Business Strategies That Work!

No one will extol the virtues of the products or services you offer with the same excitement and intensity that you will.  The internet opens doors for publicity and marketing that were once either inaccessible or non-existent for business owners.  In addition to your current sales and marketing plan, begin a strategy of writing and posting informational articles and press releases about your company.

Your articles and press releases should, of course, include big news but are also for all occasions (i.e. new staff member on your team, business event your company is sponsoring, new product being offered, your personal review of  developments in your industry, etc.).  It is beneficial to target journalists on occasion, and some press release sites only target journalists, but don’t forget about the interests of your target customer.  Include offers that compel your target audience to respond to your  press release. Include links that drive traffic to your web site and/or blog.  Add social media tags so your release can be found.  Optimize your releases with keywords relevant to common searches for your business.  It’s up to you to blow your own horn louder and longer than anyone else will.  The following list offers some options and opportunities for you to get the word out about your business.

Free media leads

http://www.PitchRate.com

Free list of all the US Newspapers

http://www.usnpl.com

Free Press Release Sites:

http://www.pr.com/promote-your-business

http://www.free-press-release.com/

http://www.rembrandtwrites.com/FreePressReleasePostingSites.htm

http://www.newswiretoday.com/index.php

http://www.1888pressrelease.com

Publish your articles online:

https://publish.associatedcontent.com/signup.shtml

http://www.articlesbase.com/

http://biznik.com/

Following business blogs that post current and practical tips for business is an excellent continuing education tool.  Techniques, tools, and strategies are continually evolving.  Time, or lack thereof, is often a deterrent to becoming involved in traditional continuing education programs.  Spending a bit of initial research time on the web can give you avenues to new information that you never dreamed existed.  Here’s a brief list of some of the business posts today:

5 Tips To Attract More Blog Comments Business & small business from Entrepreneur.com. As companies turn to Facebook to boost their business, they notice more people posting Facebook Status Updates, Notes, Pictures, and Video than are posting comments on their company blog. …

3 Techniques To Grow Your List, Part 2 of a Series  Like I said yesterday, having a list of happy, satisfied clients who buy from you over and over as well as refer you great new clients is an enormous asset. Add in a system to convert your current prospects …

10 Tips to Boost Your Online Marketing and Website I invite you to join me on Wednesday, January 13, 2009 for a free 1-hour webinar: 10 Tips to give a Boost to your website and online marketing.

How To:  Use a Start Page to Stay Organized Customizable start pages are a great way to stay organized, keep tabs on your industry, and keep in touch, all in one place. Here are some tips for using a start page.

Delivery of your professional message, via a blog, is one of the latest and greatest marketing tools available to small business owners.  Why bother? A blog can be a simple and relatively inexpensive way to get your business message to your target audience, as well as establishing your expertise in your industry.    Two new blog directories offer free listings with nominal fees for premium listings.  Check out Directory of Blogging and Content Desk.  Both sites also offer valuable blogging techniques, and the ability to share your blog articles through their sites.

Not sure what to blog about?  Consider these questions.  What information can you give to your customer that will make life easier? What tips can you offer that will simplify daily tasks?  Share coupons, special offers, recipes, generic humor.  Define who your customer is and what they expect from  your business.  Then give them more than they expect.

Get everything in  order so that when the New Year comes around you’re prepared to take it on!

o    Consult with your Accountant.  Is it better to increase expenses before Dec. 31, or hold off until after the first of the year?

o    Haven’t tackled Social Media yet? Sign up for LinkedIn and Facebook.  If you have the ability to serve customers nationally or internationally, start a Twitter account. Go to http://DaleLittle.com/articles for How To articles.

o    Use the Internet!!! Check out Free Trials for software.  Request free expert reviews of your web site or blog  http://webcontentnh.com Check out VistaPrint’s “Free” specials.

o    Do additional marketing to counter the dip in business.  Write and submit web press releases to online services:  http://www.rembrandtwrites.com/FreePressReleasePostingSites.htm update your blog daily, update all social media posts 5-7 times daily.  Send private messages of holiday greetings to your Facebook Friends, LinkedIn Connections and Group members.

o    Self-educate:  Use the Internet as a learning tool.  Check out free e-courses and business blogs (such as this one!).   Visit the library or your local bookstore for the latest How-to books in your field of expertise or on the various aspects of doing business.

o    Promote upcoming events and speaking engagements in January and February, offer them as great holiday gifts for “that someone special.”

o    Housekeeping: Reorganize files on your computer; gather receipts and other documents for tax preparation time; straighten up your office: drawers, closets and files; check on free software upgrades for your computer, and install them.

o    Re-evaluate your existing expense programs. Are you eligible for a more appropriate cell phone plan, perhaps for less money?  Are you eligible for a free equipment upgrade?  Compare all of your insurance rates.  Shop credit card, checking account, and investment account rates http://www.bankrate.com

Holiday cards are a remarkable marketing tool.  They remind customers that you exist, solidify budding client relationships, and offer a marvelous opportunity to show your customers you appreciate them.  But with everything… there’s a right way to do it, and a wrong way.

It seems like it should go without saying, but you’d be surprised how many folks forget:

Don’t use cards that are Holiday (Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, etc.) or Gender specific.

Don’t use humorous or political cards.  What’s hilarious to you may be offensive to your recipient.

Don’t address the envelope informally.  Always use titles, as in Mr. Alan Zimmerer or Mrs. Lisa Cole.  I realize there are business owners that may disagree with this, but the bottom line is always, always, show courtesy and respect for your client.  The form of address you utilize is the first opportunity to assure your client that the relationship is important to you and your business.

Enough of “Don’t”.

Do buy quality cards.  Heavy card stock is always preferable.  It not only feels nice and communicates professionalism, but it also stands out amongst the other holiday cards in the daily mail delivery.

Do handwrite your cards, both the address on the envelope and the message inside the card.  5000 clients to send cards to, so this is impossible?  No, it’s not.  Hire someone to perform this task for you.  (Be sure to check and double-check their penmanship prior to giving them this assignment.)   Why is this important?  Isn’t one of your selling points Customer Service?  Don’t you make every effort to show your Client that they are important to you, they are special?  Don’t undermine that by slapping a mass-produced label on the envelope, with only an imprinted message inside your card.

Do get your cards in the mail during the first week of December.  You never want a client to think their card was an afterthought.

Do spell your client’s name correctly.  Mrs. Kathy Smyth may actually be Ms. Cathy Smith.

Sign up for (Free) Twitter: http://twitter.com/

Then sign up for (Free) Social Oomph:  http://www.socialoomph.com/

Sign up for (Free) Facebook Personal Page: http://www.facebook.com/

Then Sign up for (Free) Facebook Business Page (there’ll be a button on your Facebook page asking if you want to add a business).

Or, Visit this URL: http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php

2. Decide what the best category is for your business. (Spend a couple of minutes on this as you can’t change it later easily).

3. Enter your business/product/brand name and click “Create Page”.

4. At a minimum, I’d suggest entering a short description of your business and a website address. This is in the “Add Information To This     Page” area. I’d also advise uploading your logo as a photo/image.

5. Click on your business name in the top left corner (it’s a hyperlink) and then click “publish this page” (until you do this, nobody but you will be able to see your new Facebook business profile).

6. Finally, and this is important, from your new profile page, click “Add to my products”. This way, you become the first “fan” of your business.

Now comes the fun part. Once you’ve become a “fan” of your business, your friends on Facebook (some of which are likely customers) will see a message in their home page. Something like “Dharmesh Shah is a fan of HubSpot”. Hopefuly, some of your Facebook friends will befriend your business. Then, their friends will see a message, and so it goes…

Sign up for Ping:  http://ping.fm/

This will be “one stop shopping” for posting on both Twitter and Facebook.

Now, start posting.  Post:  Event Alerts, Promotional Details, Testimonials, Prices and Discounts, Hints & Tips, Links to other helpful information, etc.