Business

  • Keeping Customers is Better than Finding New Ones

    Getting New ClientsAsk any experienced business owner how important their customers are, and they will tell you that customers are the lifeblood of their business.  Because of that, many business owners believe that the key to success is to constantly find new customers.

    Smart business owners know that the real key to success is to develop long-standing business relationships with their clients and keep them coming back.

    This has many benefits.  First of all, when a business owner has clients coming back for repeat purchases, the business owner will not need to spend as much time on finding new customers.

    The business’ income will not suffer, as new work will be coming to the business, instead of the business constantly chasing new work down

    Sphere from dollar sign isolated on white.Not only will this save time and resources, it is also a more cost-effective way to do business.  The business owner won’t need to invest as much in their marketing and advertising campaigns. 

    Happy customers are also more likely to send referrals to a business.  If a satisfied customer runs into a friend or colleague needing the type of services you offer, they will give that person your contact information.  This results in even more work coming into the business without the business owner chasing after it.

    If you like the sound of enjoying repeat business with your current customers while spending less time and money attracting new clients, you may be wondering how to put this into action.  Here are some tips on how to keep your customers happy and coming back.

    Business handshakeOffer Quality Products and or Services

    While it is hard to say which of the following tips is the most important, this one is extremely important.  Without a quality product or service, there is not much reason for your customers to come back. 

     

    Practice Effective Communication

    This is important whenever a business owner is dealing with a customer or client, but it really comes into play for service providers.  It can be very difficult for a business owner to turn over a piece of their business to someone else, especially someone who does not live close by.

    But that is exactly what happens whenever a business owner hires a virtual assistant, ghostwriter, web designer, or other service provider. 

    Service providers can keep their clients happy and at ease by providing regular updates on project statuses and asking questions whenever they are in doubt about something.

    Provide Good Customer Service

    In the above tip, we talked about effective communication skills, but that is just one part of a good customer service plan.  You have probably received poor customer service from a business in the past.  How did that make you feel about the business, and did it change your mind about doing business with them again in the future?

    A general rule of thumb is to always treat your customers the way you would like to be treated.  That simple statement will ensure you will have customers coming back time and time again.

    At Strategize Your Success we help entrepreneurs, coaches and small business owners with online strategic goal setting, marketing and planning.  We know what struggles you face and offer solutions to help make your business THRIVE. Contact us today for a FREE 30 minute Discovery Session. 

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  • Finding Inspiration for Marketing, Products and Services

    Inspiration is very important to entrepreneurs.   It can provide motivation to get them through the tough times.  It can spark ideas for new products, services, or marketing efforts.  Or it can simply make an ordinary day a little brighter.

     

    Although we may not realize it at first glance, inspiration is all around us.  It can take many forms, and it can show itself in things that look like the exact opposite of inspiration.  By keeping our eyes open and looking at things in the most positive light possible, we can find all sorts of inspiration in everyday life.

     Baby Steps

    Kids

     

    Children are a wonderful source of inspiration.  Whether they are our own, a friend’s or a family member’s, kids never cease to amaze.  Small children are especially inspirational, because they have so much to learn and tend to keep at it until they get it right.

     

    For example, think about a child who is learning to walk.  It’s certainly not something that happens overnight.  First he gets up on his knees and crawls, and then when he’s mastered that he pulls himself up and stands.  Eventually he’s holding onto things and taking small steps, and before you know it he’s walking all over the place on his own.

     

    Kids go through many similar learning processes.  When they find something they want to do, they keep at it until they get it right.  If a child can be that motivated, so can an adult, right?

     

    Think about a new business.  Doesn’t it remind you of a young infant or child? It needs to grow and evolve and learn to stand on its own.

    Desert cacti Nature

     

    Nature is a beautiful place to look for inspiration.  There are tons of examples that entrepreneurs could follow from plants and wildlife.

     

    Beavers work together to build and repair dams.  Plants sometimes grow and flourish in places that we would never dream that they could.  I live in the desert and it amazes me how cacti grow in rocky areas.

     

    Birds search high and low until they’ve found everything they need to build nests for their babies.  These are just a few of the things in nature that can inspire us.

    Theater 

    Art and Entertainment

     

    Inspiration can often be found in art.  Just looking at the artistry and craftsmanship of our favorite pieces can be inspiring.  The attention to detail can inspire us to put the same amount of effort into the things we do for our business.

     

    The movies and television shows we watch and the music we listen to can provide inspiration.  Think of some of the media that you may have watched recently that left you moved, encouraged and motivated.

     

    These are just a sample of the things that we can look to when we need inspiration.  If we look at things in the right way, we can find inspiration all around us.  This inspiration can then be channeled into our business endeavors, giving us the fuel we need to succeed.

    At Strategize Your Success we help entrepreneurs, coaches and small business owners with online strategic goal setting, marketing and planning.  We know what struggles you face and offer solutions to help make your business THRIVE. Contact us today for a FREE 30 minute Discovery Session.
    https://strategizeyoursuccess.com/staging2

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  • 5 Ways Coaching Can Help You Succeed with Your Business Goals

    Business GrowthStarting and growing a business is hard work.  If you’ve never done it before, it can be confusing and overwhelming.  You may be in the business of your dreams, but frustrations can make it seem like you will never get off the ground.

     

    Ambition and motivation are two key factors in success.  But sometimes you need something more.  A coach can share knowledge and inspiration with you and help you find the things within yourself to help you succeed.  So let’s take a look at some ways that a business coach can help you to reach your goals:

     

    1. Coaches can help you gain an objective view of yourself.  Often we are the last people to realize our own strengths and weaknesses.  A coach can give you insight into which traits are standing between you and success, and which ones you need to concentrate on using to your advantage.

     

    Choose a direction
    PRESENTERMEDIA

    2. Coaches can help you discover how to work more efficiently.  When you have a million things to do and little or no help, it’s not unusual to become overwhelmed and not work as efficiently as you could.  Your coach can teach you how to sort out priorities and get your work done more quickly and with less stress.

     

    3. A coach can help you delegate and outsource effectively.  Sometimes you may be tempted to do it all yourself, but that’s often just plain impractical.  A coach can help you determine whether you should hire employees or outsource work.  She can also give you pointers on how to assign and keep track of work for optimum efficiency.

     

    4. A coach can share knowledge and connections that you might not otherwise have access to.  Coaches have experienced the ups and downs of business, and they’ve gained insights along the way that only come with that kind of experience.  This makes them uniquely qualified to help with a variety of problems.  And if they don’t know the answer, chances are they know someone who does.

     

    5. Having a coach can give you more confidence.  It’s comforting to have someone with knowledge and experience on your side, supporting you all the way.  This results in an increase in confidence can kick your motivation into overdrive and help you take your business to the next level.

     

    As an online marketing coach I have been through the stages of starting and running a business, and I know what elements you need to succeed online.  I offer advice and support that can help you achieve your business goals and assist you with the overwhelming choices that you face daily.  Visit here to get more information about working with me.

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  • How Can You Reach Your Target Market?

    Gambling Your TimeWhen people set about marketing their business, it can be a big gamble.  If you are putting up money, it can be scary to think that you might not get a good result.  And if you are using free marketing methods, then you are putting up a lot of your time.

     

    Either way, once your time or money has been spent, you cannot retrieve it.  To make the best use of time and money, it is important for any business owner to make sure they are delivering their message to the right target market.

     

    For instance, a business which sells high-end baby clothes is not likely to see a good result from advertising on a frugal mom website.  Yes, moms are in need of baby clothes, but a site catering to moms who are trying to save money isn’t the place for the ad of a business which sells $40 onesies.

     

    So how do you define your target market?  It’s your ideal audience.  These are the people who would be your best type of customer. If you have already generated clients in the past think about which ones worked out the best for your business. These are the ones that you had a connection with and looked forward to working with.

     

    There are also other ways to determine your target market.  One of these is to take a few minutes of quiet time and visualize exactly who is in need, or want, of your product or service.

     Targeting Your Market

    You can also do a search for competing and complementary products or services and take a look at their websites.  When you look at it, who do you feel they are marketing to?  Do you find a similar image to their target market and your own?

     

    Once a business owner begins to target their marketing efforts and has made sure their message is being sent to the right market, they will see a much better return on investment. Take the time and really hone in on who that is for you.

    There really is no sense in putting time and money into marketing if the message is being delivered to the wrong audience.  In fact, it is a big waste!

    At Strategize Your Success we help entrepreneurs, coaches and small business owners with online strategic goal setting, marketing and planning.  We know what struggles you face and offer solutions to help make your business THRIVE. Contact us today for a FREE 30 minute Discovery Session. 

     

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  • Branding is an Essential Part of Your Business Identity

    Branding is the process of using logos, taglines, and marketing to get your product or service to become a household name.  We all know how branding works even if we don’t know that we do.  But, is branding a plus for your business or a liability? It is definitely an essential part of your business identity. 
    Nike Branding

     

    When you think of certain products, a picture begins to form in your head.  Take, for instance, Nike.  “Just do it” comes to mind.  That is the result of product branding.  Now, if you hear a brand name and it conjures up an image of poor customer service the last time you called, that is also a result of branding but a negative one.

     

    The big corporations are so big because their marketing included making their products a household name.  They found a product or service that everyone could use and made it indispensable through creative advertising and marketing.  Everywhere anyone looked, they saw something that represented the brand so the product was fresh in their mind.

     

    In this world, a new product is developed practically every day.  Inventors and businesspeople are looking for the next big “thing” to hit the market.  All you have to do is look at companies like Nike, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Disney to know that if you can sell one product reliably, others will follow.  

    coca cola brandingPeople are more likely to buy from you if they can associate your product with a positive brand.  When none of the products have a branded reputation, it is a toss-up.  Customers could pick you or someone else depending on what kind of mood they are in that day.  That is not the kind of business we want to do. 

     

    Branding is a total package for any business and that includes small or home-based businesses.  Giving poor customer service for a product that people will use does not inspire loyalty.  Using a logo that doesn’t really say much about your product won’t steer people to your business, no matter how great a product it might be.  Compatibility and consistency are important when it comes to branding.

     

    On the downside, if even one customer gives you a bad report, it could label your brand with a negative name.  When using branding the business name, logo, stationery, customer service, marketing tools, and finished product have to coincide with your company’s mission and ideals.  Wanting to be known as the “best organic soap on the market” will go down the tubes if you start using additives when demand gets too high.

     

    Branding can be a business’ best friend if done right.  Customers will sing your praises to others and business will increase.  On the other hand, let a part of the branding strategy get sloppy and it could spell disaster for the product or service and your reputation. Make sure your customer identifies with your branding, it’s essential.

    At Strategize Your Success we help entrepreneurs, coaches and small business owners with online strategic goal setting, marketing and planning.  We know what struggles you face and offer solutions to help make your business THRIVE. 

    Contact us today for a FREE 30 minute Discovery Session.

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  • When Should You Begin Outsourcing?

    More and more entrepreneurs are starting businesses as solopreneurs.  Many of them begin with no employees, leaving every aspect of the business on their own shoulders.  While this is certainly an inexpensive way to start a business, it’s not always the most efficient.

    young successful business woman working at home / office

     

    Fortunately, there is a way to get around hiring full-time employees.  It’s called outsourcing.  That simply means hiring a third party to perform work for you on a contractual basis, not as an employee.  By outsourcing, you get the benefits of not having to do everything yourself without hiring an employee you may not need all the time.

     

    How Do I Know When I Need to Outsource?

     

    As long as you have the means to pay an independent contractor to do the work you need done, it’s never too early to outsource.  But many business owners prefer to go it on their own until they absolutely have to let go of some of the work.  Here are some signs that you might do well to consider outsourcing:

     

    • You run into something that your business needs but you can’t provide.  Maybe your accounting has become more complicated than you’re comfortable with, or maybe you need a coder to work on your website.  If there’s something you’ve been doing without because you can’t do it yourself, outsourcing may be in order. 

    • Everyday tasks are becoming more than you can handle.  If your emails and phone calls are going unanswered, your customer service is suffering, and you can’t even make time to empty the trash, it’s time to get help.  Depending on your needs, you could hire a virtual assistant or a temporary in-house assistant. 

    • Your workload is getting overwhelming.  You might be taking on too much work.  Then again, if you had someone to handle certain aspects of your projects, you might be able to handle everything you have and more.  If you design websites, for example, you could outsource the content writing to a writer and the graphics to a graphic designer. 

    • You have no time to spend with family or participate in leisure activities.  Everyone has things they enjoy doing outside of work, and just because you own a small business doesn’t mean you should give that up.  Outsourcing can take some of the burden off of you and allow you to do more of the things you enjoy.

     

    Outsourcing is not a sign of weakness.  It is a sign that you know how to handle your workload efficiently.  It can allow you to take on more work than you could on your own, and that means greater profits.  Whether it’s everyday tasks or projects requiring great expertise, outsourcing as needed is good for your business.

    At Strategize Your Success we help entrepreneurs, coaches and small business owners with online strategic goal setting, marketing and planning.  We know what struggles you face and offer solutions to help make your business THRIVE. Contact us today for a FREE 30 minute Discovery Session.

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  • Being a Business Owner Can Be Overwhelming

    Overwhelmed
    Starting a new business is fun.  It is exciting to think that you will be your own boss and make money.  These are all good things about business life.  On the flip side, being a company of one can get to be too much at times.  No one wants to admit when they are in over their heads, but if the business is to continue to thrive, knowing the warning signs and getting help is vital.

     

    Do you waste more and more time each day?  This is not a slight.  We all waste a fair amount of time, even with our businesses.  Wasting time could be spending too much time answering emails or looking something up on the Internet.  It could be taking thirty minutes to write up a “To Do” list and then only doing one or none of the things on it.

     

    This could be a sign that the business is overwhelming us.  Instead of jumping in and tackling the tasks that need to be done, we avoid the one job we know we need to address because we either don’t have the answers or don’t want to deal with it.  Either way, our business is going to suffer as long as we hide from the task.

     

    Look to fellow business owners for help.  This is why it is important to be a part of forums and organizations that deal with your area of business.  You are not the first business owner to feel this way and you won’t be the last.  Someone out there has practical tips that can help you to get over the hurdle and be successful in your business.

     

    Does it seem that you work and work each day but the pile of work never seems to get any smaller?  This is a sign that you need help.  Take a step back and look at your business as a whole.  What is consistently not getting done?  What is the nature of the majority of the work that is left each day?

     

    Consider your options.  If emails have you bogged down, find ways to organize things so that it doesn’t take five or more hours to answer them.  Set up your work day to include an hour for dealing with emails.  During this time, you can answer, organize, flag, create drafts, and whatever else you have to do to keep the emails from overwhelming you.

     

    Is it marketing that concerns you?  Choose one area to market your business.  This doesn’t mean that this is the only area to use.  Quite the contrary is true.  Once this area gets going, explore another part of the marketing strategy.  Diversifying is necessary but not all at once.

     

    Are you overwhelmed?  Take time to discover the source and find solutions to alleviate the stress.

    At Strategize Your Success we help women entrepreneurs, coaches and small business owners with online strategic goal setting, marketing and planning.  We know what struggles you face and offer solutions to help make your business THRIVE. Contact us today for a FREE 30 minute Discovery Session.

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  • 7 Great Ways to Market a Home Business

    Home Office

    One of the greatest challenges of any home based business is bringing in customers. Unlike a physical storefront, with a home based business nobody is going to just “walk by” and make a purchase. You have to be proactive. You have to get your message in front of your customers. You have to draw people in.

     

    Here are seven different ways to market a home business.

     

    ==> Method #1: Word of Mouth

     

    This is one of the most common ways of marketing a small business. Start with your social circle and anyone your social circle knows. Deliver great quality work and let people refer other people to you.

     

    This method works, but it’s slow. You don’t have much control over the speed at which you generate sales.

     

    ==> Method #2: Craigslist

     

    For many service-based businesses, Craigslist is a fantastic tool. If you’re a photographer, graphic designer, massage therapist, guitar teacher or any other kind of freelancer, Craigslist can send you a lot of traffic.

    Event

    ==> Method #3: Host Events

     

    Creating events is a great way to build your brand name and build your credibility. When you create an event and put yourself in front of a room, people automatically assume that you know what you’re talking about. As your event grows, so will your influence. Clients and buyers will come to you naturally.

     

    ==> Method #4: Search Engine Optimization

     

    Try to get your website(s) to rank in the search engines for specific key phrases. This takes a lot of work up front, but once you’re up in the rankings you’ll be getting tons of absolutely free traffic.

     

    ==> Method #5: Pay for Web Traffic

     

    You can make a lot of money if you’re willing to spend a bit of money. Paid web traffic can be a great way to bring in more customers.

     

    Popular avenues include Google AdWords, Facebook PPC, paid banner advertising and paid email marketing.

     

    ==> Method #6: PartnershipsPartnerships

     

    Look for other people in your industry who would want to partner with you. For example, say you teach a real estate investing course. You might look for real estate agents, estate planners and asset managers who deal with the same client base as you.

     

    Do joint projects, joint events, joint mailings and other such partnerships to share your customer and contact base. You all win as a result.

     

    ==> Method #7: Email and Newsletter Marketing

     

    Finally, start your own newsletter. Your newsletter can be in email format or it can be an actual printed newsletter.

     

    Newsletters allow you to build a relationship with people over time. They’ll come to trust you more and more as you consistently deliver quality content. People who would never otherwise become customers will eventually make the jump.

     

    These are seven different ways you can grow your home based business. Customers aren’t just going to come to you – you need to go out and get them. These seven tactics can help just about any home based business expand and grow their profits.

    At Strategize Your Success we help women entrepreneurs, coaches and small business owners with online strategic goal setting, marketing and planning.  We know what struggles you face and offer solutions to help make your business THRIVE. Contact us today for a FREE 30 minute Discovery Session.

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  • How Does Google AdWords Work?

    Google AdWords is a pay-per-click advertising system that allows a web publisher to create an ad based on keywords and key phrases.  This type of advertising campaign can be an effective method for generating traffic to a website. 

     

    Creating an ad with AdWords is fairly easy and doesn’t take much time.  Google supplies the users of this service with quite a few tools to help them create the most effective ads possible.

     

    A person can choose to have their ad placed on specific websites or have their ad seen on the right side of the screen on a Google search results page. An ad that is seen on websites will be known as a placement specific ad and a search results ad is known as a keyword targeted ad.

     

    A placement specific ad can be billed in two ways, either for the number of impressions, which is the number of times it is seen by people, or through pay-per-click.  All keyword targeted ads are billed in the pay-per-click manner.  What this means is that Google only charges the advertiser when someone actually clicks on the ad. 

    This can really help stretch a small business owner’s advertising budget.  Google may display the ad quite a few times, but the advertiser is only charged when the ad catches the attention of someone who clicks on it, and is then directed to the advertiser’s site.

    Google allows people to pay up front for their AdWords campaign as well as the option of being billed later.  For someone who doesn’t want any unexpected surprises, paying up front and having each click or impression debited from the funds is a great way to stay on budget.

     

    To further help stretch an advertiser’s budget, Google allows the advertiser to set a daily limit on how much money is used.  If a person has a budget of $50 for the month they can set those limits within their AdWords account and Google will not let them have more clicks or impressions than their budget allows for that day.  This will ensure that they get a small amount of advertising each day.

     

    There are many reports within AdWords that can be used to determine the effectiveness of the ad.  An advertiser can easily create a few versions of a similar ad and focus each one on specific keywords to see which ad and which keywords are the most effective for them.

     

    In this way, AdWords can be a very effective tool, as well as a great way to drive traffic to your site.  By taking some time to modify their ads and track their results, a business owner can find out exactly which ads bring in the most traffic and the highest profits.

    At Strategize Your Success we help women entrepreneurs, coaches and small business owners with online strategic goal setting, marketing and planning.  We know what struggles you face and offer solutions to help make your business THRIVE. Contact us today for a FREE 30 minute Discovery Session.

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  • What’s “Client Attraction”?

    Do you know what client attraction is?  It’s about making the right client connection with everything you do in your business.  Targeting, positioning and figuring out your unique selling proposition are all about attracting the right clients.  When there is synergy in your business “client attraction” is like honey in a pot it will attract bees.  It happens because you have set up your business so that your ideal client knows exactly what you are conveying and that they are in the right place to get what they are looking for. Social engineering concept

     

    So who is your ideal client?  Do you know your demographics?  You hear people say that everyone is my client.  No way!  Not everyone wants what you have and not everyone will be attracted to your business or maybe even your personality. The more you can narrow down your “niche” the better it will be for your business.  After all what’s the point in advertising to potential clients who are not in your ideal “niche” or “market” it’s a waste of your money and time.

     

    Are you doing everything you can to get prospective clients to feel as if they know you?  It’s the old adage of the” know, like and trust” approach in marketing.  People feel more comfortable spending their hard earned money with people that they have gotten to know even if it’s through that a company’s marketing efforts.  Think about how you buy.  Would you prefer to trust a business that has been advertising in your local market since you were a kid or the person that you never heard of?  Sometimes creditability comes from something like a media presents or longevity.  They can hold a lot of weight with the market.

     

    How about blogging or social media?  If you see someone who is consistent in their marketing approach do you feel a certain connection?  What if they have lots of followers?  Does that provide you with social proof that they must know what they are talking
    about? So the same is true for you and your business. 

    Internet chart with red marker

    Here’s an example. Recently on Facebook, I asked for a reference for someone who does weed control in my area.  I had about 12 suggestions in under an hour.  What was I looking for?  Someone who was referred to over and over again. Those were the companies I narrowed my inquiries to.  There is an old saying “cream rises to the top” and I was looking for the “cream”.

     

    If you put a conscious thought into your client attraction efforts your marketing whether it’s in print or on the web will become a fine tuned selling machine of whatever your company sells or services it provides. If you haven’t a clue as to what you should be doing or you’ve put forth effort without a return then maybe it’s time to get some help. Check out the “Success Blueprint to Client Attraction”  course.

    At Strategize Your Success we help women entrepreneurs, coaches and small business owners with online strategic goal setting, marketing and planning.  We know what struggles you face and offer solutions to help make your business THRIVE. Contact us today for a FREE 30 minute Discovery Session.

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