Small and medium-businesses find relief from the recession through modern-day marketing techniques.

Small and medium businesses who find their clients and profits dwindling as the recession drags on can overcome these economic forces by using high-tech but inexpensive marketing techniques.
That’s the opinion of Ray Salem, a southern California Internet marketing professional who has brought a number of his clients back from the brink using innovative e-mail and text-message based marketing.
“It sickens me to see so many businesses go under today when it’s really unnecessary,” says Salem, owner of Ace eMarketing, specializing in electronic marketing techniques that rely on a business’s existing client list.
Ace today has some 23 accounts, initiated more than 7,000 online transactions, and built some 20 Web sites during the past six months. The company continually seeks to help small- and medium-sized businesses in the recession through discounted electronic marketing services.
Salem believes that the key to successful marketing lies in targeting existing customers. By keeping in touch with current and former customers through e-mail, businesses can produce more highly effective marketing. When a client receives an e-mail with discounts or new services, they will be inclined to forward it to friends and family leveraging the promotion. “E-mail marketing is inexpensive, and the domino effect can provide noteworthy results in a short time,” says Salem.
“I believe in this product because it’s very inexpensive and it’s very effective,” says Salem. “A lot of businesses spend thousands of dollars a month on marketing, but for a fraction of the cost, they could be doing e-mail marketing, which has been shown to return about $43 for every dollar spent. It’s very effective, especially if the subscriber list is opt-in (voluntary).”
Salem bemoans the fact that “a lot of businesses, unfortunately, don’t collect customers’ e-mail addresses—even though customers may actually want to keep in touch with the business.
“The more in contact you are with your customers on a regular basis, the busier you will get,” says Salem. “There are a few clients of mine who have 6,000 e-mails on their list and they’re doing great. There’s no down time for them in this economy because they e-mail their customers three times a month, and they’re always busy.”
Salem believes that text marketing also can be one of the most effective forms of marketing today, particularly to younger clients or for businesses with changing offers. The power lies in the right number and the keyword, which Ace provides. Keyword rental is $150 dollars a month and 10 cents per text. The customer is sent regular text messages by the company with promotions and specials after the customer subscribes to a “VIP list” offered upon visiting the business.
“Ninety four percent of people read their text messages,” notes Salem, who adds that while it’s slightly more expensive than e-mail marketing, text marketing still presents an excellent value to the business owner. Ace eMarketing subcontracts its text-in number, so text marketing is much less expensive for its customers than it might be were they to do it independently. On average, a business will spend $2,000 dollars on the same service.
“There is a solution for businesses today, but the majority of them, unfortunately, have cut down on marketing. If you cut down on marketing, you almost certainly will cut down on sales.”
Another area that Ace focuses on is directing traffic to its clients’ Web sites, and the company is an expert in search-engine optimization. “Getting found and being noticed is all-important when it comes to the Web,” says Salem.
Ace eMarketing provides the entire range of services expected from a full-service direct response advertising agency, including copy, graphics, list selection, media placement, printing and mailing. Electronic services include: e-mail marketing, direct e-mail, text marketing, search engine optimization, Web-site development and consulting, survey services, e-newsletters, Web-master services, and virtual tours. Most services are available at below what is considered the market average.

About Ace eMarketing
Located in Rancho Cucamonga, California, Ace eMarketing specializes in electronic marketing and search-engine optimization, Web-site development, and consulting. For additional information, visit www.aceemarketing.com or contact Ray Salem at 909-890-6308.