No one logged in. Log in

Small Business Blog Tip #4: Start an Email Newsletter!

Patrick Steil - Thursday, April 22, 2010

Happy New Year to All!  Are you excited about 2010??!  We are here at infraNET.  Our New Years Resolution?  To GIVE MORE!   We want to help Small Businesses all over North Texas, grow and become more successful than ever!

So last week we talked about the power of "making it personal"... hope you are starting to think about how best to do that!  Also, we discussed strategies for generating leads using Facebook.
Business and Technology Tip of the Week
Today's Tip is related to our last one: "making it personal" and is both a business strategy and technology tip!  

Do you have an email newsletter?  An email newsletter is your #1 way to keep the conversation going with your prospective, new and existing clients!  We have discussed networking being such a powerful tool for the small business owner, but the fact is that if we meet someone who NEEDS our services, but doesn't NEED them "right now", and we don't continually follow up with them, we may lose their business when they are ready.  Your email newsletter will keep you in front of them so that when they are ready to purchase, they will remember to contact you!

A few newsletter tips:
  1. IMPORTANT: Don't add anyone to your email list that won't reasonably expect to get an email from you.  Otherwise it is just spam.
  2. Send the email from YOU or someone in your organization that will be the "face" of the company... people like to buy from people, not businesses.
  3. Make the subject line instill a sense of "urgency" so that they will open it "today" and not put it off.
  4. Use a professional email management service like Constant Contact (I personally recommend them) to ensure your emails are delivered and not reported as SPAM by receiving email servers.  (If you want to receive a 60 day free trial and a bonus $30 credit with Constant Contact, you can click here to sign up with them).
  5. Make sure your email newsletter content is also being created as content on your website via a blog, or adding it as an article on your site.  These newsletters are being posted to our NEW website that will be launched later this month!
  6. Plan out your newsletters in advance.  Constant Contact will allow you to schedule the sending of your emails in advance.
  7. Contact me if you need help getting this started!  :)
That's your small business technology TIP for the week... take action today before you forget!
Wishing you Peace, Joy and Love in 2010!
Patrick Steil

 

 

Small Business Tip #3: Networking in 2010 and Facebook.com

Patrick Steil - Thursday, April 22, 2010

My last tip talked about the MUST read book:  "The E-Myth" hope you have had a chance to start reading this... it has changed my life and will change the look of infraNET forever!

Business Tip of the Week

In this month's Tip, I want to discuss the power of making it "personal"... from your website, to your newsletter, your blog... do your clients KNOW and TRUST you?  Maybe that's what is keeping them from buying your products or services.  People buy from people they trust.  They can gain that trust by a referral of a good friend, by personally knowing you through networking or simply by reading everything there is to know about your company on your website.  So the question is... are you making yourself AVAILABLE?  Are you networking?  Does your website and blog give them good information so that they will trust you know what you are talking about?  Does your newsletter come directly from YOU, or is addressed "From: sales@yourcompany.com"... people want to buy from YOU... or you can spend $10 million a year in branding so they will trust your COMPANY!  :)  

 

Technology Tip of the Week

Did you realize there are many ways to generate leads using Facebook (still not sure what FB is... click here:  Facebook Explained)?  Now, I am of the strong opinion that you should use Facebook for maintaining your personal, one on one relationships with close friends and family.  So, you should NEVER do any blatant "marketing and sales" speak on your FB account... but IF your business deals directly with consumers, here are some things you CAN do:

  • Create a Facebook FAN page - so that people can become Fans of your company (note: this only works for companies that deal directly with consumers).  You can use this page to market special events, promotions, news, etc.  Learn how here...
  • Create a text/banner "Ad" on Facebook.   How to Create a FB Ad.  And you can also consult the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Facebook Advertising...
  • And if you have a "widget" to sell, here are 5 ways to Sell on FaceBook... 
  • Create a Facebook "application" that can creatively spread the word about your company through Viral Marketing.... 
  • If you want more detail on these, let me know and I'll do another "tip" on the subject... :)
  • Overall, the Facebook strategy should be one of brand awareness and lead generation, NOT direct sales in most cases.  The more "personal" your business is (products/services geared towards individual consumers, families, kids) the more you should be on FaceBook... if your business is B2B, I would probably spend my valuable time elsewhere... :)

That's your update for the week... take action today before you forget!
Wishing you Peace, Joy and Love!

Patrick Steil

 

Small Business Tip #2: The E-Myth by Michael Gerber and using LinkedIn.com

Patrick Steil - Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Start off 2010 with a Bang!
 
Last week's tip told you about Meetup.com and EventBrite.com to help you use Networking to help you BUILD your business!  I have been out there networking and have been generating new relationships and will be starting off 2010 with a bang!  Hope to see you out there as well!  And don't miss the end of my email about the networking group I am starting up - over 40 people have joined my group!  

I decided I am going to give you a general Business Tip and a Tech Tip each week so that you have something to working on strategy wise and also tactical wise as well!

Business Tip of the Week

You MUST read this book:  "The E-Myth".  This 'E' stands for Entrepreneur.   This book will help you DESIGN your company as a TRUE BUSINESS and not just a JOB!  You can download this as an e-book, or order the paperback.

Technology Tip of the Week

Are you "LinkedIn"?  LinkedIn.com is a great way to stay in touch with all your business contacts and a great way for people TO FIND YOU when they search on your skills, expertise, etc.  I look at it as a way to maintain a database of business cards - or relationships with business people that I want to be able to draw from in the future.  

These two pages will help you get started:

LinkedIn New User Starter Guide
LinkedIn Sign Up (FREE)

That's your update for the week... take action today before you forget!
Wishing you Peace, Joy and Love!
 
Patrick Steil 

Subscribe to Receive Complete Website Management Tips & Tricks by Email:

  


Recent Posts


Tags


Archive