Social networking does involve more than using the internet – it starts with the basics.
And this presentation leads you through the things you must do to have a plan for networking your business – whether online or offline.

Download the Social Networking Presentation NOW by clicking here.

E-Marketing – what should you be doing. Well I have 5 tools that will get you started – easily and effectively – on marketing your business using the World Wide Web. The internet is a marketing paradise . . . or a marketing’s SINKHOLE – depending on how you use it.

Download the E-Marketing Presentation now by clicking here.

But effective management of your customer base is just as important.

Do you know who your top customers are? Do you know their buying cycle? If you needed a sale this morning – who would you call – which customer?

You customer management system stores all the information about your customers. It tracks all the interactions the customer has with your business. IT captures this information and allows you to access it in an ready to use format. It also analyzes the information, helps to automate the sales process for you. Really a customer management system will help you solve problems and better serve your customers.

Once you have it in place – or even before – you better start interacting with your customers more often.

Customers do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Here are ten ways to better interact with your customers:

1. Send Birthday cards or some other cards.
2. Call them – the personal touch does wonders.
3. Ask them what they want and how you can do better.
4. Tell them what you do – many customers do not know exactly what solutions you offer.
5. Tell them what else you do – what add on services you offer. What you cross sell or up sell.
6. Ask them what hurts.
7. Give your customers special offers – just for them.
8. Hold customer appreciation events.
9. Talk to them on a regular basis in some way – consider a newsletter.
10.Ask for Referrals.

Bonus – build a community – let your customers get to know other customers.

Click here for a copy of the PowerPoint presentation.

Your marketing plan is a Written description of your overall marketing strategy along with supporting documentation. There is no Single perfect format. It does need to contain key elements. Your marketing plan should be Comprehensive yet succinct.

Start with some KEY STEPS!!

The purpose of your marketing plan is to:

- Improvement in Sales
- Improve Customer Relations
- Develop, Evaluate and Track Strategies
- Keep your business on track
- Plan ahead
- Save money
- Improve communication between departments and key people
- Create continuity between people, ideas and campaigns

Seven Steps to creating a Personalized Marketing Plan that works for your Business:

1. Know your Marketing Environment
2. Know your Company – SWOT analysis
3. Know your Customer / Target Market – In Detail
4. Control the Four P’s
5. Define the Key Message
6. Create Effective Marketing Strategies
7. Track your Marketing Efforts

I think back to a number of my recent purchases in the last year – places where I deal one on one with the business. Buying a car, purchasing furniture, even buying a meal at a local restaurant. How many of these businesses have contacted me after I have dealt with them. Checked to see if I was satisfied. Offered me anything to entice me back to purchase again.

NONE!!

Nobody is really looking after their customers.

What this means – is it takes very little to do better than everyone else. If you do an adequate job – heck even a mediocre job of following up and building a relationship with your clients you will have more business – more sales than you ever thought.

But what is the key to doing this successfully? What is the way to build this relationship component into your business day in and day out?

A customer relationship management system.

Download the PowerPoint presentation at the download page.

You can view the presentation in pdf format here – Let’s Build (rebuild) a Website.

The question a business owner no longer asks is ‘Should I have a website?’  You MUST have a website.  We have even moved beyond ‘When should I get a website for my business?’  If you do not have a website – Get it now – Today – This Week.  Get started on creating your most important marketing element for your business!

This Learn @ Lunch session will focus on some of the basics you need to consider when setting up your first website.  Straight forward things like choosing a domain name, domain registration, what kind of hosting.  We will give you some tips and advice that will save your money, as well as protect your brand in the future.

From there we will move away from the technical and go into the marketing concepts behind a website.  First who will be using your website – your Target market.  And how will they interact with the website.  What is the true purpose of the website – what do you want it to do?

We will discuss usability – a key determinant of how good your website is.  Usability in simple terms is can your customer find and do what they want on your website.

Then we will discuss some various structures and layouts of websites.  Also the session will cover what to look for when choosing a web designer to create your website (you can create your own, but I do suggest getting a web designer to do it for you).  Finally we will discuss some of the latest trends in web components such as blogs, online chat function, even simple ecommerce you can set up on your site using PayPal.

Join us on Monday, January 25 at 11:45 to learn how to make your website work for your business.