For many people, the idea of social media is intimidating.  However, there is no way to get away from the fact that almost everyone who is old enough, even some who aren’t, have a Facebook page.  The idea of everyone knowing intimate details about you may turn you off, but this shouldn’t stop you from having a page for your business.

You can set the page up initially with your information, then turn it into a business page. Facebook allows you to post your hours, location and a continuous stream of information about your business.   You can post fun photos of satisfied customers or events you’ve had so all can see.  If you have a restaurant or you perform a service, you can post pictures of satisfied customers or your business in use.

The other great thing is that people can like your business and get updates, such as specials or sales.  In short, it is a great marketing tool that can send people to your website for more information.  If you’re not saavy with social media, by all means get professional help to set it up initially.  It is not difficult to keep posts going, but if writing is not your forte, or you are just plain busy, get someone to do it for you.  It is important to keep up the activity.  Hope to see you on Facebook, and by the way, like my page and become a fan.  Thanks.

I just attended a seminar and wanted to pass along a few tips for marketing in the current environment.

1. Don’t forget your current clients.  Keep in contact with them on a regular basis.  Did you know that you should be in contact at least 12 times a year.  Successful people are in contact up to 60 times a year.  This not necessarily by phone, it can also be e-mail, mail etc.

2.  If you are doing a good job for your clients, don’t be afraid to ask for the referral.  If you want to ask them to refer their friends or colleagues, consider holding a lunch or other client appreciation event and asking them to invite thier friends, or ask whether you may invite them.

3. Post your name, in addition to your company name on your website.  Post it there more than once.  If you think about it, people most often refer you by your name, not the company.

Hope these tips help you have a successful month.

I can’t believe it’s February already.  We are going into the second week of February and I don’t know where January went.  We’ve had a tough winter and unless your business is snow removal or snow shovels, you’ve probably been impacted in a negative manner.

However, it’s not the time to whine.  Your customers probably feel cabin fever as well and are ready to get out and do business.  Take advantage of this!  Give them a call to see how they are and invite them over to see your latest offering.   You can make it fun by having a Super bowl, Mardi Gras or summer theme in your office with goodies to go with it.  Make it fun.  Between the weather and economy, everyone can use a little lightening up.

If you are looking for new prospects, consider inviting them to an event at your place of business – a getting to know you type of function.  You can send a mailing, invite or evite.  Make it fun, but appropriate to showcase your products.  Having an inexpensive drawing can also bring people out.

Also, many malls are having shows.  Consider getting a table and meeting prospects that way.   I recommend having edible goodies or promotional products when you do this.  People are generally in a rush so need a reason to see you.  Have your elevator speech prepared and be able to offer a brochure that explains your business in a clear concise manner.  And Always make appointments with the truly interested people right away.

Planning something fun will get you excited and help your customers get out of the winter blues.  Many people have a months worth of activity to make up.  These types of activities will help jump start your sales.

It’s that time of year again where we have shopping to do, holiday functions to attend, and we still have work to do.  Too often people take a mental time out at the end of the year and don’t work towards a strong finish.  I’m not saying it’s easy to stay focused.  It’s more fun to enjoy holiday cheer and indulge in fresh baked cookies.

The secret is to allow yourself time for fun, but devote extra time to promoting your business and contacting your clients.  People still want to buy, and not just toys.  How can you have both?

• Plan visits to clients bringing cookies or other goodies.  It reinforces good feelings, plus allows you to socialize.  No one will throw out someone bearing goodies this time of year.
• Post interesting materials on your web page.  Maybe something fun like holiday trivia.   Let people know you’ve got a fun side too.  Make you you promote your products and services as well.  Just let people enjoy doing business with you.
• Get an automated store front for your website.  Let your site do the work while you’re out having fun.
• Coordinate schedules so that all of your staff get to have good time off.  By good I mean time that is important to them.  Maybe they are planning a big party and need time to shop.  Maybe they celebrate their holiday on Christmas Eve.   Maybe they love to go out for New Year’s Eve.  You get the idea.  Happy staff mean happy customers.
• Work extra hard a few days to make up for planned days off.  Set up a schedule for when you get back or set up a monster schedule for those few days.  So – you’ll be tired – but you are planning time off – right?

You get the idea I’m sure.  With the internet, landing pages, key word searches, etc. there is no reason not to be productive.  Have a wonderful holiday!

When you have your website, you need to start doing things to make it interesting, such as the layout and colors.  Next you should have photos, hopefully of satisfied customers, but samples of your products work too.  Most adults are visual learners, liking to see the products and what they do.  Today you can record a customer testimonial, put it on You Tube and link it to your site!

After the visuals are taken care of, it’s time to set yourself up as an expert in your field.  Or, if not an expert, at least someone who has interesting things to say.  If you don’t have that, there are ways to get around this as well.   What I’m talking about is creating a blog for your business.  Talk to your webmaster and ask how you can get started on your site.  You can also start blogging on numerous sites out there for this purpose.  The reason that you should is, first, you help the rank of your web-page, second, you increase the visibility of your business.

If you stink at writing, there are ways around it using other people’s blogs, or maybe hiring someone to do them for you.  Definitely investigate this great way of letting people know what you do, or even what you think.  Other ways to go about this are to read other blogs and comment on the ones that interest you.  You can request a link back to your site, which will help your site rank higher.

There’s an art to increasing your web page ranking and I encourage you to investigate SEO (Search Engine Optimization).  What it does is take all of your marking efforts and super sizes them.  You’ll be amazed at the response you’ll get.  If you start hearing “blah blah blah” when you hear SEO, get an experienced person involved to help you navigate through this form of Marketing.  Contact IOPrint for more information 732-349-9499.