GCD Explains Direct Mail Basics and How to Get The Most Out of Your Web Sites to Women Entrepreneurs

Women from all over the country recently participated in a marketing conference geared specifically for women who own small businesses. Gail Clanton Diggs, of GCD Writing and Marketing, spoke with the group about the basics of direct mail and about how to have a web site that really works.

Washington, DC, June 25, 2008 — “With the growth of the Web and Internet marketing, some businesses think that direct mail is no longer a viable option, but that’s simply not true. The fact is that smart marketers are using direct mail profitably and I’m going to tell you how.”

This is what Gail Clanton Diggs, president of GCD Writing and Marketing, told a group of women entrepreneurs on June 13, 2008. These women had gathered in Virginia Beach, VA, to attend the Brand University 2008 Marketing Success Conference for Women Entrepreneurs.

Brand University 2008 was an exciting event sponsored by The Synergi Group, LLC, an organization founded to help facilitate mutually beneficial relationships among women entrepreneurs.

Diggs’ hour-long presentation included an explanation of the popular direct mail words and phrases, as well as a careful examination of the vital components of any direct mail campaign, including the list, the copy, and how to test effectively. Special attention was placed on how to use these components to create direct mail campaigns that are affordable for the new or small business owner.

The basis of this presentation can be found in a free report Diggs has written titled Direct Mail Tips for the Small Business Owner. To get a free copy of this valuable resource, send an email to contact@gcdwritingandmarketing.com.

Diggs also delivered a teleseminar to the Synergi group participants in June entitled, “You’ve Built Your Website, Now What?” During this one-hour call, she shared eleven tips to help ensure repeat visits to your web site. The list included:

- React to relevant (and not so relevant) news and events. “This lets the reader know that you’re living in the same world they’re in, feeling their pain, sharing their joys, etc. This, in turn, builds a level of trust that will certainly work in your favor.”

- Have something on your site that shows that it is being looked at and maintained. “You want your visitors to know that the site they’re visiting today was not the exact same site that existed last month, nor will it be the exact same site they’ll find there next month.”

- Keep it simple. “Visitors should never be confused while on your site. Fancy graphics and flashing openings are interesting, but often unnecessary. Consider your product and your audience and judge accordingly. As is often said, “just because you can, doesn’t mean that you should.”

GCD Explains How to Have a “Working” Web Site… and it’s More Than Just Key Words

The Internet is full of lazy web sites. These are sites that are out there, but simply not working hard enough for their owners. Here are some tips business owners can use, starting today, to make their sites earn their keep and bring in the customers that these businesses desire and deserve.
Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 3, 2008 — Most companies doing business today have a web site, but are these sites really “working”? “In many instance they’re not,” says Gail Diggs, President of GCD Writing and Marketing Solutions.

While search engine optimization and obtaining the right key words are extremely important, a “working” web site does more than get first-time visitors. According to Diggs, a “working” site gets people to come back again and again. GCD works hard to get your site to “work.”

One of the most critical components of a “working” web site is content that is current.

“Nothing makes me cringe more than visiting a site and seeing that the latest blog entry was recorded in 2007, that registrations are still being taken for a conference that was held months ago, or that some old event is still being “announced” as news. And, you’d be surprised by how often I see things like that,” says Diggs.

Your web site is the last place people expect to find old information and, when they do, they often get disgusted and click away to the next site. “Honestly, why would anyone take seriously the information on a site that doesn’t appear to be monitored or updated on a regular basis?” Diggs continued.

A second component of a “working” site is the opportunity to provide feedback and then having that feedback acknowledged. For example, if you have some sort of “Tell Us What You Think” button on your site, that’s great. “But”, says Diggs, “I encourage site owners to go the extra step of sending a short, personal note to the people who have taken time to provide feedback. This simple gesture lets the visitor know that their voice has been heard and that their thoughts are appreciated and respected.

A third component of a “working” web site is one that reacts to relevant news and events. This lets your readers know that you’re living in the same world they’re in and are going through situations similar to their own. Diggs suggests that doctors’ sites post well wishes and educational information when someone famous announces that they have a health challenge that’s relative to their practice. And, environmental news sometimes finds its way on the site of one of her clients who makes all-natural soaps and bath products. The key is to be relevant.

Maintaining a “working” web site can be quite time consuming, especially if writing isn’t your forte, however it is extremely important. “At GCD Writing and Marketing Solutions we have the time and talent to make your web site work for you.” says Diggs.