Social Networking for Business Growth

Don’t forget about old networking methods

As you enter into the realm of the social media, you can’t forget about the old ways. Tweeting, posting and sharing are all great ways to get your brand to a lot of people. However, meeting people in person, networking, making phone calls – those methods all still work.

Today I went to a luncheon for business women and they were quite a hoot. As I generally spend my days hunched over my computer tapping away at the keys, getting out and seeing other humanoids was enriching, if nothing else! Just like giving a polar bear at the zoo a giant ice ball with a fish in the center of it, meeting some people in person was my enrichment for the day.

The women I met were from various fields, only one other spends her entire day alone with a computer. While immersed in cyberspace, we tend to forget about how important it is to do networking in person with other business people to help grow our businesses.

Check your community and find a networking organization. Most allow visitors to attend at least one or two meetings without joining the organization. Get a feel for the group and see if it is a good fit for you. You don’t have to meet everyone at once. I felt a little intimidated at the first one I attended. If you just make a few connections, the next time you go, you will know at least one or two people. Then, it becomes much easier.

Always take a big stack of cards, even if you think you will only give out a few. It’s always best to be prepared. If you don’t have cards – shame on you! Get some. There are reasonably priced places online like vistaprint.com where cards are very inexpensive (some are free, you just pay shipping). Vista Print offers designs already made up for a variety of businesses or generic cards. If you need help, get in touch with me. I can design something for you at a reasonable price.

Take advantage of all the ways to connect with others and grow your business. Don’t limit yourself by relying completely on the internet.

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Master Face-To-Face Marketing: 15 Sources Of Event Management Intelligence

You may be organizing an in-house event, trade fair or seminar as part of your current Marketing Plan.  Some of you may be participating in a trade show or convention as an exhibitor, sponsor or partner in the months to come. If so, tap into some great advice on how to maximize your presence and effectiveness in these face-to-face marketing opportunities. Read on to pick up on some key event tools out there.

WHY: Include Events in your Marketing Mix?

• They deliver something no online experience can quite match up to: real in-the-flesh face-to-face meetings and marketing opportunities.
• Events are multi dimensional, tactile and real-time forms of Experiential Marketing: the best way to let people sample your products and experience what you do in person.
• Events give you space for inspiration and chance collaborations. When Online, you are deliberately looking and researching. In Real-world events, inspiration will hit you in the face even when you are not looking for or  don’t know what you’re looking for.
• 
  

HOW: To Get Started.

Most regions and countries have homegrown resources to help them. My favourites include:

• Facetime: a non-for-profit outfit from the UK providing free down-loadable PDF guides, DVDs and e learning CDs that guide you through event management decisions.  Starting with: The Journey of a Virgin Exhibitor
• TSNN.com a prominent events directory and industry news portal from the US offering tools and resources to business people working on trade events with the latest industry tips. Here is a taster: How to become a Tradeshow G.E.N.I.U.S.
• MeetinIreland.com in Ireland is the kind of site you should find locally in most countries, providing easy to find resources for international & local event planners, incentive travel, DMCs and conference organisers. A handy resource for locating venues and local information. I especially like the resources page and conference checklist: Step-by-step planning schedule to keep you on top of your conference management.

 WHAT: Event Intelligence You Can Tap Into

The growing cross pollination between offline and online event marketing / on-site activity is a separate bible in itself. There are experts in the field that can help you get navigate through the cutting edge event planning technologies, applications or social media practices in the events sector.

•  Event Manager Blog‘s Julius Solaris is my personal Fave, here is a taster: Using Social Media at Trade Shows [Infographic]
• Events Guru UK provides events technology advice such as Heidi Wilkiams’: Using Google Events as Part of Your Event Strategy?
•  Small Business Marketing Blog, Ready2Spark does good cross over posts for marketers and event planners alike. For Example: QR Codes for Events – Do they Deserve the Hype
• Write on Track gives some insight on the relevance of Twitter to events & conferences a several posts including: How to Tweet at Conferences

People who need People…

Presentations and people skills are essential to maximising your presence at events. There are some coaching experts online with key insights on getting your message across.

• Smart Solutions  does a great blog on how to work the room in : Top Networking Skill – Rapport
• The Reluctant Speakers Club is  a great go-to blog, a veritable font of information on how to develop your speaking and presentation skills. Maximising your impact in that next speaking engagement with :Don’t Waste My Time

Check the Suppliers

Companies in the business of providing display solutions or key suppliers to events organisers also do blogs advising you on the techniques and key things to remember when participating in trade events. Look at your local suppliers for advice too.

• The Trade Show Marketing Network a US based Supplier provides display marketing tips and advice like : Trade Show Display Budgets – What You should be Spending
• Skyline also from the US,  dish out practical and down to earth white papers and blogs on topics like trade show displays and marketing techniques  for example: Trade show Planning Flowchart: your Prescription for Pain Free Exhibiting.

Off The Beaten Track

Thinking of doing something cutting edge, unique or targeting the Millennial market?

• The Alt Terrain Guerrilla Marketing Agency details different types of Guerrilla event marketing ideas with pics whilst promoting their services. For example: Engaging Mural Graffitti and Street Art Performance at Indoor and outdoor events.
• CG online Marketing has a recent post of future digital trends that definitely impact on the event sector:What’s Our Digital Future.
• Get event marketing insight from the world of concert promoters and entertainment from Dottedmusic.com : Online Tools Every Concert Promoter Should Use

WHEN: Trying not to Clash & Publishing your Event

When holding an event especially if targeting an international audience in a B2B setting, be cognizant of current events globally and make sure you get seen in international directories and event calenders. A plethora of  online directories exist. Some of the more comprehensive portals include:

• Biztradeshows.com: The largest directory of trade fairs, business exhibitions & trade shows, featuring 19000+ live trade events and 8100+ Organizers worldwide. They post post show reviews and press releases so you can research events to invest in. A sample from their Best Practise list of blogs:Meetings and Conferences at Trade fairs.
• Expopromoter.org is an affiliate network for the business event industry; an event industry resource offering online services for two target segments: business event organisers and B2B websites.

 WHERE: Finding the Right Venue

•  Meetingsbooker.com offers 58,965 conference rooms in over 100 countries around the world. Event bookers can use the website for free and receive direct online quotes or send an enquiry to a number of venues for conferences. Their blog does give latest news on new venues ideas/trends and even tools by industry guest bloggers. For example:  Starbucks go after meetings market.

I hope this helps you tweak the events side of your business.

The key Marketing takeaway?  Events are real world experiental face-to-face marketing activities and  by their very virtue, require more focus on the following:

• Your local environment vis a vis venues and travel arrangments
• The events calender in your sector
•  The people and presentation skills within your team
• The new technologies and trends that make people sit up and notice your activity in a noisy marketplace.

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5 Reasons Why You Should Be Using Pinterest for Business

If you have been on the fence about using Pinterest for your business, it's understandable. I know what you're thinking, "Oh man! Not another site I have to keep up with!"

But if you were getting results out of using the network, wouldn't you want to give it a try? Here are my reasons why you should be using Pinterest for your business.

1. More Website Traffic

Websites and blogs are reporting an increase in traffic to their sites once they started using Pinterest. As soon as I began using Pinterest for Idea Sprouts I began to get new traffic AND leads from the site.
Since increased website traffic can also increase leads and sales, Pinterest is worth considering as another social media network for your business.

2. Links to Your Website

If you have "pin-worthy" images and videos on your website, people will start pinning them to their Pinterest boards. That means you get a link back to your website with every pin.
If you want to see if you have any pins back to your website, use this website address:
http://pinterest.com/source/YOURWEBSITE/
So for my website, I'd use: http://pinterest.com/source/ideasproutsmarketing.com/
You will then see a list of pins that anyone has pinned from your website. Pretty neat!

3. Get Found by New People

Every time someone pins or repins one of your images, you have the potential to get found by even more people. That's because your images will show up on their boards and their followers will see it.
In addition, when you pin or repin an image, you have the option to share it on Facebook and/or Twitter, which means even more eyes will see your content.

4. Showcase Products

While I don't advocate using Pinterest to blast people with images of all of your products or ebooks (in fact, being overly promotional is against Pinterest rules), you can certainly use it to highlight items.
If you have physical products with gorgeous photos, you have a real opportunity to shine on Pinterest. Especially if your products are popular with women (right now, the majority of Pinterest users).

5.  Get Personal

One of the great things about Pinterest is its simplicity. You can share so many different types of photos and images very easily, and get more personal. Add photos of your employees, your events, or testimonials from happy customers. People may begin following you because of one pin they liked, but they will take a few minutes to learn more about you by looking at your boards.
I'm going to be sharing more Pinterest ideas with you in the upcoming weeks, but for now, why not set up an account? Once you do, I'd love to connect with you.
I'm looking forward to seeing your pins!

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It’s Customer Retention, Stupid! -Why Your Small Business Needs An After-Sales Service Strategy

Dont You find your customers coming back to you time & again? Its time to check your business strategies now.Read on to get some clues on what might be going wrong!!

Think Beyond The First Sale!

In the US, the term “After-sales service” is not nearly as commonly used as “Customer service”. The distinction often made is that “After-sales service” is a more specific area under customer service, dealing with warranties and repairs. Fair enough. But with many concluding that customer service in general has deteriorated compared to past generations, perhaps it’s time to look at what these ideas really mean from a small business perspective.

The customer service often extends to people who haven’t even bought into your product yet. While attracting and educating potential customers is absolutely essential, time and again it has been proven repeat business is essential for sustainable growth. You can attract a lot of new customers, but if you can’t hang onto them, your business is not going to last very long.

If you have a unique product or service that happens to address an important need, this is a bit less of an issue. But say you run a dental practice, a laundry shop, an auto-repair shop, or do freelance graphic design, or are otherwise in a business that usually gets at least some competition. As much as you’d like to point out what makes your core offer so different from everyone else, it’s unlikely anyone else would care as much until they actually see your work.

And suppose your customers are satisfied, but not particularly awed- what then? Do you hope they don’t care enough to look for anyone else the next time they need it? Of course not.

Give Your Customers a Reason To Come Back- Or At Least Something Good To Remember You By

Developing an after-sales strategy can’t be ignored because this is how your brand develops a following, and hopefully, repeat business. It helps to have a good product of course. You might have a good product- but it’s possible your customers wouldn’t know how good it actually is compared to competing offers- making it extremely important to give them something else to remember you by. Why? Because I would rather have 10 regular customers that keep coming back  over the course of a lifetime, than 100 new customers who’ll never do business with me again.

Your after-sales strategy should depend on the context of your business- these can be as varied as the types of business. Technical support and warranties as well as replacement policies are all standard tactics, which newbie business owners might overlook. You can also print up gift cards, or do something as simple as sending a heartfelt thank-you note for customer referrals. 

One strategy many small businesses use is asking customers to fill out a survey in exchange for redeemable coupons. These little things can make a huge difference.
Without a plan that goes beyond the first sale, you’re like a hot date who’s got nothing else going for them. Almost anyone can attract someone’s attention- winning them over on the other hand, is a totally different thing altogether.

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Run a Home-Based Business in US? – Find the Licenses and Permits You Need

Whether you’re starting a business from home or looking to move into a home office, it’s important not to overlook the fact that your business is still subject to license and permit laws.

Why? One of the main reasons any business owner is required to carry a license is so that revenue can be tracked for taxation purposes. Businesses that sell taxable goods or services also need a sales tax license or permit. Licenses and permits are also used to protect the public and are required in federally regulated industries (aviation, firearms, alcohol businesses, etc.).

Other industry licenses signify specific expertise. For example, if you run an in-home hair styling business, you’ll need the same professional license that you’d need if you had a main street salon.

Regulations vary based on industry and location, so it can be intimidating to know where to start.

Use the “Permit Me” Tool to Find Your License and Permit Requirements

To help business owners navigate the process, SBA.gov offers a useful tool called “Permit Me.” Simply enter your zip code and business type to view a list of the licenses or permits you’ll need, together with information and links to the application process.

General Home Business License and Permit Guidelines

In addition to the Permit Me tool, it’s helpful to know more about the general guidelines that apply to home business licensing and permit requirements. While not all of these will apply to every business, some will.

1. General Business Licenses – Your city or county government website can help you get one of these. Basically it’s an annual license or permit that legally entitles you to operate a business in that locality.  Typically a small fee is associated with this paperwork.

2. Professional and Trade Licenses – State governments require certain businesses or industries to obtain professional/occupational licenses, such as a child care operation or real estate license. You can contact your state's business license office – or check the website – for a complete list of occupations that require licensing. 

3. Home Occupation Permit – Many city and county zoning and planning agencies require all home-based businesses to get a Home Occupation Permit. If a permit is not required in your city, the zoning office can tell you if your neighborhood is zoned for the home business activity you plan to conduct. If your area is not zoned for your type of business, you may need to file for a variance or conditional-use permit. This guide, Zoning Laws for Home-Based Businesses, has more information about zoning laws for home-based businesses. 

4. Sales Tax Permit - If you intend to sell taxable goods or services (online or offline), you may be required to collect state and local sales taxes from your customers. If you sell your products in a state that charges a sales tax or levies a gross receipts or excise tax on businesses, you may have to apply for a tax permit or otherwise register with your state revenue agency. 

5. Health and Safety Permits – Depending on your location and industry, you may need either a permit or an inspection from your local fire department, especially if your business requires the use of flammable materials or will likely involve the assembly of several people in one location, such as a child care business.

Air and water pollution by businesses is also monitored in some communities. You can check with your state environmental protection agency to see if these regulations are applicable. Health Department permits are typically issued by your county government, pending an inspection of the business premises, if you plan to sell food to the public or to other businesses. Additional permits may be required for food service or food preparation depending on your state. 

6. Sign Permits – Some cities and towns have sign ordinances in effect that restrict the type, size, or location of signs placed on your property. Check with local authorities.

7. Construction Permits – If you need to make structural changes to your property to accommodate your in-home business, environmental and building permits may be required for construction. It’s a good idea to check your local government’s building and planning department before undertaking any construction. 

8. Check with Your Home Owner’s Association (HOA) – While your local HOA won’t specify particular licenses or permits, if you do live in a planned residential neighborhood or complex, the HOA can restrict the type of business activities you conduct in your home. 

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7 Of The Best Small Business Learning Resources

Running a small business can be a daunting task for first timers. It takes more than just a handful of business cards and a company bank account to get your small business off the ground. In all honesty, it can be a daunting task even if you’ve been around the small business block a few times already. The best tool you have on your side to prepare yourself is knowledge. There are all kinds of free Internet-based resources out there to help you get started.

Great, but I have a business to run, you may argue. I understand – you don’t have time to surf half a dozen sites to find what you’re looking for. Often, you don’t even know what you’re looking for. In these situations, a process for gathering information quickly and efficiently is critical. So check out these free resources when you find yourself stuck or trying to learn more.

# 1. Wikipedia

I know the age-old argument that Wikipedia isn’t a credible source. But let’s face it – you’re not writing a doctoral dissertation here. You just need information quickly. Instead of reaching for a search engine, sometimes the best way to get a grip on an issue is to learn about the concept as a whole. For example:

• If you’re struggling with some accounting issues, specfically how to tell whether or not your finances are getting better, you can start with a high-level overview of accounting concepts on Wikipedia first.
• Once you learn some key terms like balance sheets, income statements, and other critical accounting concepts, it’s much easier and more efficient to look up more information via Google or other search engine.

# 2. Entreprenuer.com

A community that is full of wonderful tools for small business owners can be found at Entrepreneur.com. They have a huge repository of quality training and educational pieces to get you up and running fast. While you can subscribe to the paid magazine, many of the articles on their site are absolutely free.

# 3. SBA.gov

The Small Business Administration (SBA) also has a treasure trove of content you can use to educate yourself. Even better, for free you can meet with advisors and counselors who can provide you a vast list of resources in terms of both content and people who can help.

# 4. Score.org

While not an online resource, Score provides free small business counseling – they’ll come to you and their counselors are all vetted, experienced personnel who offer their advice free of charge. If you want a long-term mentor who can coach you as you go and guide you to the right resources, Score is an excellent resource.

# 5. BusinessKnowHow.com

A little known resource, Business Know How is chock full of information regarding marketing and finance for your new small business. They too have a blog with additional articles and resources regarding troubleshooting and Dos and Don’ts. Their goal is to help small business owners understand how to be as effective as they can with their marketing strategies.

# 6. Google

This search engine of choice is listed last for a reason. It’s not to say you should use Google last, but consider that once you know the concepts around your problem better, you are more likely to find the right information more effeciently using Google or other search engines. The key here is to understand your problem; the terms and vernacular are critical to finding the right resources.

# 7. YouTube

Also in the same vein as Google, YouTube can be a powerful resource for educational videos. Instead of reading through a topic, now you can watch or listen to someone showing you how to solve a problem. But, like Google, you should approach this resource with a solid understanding of the issues you’re dealing with so you can skip the basics and get right to the heart of your problem.

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