Get shorty: basic internet copywriting

Turn this prose:“IntroNiche is a classifieds platform for niche marketing barter deals. In plain english that means that companies targetting specific niches will be able to find other companies targetting identical or other relevant groups. The companies can then contact each other to see if they can make co-operate in their marketing efforts, most likely through barter deals.IntroNiche’s service should specifically appeal to entrepreneurs & marketeers, especially those with all ready a strong internet presence or ambition.”Into something shorter:                                     “Let the world know who you want to reach.
Discover who wants to reach the same people.
Promote each other. Prosper together!
For marketing pro’s & netizens alike.
For more info, click here.” Into something even shorter: “Say who you want to reach.
Find out who targets the same people.
Promote each other. Get a good deal!
For marketing pro’s & netizens alike
Examples, get them here.“

Get shorty: write catchy site content

Groundrules for any internet content: 

• Make it snappy:
  • cut all words you don’t need 
• Make it real:
  • forget university & professional slang,
  • use straight words
  • use words people type in search engines
• Make it active:
  • One might suggest the use of indirect turns of phrases entices one not to be bothered to read
  • Cut all longer sentences containing “and”, “or” etc… in two short sentences
  • Always include a call for action like “click here”, “read more”, “find out”
• Be visual:
  • Use colours, italics, underlines and bold
  • Use wisely however. Less is more!
•  Be yourself:
  • Don’t use the clichés you’ll find everywhere

An example:

Today I rewrote this content:

“IntroNiche is a classifieds platform for niche marketing barter deals.

 In plain english that means that companies targetting specific niches will be able to find other companies targetting identical or other relevant groups. The companies can then contact each other to see if they can make co-operate in their marketing efforts, most likely through barter deals.

IntroNiche’s service should specifically appeal to entrepreneurs & marketeers, especially those with all ready a strong internet presence or ambition.”

Cut. Rewrite. Cut. Rewrite.
This is what you get:

“Let the world know who you want to reach.
Discover who wants to reach the same people.
Promote each other. Prosper together!
For marketing pro’s & netizens alike.
More info, click here.”

Quite shorter right? Nope. Can do better.

Third version:

“Say who you want to reach.
Find out who targets the same people.
Promote each other. Prosper together!
For marketing pro’s & netizens alike.
Examples, click here”

Excellent? I don’t think so. Tomorrow gets a rewrite.
Any suggestions, post them here!

An introduction to IntroNiche

IntroNiche is a classifieds platform for niche marketing barter deals.

 In plain english that means that companies targetting specific niches will be able to find other companies targetting identical or other relevant groups. The companies can then contact each other to see if they can make co-operate in their marketing efforts, most likely through barter deals.

IntroNiche’s service should specifically appeal to entrepreneurs & marketeers, especially those with all ready a strong internet presence or ambition.

We’re about to go live this february 2008. What you see here is to be the company blog.

 More info here.

Top things to do in january for a small emerging business

From the self proclaimed king of Chaos, some nice things to do:

• Plan the year ahead (if you haven’t done so already in december)
  • Set two major targets for the year
  • Choose four to five major moments in the year that should help you achieve the targets
    (campaigns to be launched, milestones to be reached…)
  • For every milestone, define the preparations you need to do
  • Put all on a nice calendar – break everything down by weeks and months
  • Don’t forget to include time for breaks, holidays, repetitive chores and unforeseen emergencies
• Stop procrastinating. Execute the first things on your list 
• Reply to all new year’s wishes you got – it’s a consistent way of keeping your network up to date

Anything I forgot?

Online marketplaces – best practices

Craiglist.com – the classic example of a local classifieds website, thinking global. Great community atmosphere on a no frills utilitarian website.

Definition of targetting criteria for niches (work in progress)

The niche marketing barter deal marketplace is not going to work if companies can’t define their niches properly.
Because everything starts with a proper definition of your niche. Once you know that, you will be able to see which companies match your niche.

Here are some of the main niches:

Niche marketing company start-up looking for partner

Marketing Barter Platform looking for partners.

IntroNiche is a Brussels based start-up about to create a classifieds platform for niche marketings barter deals.

Why I’m starting up a company

When I managed the collectibles & entertainment categories at eBay, I did a lot of barter marketing.

This means that I looked for companies targetting the same niche targets as I did – collectors’s, gamers, music and movie buffs… In a lot of cases, these were existing online portals or offline tradefair organisers. 

Why I’m starting up a company

When I managed the collectibles & entertainment categories at eBay, I did a lot of barter marketing.

This means that I looked for companies targetting the same niche targets as I did – collectors’s, gamers, music and movie buffs… In a lot of cases, these were existing online portals or offline tradefair organisers.