely - and did it fast!" or "We've never seen any product that could get the rust out of your car without damaging the paint - until now."

A good testimonial substantiates your claims: If you say your product can do something, your testimonials should back up your promises - complete with actual facts and figures. How much money did your customers save by using your product? How much time did they save by using your service? How did it solve their problems or improve their lives?

• A good testimonial is from someone your audience can relate to: You want your visitors to see that your product helped someone just like them, seeking the solution to the same problem your visitors have. Make sure your testimonials come from someone with whom your target market can identify. If you sell primarily to seniors, for example, ask your customers if you can include their age along with the testimonial. If you are selling to moms with children, ask if you can mention how many kids they have - or include a photo of their family!
• A good testimonial is credible: Accompany each testimonial with the first name, last name, and hometown of each testimonial-giver to show that your endorsements come from real people. Always try to include a photo as well. If you can, take it to the next level by including audio or video testimonials for maximum effect! Do everything you can to help your visitors connect with your testimonial-givers on a personal level.
• A good testimonial endorses the key benefits of your product: Your testimonials should emphasize the key benefits of your product. It's fun to hear that your super-duper floor cleaner smells nice or that the bottle doesn't drip - both things that matter to people who would consider using your product in their homes - but have you established that it cleans their floors well?
• A good testimonial is comparative: Did your customers try another product that didn't work before they found yours? You want your visitors to know what your product can do that other products can't. Choose testimonials that set your product apart from your competition!

Now that you know what you're looking for in a testimonial, how do you gather the reviews you need from your customers?

So how do you collect the testimonials you need -- and keep them coming as you grow your business?

One easy way to collect testimonials is to include a link on your site with a form that allows your customers to give you their vote of confidence: "Tell us how this product changed your life!" or "Click here to let us know what you think!" Use this link next to some testimonials that you've already gathered to give customers an example of the kind of feedback you're looking for.

A more effective method is to create an autoresponder that contacts your buyers after they've purchased your product - even a month later - to ask how they're enjoying the product, as well as giving them a chance to offer feedback on their experience with your business.

And, of course, any time you receive a great letter or email from a customer, ask them if you can use their comments on your web site to recommend your product to others. If they are happy enough to let you know, they're bound to want to spread the word.

If you haven't yet begun selling your product and have no feedback yet, offer your product or service for free to a select group of customers in exchange for their thoughts on the product or some details on their experience with your site.

The impact that testimonials will have on your bottom line will be well worth the initial expense! As soon as your online business is up and running, make a point of giving every one of your customers a chance to share their experiences with your product or service. Ask for feedback - good and bad - from your autoresponders, your newsletters, and other spots on your website.

Place testimonials right in the middle of your homepage salescopy to keep your readers focused on your credibility as you outline the features and benefits of your product. Set up a whole page dedicated to your glowing testimonials, as well as include snippets of their comments throughout your site. Be sure to add a link to your testimonial page next to each of those snippets! Include testimonials on each and every page of your website. No matter where your visitors click, you want them to find a positive customer review of your product or service.

Send them freebies or get a campaign going to increase the buzz amongst them. Promote monthly Zoom calls where different people get together and meet each other and chat so that they know who's who instead of a nickname in a forum. This keeps people from opting out of your mailing list!

6. Warm up for a product launch. When you want to do a product launch, you want to ensure that people are ready for you. How can you do this? Well, all it takes is to create more buzz. Warming up people on a list also takes time, but the sequence in which you do it is important. With this goal in mind, you can already think of some ways to get your list of people excited, talking to each other and involving themselves in a discussion.

Once your goal is clear enough for you, it will be far easier to keep track of your results. After all, without a clear direction, you won't know how far you need to go, or what you are aiming for in the first place.

Target Practice Pro is your go-to digital marketing solution for planting marketing seeds and boosting your business. Call us now or schedule a talk for a free quote.