Posted by Biz Central USA Marketing Team on May 26, 2009 under Small Biz and Entrepreneurship | 
Traditional means of marketing are not dead; in fact, they are still very much alive and proving to be effective. Tactics such as face-to-face networking and word-of-mouth is proof of this. When deciding on what business networking methods you will use, it is important to first, understand how networking can work for you. Second, research what groups are right for you. Third, make a goal for what you want to accomplish.
Business networking in the form of joining and meeting with trade groups, industry associations, chambers of commerce and similar organizations in person can flat out increase your bottom line. By meeting other professionals in person, on common ground and at a place of mutual interest, you will begin to form relationships among your community. Once you start building relationships and regularity among these groups, members will begin to remember you, your abilities and your expertise. The next time a member needs something in your field; they will remember you and therefore will probably reach out to your small business. In essence, you will form a loyal network of followers who may at some point need your business, refer your business or want to collaborate on a joint goal. Overall, business networking is a great way to reach out to your local community, gain new prospects, learn new methods and in the end increase sales.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to networking and the cost of membership is usually low, but to avoid wasteful spending and time, you must do your research. An easy place to start is to check out your local chamber of commerce. Stop by the city office or attend a meeting to learn a little more about them. By joining the chamber of commerce, you will be able to reach more local businesses and you will have an array of resources available to you. Businesses in the chamber of commerce will vary in industry, sector, demographics and capital, giving you a more versified group to interact with.
Another option is to join an industry related trade group or association. Many trade groups and associations are national, but have local chapters that meet regularly. Trade groups and associations will differ from chambers of commerce in that you will be networking with professionals in your industry, but not necessarily in your sector. The major benefits to becoming a member of a trade group or association is the industry related resources and educational opportunities that will become available to you. Determining what groups, associations, chambers of commerce etc. will require assessing your goals to point you in the right direction.
Defining your goals will help you make the most of your new membership. Is your goal to learn more about the latest industry happenings? Do you want to reach out to your local community? Are you looking to meet other professionals to collaborate with? Whatever your reason to join a group, association, chamber of commerce etc., there should always be a goal involved with it that will directly or indirectly help your business.
Integrating business networking into your marketing initiatives will prove to be a smart decision. You will increase your bottom line by gaining a presence in your community or region, staying educated in industry trends and earning more word-of-mouth recognition among your peers and future consumers.
Posted by Biz Central USA Marketing Team on May 22, 2009 under Small Biz Marketing |
A website is a vital part of any small business, but having a GREAT website will differentiate a small business from a successful small business. A GREAT website can give your company the ability to better interact with your prospects, current clients and interested consumers. By providing fresh content, interactive elements, search engine optimization and simple navigation tactics your company can build and retain a faithful group of reader which will aide in growing your small business!
5 Ways to Add Sparks to your Company′s Website
- Implement a Company Blog-You can post tons of information on you company′s mission, event recaps, promotions and much more.
- E-Commerce- e-commerce is an easy way to let consumers make a puchase at their convenience. You can add products and services in an online store that never closes!
- Newsletter Sign up- Insert a section on your homepage where potential buyers can sign up for your company′s newsletter. People appreciate being updated with news that is of interest to them.
- Live Chat- You can use live chat to interact with people strolling around on your company′s website, answer their questions and potentially make a sale.
- Streaming Video or Podcasts- Add a sales video or an interview with a satisfied customer to your website. These are great tactics when matching a ‘face’ to your company.
Having a great website provides you with the opportunity to add a lot of marketing information about your company, product line, promotions, special events and more. The possibilities are endless and there are always new and exciting methods to improve your website. To gain the respect of your readers, it is important that you stand out as an informative, credible and personable source for your industry. With over a hundred million websites available today, you want your site to shine against the competition.
Posted by Biz Central USA Marketing Team on May 12, 2009 under Small Biz Marketing |
Most startup blogs are small, but with time 
and regular updates your audience can grow. As a small business it is important to start your blog early because this can be one of the most cost effective ways to start marketing your business. As your business grows so will your number of followers and those who become faithful, will appreciate your information and possibly become future consumers. Not sure how to get started, below are a few tips to get you on your way.
- Use other people′s blogs to establish yourself as an expert: Reading and commenting on blogs within your industry niche or close to your niche can help you to establish yourself as an expert. You can offer your own opinions or angles to the entries being posted. When appropriate, you can even offer links to your own blog entries or articles to offer as additional information to the readers. This step is very important because as a new blogger you will learn from others more experienced.
- Use your blog as a form of communication: Use your company blog as a way for your potential customers to know you. A blog is a great way to express yourself and show off your quality. You want your readers to feel like you are talking to them as a friend, without being too personal. You can also use the blog to ask questions to your readers in hopes of a reply or comment on your blog. All of this will help to establish an environment where people know they can receive answers to their problems, as well as read fresh, interesting content.
- Define you topic and stick to it: Now that you have decided to add a company blog to your website decide what your main focus will be a stick to it. For example, if you are in the organic gardening industry stick to topics like; organic gardening 101, dangers of pesticides, USDA regulations etc. Sticking with a niche topic will target the potential consumers that you want. An individual who swears by genetically modified food will be much less likely to become a consumer in the future.
- Stay current and up to date: Old news is bad news for blogs. This is not to say that you cannot post comments or complete a write-up on something that happened a few days ago, but you can′t post something that happened four months ago and expect people to value it. It is important to stay current with issues and news happening in your industry if you want to build a steady following.
- Don′t forget about spelling and grammar: Two benefits of blogging are that they are less formal and you do not need to be a professional writer to have and maintain a blog. Still, spelling and grammar should be a priority. Neglecting to spell check and use proper grammar can affect your credibility no matter what your writing experience is or the industry your blog focuses on.
It′s not necessary to be a professional author or multi-million dollar company to have a blog. All you need is opinions, information and insight in your area of expertise. If you prove to be genuine and knowledgeable your readers will notice and your blog will become one of the most cost effective marketing tools your small business could invest in.
