Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
In times like these, how do I grow business?
Check out this business-building article written by long-time Financial Professional and SCORE Counselor, Rick Andrade. . .http://www.businessinsider.
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Monday, November 7, 2011
Why some fail in business. . .
O.k., this is going to come across to some as way too simplistic, but oh well. . .
Friday, November 4, 2011
Two Important Questions About Internet Marketing. . .
Got "SCORE-Power"?. . .
Friends, Fans, Followers. . .
This just in. . .
As you may already be aware, we are just a few hours away from the next SCORE-Ventura 2 part workshop - two parts because the subject matter is just that hot these days and there's so much developing around the question of what to do and how to do it when it comes to the Internet for business.
Part 1 starts tomorrow, 11/5/11 at 8:30 a.m. and goes 'till 3:00 p.m. Presenters will start with some basics of Internet marketing, then move on to how to create a good website, key words, pay-per-click ads and more. As I have done in the past, I once again put a few questions out to the SCORE-Ventura Counselors who coordinate and/or conduct the on-gong workshop series titled "The Successful Entrepreneur". I merely scratched the surface of this subject asking these couple of questions. . .
Part 1 starts tomorrow, 11/5/11 at 8:30 a.m. and goes 'till 3:00 p.m. Presenters will start with some basics of Internet marketing, then move on to how to create a good website, key words, pay-per-click ads and more. As I have done in the past, I once again put a few questions out to the SCORE-Ventura Counselors who coordinate and/or conduct the on-gong workshop series titled "The Successful Entrepreneur". I merely scratched the surface of this subject asking these couple of questions. . .
- What should a business owner think about when creating a new website?
- How do some traditional types of marketing and advertising compare/contrast/compliment some more current ones such as facebook?
Here are some of the responses. . .
Re: Websites:
- Make sure the contact info is easily found and usable.
- Maintain integrity.
- Don't promote your company as something it isn't (i.e. if you're the company, don't go and photograph a large building and photoshop your name on it. That's soooo 1990's!
- Endorsements and recommendations from satisfied customers.
Re: Traditional compared to Newer forms of Marketing:
From Jim Bond, long-time Marketing/Advertising Executive, Business Coach and SCORE Counselor
- Traditional advertising reaches you passively (newspaper, magazine and TV ads). While eAdvertising can also, it is often actively sought out in a search - You have an opportunity to close a sale!
- Don't make it difficult.
- Make it easy for customers to get online or live assistance.
Re Websites:
Who specifically will be visiting your website?
What if anything will they know about your business, product or service when they visit your website?
What image do you hope to project for your business or products?
What is the visitor's main objective in visiting your website?
What action do you want the visitor to take as a result of visiting your website?
How easy is it for them to take that action?
How will you measure your site's performance? (How will you know if your website is effective?)
Also, how does your website integrate into the rest of your marketing? What other media and methods will you use, and how does the website fit into your prospecting, qualifying, educating, lead generation, selling and up-selling process?
Re: Traditional compared to Newer forms of marketing:
From Webmaster, Technology Consultant and long-time SCORE Counselor Ken NorlandWho specifically are you targeting? B-2-C, B-2-B?
What are all the media available to reach them?
What are the strengths and limitations of each medium?
What role can Social Media play in the marketing process?
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Social Media?
What other media complement and compete with Social Media?
-- Mail order?
-- Specialty Magazine Advertising?
-- Directory Advertising?
-- Packaging?
-- Email Marketing?
-- Personal Networking? . . .
Re: Websites: Your new web site needs establishes your "personality" on the web, and it must also target your selected customers. Both dimensions have to come together with a good, clean design with good responsiveness. Such a web site may well cost a substantial amount. If the web site is your primary selling vehicle, spend appropriately. If you have a bricks & mortar establishment as well, that and the web site should be complementary and provide as seamless experience as possible. Again, focus on melding the personality you want to portray, your target customer base in an exceptional web experience (and an exceptional real experience if needed.)
From Pat Douglas, Human Resources Compliance Consultant and long-time SCORE Counselor. . .
Re: Websites: I would say that business today, especially small businesses need to have a presence on the internet. They should have a website. The SEO (Search Engine Optimization)should reflect those key words that are indicative of their business.
In your website, you should have the following elements:
(1.) About Us -(What is your story? Why did you go into business?)
(2.) Services or Products offered
(3.) Clients
(4.) Testimonials
(5.) Affiliations -(Professional Associations, Chambers of Commerce.
(6.) Professional Certifications and Designations
(7.) Blogs -(Events/ for example, HR Tips, etc.)
(8.) Contact Us
Re: Traditional Marketing/Advertising compared to Newer forms. . .
First, of all not many companies are advertising in newspapers. Advertising dollars are pretty much directed to the internet and diverted away from traditional print media. I would imagine for a small business that they may have to try some traditional print advertising such as trade magazines/publications that are indicative of their marketplace.
If advertising with traditional print media and the internet, establish analytics that will tell how well you are or are not doing.
If this subject matter interests you, if you or someone you know might benefit from a few hours tomorrow to dig deeper into more detailed discussion and learning, get details and sign-up at:.
www.ventura.score.org or call 805-204-6022 but ya better hurry, start time is nearing!
It's a Jungle Out There!
Internet Marketing Workshop tomorrow morning. Learn how to use internet to get new customers.
Whats new? SCORE-Ventura is gearing up for the the upcoming "double hitter", 2 day workshop focusing on one of the hottest topics in today's small business community - the Internet. Many start-up and existing small business leaders are trying to "wrap their heads around" what to do. Ever feel like the guy in this picture when it comes to internet marketing?. . . .
If so, you are not alone. Everyday, it seems, there's introduction of yet another new tool promising to be the next best thing since sliced bread for growing business. This, in addition to the continually evolving traditional mediums - radio, television and print (even those are expanding advertising services onto the Internet) - with newspaper on-line, radio on-line and numerous on-line T.V. show. So, what is a small business to do?
Well, let's face it. The train is moving with no indication of stopping anytime soon. Check out the stats at this site and please do return for the rest of the story after you've gotten a chance to look at the staggering numbers http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats2.htm
O.K., you're back! So where were we. Oh yea. . so one might say such statistics are all well and good but they are global numbers and what does that matter to a small local business? I say plenty, not because I claim to be any top authority on the matter, but because true marketing industry experts are saying it and proving it not only in global marketing results but in local small business communities. Certainly, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Coca-Cola and Burger King would not be spending their corporate dollars on whole divisions dedicated to Social Media Marketing alone if there weren't some measurable gain to realize. I don't think so.
One example of a real-life local company benefiting from a well run Internet marketing campaign is what happened with Ventura, CA based, Rusty's Pizza. One day, just a few months back, this small, local chain of Pizza Restaurants had 63 fans on its facebook page. Now, about 3-4 months later, that number is up to 4,504. This jump means Rusty's get's to talk to a much larger audience and if the message is effective, the company stands to convert many of those new "fans" into loyal customers! How did they do it? They got people to click "like" and click "share" and sign-up on the Rusty's facebook page to get a free pizza. I know because I did it myself and received my personalized coupon a few days later in my "snail mail" mailbox. Here's how it works. If I "like" something on facebook, my 400 plus friends know I "liked" it and if I "share" information, the reach can be even broader. Then, if the offer or discussion is compelling enough, some of my 400 friends do the same and before you know it, the originator of the valuable information, service or product is well on the way to an expanded listening/viewing audience!
Rusty's kept the process simple for the user, which means the technology and skill behind the scenes had to be sound - i.e. sign-up forms, links, tracking and record keeping so that people who are promised a free pizza actually received one, and with the email "opt-in" approach, the added benefit is the collection of emails and contact information for keeping in-touch with the new found "fans" in the future.
In a previous post, I asked the question. . ."The Internet. . .Who needs it?!" Scroll down the page here a bit to see what Business Owner/SCORE Counselor, Marla Blanchard had to say. . . and stay tuned, we'll be focusing on this subject in the lead-up to the next workshop where SCORE-Ventura presenters will dig even deeper into the discussion.
Hope to see you at the next "double-hitter" workshop on Internet Marketing. For more information and sign-up go to www.ventura.score.org or call 805-204-6022 or email: info@scoreventura.org
Whats new? SCORE-Ventura is gearing up for the the upcoming "double hitter", 2 day workshop focusing on one of the hottest topics in today's small business community - the Internet. Many start-up and existing small business leaders are trying to "wrap their heads around" what to do. Ever feel like the guy in this picture when it comes to internet marketing?. . . .
Well, let's face it. The train is moving with no indication of stopping anytime soon. Check out the stats at this site and please do return for the rest of the story after you've gotten a chance to look at the staggering numbers http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats2.htm
O.K., you're back! So where were we. Oh yea. . so one might say such statistics are all well and good but they are global numbers and what does that matter to a small local business? I say plenty, not because I claim to be any top authority on the matter, but because true marketing industry experts are saying it and proving it not only in global marketing results but in local small business communities. Certainly, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Coca-Cola and Burger King would not be spending their corporate dollars on whole divisions dedicated to Social Media Marketing alone if there weren't some measurable gain to realize. I don't think so.
One example of a real-life local company benefiting from a well run Internet marketing campaign is what happened with Ventura, CA based, Rusty's Pizza. One day, just a few months back, this small, local chain of Pizza Restaurants had 63 fans on its facebook page. Now, about 3-4 months later, that number is up to 4,504. This jump means Rusty's get's to talk to a much larger audience and if the message is effective, the company stands to convert many of those new "fans" into loyal customers! How did they do it? They got people to click "like" and click "share" and sign-up on the Rusty's facebook page to get a free pizza. I know because I did it myself and received my personalized coupon a few days later in my "snail mail" mailbox. Here's how it works. If I "like" something on facebook, my 400 plus friends know I "liked" it and if I "share" information, the reach can be even broader. Then, if the offer or discussion is compelling enough, some of my 400 friends do the same and before you know it, the originator of the valuable information, service or product is well on the way to an expanded listening/viewing audience!
Rusty's kept the process simple for the user, which means the technology and skill behind the scenes had to be sound - i.e. sign-up forms, links, tracking and record keeping so that people who are promised a free pizza actually received one, and with the email "opt-in" approach, the added benefit is the collection of emails and contact information for keeping in-touch with the new found "fans" in the future.
In a previous post, I asked the question. . ."The Internet. . .Who needs it?!" Scroll down the page here a bit to see what Business Owner/SCORE Counselor, Marla Blanchard had to say. . . and stay tuned, we'll be focusing on this subject in the lead-up to the next workshop where SCORE-Ventura presenters will dig even deeper into the discussion.
Hope to see you at the next "double-hitter" workshop on Internet Marketing. For more information and sign-up go to www.ventura.score.org or call 805-204-6022 or email: info@scoreventura.org
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Dig in and get it done. . .just do!
Got "SCORE-Power"?. . .
This is my first blog of the day and will be a short one because I've had my head down focused on getting through a list of tasks. That's the thing in business and in life. If you ever get to a place where things look to be getting piled up, the good feeling of accomplishment comes after we've rolled up our sleeves and dug in to get it done. One thing at a time, one step at a time, steady and focused and before you know it, a substantial portion of that list is accomplished!
This is my first blog of the day and will be a short one because I've had my head down focused on getting through a list of tasks. That's the thing in business and in life. If you ever get to a place where things look to be getting piled up, the good feeling of accomplishment comes after we've rolled up our sleeves and dug in to get it done. One thing at a time, one step at a time, steady and focused and before you know it, a substantial portion of that list is accomplished!
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