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Archive for the ‘Tools for Small Business’ Category
Sunday, February 5th, 2012
The business world can be brutal, and the online business world is even more so. Name me a product and a price and I daresay I could find a handful of offers that beat yours either on price, service or reputation. That doesn’t mean the millions of shoppers who search online could, though a fair proportion of them will. Are you a small business owner who is trying to survive online by doing it all yourself? There is a good chance your business is going downhill, and possibly your health as well.
There is only so much a person can do. You have a choice, you can work on the periphery of your business, managing a website, keywords, content, marketing including a social media marketing campaign, and perhaps even a PPC campaign as well – and we haven’t touched on the business side of things, the stock control, money management and growth of a business. The alternative is to work longer building your business, increasing turnover and profitability. There are some small business owners who can manage this full time, however, their stress levels are high and their interaction with family and friends low.
The alternative is to engage professionals to work on specific areas of your business. Are they expensive? Despite popular opinion, generally not – although expensive depends on your own personal opinion. There are very competent web designers, content writers, marketing consultants and SEO professionals, just to name a few, who can help you build your business. The key to their success is your ability to let go.
We can often identify one common trait amongst those who insist on a DIY approach to an online presence – they really do go it alone. The best recommendation we can make is to stop – and network. You don’t have to give away business secrets, although you’ll be surprised with what you’ll learn once you start networking, and that includes reliable information on who best to engage to help with your online presence.
Small businesses with a DIY mindset often fail, or at best, remain static and fail to grow. The time will come when your business will need a professionally produced website, aggressive SEO, and perhaps a strong marketing (particularly social media marketing) campaign to survive in this brutal online world. Networking is one approach to breaking the DIY cycle, and to obtaining information that will help your business grow – are you networking? Are you doing it all yourself? It’s time you broke free and found professional help for your online business.
Tags: online professionals, SEO, social media marketing
Posted in Tools for Small Business | 7 Comments »
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012
If you are one of many people out of work and have been out of work for a while, take the initiative and start a small business. It is not as hare-brained as some may think. One, the United States needs more businesses and you need to go to work. Think about the skills you have and utilize them to start your own business.
New business start ups have been steadily declining for several reasons. However, the country needs new business as that is how this country was started, by entrepreneurship and hard work.
Even if it is not your skills, but maybe something in your area that needs a certain product. For instance, if you live in an area that does not have specialty furniture, like rustic furniture. If you know that there are enough people in the surrounding area that would purchase from your store, go for it. It could be any number of things that might be easy start up businesses in your community.
Options for financing include visiting with lenders in your area or applying for a small business loan through the small business administration. They have a number of resources available and can help those wishing to start a new business.
Another consideration is starting your business from home. If it is possible, it will save you thousands of dollars in start up costs alone.
There are a thousand ways you can start your own business. It also beats sitting around waiting for that job interview to call. Take the initiative and be your own salvation. Once you get the business going, you will be glad that you started it.
Tags: Branding, business, local business, small business
Posted in Tools for Small Business | 5 Comments »
Saturday, December 31st, 2011
For small businesses, making more sales is what keeps your doors open. We have talked about a lot of ways to boost your business and get your name out there. It’s been mentioned a couple of times, but mailing lists are one of the most important marketing tools you will have.
It’s important to keep mailing lists up to date with current postal addresses and email addresses. You may only use this list to send out newsletters or flyers every once in a while.
Think about ramping up your mailing list by adding new customers to the list and using it for more than a newsletter. You could make several templates of how-to tips, products, or did-you-know facts. Whatever your business is, use that business for all kinds of ideas you can use in a mailing list.
Most regular customers will expect your mailings as they are used to getting them, but new customers like the feeling of a welcome letter maybe coupled with a discount coupon in appreciation of their business. It makes them feel like you value them, which you do. You just need to do something to reinforce that feeling.
The single most important thing you can do in building a business is to build customer confidence in you and they will come back. Customer loyalty goes a long way in making a business a success. Mailing lists help you do that. You may not see a regular customer but once every month or so. Let them know about special sales that they might be missing in between their visits.
Think about your mailing list. Clean up any discrepancies and ramp it up for the coming year and you will be surprised at how much it will help you and your business.
For ideas or help with setting up mailing lists, visit a small business consultant who can get you on the right track.
Tags: advertising, business, e-mail marketing, internet marketing, small business
Posted in Tools for Small Business | 6 Comments »
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011
Due to the current job market crisis, more people are working from home than ever before. There are a lot of opportunities to work from home or to work for someone else from home. Whatever you choose, you will still have a small business working from home. What have others found out about balancing home life with your job sitting on the kitchen table?
Anyone can have a small business out of your home. Once you have the basic business set up out of the way, you then need to consider to balance the two. A small business still needs to operate as a small business and family still needs to be family.
Be sure to set yourself boundaries. It is very easy to get lost in your work on the computer or the phone. But, don’t lose sight that it’s still a job. You need to make a schedule for the business. This way you still have your home life.
For example, let’s say you want to work your business from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then, set an alarm that will remind you when 2 p.m. rolls around. No matter what, stop as soon as you can, close up shop and return to your “home,” even though you are still in your home.
It needs to be just like a regular job. When your time is up, you go home. You also need to make sure you take breaks to stretch your legs and back and to just step away from the computer for a few minutes.
And, remember, don’t feel guilty. Rest assured, the emails, the voice mails and any other related work tasks will still be there the next morning when you return to “work”.
You too can be successful operating a small business out of your home. Look at it this way, you will have the freedom to be your own boss, have your own business and still make money.
Tags: business, search engine optimization, small business
Posted in Tools for Small Business | 5 Comments »
Monday, December 26th, 2011
The year 2012 is going to be a good year! A positive outlook goes a long way in making your small business grow. The coming year will be new; it’s time for a new look and a new way of doing things.
The first thing to consider is employees. If you have employees and you are growing, think about if and how many new employees you need. Figure out a new budget which includes employees and any upgrades or repairs that need to be done.
It’s also an excellent time to make a new marketing plan, some fine tuning to your website and possibly new business cards. Consider how you want to advertise your business such as online, radio, television, newspapers and the simple newsletters or e-letters.
New technological advances need to be considered as well. Implement a plan for texting, email campaigns, phone apps or video chat. There are now so many ways to stay in contact with clients, suppliers or employees. These new ideas are just the ticket to jump start your small business right into 2012.
Since you are now thinking of all kinds of things you can do or start in the coming year, be sure to organize your files and get tax information ready. That dreaded time of the year is not far off. At the same time, clean up all the old email addresses you keep telling yourself you need to update. Even if it is winter, get the mind set for spring cleaning.
And don’t forget to add social media to your new marketing plan. It’s such a simple and free way to get your business noticed and out to the public, using social media. Word of mouth goes a long, long way in bringing in business.
Tags: advertising, business, e-mail marketing, facebook, internet marketing, small business
Posted in Tools for Small Business | 1 Comment »
Friday, December 9th, 2011
What is the definition of an online business? Any business, whether it is a physical location or just a website, you need to advertise everywhere you can. Because people are on the go so much these days, they prefer to see a website address that they can jot down and go to the site later, when they have time.
Online advertising is a great way to advertise. But for those who never think of searching for items online, when they see a poster or a business card with a website address, they will be more likely to go to the website when they are relaxing at home.
The traditional ways of advertising can be increased by adding your website to the ad, whether it is newspaper, radio or television. You could conceivably pull customers in from everywhere.
Be sure to also include your email address so customers can email you with any questions they have. You can also do an email marketing campaign. If you regularly stay in contact with your customers, you will be able to bring your online business and you physical business together.
One of the best ways of advertising off line is to take a walk around your local town. Meet and greet people, hand them a business card, let them know what your business is all about. Mention the website and email address. You would be surprised at how well this works, even in today’s technology.
Tags: advertising, Branding, e-mail marketing, internet marketing, small business, website
Posted in Tools for Small Business | 14 Comments »
Monday, November 21st, 2011
Yahoo! has announced that today spells the death of a search tool that has been with us since 2005. That was when Yahoo! actually tried to be a search engine.
Yahoo! Site Explorer is no more.
Yahoo! Site Explorer is a tool that many webmasters used to see who was linking to them, and who was linking to their competition. For years, every webmaster who wanted real live link metrics used it. Even those search marketers who gloried in the death of Yahoo! at one time sang the praises of Yahoo! Site Explorer. It was the best free link popularity tool on the Web for the longest time.
But now it’s dead.
What this means to webmasters is that we will be relegated to using paid-for-services for the best and most accurate link data. Yes, you can use Google Webmaster Tools and Bing Webmaster Tools, but neither one of them shares the same information on links that Yahoo! Site Explorer was known for. If you want that data today, you’ll have to pay for it.
That might make the information sellers happy, but even Rand Fishkin, whose MozRank is very popular, is singing a dirge for the death of Yahoo! Site Explorer.
R.I.P. Yahoo! Site Explorer.
Tags: search tools, yahoo, Yahoo! Site Explorer
Posted in Tools for Small Business | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Skype is one of the leaders in voice over internet technology, if not THE leader in VOIP. They have some awesome services for businesses who are ready to enter the 21st century. Consider these:
- Free Skype to Skype calling
- You can have your own online phone number
- Anyone from anywhere can call you and it’s local
- Conference calls through Skype
- Skype To Go allows you to use Skype on your mobile phone
I realize not every business in the world can benefit from this technology, but many can. In addition, you can use Skype for group calling, video calling, and screen sharing. That makes Skype a useful videoconferencing solution for small businesses. I know some small business owners who have ditched their land lines and have gone completely wireless using Skype and their mobile phones.
Skype is an affordable business solution if you find yourself wanting to ditch that old 20th century mainstay, the land line. Tired of the add-on charges your phone company keeps giving you? Tired of the disconnected service whenever you experience a storm? Skype could be a tool you’ll enjoy having around.
I think it’s just a matter of time before the whole world is connected via VOIP. Skype could be the leader for homes and small businesses when that happens.
Tags: mobile phones, Skype, small business, VOIP
Posted in Tools for Small Business | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
By Lauren Carlson
Tradtional CRM systems were relegated to the large enterprise space due to cost, maintenance and overall risk involved. But times have changed. Today’s CRM market is filled with many systems that are appropriate for the small business owner. These systems operate in the cloud, resulting in lower up front cost and reduced risk at the onset.
To help you sort through the many available systems, we have compiled a list of our five favorites.
Sage ACT! – Sage is a legacy vendor in the CRM space, and ACT! is one of the strongest products in their portfolio. ACT! provides contact management for the small business owner. They offer specialization in multiple industries, including real estate and financial services. Their latest release of the product, the 2011 edition, introduced a more user-friendly user interface, as well as a new add-on that aggregates business contact information from Hoover’s and deposits it directly into ACT!
SugarCRM – Companies looking for a high level of flexibility and ownership over their CRM will want to take a look at SugarCRM, the leader in open source CRM software. The basic edition is free and offers standard features such as contact and campaign management. For more sophisticated features, companies will want to look into the paid editions. SugarCRM can be deployed both on-premise and via the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model.
Salestrakr5 – This web-based solution is ideal for the SMB owner looking to better align their sales and marketing teams. Salestrakr5 offers lead management, sales pipeline management, email campaign management, and many other features to help sales and marketing automate their processes. It also offers strong integration features, allowing users to import contacts from almost any contact management, CRM or email service provider.
Maximizer CRM – Sales people are always on the go, looking for the next big opportunity. Maximizer CRM has strong capabilities for contact and opportunity management, but their mobile integration is the one that shines. Whether using an iPhone, Android or Blackberry, users can access vital contact and account information from anywhere in the world. The Entrepreneur edition is probably the best fit for the SMB, but Maximizer makes it easy to upgrade to more robust editions as your company grows.
Infusionsoft – Infusionsoft was created by small business owners for small business owners. It offers basic CRM capabilities, with its strongest features centered around marketing automation. Perhaps the best feature Infusionsoft offers is the dedicated marketing mentor assigned to every client. CRM and marketing automation are complex systems that can often be intimidating. This mentor serves to ease you into the system, teach you the bells and whistles and provide you the training wheels you need until you are ready to go it alone.
For a more comprehensive overview of each system, as well as a system comparison, check out the original article on the Software Advice blog: Small Business CRM Software | 5 Affordable Solutions.
____________________________
Lauren Carlson
CRM Analyst
Software Advice
Tags: cloud solutions, CRM, customer management, small business, SMB
Posted in Tools for Small Business | 5 Comments »
Thursday, April 14th, 2011
VOIP provider Jajah has recently announced a Facebook app that allows you to place free phone calls on your Android to any of your Facebook friends. But it’s available only in the U.S. and Canada.
If you think that’s too limited, rest assured, it’s just a start. An app for the iPhone is on the way and there are rumors that a Skype Facebook app is in development. I can see a day when this technology will be available worldwide. It also has astounding potential for small businesses who want to do business with their Facebook friends.
Imagine posting to your Facebook page that you are running a special, but the special is only available to Facebook friends who call you within a specified time – let’s say within 15 minutes. That’s not a long time. But if you have 2,000 friends and 10% of them see your post at the time that you make it and you get a 10% response, you’ve just sold 20 items at your special offer rate.
Here’s another scenario: One of your friends posts that she is looking for a particular item that you happen to sell. You can call your friend as soon as you see the post and tell her about it. Why risk the potentiality that she doesn’t see your reply because she stepped away from her computer? You just call her. After all, you’ve got the app.
Tags: Android, business, facebook, VOIP
Posted in Tools for Small Business | 3 Comments »
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