Your Questions About Direct Marketing Jobs

Jere answers:

One would usually advise someone with a small online store to use SEO to gradually bring traffic to their site.

For your business, demographically targeted paid ads might make sense, if you setup a Facebook fanpage (free) you can direct Facebook ads to it for a relatively low cost per click, Facebook ads use the member profile information to allow targeting age, gender, marriage status, location and interests that might mention, you can also target employees of larger companies who have disclosed that information.
Facebook ads are ‘interrupting’ the user, the ad style needs to be a bit more soft sell there, one can expect about one click per 1000 ad impressions.

Google PPC ads are not cheap, but may still prove more cost effective than cheaper media, keyword targeted ads on search results pages can be shown only in specific geographical areas.

Google network ads as well as other ad networks allow you to target specific sites or individual pages where prospects are most likely to be hanging out. You can buy banner ad space on

There are a number of sites that reproduce job ads, I frankly don’t know what channels they go through, they might just be scraping monster.com.

You can place banner ads on specific geekie sites through buysellads.com, a search for “programming” turned up 160 candidates, (CPM is the price for 1000 ad impressions) paying for ad impressions, rather than clicks may be ideal for branding exposure.

Jere answers:

I understand your delimna and have found several things that are working for me to generate extra cash and have flexibility in my schedule.

First, I must say that direct sales is a great part time option. The delimna is finding a good product you can stand behind and a marketing plan that has the potential to pay you today, not 2 years from now.

Second, I am also involved (about 6 days in) in some online marketing options and finding them to be very lucrative for the time commitment. BEWARE, of the program you choose and your upfront investment.

I hope that helps,

Andy

Jere answers:

A DSE has to sell LIC policies directly.No lead would be provided to you by the company.You will have to generate your own market and make good relationships with your clients.If you create one satisfied customer,they will give you references.By this your market and your earning opportunities will grow.

Jere answers:

After the horrific tradegies of Sept 11 and Katrina, many companies were forced to develop DR/BC plans. I suspect the investment they made is aligned with the potential economic loss (both short and long term) should they be unable to conduct business. Many small to mid-sized non-profits lack the funding to implement such extensive plans and while they provide crucial services, overall economic loss due to inability to operate is in relative terms a lesser consideration. I suspect that most of them not involved in providing direct service in a disaster situation are not well prepared so your suggestion sounds like a marketable service.

I would seek a job in a DR business and once in, try to sell your idea of apporaching the non=profit sector. Trying to sell the idea before hired may risk them stealing the idea. OR

try to freelance with it-get the company you completed the plan for to agree to use their name and referral in your “pitch”. I am no expert on DR or NP’s, but the general marketing of the service would entail muck of the same as for any service. One good referral will help somewhat.

Look at www.ncna.org for info on the sector (national council of non=profit associations).

If you don’t already have it, look into certification-i believe it exists. It will give you added credibility. NPO’s rely on donations and gov’t funding, and tend to reduce risk by seeking formal certification in vendors/providers-can’t afford the “scandal” of mis-spent funds.

Good luck-i think it’s a good idea!

Jere answers:

Auto industry is going through a slow down. Job prospects should be very rough.