Twitter for Small Business Tools for Social Marketing
Using Twitter for Small Business to Generate Calls and Loads of
FREE Advertising
By Chris Romero and Thomas R. Reich
Ever Wonder what Small Business Tools are contained within Twitter for small business? How can you mine FREE Advertising out of a Social Media Network and create real tangible Results to add to your Twitter for small business and your Small Business Tools?
Wow have we got an answer for you! What if I told you that a small group of Twitter Followers could get you hundreds of thousands of
Announcing Twitter for Small Business
Advertising impressions every day? It is possible for Twitter for small business to extract new exposure from you existing customer’s followers, while re-enforcing those existing customers loyalty?
Interested, read on and discover how this Twitter for small business Tool, will become your favorite Social
Twitter for small business will be your favorite small business tool!
Media Tool for Business Advertising. I will outline the general program. We will then follow with two examples of companies that have successfully implemented the outline of this tool and adjusted it to their unique business model.
Twitter Fact: If you ask a question or answer a question in Twitter, all your followers see that message. If you receive a question or a response form a follower, all their followers see that message. The presents of a tweet in a follow stream is called an impression, just like a magazine calls the average number of readers that see a copy of an issue its Advertising Impressions, this is Twitter for small business at its finest.
The first example of how this Small Business Tool on Twitter works is a Hair Styling Shop in Orlando Florida;
For years Sun Clips Salon and Spa has used a complicated phone system and a live receptionist to set
Twitter for Small Business can replace constant phone use with lead producing advertising
appointments. This task is static; the customer calls for an appointment, and usually gets through, is put on hold and then given an appointment time. There is no interaction outside of 1 customer and the receptionist.
Now we put Twitter for small business in the mix, Sun Clips asked all of its customers to follow them on Twitter and receive special, Twitter only, Deals. Once the majority of their customers followed them, Sun Clips asked that appointment requests be Tweeted in for a 5% discount.
Twitter fro small business tools can make it easier for customers to connect
When a Tweet was received, Sun Clips Tweets the conformation of the appointment time or the answer to the question back to the client. Sounds like a simple system, and it is, it has streamlined their appointment system, but there is more. Can you think how this Twitter for small business Tool has created FREE Advertising impressions as well?
Each time a customer “Tweets” for an appointment, their entire network knows they get their hair cut at Sun Clips, what a great natural endorsement! When a conformation is sent back, Sun Clip customers know it is busy and time to make an appointment, maybe that a friend is going in Thursday at 11 AM, and they try for a similar time to say hi.
With the 1000+ customers that chose to participate and receive the special Twitter only offers, and in turn their customers average followers at around 300, that is 300,000 Advertising Impressions per month if each customer tweets an average of just once per month!
Example 2: A Specialty Butcher Shop in Trendy Winter Park Florida
Prime Cutz had a problem, the cost of advertising to compete with grocery store chains was prohibitive, and alternatives were not targeted to
Twitter for Small Business Tools can Help a Butcher Shop Connect with its Customers
their clientele. A specialty Butcher shop with one location can’t afford advertising in the cities major newspapers like a Publix or Winn-Dixie could, but they needed constant re-enforcement to keep growing their client base.
Prime Cutz began to ask customers to follow them on Twitter, they offered what every business should offer, an automatic follow back. With Twitter for small business follow backs are important, it makes your customer part of your family, and they appreciate it, your customers want to know you care, always follow back!
Once the followers list began to grow, Prime Cutz began an amazing offer, Tweet us what you want to see in the store and receive a tweeted back 10% off next order discount! They also openly asked their customers to re-tweet this offer to their network of friends.
Prime Cutz additionally uses Twitter for small business by sending Tweets their to followers with special offers each week. As an example: Pork Chops regular $4.00 per pound, while they last $2.50 per pound, tweet your order for conformation guarantee.
1) First of all it gets specials to their growing list of customers with no advertising cost.
Twitter for Small Business Helps Business Succeed
2) It makes the “Twitter Club” a VIP Group with perceived VIP pricing.
3) Every time a customer responds by Tweet, their entire network is notified with the butcher shops name and the fact that a special deal is going on.
4) The free add impressions grow with every sale, sale prices they would have been offering and advertising in the traditional way at very high advertising rates, are now re-tweeted directly to friends and it is all FREE Advertising!
5) As their customers Tweet their meat orders, and their followers receive those Tweets, Prime Cutz is exposed to tens of thousands of potential new followers and customers each time a new sale offer is Tweeted!
Twitter for Small Business Will Flood Your Business with Positive Social Media Marketing
With an average Twitter following for a local retailer of around 9,000 and those Followers having an average Twitter Following of 300 Followers, That is a potential of 2.7 million Advertising impressions possible for each tweeted sale offer! The best part is these potential Advertising Impressions come at no hard costs to Prime Cutz, other than sales and discounts the Butcher Shop would have offered in Traditional Paid Advertising Outlets. This is one of the many was Twitter fro small business can serve you!
How can you add this Twitter fro small business tool to your arsenal? A Restaurant could offer 10% discount if an order is placed by Twitter, Patrick Schwerdtfeger gives a now famous example of a pizza restaurant using this Twitter for small business tool in his best-selling book Marketing Shortcuts for the Self-Employed. An Auto Repair Shop can offer 10% discount on an Oil Change if appointment is placed using Twitter. A Dentist can offer FREE Tooth Brush for Tweets, the ideas never end!
Please send us ideas you may have to implement Twitter for small business tools, let’s keep this discussion going. This is a fun way to create a major buzz in your market with minimal cost! Now is the time, you have the power, let’s grow your market together!
At BizCentralUSA we work with you every step of the way. We offer FREE Tips, Tricks and Advice, have frequent FREE Webinars on a vast array oftopics and are, to coin a phrase, Good Guys. When you find you could use a friend in the business, remember BizCentralUSA has helped over 12,000 businesses like your business, across the United States since 2003. Call one of our Business Consultants for a FREE Business Evaluation. We can save you time and money, 12,000 satisfied customers can attest, BizCentralUSA is your friend in the business!
If you would like more information on the full range of services offered to set up and service Small Businesses please contact BizCentralUSA by visiting www.BizCentralUSA.com or by calling, toll FREE 1.877.857.9002. Please follow us on Twitter and Like us on Face Book to receive free daily tips and tricks as well as notification of our FREE Award Winning Webinar series and extra tips on Twitter for small business!
A record 480,000 new entrepreneurs chose 2011 to set up a small business. Those who made the move to start a company in 2011 along with the rest of the small businesses in the United States accounted for more that ½ of the private sector GDP and 70% of new jobs created in 2011.
With 2012 shaping up to be a much better economy, ask yourself, “is it safe to set up a small business?” Or, “Might it be safer to start a company than to hold an average job in today’s economy?” The answer may surprise you. Statically speaking, if a small start up business lasts 3 years that Startup Company is far more likely to be in business next year than the average American is to be employed in the same job for 3 years.
Don’t get the wrong idea, to set up a small business is not an easy proposition. 35% of those who attempt to set up a small business fail out of the box or within the first 3 years. Let’s look at why; here are the top 5 reasons those who set up a company may fail before they even have a chance to prove their unique business model works:
1) Lack of a Professional Business Plan
2) Poor planning and over spending on their attempt to set up a small business
Top 5 reasons efforts to Set up Small Business may fail
3) Lack of a Marketing Plan
4) Poor or nonexistent Bookkeeping system in place
5) Lack of Graphic, Logo and Web Identity
The pitfalls that kill a startup company can be avoided completely by simply using a professional small
business services company. There are many out there, but BizCentralUSA has helped over 12,000 set up a small business successfully since 2003.
At BizCentralUSA, we believe in delivering tried and true solutions and applying those solutions to well qualified entrepreneurs who wish to set up a small business correctly. Our success rate is far higher than the national average success rate of those wishing to start a company without assistance.
At BizCentralUSA we know how to quickly and efficiently work with you to set up a small business starting with a working business plan. We will have one of our Business Consultants work with the Startup Company to develop proper
Navigate rough waters to Set up a Small Business
bookkeeping system, Marketing Plan and adjust budgeting and Human Resource needs. BizCentralUSA can even offer Web, SEO and Social Media Services, along with the beginning of unique branding, brand management and brand awareness.
Don’t go it alone, it is rough waters out there when you want to start a company. But with a friend in the Business like BizCentralUSA, a friend that has helped over 12,000 clients set up a small business, many just like yours, the playing field is leveled!
Here’s the best part. We are up to 40% less expensive than our prime competition, LLC.com and LeagleZoom.com, because we can be. With BizCentralUSA there is an additional benefit
Set up a Small Business is smooth sailing with BizCentralUSA
BizCentralUSA is proud to help Set up a Small Business with live phone service!
beyond just the lower price, you deal with a live business consultant, and a live staff! We, at BizCentralUSA are available by phone at 877-857-9002, In a world that is ruled by the internet and automated operators, we have trained consultants standing by ready to help you. This is business help with a human touch.
Statistics are on your side, it’s time to set up a small business now! Start a company with a friend in the business like BizCentralUSA, and its smooth sailing in 2012!
If you would like more information on the full range of services offered to Set up a Small Business, please contact BizCentralUSA by visiting www.BizCentrallUSA.com or by calling, toll FREE 1.877.857.9002. Please follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook to receive free daily tips and tricks as well as notification of our FREE Webinar series on the right way to Start a Company!
Search Engine Optimization SEO for Small Business Part 2
We discussed the different advantages of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Small Business in Part 1. Now let’s learn a few tricks that can make this whole process a little more enjoyable. When you know some of the processes involved, the whole concept of how the internet works and SEO for Small Business can become clearer.
Here comes one of those tricks I promised! Go to Google while visiting the Internet through Internet Explorer. Search for your key competitors within the industry you operate (Local, National and International). Go to the home page of one of the web sites of a respected and top rated competitor. On the right side or “Ribbon” of that Web Site Home Page, Right Click your mouse, a menu will appear, highlight and then Left Click on “VIEW SOURCE” about half way down on the pop up menu. You will bring up a new page, you are looking at the actual HTML code of you competitors Web Site, don’t worry it is OK!
After the initial shock of this confusing page, which looks like a page of Algebra or complete gibberish, you will be able to mine data right out of their site, easily! Look for the term <Title> with words In-between followed by the term <Title> those words inside are the actual Keyword optimized title of the Web Site. Next you will see the term; (“Meta Name Description” Content =). What follows that is the Keywords and Keyword Phrases which that Web Site is using to get the ranking it has. Additionally, those words describe to the Search engines what that Web Site is about. These words must relate to that site, or the site will receive “Empty Hits” but we will discuss that later in part 3.
Finally, and most importantly, (<Meta Name = “Keywords” Content =), the words that follow are the Keywords used to get Search Engine Optimization by your direct competitor! Open your word document, the one where you recorded your Keywords and Keyword Phrases, make a section heading of your Competitors Name and copy paste your competitors Keyword list. Repeat this process with at least the top 10 of your competitors Web Sites.
At this point you have a long list of potential Keywords and Keyword Phrases. Which seem to be universal among your competitors? Do you see any that surprise you or spark your interest, which you had not included in your Keyword list?
Now begin making a final list of the “Best” Keywords and Keyword Phrases. What are the right Keywords to use and which are the wrong ones? The Keywords that are used by all your competitors are SEO “Keys” to the industry nitch as a whole, but combining those with Keywords unique to your business or service, may be your key to the top of the Search Engine list for a particular search. It is the Unique groupings of Keywords and Keyword Phrases and using those “Keys” throughout the content and updates of that Web Site, which will give a Web Site its “Rank” Each search made on a search engine has Unique characteristics, you need to optimize for as many of those searches as you can.
Can Search Rank be bought, Yes, is paying for rank the only way to be found, NO! Keyword Strategy and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the first step towards getting found in the modern jungle known as the internet!
Still confused, why re-invent the wheel? There are many fine companies which will help to optimize your company’s Web Site. Perhaps none have the expertise combined with the extremely competitive pricing of BizCentralUSA. Since 2003, BizCentralUSA has helped over 10,000 small businesses and has been on the cutting edge of Web Site optimization and competitive marketing. As part of a complete Marketing Package, BizCentralUSA can not only optimize your keywords and author your Web Site for SEO (Search Engine Optimization), but make your Web Site look and feel like an industry leading Authority at the same time! A Web Site that represents an industry leader like your business with style and class!
It is the Unique groupings of Keywords and Keyword Phrases and using those “Keys” throughout the content and updates of that Web Site, which will give a Web Site its “Rank” Each search made on a search engine has Unique characteristics, you need to optimize for as many of those searches as you can. Can Search Rank be bought, Yes, is paying for rank the only way to be found, NO! Keyword Strategy and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the first step towards getting found in the modern jungle known as the internet! Still confused, why re-event the wheel?
There are many fine companies which will help to optimize your company’s Web Site. Perhaps none have the expertise combined with the extremely competitive pricing of BizCentralUSA. Since 2003, BizCentral USA has helped over 10,000 small businesses and has been on the cutting edge of Web Site optimization and competitive marketing. As part of a complete Marketing Package, BizCentralUSA.com can not only optimize your keywords and author your Web Site for SEO Search Engine Optimization, but make your Web Site look and feel like an industry leading Web Site at the same time! A Web Site that represents an industry leader like your business with style and class! Look for Part 2 of this series, we will finalize your Keyword list and delve into the world of SEO for Small Business Search Engine Optimization and Keyword Placement throughout your Web Site!To learn more about BizCentralUSA and the full range of services we provide small to mid-sized business, visit www.BizCentralUSA.com or call 1.877.857.9002
Need to know about SEO for Business – Keyword Strategy
Blogs? SEO? Researching for Search Engine Optimization for your Business? How does any of this make your business Blog and Web Site better? What does a Keyword and a Search Engine have to do with the creative substance of the article and the message your business wants to get across?
The answer is simple: nothing and everything! SEO for Business – Keyword Strategy or Search Engine Optimization and the use of Keywords, H1 tags and URLs have little or nothing to do with your creative content. However, they are all part of the process and when the article is published in a blog and as part of your website on the broader blogosphere and a potential customer is looking for that information through a search engine, that article, your blog and your web site will never be found without the proficient use of SEO for Business – Keyword Strategy (search Engine Optimization), H1 tags, URLs and the rest of the package so often over looked by small businesses.
To play in today’s Web Arena, you need to learn the tricks and follow the rules. On one hand, your business can now publish an article and have it viewed by millions of people without ever being “Published” in the traditional sense. In the old days, you would need to make the kind of news that interested business journals or industry rags. To do this you would have to smooze the writers, perhaps hire a Public Relations Agent familiar with your target market, maybe place adds in the target publication and hope the article would be “spun” positively in the direction of the message you were trying to convey. Even if all went as planned, even if the article was a great big add for your key product, even if your company name appeared over and over, the readership or “Unique Impressions” may have only been 80,000 and of that, how many unique readers of that publication actually read your specific article? How many would even know that that article with just the information the potential customer needed to know, was there?
Today the rules have changed, but the game is the essentially the same! An innovative company must get an article featuring a unique product or service read by as many “Unique Impressions”, who are actually looking for that product or service, as possible. However, today the Public Relations agent and the hard copy publication salesman is replaced with Search Engines and SEO for
Small Business SEO
Business – Keyword Strategy! If Keywords are used correctly and SEO for Business – Keyword Strategy, Search Engine Optimization, is maximized, that same article can be picked up by thousands of unique on line blogs and publications allowing it to be exposed to millions of “unique Impressions”. It takes work, expertise and investment to do this correctly, but like I said “the rules have changed, but the game is the same”.
We are going to deal with Keywords in part one of this series on SEO. You, as a company must ask “Who is this company?”, “What what does the company really do?” What unique service does this company provide?” SEO for Business – Keyword Strategy or Search Engine Optimization revolves around Keywords and Key phrases. Decide who you are as a business and what your target market is. Who is your target audience and what “Keywords” will “Find” that audience. In future articles we will deal with Keyword Placement, SEO for Business – Keyword Strategy and URL utilization to maximize search engine results. In the final segment we will reveal super secret tricks to take what you’ve learned and truly maximize your exposure!
Finding the ideal Keywords is a process, one your company must master! Let’s have some fun with a Keyword list. First open a Word Document and record every word or phrase that you think fully explains your business, the services or products you provide and that
Small Business SEO
special element that makes you “Unique”.
Keyword = A word or phrase that pinpoints what you are uniquely about. Additional Keywords = a word or phrase that targets your industry or market segment.
Here comes one of those tricks I promised! Go to Google while visiting the Internet through Internet Explorer. Search for your key competitors within the industry you operate (Local, National and International). Go to the home page of one of the web sites of a respected and top rated competitor. On the right side or “Ribbon” of that Web Site Home Page, Right Click your mouse, a menu will appear, highlight and then Left Click on “VIEW SOURCE” about half way down on the pop up menu. You will bring up a new page, you are looking at the actual HTML code of you competitors Web Site, don’t worry it is OK!
Look for Part 2 to find out what you can do to Maximize your Small Business Search Engine Optimization.
Today, The BizCentral USA Team saw an amazing seminar by Patrick Schwerdtfeger on Social Media and the Future of Marketing at the National Entrepreneur Center in Orlando, Florida.
We have decided to radically change our marketiung procedures at BizCentralUSA, CharityNetUSA and CHurchNetUSA as a result. You should check Patrick’s lates book out as well as engage with the National Entrepreneur Center in Orlando, Florida.
Did you know that Orlando is one of the top 10 places to start a small business? The National EC has a lot to do with that. We will be updating you on our new found alliance with Patrick and the NEC in the weeks to come. Until then, enjoy this article that Patrick wrote. The future of marketing is here and keep in touch with us to let you know more about it. Enjoy the read and keep up with us on twitter and facebook. Thanks
“Ever since the 19th century, the prevailing trend in marketing has been an increasing focus on the consumer. Today, the value-first moniker allows potential buyers to actually sample the product before buying, an evolution from the liberal return policies of the 90s.
We’ve all been in Costco and enjoyed little morsels of food before buying anything. And on the internet, this is even more common. Website users are given more free information and resources than ever before, all in the name of building trust and demonstrating expertise, increasing the ODDS of a future sale.
Going forward, the consumer focus will evolve even more. Successful marketers will be those who actually HELP potential buyers become successful themselves. Marketing messages will all target the achievement of the buyers own objectives. Giving your buyers a platform to stand on will be the next wave of marketing methodology.
Of course, the many forums on the internet were among the first iterations of this approach, giving all of us a way to promote ourselves and demonstrate our own expertise. And all the user-driven platforms like MarketWatch and others are another manifestation. Social Bookmarking is yet one more.
These platforms all present the ultimate objectivity because the content is being contributed and validated by the audience, not the host. The applications are fairly novice so far but the integration and aggregation of regular life activities will soon incorporate all areas of our lives.
Decisions we make will be recorded, aggregated and made available to others considering similar decisions. And wherever possible, the results of these decisions will be aggregated as well, giving future decision-makers additional insight when planning their own activities.
There will be three effects of this. First, we will become increasingly aware of the “average person” around us. We will have direct visual access to a true cross-section of the population … and it will remind us all how uneducated most people are. Sad but true. Most people know little or nothing about the major events shaping our time in history.
Secondly, it will widen the division between the “leaders” and the “followers”. The majority of the population will seek approval and validation by following the crowd. And, of course, we will know EXACTLY what the crowd is doing. But there will be a smaller subset of the population that will purposefully go in the other direction and that will feed creativity and innovation.
Third, the acceptance and critical mass stages of a successful new product will accelerate even more as new success stories will be apparent to a wider audience in real time. This will widen the gap between product providers and product consumers and allow the providers of successful products to achieve incredible success quicker. In other words, business owners will have more leverage than ever and the division between the rich and the poor will magnify further.
Tactical Execution provides implementation solutions for businesses that are ready to take action. There is a ton of great information available on the website and I hope you take advantage of those resources.
You may want to start a home based business and you need to decide whether or not you should operate your business from a home office or if your small business will require a more traditional office setting. Below you will see 5 reasons to operate your business from home if your specific business allows for home-based operations.
Start-Up Costs:
When evaluating your home based business or small business’ start-up expenses you will find that starting a small business and operating your business from home will usually have fewer start-up expenses. When starting a traditional office-based business you may have start-up expenses associated with 1st and last month rent, security deposits, establishing utilities, furnishing the office with desks, computers, ECT. By operating your small business from home you may be able to significantly reduce these costs or eliminate them altogether.
Hours of Operation:
While many traditional offices hours are restricted to 9 to 5, Monday to Friday, home-based businesses can be open 24 hours a day 7 days a week. With an online business designed to process payment and outsource orders to a warehouse or distributer, people from around the world can purchase your products or services on your small business website while you are working, when you’re not working, while you are sleeping, even when you are sick or on vacation.
Customer Base:
Many brick and mortar business’ customers are restricted to locals or people willing to travel to the business’s location. When you operate a home-based business, especially an online business, it allows you to have a customer base worldwide.
Start Slow:
One great benefit of starting a small business from home is the fact that you don’t have to jump in with both feet right away. You can start slow by operating your business in your spare time, while remaining employed with your current employer. You should be sure that operating your small business does not violate any noncompeting clauses that you may have signed with your current employer. You can speak to your employer or legal council before starting a business to determine if starting your new home-based business will violate a noncompeting clause that you have signed.
Resources:
It today’s environment of information at the click of a button, there is vast amount of home-based small business resources easily accessible to business owners. Much of this information is available for free or at minimal cost online. You can find tutorials, forums, blogs, courses, eBooks, and other forms of information to help your small home-based business start and grow to become successful. One great place to start is BizCentralUSA.com, with its vast business resources and frequent free webinars.
With all of the benefits of starting a small business and operating it from home, unless your small business industry is unsuitable for home based business operations, you should definitely take operating from home into consideration when deciding to start a small business. As your business grows and you accounting and marketing complications mount, you can hire a staff, with a web/IT specialist, marketing specialist, book keeper, HR manager and graphics/advertising dept, or look into much less expensive solutions like those at BizCentralUSA, which enable you to stay home and do what you do best as inexpensively as possible. Even if you decide to operate your small business from a traditional office I would still recommend that you check out the services of a company like BizCentralUSA. Additionally they can help you build and develop a small home based business website and web presence where you can take orders and process payments so that your small business is not restricted to local customers and your hours of operation.
Its Tax season approaching and all eyes turn to your corporate bottom line! You need a way to save some of those excessive Corporate Taxes, and do some good for the community at the same time.
We have the answer; Start a Corporate Foundation! All of the fortune 500 companies have one and now Corporations big and small can have this long coveted institution within their own corporate structure.
Thanks to BizCentralUSA, and the incredibly affordable pricing plans we offer, there is now a place where all the filings for 501c3, the structure of the corporate foundation, even the business plan can be developed for you by experts that cut costs to the bone, and maximize your savings and brand enhancement with minimal hassle and cost to you!
Company founder, Efrain Rodriguez, who was originally with Procter and Gamble himself, related a story of P&G success with a Company Foundation:
“P&G wanted to give back to the community and get a marketing edge at the same time; they had funds but wanted to think outside the box on advertising and marketing in the conventional sense. They formed and funded a Company Foundation called (Loads of Hope). The money funded to the foundation was tax deductable, yet the foundation was to be used for community relations. The Foundation purchased trucks outfitted with washers and driers, complete self contained generators for remote operation. They tagged the trucks with “Loads of Hope” and fully covered the rigs with their brand “Tide” gives back to the community. The trucks were sent out to disaster areas, starting with Hurricane Andrew. The expenses were covered by the Foundation, but the public relations generated were far in excess of the costs which were fully tax deductable. In addition, since the “Loads of Hope” was given 501 C 3 statuses, another specialty of BizCentralUSA, P&G were able to take donations from interested donors impressed with the philanthropy of P&G adding to the good they could do in storm ravaged communities and, of course, their brand exposure and good will,”
Beginning to see possible advantages for almost any corporate entity, with a community spirit and an honest desire to save on tax bills? BizCentralUSA saw a need in the market for this unique product, there is the need, the solutions are competitively priced, the tax savings are significant, and the advantages to both the community and brand identity, far outweigh the time involved in setting up a Company Foundation. Furthermore, BizCentralUSA has made it all as simple as a phone call to find out how easy it will be to say, “Yes we have a Corporate Foundation.”
To learn more about BizCentral USA and the full range of services we provide small to mid size businesses, visit www.BizCentralUSA.com or call 1.877.857.9002.
How the Right Small Business Marketing Ideas Can Help Customers Find You
- Small Business Marketing Methods to Attract Customers!
Website, e-mail blasts, business cards, print ads; all of these methods of small business marketing can be confusing and unknown territory for a any business owner whose focus is keeping the business running. One of the oldest and more cost-effective forms of small business marketing is and will continue to be word-of-mouth. If your business can get new business by referrals then you have the best marketing team already acting on your behalf: your current customers. If your business is not getting new business, give your current customers an incentive to promote your services or products. Referral programs are easy to start and don’t cost very much to maintain. If your small business marketing ideas aren’t getting new customers, you might want to give your current marketing strategies a tune-up.
If you are looking for different creative ways to market your company without running up your marketing tab, here are some examples to get you started:
Print Material (business cards, logos, brochures) Small business owners have relied on this relatively inexpensive method of conveying marketing information: cards, brochures, and circulars. Keep in mind when purchasing these items that you want your business card to stand out from your competitor’s business card. You want people to remember who you are because of a catchy name or a printed material that really catches their attention. Small Business Marketing Ideas stem from fun and common sense. Identify the need in your clients and explain how you intend to fill it. Samples and free offerings – When considering this method of marketing, the question you need to keep in mind is, “Can my business truly afford to offer something for free?” Giving away services or products that you make is usually an inexpensive small business marketing strategy that will leave customers appreciating the value of your products. Customers never get tired of these special offers and great treatment. On the other hand, if you say that the goods or services are “free” or “without charge,” be certain there are no unstated terms or conditions that qualify the offer. Coupons and Discounts – Making coupons available on your small business website will always attract potential customers to your site. By drawing them into your website, they may simply purchase the service or product because the coupon exists. This strategy of “pulling” customers in also gives them an opportunity to check other services they may be interested in. Consider using a coupon mailing service to send coupons to homeowners in specific neighborhoods in your local area. Public relations – To get your business in the news, send a press release you draft yourself to every newspaper in the area. The trick is to give the reporter an angle that makes the story interesting to readers; examples would be such events as a grand opening, a contest, a new product line, a new service launch or charitable activities your business is sponsoring. Signs – Don’t forget about “signage.” Signs work best if they’re bold, edgy, professionally done, and consistent with your business values. Many small business marketers are so hungry for sales that they forget the common sense behind their design. Always set yourself apart from the competition. Always keep in mind that any small business signs must be well-lit so the viewer sees and “gets” your message quickly. Signs don’t have to be in stationary locations. Examples would be items such as T-shirts, shopping bags, and bumper stickers. These items are creative forms of signs and can do a great job of advertising your goods to new potential customers. Another great sign that is often times overlooked is your vehicle; you can get a magnetic sign for your car door with your business name, logo, and slogan or some art. Also, be sure to include all of your social media and business website in your email signatures, stationary and landing pages.
Have any other small business marketing suggestions to offer to the community? Share them in the comments box below!
As the new year is upon us, many people are making New Year’s Resolutions. One of the most popular Resolutions is to find a better job, or to start your own business. One of the difficulties with this resolution is that most don’t know where to begin.
When starting your own business, it’s important to take stock of the skills that you have. What are the things you do best? What are the experiences you’ve had? How can you capitalize on your experience and skills?
One of the faster growing fields out there is consulting. Consulting offers a lot of flexibility to those who enter this market. Many consultants work out of the comfort of their own home. They set their own hours. They work with the clients they want to work with. They also get to focus on their strengths, and minimize their weaknesses.
A recent report suggests that approximately 70% of home-based businesses will last over a three-year period, compared to 29% of other business ventures. Why is this? Primarily because home based businesses can control costs much easier than other businesses that have to buy or rent office space, pay utilities, buy new equipment and furniture, etc.
There are several ways to get started in the consulting field, let’s look at two of them.
First, you can start your own company. This allows you complete control over branding, product offering, and pricing. It can also give you a great sense of fulfillment in building something from the ground up. However, there are some downsides. The costs associated with developing your own website, advertising, and so on can be high. You also have the headache of going out and trying to build a client base with little to no name recognition. You also will be completing any and all paperwork yourself, which can be time consuming and take away from some of the other things you might do best.
The other popular option is to become an affiliate of a national consulting firm. These are firms who work with clients nationwide, and already have an established presence. You get the opportunity to still work from home, and set your own hours. Some even give you the option of having leeway in the pricing. You also get the benefit from their advertising and their infrastructure. They are able to be the production staff for you and your clients. One of the cons to this arrangement are you may or may not be limited to the product offering that they have. For many of these programs, it might be slower to earn the income that you really desire to earn as well.
So, what to do? First, begin by researching all that’s involved in starting your own business in your particular area. Second, evaluate your current economic situation and decide which way would be best for you personally. There is no cookie-cutter process for deciding which is best for you. You’ll next want to research through the variety of affiliate programs, or consultant program, available to you. When researching, some important questions to ask are:
- Does the company have a track record of success?
- Will they support me through and through?
- What kind of tools do they give me to help me be successful?
- Are they available for support?
- What kind of fees are involved?
- Will they take good care of my clients?
There may be more questions that are important to you that you want to ask as well. The most important thing is that you are comfortable with your choice. It’s a big decision, and not one that should be made lightly.
Across the nation, 5.7% of all adult women are entrepreneurs. Approximately 64% of women, with personal net worth of at least $5 million, created their wealth through professional careers. That’s good news for today’s up-and-coming female entrepreneurs looking to open their own business.
The number of women owned businesses continues to grow at twice the rate of all U.S. firms (23% vs. 9%). There are an estimated 10 million women-owned, privately-held U.S. businesses. Sectors where women owned businesses are making exceptional strides over the past 10 years include Wholesale trade 283.4% growth, Health Care & Social Assistance Services 130.0% growth, Arts, Entertainment & Recreation Services 116.8% growth, and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services 82.7% growth. According to the Center for Women’s Business Research, women employ 12.8 million workers, or one in every seven employees.
Women start a business for both lifestyle and financial reasons. Many female business owners run businesses from home to keep overhead low. Women, like their male counterparts, understand the value of flexibility, empowerment, and challenge inherent in owning and operating a small business. Increasingly, employers will compete with this option for talented female employees, as women grow even more confident in being their own boss.
Male and female priorities for businesses are often unique. A recent study found that 79% of women business owners are concerned when selling their business about the buyer’s plans for the business compared to 52% of men. Women are also more concerned with passing on their businesses to their daughters than their male counterparts (30% vs. 11%) are. Women who start a business are less likely to have a college degree in their specific industry, or first-profession degree, than are male entrepreneurs. They are also less likely to get a job in a Ph.D.-related field. Women are also more likely than their male counterparts to take advice, an important skill needed as a new small business owner.
The majority of women business owners in nontraditional industries (85%) believe there is no disadvantage to being a woman or that it is actually beneficial. This is particularly true when setting up an official woman owned business that applies for government contracts.
Federal law requires that certified WBE women owned businesses receive at least 5% of all Federal contracts, yet less than 3.2% of all contracts are awarded to women. While some people might find this statistic discouraging, in the eyes of this author that shows there is 1.4% or over $6 Billion in untapped moneys targeted at women business owners who are ready and able to meet the governments needs. This is particularly true in four consistently female under-represented businesses: Cabinet Making, Coating and Engraving, National Security and International Affairs, and Other Motor Vehicle Dealers (i.e. all terrain vehicles). While there is much to gain from obtaining WBE certification it is not a process to enter into lightly and may be in the best interest of the firm to seek assistance from a professional to further understand qualifications and requirements.
Some difficulties for businesses are constant regardless of gender. The greatest challenge for women-owned firms is access to capital, credit, and equity. Over two-thirds of women owned businesses reported barriers to working with banks. About 76% of women owned businesses financed their start-up with personal capital. Women are three times more likely to utilize credit cards for short-term financing than their male counterparts are. Only 60% of female business owners turn to banks for long-term capital financing at all, leaving a large 40% market of untapped resources for banks.
While bank financing can prove difficult for women, things are not as gloomy as they appear at first glance. Over half of all women business owners (57%) have a line of credit for their business and 41% have a commercial bank loan. Many women business owners are better at establishing sustainable growth because they rely on using business earnings or private sources for both short-term and long-term capital needs keeping them out of unneeded debt.
Having bank financing or a line of credit is important for all business owners regardless of gender and a business plan in the fundamental first step to begin applying for bank capital. Women like their male counterparts, are taking the steps they need to achieve proper capital and financing through banks and avoiding the higher interest rates offered by credit cards.
In conclusion, whether a woman or male entrepreneur, the tasks and obstacles they will face in many cases will be similar, it is how they overcome these hurdles that will define the success of their business. If you start a business, no matter the type, it will always be critical to do the heavy-lifting of research and business plan development.
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