If you find an article in a trade journal or magazine that you know a client would be interested in take the time to clip it out and send it to them. It could be something that is directly related to their business; a hobby they have a passion for; an article that relates to something of a personal nature (if you know them that well); or just about anything that let's them know you are thinking of their best interest.
This is the "Street Smarts" way to build great working relationships.
Kathleen Gage
www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Friday, November 18, 2005
Know Your Market's Motivating Factor
If you want to know the buying habits of consumers visit the VALS website. http://www.sric-bi.com/VALS/
VALS™ is a marketing and consulting tool that helps businesses worldwide develop and execute more effective strategies. The system identifies current and future opportunities by segmenting the consumer marketplace on the basis of the personality traits that drive consumer behavior. VALS applies in all phases of the marketing process, from new-product development and entry-stage targeting to communications strategy and advertising.
In order to sell effectively, you must know what motivates your buyer. Take the time to understand your market. It will be well worth the effort.
About Kathleen
Kathleen Gage is a business advisor specializing in marketing and promotions for small and home based businesses. She is a keynote speaker and the author of -101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door - and - 101 No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Market and Promote a Product, Service or Business. To access her FREE report, Learn How One Salt Lake City Consultant made Over $100,000 from One Idea, visit www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
VALS™ is a marketing and consulting tool that helps businesses worldwide develop and execute more effective strategies. The system identifies current and future opportunities by segmenting the consumer marketplace on the basis of the personality traits that drive consumer behavior. VALS applies in all phases of the marketing process, from new-product development and entry-stage targeting to communications strategy and advertising.
In order to sell effectively, you must know what motivates your buyer. Take the time to understand your market. It will be well worth the effort.
About Kathleen
Kathleen Gage is a business advisor specializing in marketing and promotions for small and home based businesses. She is a keynote speaker and the author of -101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door - and - 101 No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Market and Promote a Product, Service or Business. To access her FREE report, Learn How One Salt Lake City Consultant made Over $100,000 from One Idea, visit www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Just added a new description to my website
Kathleen Gage is The “Street Smarts” Speaker
The “Street Smarts” Speaker who teaches people to use their instinct, wit, creativity, and drive to achieve success, market penetration, sales performance and their fullest potential.
The “Street Smarts” Speaker who teaches people to use their instinct, wit, creativity, and drive to achieve success, market penetration, sales performance and their fullest potential.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
A few changes on my website - www.kathleengage.com
I made some changes on my website. You can now access articles directly from my site.
www.kathleengage.com
Kathleen Gage
www.kathleengage.com
Kathleen Gage
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Top Performers Can Teach Others How to Get Their Foot in the Door
When asked, most people in an organization can easily name top performers. Think about it! Who are the top performers in your organization, association, church group, or club? Are you one of them?
If you are, chances are you are more than willing to share your strategies of how you became a top performer. However, chances are, not many people ask. For some reason they seem to think it’s not okay to ask.
If you’re not a top performer, when is the last time you talked to one to find out what makes them tick? What is it that has taken them to the top? What are their beliefs, thoughts, actions, habits?
Success does not happen by luck, it happens by choice. Regardless of one’s title, position, industry or organization, success leaves clues. There are strategies, steps and risks that are involved.
If you are seeking ways to get to the next level of your success find those who are there and find out what their strategy is. There is a very good chance that if you are really willing to listen and apply what they say, you too will achieve “top performer” status.
About the author
Kathleen Gage is a business advisor specializing in marketing and promotions for small and home based businesses. She is a keynote speaker and the author of -101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door - and - 101 No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Market and Promote a Product, Service or Business. To access her FREE report, Learn How One Salt Lake City Consultant made Over $100,000 from One Idea, visit www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
If you are, chances are you are more than willing to share your strategies of how you became a top performer. However, chances are, not many people ask. For some reason they seem to think it’s not okay to ask.
If you’re not a top performer, when is the last time you talked to one to find out what makes them tick? What is it that has taken them to the top? What are their beliefs, thoughts, actions, habits?
Success does not happen by luck, it happens by choice. Regardless of one’s title, position, industry or organization, success leaves clues. There are strategies, steps and risks that are involved.
If you are seeking ways to get to the next level of your success find those who are there and find out what their strategy is. There is a very good chance that if you are really willing to listen and apply what they say, you too will achieve “top performer” status.
About the author
Kathleen Gage is a business advisor specializing in marketing and promotions for small and home based businesses. She is a keynote speaker and the author of -101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door - and - 101 No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Market and Promote a Product, Service or Business. To access her FREE report, Learn How One Salt Lake City Consultant made Over $100,000 from One Idea, visit www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Keep the process going
Generating business is an ongoing process, not a one time experience. Seek multiple ways to keep your name in front of your market. Do this on a regular basis. Essential to your marketing success are your follow-up procedures.
Kathleen Gage
Street Smarts Marketing
www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Kathleen Gage
Street Smarts Marketing
www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Guarantees build trust
When selling a product or service be willing to offer a guarantee. This indicates to the consumer you believe in what you are selling.
Kathleen Gage
Street Smarts Marketing
www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Kathleen Gage
Street Smarts Marketing
www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Gain Free Publicity Through Press Releases
One of the greatest ways to promote your product or service is with publicity. Many people have little, if any, understanding of how to go about securing publicity, never mind free publicity. Fact is, people will pay more attention to free publicity than they often do to paid advertising.
A simple way to gain free publicity is to write and distribute a well-written and well-formatted press release. A good press release is one of the most effective, and yet, most underutilized, of publicity tools. Simply put, a press release is an announcement you send to magazines, trade journals, newspapers, and newsletters. Also to radio and television. Often what you send to radio and television are referred to as PSA’s (Public Service Announcements).
I have one client who hosted an event and submitted one well-written and well-distributed press releases to the media. When the release made it in print, they went from having a 50% booking for their event through some direct mail efforts to filling up the entire room in less than 48 hours. This was worth a substantial amount of money to them.
Necessary steps
Prior to writing a press release, determine the following:
Who is your target market?
What is your target media?
Who is the contact person at the media outlet?
What is the timeframe for submission?
Do you have an attention-grabbing headline?
Do you know the who, what, when, where, why, how?
Do you have good quotes, research and technical date if appropriate?
Develop a system for writing and distribution of releases. Stay organized. Know how to send the press release to a specific media outlet and person. Each has their own preference as to how they want to receive it. It will be to your benefit to find out. A quick phone call will often provide you with this key information.
Editors are inundated with information. If you want their attention keep the release short and to the point. During busy times, like before a huge event in a city, they will be in information overload.
Don’t use massive amounts of buzzwords such as “its all-new, interactive, interoperable, cross-platform, new multimedia solution.” Avoid jargon. The general public will have no idea what your industry jargon means and editors rarely will take time to find out.
Give them the who/what/when/where/why as articulately as you can. Make your information is complete. Incomplete information is far more likely to get your press release in the trash bin than anything else.
The 5 Ws of writing a press release or PSA.
Who should attend? Who will be there?
What is taking place? What will come from this event? Is it a fundraiser?
When is it happening?
Where will this occur?
Why would people be interested in the information? Why would they attend the event?
Sending press releases
Many journalists prefer that you send press releases via e-mail. You will find some die-hard snail mail folks, and a few who like faxes. If you're about to start working with a new journalist, and you're not sure how they prefer to receive their press information, ask. Once they tell you how they prefer the information, honor that request.
E-mail should be sent as a plain text file: the simpler, the better. Do not send a press release via email with an attachment. Most media people will automatically delete due to the concern of a virus. Do not send your email out via a mass email. Actually, if you use a good contact management database, you can send it by mass email and it appears as if each is a personalized email. Don't send a press release to your entire press list, with the entire recipient list visible.
When an editor calls for more information, respond to their call as quickly and professionally as possible. There is not substitute for building good relationships with the media. Don’t ever think you are too busy for them.
By making yourself available for the media, they tend to make themselves available for you. And what more could you possibly ask for?
About the author
Kathleen Gage is a business advisor specializing in marketing and promotions for small and home based businesses. She is a keynote speaker and the author of -101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door - and - 101 No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Market and Promote a Product, Service or Business. To access her FREE report, Learn How One Salt Lake City Consultant made Over $100,000 from One Idea, visit www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
A simple way to gain free publicity is to write and distribute a well-written and well-formatted press release. A good press release is one of the most effective, and yet, most underutilized, of publicity tools. Simply put, a press release is an announcement you send to magazines, trade journals, newspapers, and newsletters. Also to radio and television. Often what you send to radio and television are referred to as PSA’s (Public Service Announcements).
I have one client who hosted an event and submitted one well-written and well-distributed press releases to the media. When the release made it in print, they went from having a 50% booking for their event through some direct mail efforts to filling up the entire room in less than 48 hours. This was worth a substantial amount of money to them.
Necessary steps
Prior to writing a press release, determine the following:
Who is your target market?
What is your target media?
Who is the contact person at the media outlet?
What is the timeframe for submission?
Do you have an attention-grabbing headline?
Do you know the who, what, when, where, why, how?
Do you have good quotes, research and technical date if appropriate?
Develop a system for writing and distribution of releases. Stay organized. Know how to send the press release to a specific media outlet and person. Each has their own preference as to how they want to receive it. It will be to your benefit to find out. A quick phone call will often provide you with this key information.
Editors are inundated with information. If you want their attention keep the release short and to the point. During busy times, like before a huge event in a city, they will be in information overload.
Don’t use massive amounts of buzzwords such as “its all-new, interactive, interoperable, cross-platform, new multimedia solution.” Avoid jargon. The general public will have no idea what your industry jargon means and editors rarely will take time to find out.
Give them the who/what/when/where/why as articulately as you can. Make your information is complete. Incomplete information is far more likely to get your press release in the trash bin than anything else.
The 5 Ws of writing a press release or PSA.
Who should attend? Who will be there?
What is taking place? What will come from this event? Is it a fundraiser?
When is it happening?
Where will this occur?
Why would people be interested in the information? Why would they attend the event?
Sending press releases
Many journalists prefer that you send press releases via e-mail. You will find some die-hard snail mail folks, and a few who like faxes. If you're about to start working with a new journalist, and you're not sure how they prefer to receive their press information, ask. Once they tell you how they prefer the information, honor that request.
E-mail should be sent as a plain text file: the simpler, the better. Do not send a press release via email with an attachment. Most media people will automatically delete due to the concern of a virus. Do not send your email out via a mass email. Actually, if you use a good contact management database, you can send it by mass email and it appears as if each is a personalized email. Don't send a press release to your entire press list, with the entire recipient list visible.
When an editor calls for more information, respond to their call as quickly and professionally as possible. There is not substitute for building good relationships with the media. Don’t ever think you are too busy for them.
By making yourself available for the media, they tend to make themselves available for you. And what more could you possibly ask for?
About the author
Kathleen Gage is a business advisor specializing in marketing and promotions for small and home based businesses. She is a keynote speaker and the author of -101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door - and - 101 No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Market and Promote a Product, Service or Business. To access her FREE report, Learn How One Salt Lake City Consultant made Over $100,000 from One Idea, visit www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
7 No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Market Your Business
Marketing a business can be fun, exciting and creative. It can also be very frustrating and expensive if one doesn’t know what outcome they are looking for or how to evaluate cost effective methods of marketing.
Over the years people have come to know me for my unique ability to develop low cost and no cost strategies to market and promote a business, product or service. Strategies that have realized incredible returns.
Some of my successes have included:
- Before my last book was published I pre-sold over $8,000 in books
- Over 250 people registered for a recent seminar in less than 2 weeks and the cost to promote was under $25
- One company used my strategies for a career expo and made over $180,000 in consulting fees
- One speaker sold over $23,000 in product sales back of the room at a two hour seminar with strategies outlined in my program
I don’t share this to impress anyone, rather to impress upon you when using the right strategies for your market, you can realize some incredible results.
People have also come to know me as someone who is a stickler when it comes to putting systems in place. My marketing successes are a direct result of the systems I have implemented.
With a bit of forethought, planning and desire, you can successfully market your business in a very effective manner. Below are seven proven strategies sure to increase visibility, leads and sales.
1. Business Cards
Business cards are often one of the most underutilized tools in one’s marketing.
Use the front and back of your business card to gain full benefit. Depending on your market you can put some very valuable information on the back such as a sports schedule, emergency numbers, or special dates people want to remember.
Keep some in your wallet, your automobile, on your desk, and some at home. Be sure to carry them with you wherever you go and be willing to hand them out as opportunity presents itself.
Creatively distribute your card. When you eat out you can leave one with the tip.
If you borrow a library book, use one as a book mark. Hand them to clerks in stores who may know other people who could use your product or service.
When someone gives you their business card be sure to enter their information in your database. Send them a short note or email within 48 hours of meeting them to keep your name fresh in their mind.
2. Send a picture
A great way to keep your name fresh in a customer’s mind is to send them a picture of when they purchased a product or service from you.
Put a picture of a buyer’s auto purchase in a beautiful calendar. Likely, the proud owner of the vehicle will display the calendar for the next 365 days.
For specialty gift shops, when a customer makes a substantial purchase, have a picture taken with the shop owner. Frame the picture and send it to the customer.
Chances are very good the picture will be displayed proudly for friends and family to see.
A dentist who specializes in smile makeovers can easily arrange to have a professional makeup artist and photographer capture the patient’s beautiful new smile. No doubt the patient will be more than happy to show others their new look.
3. Associations
Associations particular to your market are a great resource for marketing. There are associations specific to virtually any industry, job type or business. A quick web search will likely show you how much is available.
A major opportunity within many organizations is the chance to network. Additionally, to make presentations. Along with presentations come publications.
Often, when you do a presentation, you will get a mention in the association newsletter, their Ezine and/or on their website.
In many cases, when an organization has a newsletter or Ezine, they welcome the presenter writing a press announcement for them. It saves them time and often assures you have a better chance of the information making it into the publication.
They may also welcome you writing an article for their publication or website.
This lends itself to pre-presentation visibility. Additionally, you will position yourself as an expert and increase credibility.
Most organizations have the following opportunities that can help you to gain visibility and do some very effective marketing:
-Newsletters
-Internet listings
-Links to you website
-Discounted advertising rates
-Networking opportunities
-Business referral services
-Special recognition events
-Education seminars
-Business and membership directories
In many cases you will need to be a member of the association to take advantage of the multiple marketing opportunities. In other cases membership is not necessary.
4. Committee Involvement
Committee involvement is a great way to give back to the association or community while building visibility for you and your business. In some cases, you may even want to get involved in a committee where you have little experience or knowledge. This will give you an opportunity to stretch yourself and meet and network with individuals you may not have otherwise had the chance to meet.
5. Contests and drawings
Contests are a favorite for many businesses such as restaurants or those that have high foot traffic. Contests are a great way to build your database quickly.
You are generating very hot leads when you have a contest with people who have already frequented your place of business. The key though is to do back -end marketing. Far too many businesses hold contests, get lots of names and do nothing with them. In this case, it is a complete waste of time to hold a contest.
You can advertise a contest to gain new foot traffic in your place of business.
Trade show booths are a great place to hold a contest. Pre-show marketing helps to generate traffic at your booth. Invite people to stop by booth # _____ (whatever your booth is) to enter to win. Creative contests can also generate free publicity.
6. Cross-promoting
Join with other companies who have products or services that compliment yours and promote each other. Let’s say you have a massage business. You could partner with a candle company to sell their candles to your massage clients. They can give out coupons for your massage business. Or the candle company can partner with a gift basket company. Cross-promoting is only limited by your imagination.
This can considerably cut down the cost of business promotion and allow each business to use promotion techniques that might be too expensive to implement alone.
7. Bonuses
Secure special offers from various businesses who want to share a similar market as you. When a customer buys a minimum amount they receive a bonus packet with the various offers from the other vendors. This is a win/win all the way around. The other vendors gain visibility, you have something extra to offer you customers and the customers get incredible value for their purchase.
Be aware of who you cross-promote and joint venture with. You want someone who will be equally committed to a campaign.
About the author
Kathleen Gage is a business advisor specializing in marketing and promotions for small and home based businesses. She is a keynote speaker and the author of -101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door - and - 101 No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Market and Promote a Product, Service or Business. To access her FREE report, Learn How One Salt Lake City Consultant made Over $100,000 from One Idea, visit www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Over the years people have come to know me for my unique ability to develop low cost and no cost strategies to market and promote a business, product or service. Strategies that have realized incredible returns.
Some of my successes have included:
- Before my last book was published I pre-sold over $8,000 in books
- Over 250 people registered for a recent seminar in less than 2 weeks and the cost to promote was under $25
- One company used my strategies for a career expo and made over $180,000 in consulting fees
- One speaker sold over $23,000 in product sales back of the room at a two hour seminar with strategies outlined in my program
I don’t share this to impress anyone, rather to impress upon you when using the right strategies for your market, you can realize some incredible results.
People have also come to know me as someone who is a stickler when it comes to putting systems in place. My marketing successes are a direct result of the systems I have implemented.
With a bit of forethought, planning and desire, you can successfully market your business in a very effective manner. Below are seven proven strategies sure to increase visibility, leads and sales.
1. Business Cards
Business cards are often one of the most underutilized tools in one’s marketing.
Use the front and back of your business card to gain full benefit. Depending on your market you can put some very valuable information on the back such as a sports schedule, emergency numbers, or special dates people want to remember.
Keep some in your wallet, your automobile, on your desk, and some at home. Be sure to carry them with you wherever you go and be willing to hand them out as opportunity presents itself.
Creatively distribute your card. When you eat out you can leave one with the tip.
If you borrow a library book, use one as a book mark. Hand them to clerks in stores who may know other people who could use your product or service.
When someone gives you their business card be sure to enter their information in your database. Send them a short note or email within 48 hours of meeting them to keep your name fresh in their mind.
2. Send a picture
A great way to keep your name fresh in a customer’s mind is to send them a picture of when they purchased a product or service from you.
Put a picture of a buyer’s auto purchase in a beautiful calendar. Likely, the proud owner of the vehicle will display the calendar for the next 365 days.
For specialty gift shops, when a customer makes a substantial purchase, have a picture taken with the shop owner. Frame the picture and send it to the customer.
Chances are very good the picture will be displayed proudly for friends and family to see.
A dentist who specializes in smile makeovers can easily arrange to have a professional makeup artist and photographer capture the patient’s beautiful new smile. No doubt the patient will be more than happy to show others their new look.
3. Associations
Associations particular to your market are a great resource for marketing. There are associations specific to virtually any industry, job type or business. A quick web search will likely show you how much is available.
A major opportunity within many organizations is the chance to network. Additionally, to make presentations. Along with presentations come publications.
Often, when you do a presentation, you will get a mention in the association newsletter, their Ezine and/or on their website.
In many cases, when an organization has a newsletter or Ezine, they welcome the presenter writing a press announcement for them. It saves them time and often assures you have a better chance of the information making it into the publication.
They may also welcome you writing an article for their publication or website.
This lends itself to pre-presentation visibility. Additionally, you will position yourself as an expert and increase credibility.
Most organizations have the following opportunities that can help you to gain visibility and do some very effective marketing:
-Newsletters
-Internet listings
-Links to you website
-Discounted advertising rates
-Networking opportunities
-Business referral services
-Special recognition events
-Education seminars
-Business and membership directories
In many cases you will need to be a member of the association to take advantage of the multiple marketing opportunities. In other cases membership is not necessary.
4. Committee Involvement
Committee involvement is a great way to give back to the association or community while building visibility for you and your business. In some cases, you may even want to get involved in a committee where you have little experience or knowledge. This will give you an opportunity to stretch yourself and meet and network with individuals you may not have otherwise had the chance to meet.
5. Contests and drawings
Contests are a favorite for many businesses such as restaurants or those that have high foot traffic. Contests are a great way to build your database quickly.
You are generating very hot leads when you have a contest with people who have already frequented your place of business. The key though is to do back -end marketing. Far too many businesses hold contests, get lots of names and do nothing with them. In this case, it is a complete waste of time to hold a contest.
You can advertise a contest to gain new foot traffic in your place of business.
Trade show booths are a great place to hold a contest. Pre-show marketing helps to generate traffic at your booth. Invite people to stop by booth # _____ (whatever your booth is) to enter to win. Creative contests can also generate free publicity.
6. Cross-promoting
Join with other companies who have products or services that compliment yours and promote each other. Let’s say you have a massage business. You could partner with a candle company to sell their candles to your massage clients. They can give out coupons for your massage business. Or the candle company can partner with a gift basket company. Cross-promoting is only limited by your imagination.
This can considerably cut down the cost of business promotion and allow each business to use promotion techniques that might be too expensive to implement alone.
7. Bonuses
Secure special offers from various businesses who want to share a similar market as you. When a customer buys a minimum amount they receive a bonus packet with the various offers from the other vendors. This is a win/win all the way around. The other vendors gain visibility, you have something extra to offer you customers and the customers get incredible value for their purchase.
Be aware of who you cross-promote and joint venture with. You want someone who will be equally committed to a campaign.
About the author
Kathleen Gage is a business advisor specializing in marketing and promotions for small and home based businesses. She is a keynote speaker and the author of -101 Ways to Get Your Foot in the Door - and - 101 No Cost and Low Cost Tips to Market and Promote a Product, Service or Business. To access her FREE report, Learn How One Salt Lake City Consultant made Over $100,000 from One Idea, visit www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Generate Business With Coupons
Use coupons and discount offers to generate business during slow times and to build your start up business. When you use coupons be sure to put an expiration date on them. An expiration date allows you to control the influx of business. An effective length of time is 30 – 60 days.
About the author
Do you want to gain massive visibility within your market? Kathleen Gage can help you do just that. As a published author, keynote speaker and top rated award winning business advisor, Kathleen Gage teaches strategies that give high impact and high return. Sign up for Gage’s FR*EE Report “Learn How a Salt Lake City base consultant made over $100,000 from one idea” at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
About the author
Do you want to gain massive visibility within your market? Kathleen Gage can help you do just that. As a published author, keynote speaker and top rated award winning business advisor, Kathleen Gage teaches strategies that give high impact and high return. Sign up for Gage’s FR*EE Report “Learn How a Salt Lake City base consultant made over $100,000 from one idea” at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Monday, November 07, 2005
Using Technology to Get and Keep Your Foot in the Door
In years past it was easier to get your foot in the door of a prospective client than it is today. Competition has increased, your prospect has more demands on their time and a simple visit to the Internet can offer many prospects the same choice you are offering for less money.
So what can you do? Not only do you have to do front-end marketing and promotions to gain new customers, you absolutely must have a good system in place to follow-up with your current customers and keep your name fresh in their mind.
With the advent of the Internet and specific types of technology, we now have tools to accomplish this with ease. The fear some people have is that use of the Internet and technology will take away the human aspect of doing business. Although this may be true in some cases, proper use of technology can allow you to have more time to spend with your customers. Using technology in any business situation should only be done when it will better serve you and your customers.
Although you might not be ready to embrace all that technology can do for you, your customers probably are. The Computer Industry Almanac projects that we will have 1.35 billion Internet users by 2007.
Every day more people are utilizing the power of the Internet to research companies, determine level of credibility of a company based on their web presence and making purchases via the Net. If you do not have a good system in place to take advantage of this, you will soon be left behind.
There are several reasons to become a real player in the world of the Internet. Most importantly, in order to be considered a credible business you have to have a presence on the Internet.
Other reasons include:
To increase your reach and visibility
Lower the costs of traditional marketing
Increase Return on Investment for every marketing dollar
Develop and maintain credibility
Attract visitors to your site and/or physical business location
Increase profit margins
Increase speed of response time
Patricia Twitchell, owner of Just Bears and Stuff, a specialty gift shop in the quaint town of Myrtle Creek, Oregon (population 3,000) relies heavily on the power of the Internet for her business success. With the implementation of one simple strategy, Patricia, known to many as The Teddy Bear Lady of Myrtle Creek, increased her Ezine signups by 600% of what they usually were in one week.
She simply implemented the use of an autoresponder and a hover menu. Not only have her signups increased, so have revenues.
The Ezine contains articles of interest to teddy bear enthusiasts as well as any specials of the month she is offering that readers have first opportunity to learn about. To see how The Teddy Bear Lady uses technology to streamline her operations and provide better service to her customers visit www.justbearsandstuff.com.
Imagine how much untold revenue is lost by not fully utilizing the power of technology and the Internet. To not only survive but thrive, you must have a proper foundation and effective systems in place for attracting visitors, providing information, selling products and services and following up.
Many people are under the mistaken notion that if they sell only in their local market they don’t need a strong Internet presence. It is this type of thinking that leaves many businesses in the dust.
Additionally, without a strong Internet presence you can waste countless marketing dollars that could be saved through the use of technology.
If you want to continually be in the game of “getting your foot in the door” you must develop and utilize a system that makes doing business with you simple.
It’s that simple!
About the author
Do you want to gain massive visibility within your market? Kathleen Gage can help you do just that. As a published author, keynote speaker and top rated award winning business advisor, Kathleen Gage teaches strategies that give high impact and high return. Sign up for Gage’s FR*EE Report “Learn How a Salt Lake City base consultant made over $100,000 from one idea” at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
So what can you do? Not only do you have to do front-end marketing and promotions to gain new customers, you absolutely must have a good system in place to follow-up with your current customers and keep your name fresh in their mind.
With the advent of the Internet and specific types of technology, we now have tools to accomplish this with ease. The fear some people have is that use of the Internet and technology will take away the human aspect of doing business. Although this may be true in some cases, proper use of technology can allow you to have more time to spend with your customers. Using technology in any business situation should only be done when it will better serve you and your customers.
Although you might not be ready to embrace all that technology can do for you, your customers probably are. The Computer Industry Almanac projects that we will have 1.35 billion Internet users by 2007.
Every day more people are utilizing the power of the Internet to research companies, determine level of credibility of a company based on their web presence and making purchases via the Net. If you do not have a good system in place to take advantage of this, you will soon be left behind.
There are several reasons to become a real player in the world of the Internet. Most importantly, in order to be considered a credible business you have to have a presence on the Internet.
Other reasons include:
To increase your reach and visibility
Lower the costs of traditional marketing
Increase Return on Investment for every marketing dollar
Develop and maintain credibility
Attract visitors to your site and/or physical business location
Increase profit margins
Increase speed of response time
Patricia Twitchell, owner of Just Bears and Stuff, a specialty gift shop in the quaint town of Myrtle Creek, Oregon (population 3,000) relies heavily on the power of the Internet for her business success. With the implementation of one simple strategy, Patricia, known to many as The Teddy Bear Lady of Myrtle Creek, increased her Ezine signups by 600% of what they usually were in one week.
She simply implemented the use of an autoresponder and a hover menu. Not only have her signups increased, so have revenues.
The Ezine contains articles of interest to teddy bear enthusiasts as well as any specials of the month she is offering that readers have first opportunity to learn about. To see how The Teddy Bear Lady uses technology to streamline her operations and provide better service to her customers visit www.justbearsandstuff.com.
Imagine how much untold revenue is lost by not fully utilizing the power of technology and the Internet. To not only survive but thrive, you must have a proper foundation and effective systems in place for attracting visitors, providing information, selling products and services and following up.
Many people are under the mistaken notion that if they sell only in their local market they don’t need a strong Internet presence. It is this type of thinking that leaves many businesses in the dust.
Additionally, without a strong Internet presence you can waste countless marketing dollars that could be saved through the use of technology.
If you want to continually be in the game of “getting your foot in the door” you must develop and utilize a system that makes doing business with you simple.
It’s that simple!
About the author
Do you want to gain massive visibility within your market? Kathleen Gage can help you do just that. As a published author, keynote speaker and top rated award winning business advisor, Kathleen Gage teaches strategies that give high impact and high return. Sign up for Gage’s FR*EE Report “Learn How a Salt Lake City base consultant made over $100,000 from one idea” at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Are You Investing Wisely?
Your marketing dollars are not just what you invest on the front end in your direct mail and advertising that matters. What are you willing to invest on the backend to continually build relationships with those individuals and companies you are a good match for? So often, companies spend massive amount trying to get a customer, but nothing to keep them satisfied and happy. Invest wisely.
About the author
Do you want to gain massive visibility within your market? Kathleen Gage can help you do just that. As a published author, keynote speaker and top rated award winning business advisor, Kathleen Gage teaches strategies that give high impact and high return. Sign up for Gage’s FR*EE Report “Learn How a Salt Lake City base consultant made over $100,000 from one idea” at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
About the author
Do you want to gain massive visibility within your market? Kathleen Gage can help you do just that. As a published author, keynote speaker and top rated award winning business advisor, Kathleen Gage teaches strategies that give high impact and high return. Sign up for Gage’s FR*EE Report “Learn How a Salt Lake City base consultant made over $100,000 from one idea” at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Friday, November 04, 2005
A Simple Strategy to Increase Profits
In today’s competitive business environment it is essential to find ways to reduce costs and increase revenues while keeping productivity and quality high. One of the best ways to achieve this is through hiring and retention of outstanding employees.
Far too often hiring managers rush through the hiring process due to being reactive rather than proactive when filling positions. With some preplanning in the hiring process and implementation of sound strategies once people join your organization, you will lower the cost of doing business by considerable amounts.
As you prepare to hire consider the following:
• What type of person are you looking for?
• What are the values that drive your company?
• How difficult is the job you are filling?
• Do you have anyone internally who can do the job?
• How long will it take to find the right person for the position?
• What are you willing to negotiate with the potential candidate?
In looking for potential candidates you may want to try more than the traditional employee search. Tap into your network of professional connections. Some of your best candidates may be working for your competitors. Be careful about hiring someone just because they are a friend or family member. Not that friends and family members don’t make good employees - often they can be fantastic. And yet, if you are hiring them only because they are a friend or family member, you are setting yourself up for some big problems. With the wrong choice morale with other employees can go down. With the right choice it is just as likely to go up.
Think through the compensation package. Are the wages fair for the job, industry and market? Make sure your benefit package is competitive for your industry. Find out what other companies are offering as far as compensation and consider matching or beating their offerings.
There are occasions when someone may take a position without thinking through income, benefits or fit. Once they have gotten settled in and are feeling comfortable with the position and the company, they may realize the compensation and the job is not all it could be. That can cause some discontent on their part. To avoid this, do your homework.
Another key to keeping good employees is to make sure they are treated with respect, dignity and appreciation. This may seem like common sense and yet, it often doesn’t happen. I consult with various types of organizations employee retention and how to gain more commitment from the staff. I often will meet individually, in private, with a cross section of the staff. I spend at least an hour with each employee in a confidential meeting to find out their view of the company. Inevitably, the areas that are most lacking for the employee to be fully satisfied are communication and appreciation.
Once the area of discontent has been identified I design programs for the company in which to address the problems. What is amazing is the problem is often on the way to being solved by virtue of the fact the organization has brought me in. A common comment is, “Finally, someone is listening to me.”
Often, a company’s problems can be lessened with some good coaching and training of management. It is amazing how many managers and supervisors were put into their position without any training in interpersonal skills, management and supervisory skills, and how to communicate effectively. Nine times out of ten the people who need the most training are the ones who think they need it the least. And, they are often the biggest obstacle to the success of a company.
In order to stay competitive on all fronts you must keep your entire team on the leading edge. By doing so you will be in business for years to come with a happy, dedicated and productive team. And that will equal profits.
About the author
Do you want to gain massive visibility within your market? Kathleen Gage can help you do just that. As a published author, keynote speaker and top rated award winning business advisor, Kathleen Gage teaches strategies that give high impact and high return. Sign up for Gage’s FR*EE Report “Learn How a Salt Lake City base consultant made over $100,000 from one idea” at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Far too often hiring managers rush through the hiring process due to being reactive rather than proactive when filling positions. With some preplanning in the hiring process and implementation of sound strategies once people join your organization, you will lower the cost of doing business by considerable amounts.
As you prepare to hire consider the following:
• What type of person are you looking for?
• What are the values that drive your company?
• How difficult is the job you are filling?
• Do you have anyone internally who can do the job?
• How long will it take to find the right person for the position?
• What are you willing to negotiate with the potential candidate?
In looking for potential candidates you may want to try more than the traditional employee search. Tap into your network of professional connections. Some of your best candidates may be working for your competitors. Be careful about hiring someone just because they are a friend or family member. Not that friends and family members don’t make good employees - often they can be fantastic. And yet, if you are hiring them only because they are a friend or family member, you are setting yourself up for some big problems. With the wrong choice morale with other employees can go down. With the right choice it is just as likely to go up.
Think through the compensation package. Are the wages fair for the job, industry and market? Make sure your benefit package is competitive for your industry. Find out what other companies are offering as far as compensation and consider matching or beating their offerings.
There are occasions when someone may take a position without thinking through income, benefits or fit. Once they have gotten settled in and are feeling comfortable with the position and the company, they may realize the compensation and the job is not all it could be. That can cause some discontent on their part. To avoid this, do your homework.
Another key to keeping good employees is to make sure they are treated with respect, dignity and appreciation. This may seem like common sense and yet, it often doesn’t happen. I consult with various types of organizations employee retention and how to gain more commitment from the staff. I often will meet individually, in private, with a cross section of the staff. I spend at least an hour with each employee in a confidential meeting to find out their view of the company. Inevitably, the areas that are most lacking for the employee to be fully satisfied are communication and appreciation.
Once the area of discontent has been identified I design programs for the company in which to address the problems. What is amazing is the problem is often on the way to being solved by virtue of the fact the organization has brought me in. A common comment is, “Finally, someone is listening to me.”
Often, a company’s problems can be lessened with some good coaching and training of management. It is amazing how many managers and supervisors were put into their position without any training in interpersonal skills, management and supervisory skills, and how to communicate effectively. Nine times out of ten the people who need the most training are the ones who think they need it the least. And, they are often the biggest obstacle to the success of a company.
In order to stay competitive on all fronts you must keep your entire team on the leading edge. By doing so you will be in business for years to come with a happy, dedicated and productive team. And that will equal profits.
About the author
Do you want to gain massive visibility within your market? Kathleen Gage can help you do just that. As a published author, keynote speaker and top rated award winning business advisor, Kathleen Gage teaches strategies that give high impact and high return. Sign up for Gage’s FR*EE Report “Learn How a Salt Lake City base consultant made over $100,000 from one idea” at www.streetsmartsmarketing.com
Excellent Ezine resource
I just came across an excellent Ezine directory. It is operated by Christopher Knight who is definitely one of the most brilliant minds you will find on the Internet. Check out http://BestEzines.com/ Another excellent resource of Mr. Knight is http://www.emailuniverse.com
Here's the posting on Best Ezines for Street Smarts Marketing Ezine:
Street Smarts Marketing
Street Smarts newsletter is designed for people who want high visibility in their market through proven cost effective, high return marketing and promotions strategies. Learn from Kathleen Gage, recognized as one of the top business owners for 2004 in Utah.
Ezine Subscription Info: http://www.kathleengage.com
If your not subscribed to my Ezine, I would invite you to do so.
Kathleen Gage
Street Smarts Marketing and Promotions
Here's the posting on Best Ezines for Street Smarts Marketing Ezine:
Street Smarts Marketing
Street Smarts newsletter is designed for people who want high visibility in their market through proven cost effective, high return marketing and promotions strategies. Learn from Kathleen Gage, recognized as one of the top business owners for 2004 in Utah.
Ezine Subscription Info: http://www.kathleengage.com
If your not subscribed to my Ezine, I would invite you to do so.
Kathleen Gage
Street Smarts Marketing and Promotions
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