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Networking. What an overwhelming concept it can be at first. When starting up a business one marketing strategy is “networking,” when laid off and searching for employment one strategy is “networking.” You might be wondering what exactly “networking” is. Well, networking is: Interacting or engaging in informal communication with others for mutual assistance or support.

When I think of networking the first thing that comes to mind is “I don’t know anyone”. Ok, I do know some people so eventually I come up with a list of names of people. Then I go into the “I don’t want to impose on friends” mode and find myself back at square one. Networking is not imposing. What you may consider imposing can turn out to be a win/win situation. If you are looking for a new position there are referral awards or even simply filling an open position with a competent employee. For businesses you may have services the people you network with actually need and can benefit from. You may find the people you have chosen to network with may have services you can use. So free your inhibitions and network!

Where do you start? First take out a pen and paper and start listing friends and family. Add the ex co-workers. Do you patronize any business where you chat while doing business? (Example hairstylists, the person at the espresso bar you talk to while getting your morning coffee), college/alumni buddies, church or social activities? This list will get you started but don’t stop there. Be creative. Do you go to PTA meetings? Collect business cards!

Second, be prepared. Keep a folder in the car of resumes or brochures. Keep a healthy stack of business cards with you. Develop a verbal presentation. If it is for employment, be creative and prepared in ways to approach the subject of possible openings. If it is business related, have a verbal description of what your business is and how you can (and have) benefit others. When you are at that hairstylist, during the course of a casual conversation you may bring up you were laid off (or you have a virtual assistant business) a simple “May I leave my resume with you? If you hear of someone needing my qualifications you can pass it on” (or business cards/brochures if networking for your business). Leads can come from the simplest of situations. Having you "marketing you" speech prepared will take most of the fear out of approaching others and make networking not such a scary concept.

Most people are more then willing to help out. If you find someone who passes your information back, don’t take it personally and move on to the next individual. Through your information someone else may benefit. It never hurts to ask, but you will never get a yes if you don’t ask. You never know, the people on the list you are networking with may use you for their networking needs in the future, so get out and network today!

Below is a spreadsheet (with a few examples) you can copy and use to keep track of whom you network with.

Date Contacted	Person/Place	Information Left	Thought/Comments to Remember	Date re-contacted
12/20/2002	Jill, STB Travel	Resume / VA Brochure	Recieved Business Card, may need VA services, re contact in January
12/4/2002	John Smith, ABC Industries	VA Brochure / Business Card	Talked at Starbucks, may need website services	12/15/02 - Sending proposal
12/3/2002	Joe Some, Internet Company	Resume	Talked at PTA, his Admin is leaving 12/31	12/15/02 - called with follow-up still interested

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By Susan Silva - DeskDemon.com

 

Most people join organization and associations but never utilize their benefits. As a serious business owner, and we at CD&C Business & Legal Form Processing Services, LLC ("CD&C") would like to think we fall in that category, growing your business should be at the top of your priorities. Joining a business association/organization could help you get new clients/customers and possibly increase your business sales and recognition. Organization and associations offers several benefits that may enhance your business. Some of the benefits includes but are not limited to the following:

Workshops, seminars, webinars, conferences and teleconferences. These benefits allow you to network with your peers, open discussions about what is going on in your industry, what others are doing and possibly put you in contact with potential clients/customers.

Webinars and teleconferences are often offered online and by telephone where you can listen and participate in the comfort of your home. Often time you are allowed to record the teleconferences so that you can view and listen to them whenever convenient for you.

Attending organization and associations meetings keeps you informed of the changes in your industry such as new products and services, discussion of new ideas and a review on how the industry is doing in general.

Forums/Notice boards provide a place for you and your peers to meet on a regular basis and give feedback about their experiences in your business. Forum/Notice boards sometimes offer insider and time saving tips as well as answers to questions from people who are active in your line of business.

Newsletters and industry articles, subscribing to association and organization newsletters will keep you inform on news updates. Make sure to take the time to read their newsletters and articles to keep up on the trends in your business, what your competition is doing and in most cases you will get feedback from your client/customers about what they think about the business and its services.

Always read archived newsletters and articles to learn about things that worked and didn't work in the past for your line of business. Past issues will also give a history of your business and answers to frequently asked questions.

Get involved, volunteer with your association and organizations. Join committees. You may consider contributing to their newsletters this will give you exposure for your business and you may be viewed as an expert in your industry. Joining committees will also allow you to make decisions that will affect your business and a voice in the changes to your industry.

Other benefits include the following:

Member discounts - before shopping for business supplies, you should check your organizations and associations and their business affiliates for availability of discounts.

Some organizations will lobby to protect your business industry in state legislature and state courts.

Take advantage of their continuous training and educational programs.

Most of them offer directory listing where you should consider advertising your services. Keep in mind that potential clients go to the organization and associations to find help.

Some organization and associations like the National Notary Association offers personal identity theft protection for their members.

If they have a logo, ask permission to use it on your website and marketing materials. It can create credibility for your clients/customers.

Organizations and associations establish professional standards, give your business credibility, keep you updated on legislative news & activities, and enhance recognition of your profession. They can also increase awareness & value in the market place.

By Cordina A. Charvis a Member of CD&C Business & Legal Form Processing Services, LLC, http://www.cdcformsprocessing.com Virtual Paralegal Firm. © 2007. All rights reserved.

Using a marketing campaign assists in getting all types of clients. Using the right marketing campaign will assist in getting the right clients for your business.

There is a variety of ways to market your business and we will discuss a few of those. Remember, though, marketing techniques that someone uses to target Real Estate businesses may not work for someone who is targeting individuals in construction — the old saying “What works for one may not work for someone else”.

So, let’s look at some marketing techniques that you might think about using:

Press Releases
If you are starting a new business, planning an event, having a seminar, or anything that you think is newsworthy, write a press release about it. Not only does a press release get the information out about your announcement, your business name gets out there too.

Depending on your target market, you can send your press release to local newspapers or go online and submit it to specific geographical areas or internationally. There are a number of free press release sites online that you can submit to.

Internet
Market your business online by getting a Website. The cost for a domain name and a host is not a huge investment considering the advantages. You can also have a very simple site made at a very low cost too. If you have products that you are selling, add pictures of them to your site so that your target market can actually see them. At the very least your Website can act as an on-line brochure that you can direct your target market to.

Direct Mail
Direct mail can be a little costly as a marketing tool, but it can also be a very effective tool. Sending a personalized introduction letter, and maybe adding a small token, can get potential clients to remember you and your business. Just remember a very important rule of direct mailing is to give people a “call to action” or reason to keep your mailing and follow up with you.

Answering Machine Messages
Even though you may not be able to answer your phone, potential clients are still going to call you. Leave a message promoting your products or services or giving them a reason to actually leave a message.

Business Cards
Whoever you know or meet, hand them a business card. No! Hand them two business cards — one for them and one to give to someone they know. If you hand two business cards to 25 people, you now have 50 business cards out there marketing for you.

Referral Rewards
If someone refers your business to someone and they become a client, offer the referrer a reward. It can be a flat dollar amount, a percentage from an invoice, a gift certificate, or maybe you offer them a certain number of hours free of your services. People are more likely to promote you and your business if there is something in it for you.

License Plates
Next time you order plates for your vehicle, why not do something catchy? For example, I could get a plate that says “ABLE-VA” for my Virtual Assistant business. You never know what you can come up with that people might remember.

Some other examples of marketing techniques would be:
- advertising in the yellow pages
- having a booth at a trade show
- advertising in the newspaper
- a sign on your vehicle
- cd-rom business cards with a presentation on the cd about your business
- and so many more!

Make sure that you also find a way to track your marketing efforts so that you know where your dollars are being best spent. Just don’t overextend yourself — one good marketing campaign is better than several mediocre ones.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Yvonne Weld is the owner of ABLE Virtual Assistant Services and offers administrative and bookkeeping support to busy solopreneurs. She is also the author of The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Thriving Business and Managing Your Thriving Business for Success. For more information and for your free downloads, visit her Web site at http://www.yvonneweld.com

Do your marketing materials speak to your audience? Will it peak their interest to find out more?

Marketing can be a mysterious and elusive concept for a lot of entrepreneurs. It easily gets confused with sales and often has resistance associated with it because of that. People often aren't sure what they need to do to effectively market their business. In this edition of the Ask the Master newsletter we will examine marketing and try to demystify it.

What is marketing?

Marketing is the process of deciding what you will sell, how many, to whom and what the product or service will look like. It is getting clear on the benefits, features, and value that the client receives and matching it with what the market wants. Advertising, promoting and selling your product or service are all part of marketing but not marketing as a whole. Another important piece of marketing is building relationships.
What do I need to know to be able to market my business?

You need to know and be able to share what it is that you offer. You need to be able to describe what it is, what it does, how it is unique, what's included in the service, what happens, specifically, when a client uses it, what the benefits are, and what is the value they receive. Get really clear on all these areas and be able to articulate them in your sleep.
What should I use to do my marketing?

As mentioned above advertising and promoting your business are part of the marketing process. There are several ways you can promote and advertise your business.Your business card. Always carry them and make them readily available to potential clients in a variety of locations. Ask other businesses your potential clients may use if you can leave some at their location. At networking events bring a stand to display them if available.A brochure. You can pack quite a bit of information into a brochure just don't overdue it! Make sure you leave some white space and it doesn't look like a novel to read. Bring these to networking events, trade shows, conferences, workshops etc.A flyer. One page that says it all very succinctly. Once again make sure there is white space along with a hook or attention getter right at the top, something that will pull them in to find out more.Your web site. Make sure your web site address is on all your marketing materials and that all the pages are working properly. Make it interactive or give something away. Speak directly to your potential clients.There are many other ways to market your business so be creative (pens, mouse pads, note pads, magnets etc). Make sure that you are always branding your company identity and that your target market will connect with the information.
How do I market my business?

This is where building relationships and providing value are so important. You can do all the advertising and promoting you like but when it comes right down to it your relationships and the value they provide will be what will make the sale. In order to build any relationship you need to find out who the person is, who they want to become, what they are facing, what are the challenges, what they don't have or what is missing, what they need most right now, and what they value. You can then offer support and/or solutions that fit the client and begin building trust and the relationship. When you make it about the client this makes you very attractive to them and they immediately see the value of the relationship. Offer complimentary sessions or discount services for people to be able to try your services. There is no better way to demonstrate value. Ask potential clients what would be of value to them, it won't necessarily mean you have to offer more, quite often less is better.
How do I know it is working?

Any marketing initiative should be measurable. In order to determine what is and is not working for your business find out how people heard about you. Keep track of web site statistics, business cards, brochures or flyers given out at an event. The only way you will know is by finding out.

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Mary-Lou Ashon successfully launched her Virtual Assistant company in 1997 and holds expertise in organizing information, creation and implementation of administrative procedures and marketing. She has proven that dedication, communication, loyalty and a flare for marketing are keys to developing successful client relationships. Mary-Lou has a keen desire to promote awareness of VAs as a career option both internationally and at home in Canada and has developed a cost effective, convenient and high quality training program which you can locate at http://vatp.ca/.

Marketing a Virtual Assistant Business is crucial to your success. There are several ways to market your Virtual Assistant Business, but we are going to discuss some of the common methods.

1) Networking

Many Virtual Assistants (VAs) utilize this method and have been very successful in growing their businesses. By networking with other Virtual Assistants, not only are you building relationships, you are also building possible partnerships. The majority of Virtual Assistants subcontract out work to other VAs that they know and trust.

Building genuine relationships can have a two-fold effect. One is that you have gained a friend with whom you can exchange problems, business advice, and business successes. The other is that they will be more willing to subcontract work to you, and this can help you to build your business and your portfolio.

Forums and messages boards are another great opportunity to network with businesspeople, not just other VAs. There are many forums and message boards that are just for VAs, but don't just limit yourself to these. Visit specialty or niche forums and message boards where your potential target market may hang out. This provides you with more opportunities to build relationships with potential clients. Plug your services when possible, but don't overdo it.

Some VAs have found success by networking at their local Chamber of Commerce. This is something worthwhile to look into.

2) Word of Mouth

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to get new clients. By providing outstanding service to your current clients, they will have no problem referring you to their friends and business connections.

3) Press Releases

Press releases are an excellent way to get your name out there. Press releases are basically a newsworthy story about your business that you submit to the media. They are a wonderful way to get publicity for your business at little to no cost.

4) Search Engine Marketing

Have you ever seen the little ads under "Sponsor Links" to the right of your computer screen when you do a search on www.Google.com? These are ads paid for by people to advertise our businesses. They are called Google Adwords. You pay X amount of money every time someone clicks on your ad. Google allows you to choose the amount you want to pay per click and set a budget.

Yahoo, MSN, and other search engines offer similar services.

5) Search Engine Optimization

Optimizing your web pages so that search engines like Google, Yahoo, and MSN can find you will increase the chance of prospective clients finding you on the worldwide web. This is extremely important as the Virtual Assistance Industry becomes more well-known. You can easily learn to do this yourself.

6) Advertise on Your Car

I'm sure you have been driving somewhere and noticed a car with an advertisement on it. This is another avenue you can utilize to market your Virtual Assistant Business. You never know who might be reading it.

7) Email Signature Files

Email signature files are yet another way to market your Virtual Assistant Business. You can advertise your business each time you send, reply, or forward an email.

8) Write Articles

Writing articles that are of interest to your target market is another great marketing method. You can submit your articles to places like ezinearticles.com, and get some great exposure for your business, not to mention one-way links. Writing articles is not as hard as you may think. Don't worry about trying to be eloquent. Keep it simple and make sure to proofread and edit it carefully before submitting it to article sites.

9) Offline Marketing

Web decals, business cards, flyers, brochures, and networking can all be included in offline marketing. You can have business cards made today with little or no costs. VistaPrint.com is a perfect example. Vista Print offers business cards at no cost. You simply pay shipping and handling charges. You can also make your own business cards and flyers right on your computer with the right desktop publishing software.

I hope you can put some of these methods to use to start marketing your Virtual Assistant Business.

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If you're an aspiring Virtual Assistant, claim your free e-report "Virtual Assistant Business: A Basic Guide to Start Your Own" at http://www.virtualassistantbusiness.com. VirtualAssistantBusiness.com is a resource site for current and aspiring Virtual Assistants.

India Jordan is the owner and founder of VirtualAssistantBusiness.com. To learn more about other Virtual Assistant Training programs for aspiring and current Virtual Assistants, visit us today.

• Actively be engaged in local company tele-market research
• Advertise honestly
• Advertise on search engines
• Advertising in small magazines
• Always have business cards ready to hand out
• Always look the part whenever you step out your door.
• Ask for referrals from the clients
• Attend local business networking events
• Be a great communicator, especially with e-mails. Nothing looks more unprofessional than bad grammar and bad spelling. Your e-mails represent you so you want them to look great.
• Be a great VA, and you will get dozens of referrals from satisfied customers.
• Be consistent
• Be enthusiastic. It draws people like a magnet.
• Be Frequent
• Be sure to include those that have confirmed prospect on a regular newsletter
• Before you advertise, make sure you're ready for anything.
• Biz Cards
• Brochures
• Business card magnets
• Business Cards
• Carry brochures when you are out shopping or visiting or other places.
• Check your purse for business cards every day.
• Create a website
• Create an attractive website that relays your message and services, and make sure you place it with the right search engines.
• Create different types of marketing/collateral pieces
• Direct mail to a specific segment of the market such as realtors, lawyers, medical practice
• Distribute brochures, business cards, post cards to targeted audience (customers)
• Distributing fliers at various local businesses
• Don't be shy. :-)
• Don't over look who you know, have cards or pens handy to give or drop off, don't be afraid to make a suggestion (which in our old lives, meant if we had the idea...we'd volunteered!)
• Don't splatter your marketing copy with buzzwords.
• Existing web host (i.e. Yahoo.com) for better exposure
• Flyers
• Follow-up calls to number one that say they are open to the idea or currently engaged in an exclusive contract with another VA by sending e-mail or fax or postal mail letter of introduction, business card (2), and either a web-card or tri-fold brochure;
• Follow-up the correspondence to number 2 with a call to confirm receipt of sent literature
• Get a coach.
• Get invoked in Community projects - Its amazing how many potential customers you can meet
• Great Web site.
• Have a good name, have a competitive advantage to promote your business, and be creative in your approach to potential clients - think about what their needs are and tell them how you can fulfill them.
• Have a specific market in mind before you begin.
• Have extra marketing "tools" with you at all times.
• Hit those yellow pages and market yourself!
• I have been sending small mailings each week, and a week after each mailing, I call the prospects to follow up with them. I've gotten some bites this way.
• Join a chamber of commerce or BNI group so that you can meet people face-to-face. Virtual Assistance is best described in person.
• Join your local chamber of commerce and other network groups.
• Join your local Chamber of Commerce
• Know how to promote your Web site.
• Leave business cards everywhere. Be ready with your "Mini Commercial" at any given moment. Never miss the opportunity to promote yourself.
• Let everyone know what you are doing, and give your business cards out to all who you know might know someone that could use your services.
• Listen to what people say and if an opportunity to promote yourself comes up - take it!!
• Look and be professional with yourself and materials.
• Lots of networking, old contacts, anyone
• Mailing lists
• Make magnets with your business information on them so that people will have it readily available when they need administrative support
• Make sure you provide good service by being courteous and listen to your prospects thoroughly.
• Market without paying (e.g. supermarket bulletin boards etc.)
• Mass mailing
• Network with other professionals that could use your services.
• Networking
• Offer the same tips you use successfully as a service.
• Place an ad in the newspaper
• Professional brochures and business cards
• Publish on the web
• Signs on your car
• Small newspapers
• Stay abreast of new situations
• Swap link programs.
• Talk to everyone about what you do and how it can help them with their business. Always strive to tell them what is in it for them.
• Talk to everyone you know about what you do.
• Tell everyone you talk to about what it is you do
• Use every opportunity to tell people what you do,
• Use networking as a marketing tool
• Use the yellow pages
• Volunteer work
• Web site post cards
• Website
• Word-of-mouth.
• Write Press Releases about interesting things about your business for (hopefully) free editorial in the newspapers
• You never know whom you might run into.

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By – DeskDemon.com

The networking challenge. Challenge the way you have been networking! Give the gift of giving.

Only 25% of all jobs are ever advertised in the newspaper. The rest are obtained through networking. While the percentages might be off somewhat, it also holds true for finding clients. Advertising will only bring in a portion of your clients. Networking will bring in the bulk of them.

Most of us have some fear or nervousness around networking especially if you are not used to it and it is out of your comfort zone. In this month's issue of Ask the Master we will talk about how you can ease the pain of networking.

What is networking?

Networking isn't just about finding clients at an event. If this is why you are attending you are probably going to be disappointed and miss out on the most important interactions. Networking is also about expanding your network. Letting people who know who you are, what you do and what you offer.

We all start out with our own network that includes family, friends, acquaintances and co-workers. When you are starting a business these are the first people you look to inform about what you are doing. Chances are the majority of them will not be potential clients however they all have their own circle of influence, which may hold potential clients. The same holds true for networking events. You want to expand your network of people who know who you are, what you do and what you offer.

To find out more on networking you can visit www.topten.org and search under 'networking'.
Where is the best place to network?

This depends on exactly what you are looking for from the association or event in addition to expanding your network or finding potential clients.

Are you also looking to expand your resources? Create alliances with compatible products or services? Market at trade shows or conferences? A place for you to just stay connected? A place to learn about or find new technologies? Member benefits?

Get clear about the things you are networking for and find the group(s) or association(s) that will best fill your needs.
How can I prepare for a networking event?

First of all set goals for the event. Whether it is meeting five new people, reconnecting with an individual or having a deeper level conversation with one individual. Whatever it is make it about the gift of giving. When you go with the intent of giving of yourself and helping or getting to know others the return is greater.

See how you can help or be of service to them. Whether it is sharing something you know, a resource or just learning who they are, what they do and what they offer.
What are some mistakes to avoid?

Do not go to an event with the intention of finding a client but go with the intention of expanding your network. It is not about how many business cards or brochures you can hand out but what you can give to, or learn about, the individuals you meet.

A lot of people at these events are on guard about who is going to sell them what. Do you connect with individuals who are about selling to you versus wanting to know about you? Is this how you develop your relationships? My guess is the answer is no, so do not do this to others.
What about follow up?

Any relationship takes work, they usually don't just happen overnight. You need to work at building your networking relationships just as you would with family, friends or co-workers. Make a point of following up with anyone you meet by just sending an email or giving them a quick call. It doesn't have to be deep, just a quick hello to see how they are doing, let them know you enjoyed speaking with them, or finding out if they are going to the next event.

Continue to find out more about who they are and how you can help them. When you follow this method of networking people will refer to you quicker and more often!

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Mary-Lou Ashon successfully launched her Virtual Assistant company in 1997 and holds expertise in organizing information, creation and implementation of administrative procedures and marketing. She has proven that dedication, communication, loyalty and a flare for marketing are keys to developing successful client relationships. Mary-Lou has a keen desire to promote awareness of VAs as a career option both internationally and at home in Canada and has developed a cost effective, convenient and high quality training program which you can locate at http://vatp.ca/.

With all the talk of the importance of search engine positioning, online directories, keyword meta tags and publishing your own ezine, you might be forgiven for thinking that the online world is the only one that matters when it comes to promoting your online business. Only occasionally will you see something like “and don’t forget about offline promotion too”.

Why do I need to engage in offline promotion when I’m promoting an online business? The reason is simple. The concept of a paperless office is all very well, but your potential customers live in an offline world. To get their attention, you need to reach them where they live. Here’s how:

STATIONERY

Every item of stationery that leaves your office is an opportunity to promote your website. Make sure your website address (URL) appears on every single piece of stationery including:

=> business cards
=> letterheads
=> envelopes
=> address labels
=> fax cover sheets
=> checks
=> invoices
=> receipts, and
=> reorder forms.

PROMOTIONAL ITEMS

Tangible promotional items that people see or use every day are a great way of keeping your name in front of your customers and prospective customers. Make sure your URL appears prominently and it will be a constant reminder to visit your website.

Promotional items that lend themselves well to this concept
include:

=> coffee mugs
=> paper weights
=> pens
=> t-shirts
=> calendars
=> key chains
=> magnets
=> bumper stickers, and
=> car license plate frames.

PRINTED MATERIALS

Printed materials are a great way to generate (especially) repeat business when included with product orders. After all, your existing customers are already predisposed to deal with you so make sure you take the opportunity to promote your entire line of products and/or services to give them a reason to return. Here’s a few ways:

=> Coupons

Coupons are great to use as incentives for future purchases. Offer a range of coupons including percentage off orders (for example, \"10% off your next order of $20 or more\"), free shipping or free items (for example, \"buy one, get one free\" type offers).

Coupons can also be used to generate new business by making them freely available around the traps. For example, if your business is educational software, make arrangements to have a supply of “30 day free trial” coupons made available at your local school.

=> Gift Certificates

Gift certificates are good because they allow your customer to share their discovery of your products and services with friends, family and colleagues. To be effective, especially in connection with services, a gift certificate needs to have a tangible dollar value to the recipient rather than merely offering to redeem the certificate for a particular service. This is because the referral customer
probably has no conception of the dollar value of your service. The potential customer can, however, readily appreciate the value of a “$30 toward your purchase of $60 or more” gift certificate.

=> Product Sheets

Product sheets are a way for you to make your existing customer aware of what *other* products and services you offer in addition to those they have recently purchased. This need not be any more elaborate than a one page price list but it can be as extravagant asa glossy product page replete with photos if your budget permits.

=> Brochures

Brochures are an effective way to create a professional image and promote your products and services at the same time. Give them to prospective customers for a quick overview of your business and to give them a reason to visit your website for more information.

Distribute your brochure whenever you get the chance: carry them with you wherever you go and hand them out whenever you hand out your business card. Mail your brochure to current clients to inform them of additional products and services that they may be unaware you offer and to prospective clients sourced from rented mailing lists.

Also, get permission to leave a small stack of your brochures in places where potential customers are likely to congregate such as doctors’ and dentists’ waiting rooms, local schools etc..

Another good idea is to send your brochure to the editors of your local and regional newspapers together with a letter advising of your availability for interview as a local expert in your field.

ADVERTISING

Advertising can be as simple as placing classified ads in your local newspaper or as grand as purchasing television advertising slots. Here’s a few ideas:

=> Classified Ads

Place small classified ads in your local and city newspapers and include the URL of your website.

=> Yellow Pages

If you purchase display advertising in the Yellow Pages, be sure to include your URL.

=> Flyers

One page flyers advertising your product or service and including your URL can be printed cheaply and left on car windshields or distributed via letterbox drops in your local area.

=> Local TV Guide

Your local TV guide can be a good place to advertise cheaply if your product or service is of particular interest to a local geographic target audience. Again, be sure to include your URL.

=> Radio Advertising

Radio advertising can be an excellent buy for many small businesses. Call the sales department of several radio stations that target your demographic. Be sure to ask about rates for different times of day and package deals.

=> Television Advertising

You’re not going to be able to afford the high price advertising exposure that’s offered by the likes of ABC or NBC but you may be surprised at how affordable advertising on your local cable channel can be. Contact the sales department of your cable provider for details. This type of advertising is particularly effective if your product or services is oriented toward a specific geographic target market.

=> Direct Mail

Mailing lists of various sizes are available for rent or purchase for direct mailing your offer to prospective customers.

=> Press Releases

Press releases can act as a form of de facto advertising. Send your press release to the editors of print periodicals.

NETWORKING

Any local community offers ample opportunity for networking. Each networking function you attend is an opportunity to publicize your business and your website. Consider the following:

=> local Chamber of Commerce
=> local industry groups
=> school functions
=> social events
=> charitable organizations
=> community functions, and
=> public speaking.

EVERY CHANCE YOU GET

Last but not least, getting the word out should be a daily habit.

=> Telephone

Every time you answer your business phone be sure to give the caller your website address so they can find out more information about you and your business. Make sure your website addressis included in the message recorded on your answering machine.

=> Mail Inserts

Include a small insert promoting your business and your website in every piece of mail that leaves your home or office.

=> Word of Mouth

Finally, perhaps the most effective and under-appreciated tool of them all – word of mouth. Talk about your business and your website at every opportunity and encourage your customers, friends, family and colleagues to do the same. You would be surprised at just how many businesses out there owe their success to little more than word of mouth referrals.

Successfully promoting an online business requires a sound understanding and methodical application of the principles of online marketing and promotion.

But to focus on online methods to the exclusion of offline does only half the job. Give due attention to offline methods of promotion in conjunction with your online promotional efforts to ensure the widest possible coverage of ALL of your potential markets.

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About the Author:

Elena Fawkner is editor of A Home-Based Business Online ... practical ideas, resources and strategies for your home-based or online business. http://www.ahbbo.com/.

Small talk is society’s way of cutting the silence, of filling the empty void that makes many of us nervous. When faced with a situation involving just us and a stranger or someone that we are not well acquainted with, it is our innate reaction to talk about the weather or news events as opposed to feeling comfortable sitting in silence. How many times a day are you asked, “So what do you do?” If you are like most, your answer is usually confined to a simple professional answer, “I am a self-employed ___________”. In most cases this is the end of the conversation or you then ask “and you?” But let’s face it, do we really care and did the person asking the initiating question care? The next time you are faced with this question, take the time to find an answer that makes them care and create enough interest to keep the conversation flowing.

As a small business owner it is important to talk to anyone and everyone about your business because let’s face it, anyone could be a potential client and the person asking could know of potential clients. When answering the question “What do you do?” I am not talking about starting an hour long conversation where you get into the meat and potatoes of your job and start relaying a grocery list of your skills and capabilities. Rather I am talking about giving them something to be interested in talking about and something to make them spread the word about you. When looking for that interesting factor, think back to when you first started your business. What excited you and drew you to start this business? What makes you stand out from the crowd and makes others excited to hear about your business?

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Provide a hook or a reason for potential clients to remember you and your business. Paint a picture for the person that is asking. Imagine a person selling a cloth that provides a streak free shine every time. They explain to the person that they no longer have to lug bottles of glass cleaner and paper towels, but simply dampen the cloth and rub and the cloth does the rest. I guarantee the next time that person is lugging glass cleaner and paper towels they will think about that cloth.

2. Give them a reason to ask more. Imagine the questions when you hear of a person who just opened a massage therapy business that utilizes water but the patient never gets wet. What part of your business is most likely to make people ask questions?

3. What makes you stand out from others like you? I am a virtual assistant who provides bookkeeping services. I also provide administrative support and many people choose to work with me because they only want to deal with one person to assist them as opposed to both a bookkeeper and an administrative assistant.

4. Ask a question that will provoke an emotion. This will enable the person to think of you every time that emotion is felt. For example, ask “have you ever felt overwhelmed by the unorganization present in your home? I am a personal organizer who not only organizes things for you, but also provides you with tools and resources to improve your own organizational skills.” The next time someone is feeling overwhelmed and is in a state of chaos I am sure they will think of you.

Always, always, always keep in mind that although the person you are talking about might not be your target client, you can never be sure what fifty people they know. Truly talking about your business can make the difference in truly creating a thriving business.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Yvonne Weld is the owner of ABLE Virtual Assistant Services and offers administrative and bookkeeping support to busy solopreneurs. She is also the author of The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Thriving Business and Managing Your Thriving Business for Success. For more information and for your free downloads, visit her Web site at http://www.yvonneweld.com