I recently made a presentation to an audience of marine professional at the British Marine Electronic Association (BMEA) conference in Southampton. The presentation was highlighting free marketing opportunities that are available to members…no catch.
Putting this presentation together got me thinking about all the dodgy phone calls and emails that I have received with business opportunities that were just too good to be true. Whereas my opportunities were transparent and above board, these so called opportunities are usually malicious and designed to trick businesses out of their hard-earned money.
So I decided to come up with my top ten list of marketing opportunities that are just too good to be true.
1. We can guarantee you top of Google.
This is impossible to guarantee, as Google is an organic, fluid search engine that is constantly being refined. To guarantee top position in popular search phrases is difficult to achieve, especially as everyone is trying to do the same thing. What some companies do is achieve you top billing for less popular search phrases. These keywords may look good, but in reality don’t get traffic, and are very easy to rank well in based on a lack of competition.
2. Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam.
Originally Spam was incredibly obvious to spot, but now it is becoming more sophisticated in the way it displays itself in terms of fonts and layout. General rule of thumb, if you are not sure where the email has come from, don’t respond to it.
3. We’ll submit Your Website to Hundreds of Search Engines!
There are primarily four search engines that handle about 95% of all internet searches, so submitting to anything other than these search engines is pretty much useless. Also, search engines don’t like submissions. Search Engines simply like to find websites on their own through incoming links to the site.
4. Get thousands of Website back links.
The only way someone could offer this many back links is through dodgy link sites/directories. Submitting to these offers will not improve your search engine ranking but will probably do the opposite instead.
5. Last minute advertising offers.
There usually is a reason why last minute advertising offers cost so little…no one is advertising because no one is reading the publication. I would avoid the chance of these great offers. It won’t be part of your strategy and it won’t provide any return on your investment.
6. Sponsorship.
Companies are often bombarded by opportunities to sponsor conferences, sports teams, expeditions etc. Some seem a great opportunity for branding and to promote your Corporate Social Responsibility credentials. However if you dig deep, you usually find that the great opportunity turns out to be too good to be true. Make sure you always ask detailed questions. What can you hope to get back? How are they funded? How many other sponsors are there? What are there plans to promote your initial investment? Then decide is it really is worth doing.
7. Submit Your Website to thousand of Directories!
There are thousands of free directories out there, but the question is, do you want your site to be included on all of them and get all that lovely Spam? The answer should be no. There are probably only a few websites in your sector that is worth submitting to.
8. Video productions.
I’ve received several calls from video production company telling me that they are very interested in doing a video on my organisation and that my company is ‘one of several organisations’ they are considering. The catch, to qualify you have to pay production costs, which could run into of thousands of pounds. If you had planned to do something already, this may be fine, but if you think you are getting a bargain, think again.
9. ‘Who’s Who’ directories.
‘Who’s Who’ directories pander to your vanity. All you need to do is pay several hundred pounds to have your details added to a website. Be cautious of any award that requires a significant application fee. Avoid!!
10. Not So Free Trial Offers.
Some sales people will do anything to get you to try out a product such as a 2 months free trial offer. But before you sign on for that trial, read the fine print otherwise you might end up paying the same amount that you were going to originally pay for any way. It is amazing how many people fall for this.
Ian Lockyer
http://www.easimarketing.com
I am fully qualified marketing professional with a wide range of marketing and digital experience. Since July 2004 I have been a Chartered Marketer. I am also a full member of the Institute of Direct Marketing. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-tips-articles/marketing-opportunities-that-are-too-good-to-be-true-1398536.html
