Client Gifts August 27, 2009
Posted by Laura in Advertising, Business Services, Company, Marketing, Networking, Virtual Assistants.Tags: Advertising, Business, Business Services, Laura A. Lee, Resource, VAS, VASupports, Virtual Administrative Supports
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When I suggest offering a gift, it doesn’t have to mean something expensive. Choose something that will help the client remember your company. That’s the key for any of these marketing tools, isn’t it? Maybe it’s a calendar with your company information, a datebook, or a magnet. Maybe it’s post-its or a key ring. It could even be a simple as a coupon for a free or discounted service. The thing is you want to get them in your door, so to speak.
Whether it is sending them to your website, signing up for a service, or even registering for your mailing list, get them connected and then you can nurture the relationship into something that profitable for your business. Remember, it takes a prospective client several times to see and hear about you before deciding to make that purchase. So, get out there frequently to ensure they remember you above the competition.
Online Networking July 13, 2009
Posted by Laura in Marketing, Networking, Online.Tags: Advertising, Business, Business Services, Laura A. Lee, Resource, VAS, VASupports, Virtual Administrative Supports
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Getting involved in networking online may seem like a daunting task of immense time wasting. And it can be, if you aren’t careful about where and when you do network. Joining every networking site there is on the internet is not practical for any business, nor are they all appropriate for recruiting the ideal target audience for your service or product.
Consider a site like Facebook. It can be a great way to promote your business, but it can easily turn into something personal instead of business. If you create a profile for your business, keep it that way. Avoid adding ‘friends’ that are just that. Keep it for business contacts and business information. Keep personal data off your profile.
Now look at a site like LinkedIn, which is designed for professionals. It doesn’t ask for your age or marital status. It offers ways to connect with other groups of professionals to promote your business.
So, once you decide which sites to network on, how do you determine the necessary time to devote to produce a positive result for your business? That’s a tough call as it can vary significantly between businesses. One way that I reduce my time in networking is saving a copy of my profiles for when I join a new site. That way, it’s more of a cut and paste than rewrite, which can save a lot of time from duplicating the same information. I also set aside a timeframe each week for networking and stick to that alone. I don’t allow myself to spend time every day, as it can turn into a ever-growing time commitment.
Once I have been networking on a site for a while, I track my time and results to ensure the site is a positive marketing tool for my business. If I have been on a site for quite a while with little or no result, I reduce or eliminate my time on that tool and move on. Finding marketing that works for you may seem a bit like ‘trial and error.’ And that’s ok, that’s what marketing is: finding your target audience and drawing them in to your business.
When it comes to tracking the effectiveness of a marketing tool, I use a simple spreadsheet similar to this:
|
Time |
Value |
Result |
Result Value |
Total Value |
|
|
1/1/09 Join Site |
2 hrs |
($60) |
($60) |
||
|
1/7/09 Updates |
30 min |
($15) |
($15) |
||
|
1/14/09 Updates |
30 min |
($15) |
20 hr/mo 6 mo contract |
$3600 |
$3585 |
|
Results: |
$3510 |
||||
Note: For multiple networking sites, I detail the results of each individual site to ensure all my efforts are effective.
It is critical that you are aware that networking does take time. As mentioned previously, it can take someone 9+ times to hear about your business before he/she makes contact or a purchase. So, it can take several months.
Tracking where your customers are coming from is also critical in helping determine the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Simply asking where they heard of you can make all the difference in understanding what works for your business and what doesn’t.
10 Tips for Direct Networking December 18, 2008
Posted by Laura in Direct Networking, Networking.Tags: 10 Tips, Direct Networking, Elevator Speech, Laura A. Lee, Networking, VAS, VASupports, Virtual Administrative Supports
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Networking allows prospects to know and learn about you and the company. It provides a face for clients who prefer that method. Here are 10 tips for networking:
1. Dress professionally and always take a brief moment to check once you arrive.
2. Make sure you are comfortable, don’t wear those new shoes that will hurt your feet or a shirt that bunches and requires frequent adjustments.
3. TURN YOUR CELL PHONE OFF! Or at least set it on vibrate. Answering a phone presents the appearance that something else is more important.
4. Spend time with those you don’t know! Don’t catch up with old friends or contacts, use this time to meet new and expand your contact list.
5. Share information about your company with those you meet. Have an elevator speech prepared (10-20 seconds) to give a brief overview when the opportunity presents itself. Then let it go. Let them ask for more information, pressuring will only turn them off to your company.
6. Always be well stocked with business cards to hand out anytime you meet someone. Even consider having your personal phone number on the back of some for personal meetings. This gets your business information out there and back to the home or office with them. Also consider a small gift like a pen, but make sure it’s a nice one, not just a stick pen.
7. Be a good listener. People can tell when you are not interested. Always present interested body language and remember to make eye contact.
8. Collect as many business cards as possible. Take notes about each person on the back of their business card and include why you need to make contact.
9. Send a thank you note. It was nice to meet you. After meeting someone, send them a note, just make sure it’s personal and ALWAYS SIGN YOUR OWN NAME! Never type your name on it. Very impersonal!
10. Follow up! Referring to the notes on the back of their business cards, send the information about your company that would best pertain to them.
