The Timesaver

I follow The Blog Squad (Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff). Today’s email from them was about social networking. They’re holding a teleseminar this Wednesday (4/23) on how to use Web 2.0 and social networking sites to get more traffic and grow your business. You can register for the teleseminar here.

And here’s an article Dense and Patsi shared about social networking you’re going to want to read!

Social Networking - What Is It And Why Your Business Needs It
by Michele PW

Social networking. Social marketing. Web 2.0.

You may have heard these terms bandied about and wondered what exactly they are and (more importantly) what they mean for your business.

So let’s dig right in and get some answers. First, some definitions.

Social networking is actually a pretty broad term. It basically means any type of relationship-building amongst a group of people with a common interest (business or personal). However, that term has taken on a whole new dimension online, where social networking sites (MySpace, LinkedIn, Facebook) are popping up faster than you can say “Will you be my friend?”

These Web sites are designed around helping people network and build relationships via online, instead of the more traditional face-to-face networking meetings.

Which leads us to Web 2.0. No, it’s not a technical upgrade of the Web (I can hear all the sighs of relief as people everywhere realize they don’t need to be downloading or learning new software). Rather, it’s a new way to use the technical aspects of the Web to build better relationships with people. So it includes blogging, podcasts, social networking sites, video, webinars, etc.

Actually, what it really is is a shift in mindset. Rather than using these tools because they’re cool new tech gadgets, we’re using them to bring a more human element to the Web.

Now social marketing is used interchangeably as social networking, but that’s actually a misnomer (according to Wikipedia). Social marketing is an old term, which refers to marketing for the good of society or for social causes and has nothing to do with any of this.

So, back to social networking. This is wonderful news for business owners out there because it fits right in with how customers buy. Namely, people buy from people they know, like and trust. So building relationships using Web 2.0 techniques is a fabulous marketing strategy.

And many Web 2.0 techniques are either free or very low cost. All the social networking sites have free accounts (some have paid upgrades, but it’s still low). Podcasting can be free (or you can pay a very low fee to do the recording via the phone). Blogging can be free. You get the picture.

Now there is a downside. The downside is it does take time. So if you’re already feeling overwhelmed and frazzled, yes this could feel like another huge to-do on your list.

Which is why I’m going to tell you right now not to go there. There is help. Virtual assistants (also known as VAs) can assist you with these social networking tasks. Also, some marketing professionals offer social networking packages to do it all for you, so you don’t have to manage it or even learn much about it. In other words, you don’t have to go at it alone!

And you also don’t have to spend hours and hours on these tasks either. Pick ONE thing to do, then spend 1-2 hours a week on it. Once that’s mastered, then add a second task. (Or get it into a system so you can outsource it and then bring on a second task.)

Obviously the more time you (or someone on your team) can devote to social networking, the faster you’ll see results. But I don’t want you to beat yourself up if you don’t have a lot of time to do it or money to outsource. Do what you can and let the rest go.

The other thing to keep in mind is it also takes time to start seeing results. None of these techniques is for immediate results or a quick infusion of cash. These techniques are long-term strategies. They’re very effective, but they’ll take some time.

As for what to start on first, that’s up to you and what appeals to you (and what you think will appeal to your target market) but I’ll give you a quick summary of a couple of the major ones along with pros and cons:

1. Blogging.

Pros — This is a terrific way to build traffic to your site. My blog gets a tremendous amount of traffic and much of that spills over to the rest of my site. Plus, I have a Wordpress blog, so it’s built into my Web site and it comes with RSS and pinging and everything else a good blog should. (Did I mention it was free?)

Cons — You need to do some writing. And it does take time. (Either yours or someone on your team.) You should plan to post at least a couple of times a month — more is better.

2. Podcasting. (Podcasting is like having your own little radio show, except the audio is downloaded into an iPod rather than broadcasted.)

Pros — This is a terrific way to add credibility and build trust with your customers. Audio, especially when listened to on a podcast, is very intimate. You end up building a tighter bond with your customers than through reading alone. Adding audio to Web sites has been shown to increase conversion rates. (I.e. more people will buy when there’s audio involved.)

Cons — Time (you got to make time to do your podcast, and once you start, you need to do it regularly). This is also a bit more technical than blogging — you need to upload it to your site, to podcast directories, etc. Unless technology comes really easy for you, I would suggest finding someone to help you out (at least to get you started). And if you have a really dreadful voice I would think twice about doing a podcast.

3. Video.

Pros — Like audio, adding video to your site is great for increasing conversion rates. It adds a level of intimacy and helps your customers feel like they really know you.

Cons — Technical and time. For audio, all you need is a phone. Video you need a camera, a video editor, etc. Of course, once it’s done, you can use it in a lot of places, but getting it done may feel overwhelming. [Note from Glenda: Video is EASY now with the Commercial Creation Center found at AroundLancasterCounty.com! Check out the free trial until May 1!]

4. Social networking sites. This is fast becoming a great way to find customers, form relationships and drive traffic to your site. However, before you dive into this, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, there are some 200 social networking sites out there and I’m sure that number continues to grow. But, MySpace enjoys a whopping 80 percent of that traffic. So it only makes sense that 80 percent of the time you’re devoting to social networking sites should be devoted to MySpace.

And don’t think MySpace is just for kids! I’ve only been playing around with it for a couple of weeks and I’ve already made some pretty good connections, plus I’ve noticed a spike in my traffic and sign-ups for my newsletter. My friend Nancy has as great primer on how to use MySpace for business purposes.

The other two social networking sites I’m on are LinkedIn.com and Ryze.com. What I like about those two is they’re more focused on business, plus they don’t take a lot of time (so they fit nicely in the 20 percent of my time for the other sites). MySpace can be a time sucker, so just be aware of that.

Pros — Great for building relationships and appears to be good at driving Web traffic.

Cons — Takes time (Sensing a pattern here?) Also it’s very easy to waste a lot of time on MySpace as well.

My suggestion is to pick one of these techniques to start with, do it for awhile and see what happens. If you start seeing leads and results, stick with it and maybe add another one. If it looks like it’s not worth it (takes too much time and you’re seeing too few results) try another.

Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) owns Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC, a copywriting, marketing communications and creativity agency. She helps people become more successful at attracting new clients, selling products and services and boosting business. To find out how she can help you take your business to the next level, visit her site at http://www.michelepw.com. Copyright 2008 Michele Pariza Wacek

Sometimes I think customer service is dying in Corporate America. And today’s happenings clinched it for me. Here’s my story, and I’ll be interested to hear what your take is on this. This is lengthy, so grab a cup o’ java and read on…

For the past couple months, I’ve been in the market for a new color printer/copier. Of course, I want to “seal the deal” by the end of the year for tax purposes. I checked with my current copier provider (let’s call them Dealer #1) and another one in town (Dealer #2). I settled on the Bizhub C203 (Konica Minolta) and then went about striking the best deal. When it came right down to it, both providers matched price and maintenance agreements, so I chose to stay with Dealer #1 because I had been doing business with them for at least 10+ years and have bought 3 copiers from them to date (This is otherwise known as Customer Loyalty).

We fill out the paperwork and order the copier. I’m told the terms are Net 30, but of course I tell them I’m going to pay the invoice by the end of the year for tax purposes. We talk about possibly paying via credit card, cash, or possibly taking out a loan. Shouldn’t matter to them, as long as they get their money, right? Wrong!

Two days ago I get a voicemail from the salesperson at Dealer #1, telling me that they had called my bank and I did not have the funds available for the purchase. So how do I want to pay for it? Credit card? Cashiers Check?

Whoa! Wait a minute! We hadn’t even set up a date for delivery yet. Why were they calling my bank to see if the money was there? What if I had the money in another account and wasn’t going to transfer it until delivery was happening? Or what if I was paying by credit card?

Needless to say, I hadn’t called the salesperson back because I was still fuming. The more I thought about it, the more it just didn’t feel right. I had been a customer of theirs for over 10 years. Every copier we purchased from them had been paid for with a personal check, at time of delivery. I’ve always paid my statements with them. Why were they questioning me now? Isn’t a good customer worth anything anymore? Apparently not.

I get a call from the salesperson’s manager this morning, asking if I had decided how I was going to pay for the copier. Well, that did it. The flood gates opened. I explained to him the longevity of our business relationship. To tell you the truth, I felt violated that a company would actually do that to a long-time customer, especially when we weren’t even that close to the delivery date yet. (Another interesting note is that this company was locally owned until just this past year when it was gobbled up by Corporate…which has something to do with it, if you ask me.)

Shortly after that, I receive an email from the salesperson apologizing for the miscommunication and sympathizing with me, but there was nothing he could do about it. Oh, by the way, the credit department was now demanding a cashiers check upon delivery of the copier. So, that opened the flood gates again. I emailed him back, explaining all my concerns with their customer service and inviting him to share the email with his superiors, in the hopes it would somehow be helpful in improving their customer service.

Luckily, today was my Women Business Owners Network (WBON) monthly meeting. I was able to tell my story to a few close business acquaintances there, and all of them were shocked that a company would treat a customer that way. They encouraged me to contact them again and demand some sort of discount or something for the faux paux. I needed to hear that from them, just to validate that what I was feeling wasn’t out of line.

So I get back to my office and call the salesperson back. I tell him I’m ready to cancel the deal because of the treatment I’ve received trying to strike this deal. I realize I’m “small potatoes” compared to some of the larger clients they have, but I still deserve to be treated with respect. I told him the deal is off unless they think they can do something to make it right.

So now I have to call Dealer #2 and ask if they’ll still honor the price quote they gave me a week or so ago, because I’m very disenchanted with Dealer #1 and am calling off that deal. He assures me they’d be happy to meet the price he gave me before. He asks why the deal with Dealer #1 is off. I briefly explain to him what happened. He assures me they don’t call banks unless it’s a lease arrangement where it will need to be paid over a length of time. Otherwise, it’s up to me how I pay the invoice. No credit check. No cashiers check. (Note: This is a locally owned company.)

After I get off the phone with Dealer #2, I find a voicemail from the salesman at Dealer #1. They’ve put together a goodie bag for me with pens, mugs, mousepads, etc.; a Husker football book featuring Tom Osborne; and they’re going to take $200 off my invoice. Plllleeeeeaaaaasssseeee…..

Needless to say, my customer loyalty with Dealer #1 is gone. I’m forging ahead and will create a new customer relationship with Dealer #2, who is happy to have my business…and my money…. I wonder if they’ll call Dealer #1 and thank them for the new customer they just got?

Feel free to share your thoughts, if you made it this far. I welcome your comments.

by Darrell Williams, Right-Hand-Man Virtual Assistant Services

How can a virtual assistant help me during this holiday season? What could someone half way across the country or halfway around the world do for me at this time of the year?

I have come up with a few answers:

Sending out holiday cards/letters - Do you have a list that rivals Santa’s for holiday cards and letters? Why not let someone else get this done for you. For businesses, this is a great time to send out something to keep in touch with clients and customers. Personally, it is a time to reconnect with friends and loved ones.

Shopping - You can find every product online now which makes shopping a whole lot easier. Have a virtual assistant find that perfect gift for that “hard to buy for” person in your life. Gifts can be purchased for you or your VA can locate that elusive CD, game, book, or technological gadget that you cannot seem to find and then tell you how and where to purchase it.

 
[READ FULL ARTICLE]

“That will never happen to me!” is a cliché many of us apply to a number of topics in our lives, yet many of us subconsciously take precautions to protect ourselves from unforeseen possibilities. We buy home insurance in case of theft or fire, we buy life insurance to protect our families in the event of our death and we buy car insurance in case we are in a car accident. Some of us even buy business insurance to protect our company. The problem is many of us overlook the biggest “insurance” we should be investing our time and money in from the beginning. The “insurance” provided by creating a thriving business. What does it mean to create a thriving business?

The first step to creating a thriving business is preparing an operational manual that will ensure that your business can survive any hurdle including business growth, owner absenteeism and even owner death. Most business owners never stop to consider what might happen if they were injured, sick or worse. By taking a precautionary role in your business and considering things such as: “What if it happened to me?”; “What if my spouse, child or parent was sick tomorrow – could I dedicate the time to their recovery?”

These are all things we think we won’t have to worry about, but what if? Step back for a minute and think about how your business would change if you needed to take the time to dedicate to a personal problem. Perhaps in the short term it wouldn’t change much, but what about if you needed to step back for an extended period of time? What would happen then?

The success of many of today’s small businesses hinges on the expertise and skills of the owner. What happens to the business though should the owner become ill or die? In many cases a family member steps in out of a feeling of obligation, but often they lack the skills necessary to allow the business to truly thrive. They don’t have the same dedication, determination or passion to see the business succeed as you did. In many cases, a promise to maintain a family business is made with the thought of “I won’t ever have to worry about that” in the back of the family member’s mind. After all, no one thinks it will ever happen to them.

By creating an operational manual that outlines every facet of your business operations including pertinent company information and a full description of how daily tasks are carried out, your business could easily continue uninterrupted without fear things were not being handled in the same manner you, as business owner, would expect. Family members could easily hire someone to handle the business operations with your Operations Manual with the confidence of knowing things were being handled as you would handle them.

Step back for a minute and think about what it means for you to truly create a thriving business. Just like plants need essential tools to survive, so does your business. The ingredients may be different but providing them is no less important. Plants need water, sun and dirt in order to grow vigorously and healthily. Your business needs a successful team leader, a needed product or service and a plan in order to be successful and profitable. Most businesses only have two of those important ingredients and are missing the most important ingredient. If you leave instructions for watering your plants, shouldn’t you leave instructions for running your business?

About the Author
Yvonne Weld is the author of The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Thriving Business and is the owner of ABLE Virtual Assistant Services. For more information about The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Thriving Business and how you can protect your business from unexpected absences due to injury, sickness or even death, click here. This article may not be copied unless in its entirety and the author’s bio is attached.

Networking events used to scare me to death (due to my introverted nature). But over the years, it’s become much easier for me to attend an event where I know practically no one, and come out having met some valuable contacts.

So what do you do AFTER the networking event to follow-up with the people you’ve met? I found an article by Felicia Slattery on just that very subject. I first met Felicia in an online coaching group, and she has lots of good insight on this and other subjects. Enjoy!

Networking Follow Up Tips for Solo-Professionals So You Don’t Feel Like You’re “Bothering” Anyone
By Felicia Slattery

Networking is one of the best ways for a solo-preneur to get out from what can easily become your lonely office. At networking events you meet other business people and can introduce them to your products and services. You also get to make some important connections to help others. If you look at networking events as your opportunity to help others, you’ll attract more people. As a result your communication will have a different feel to it.

Instead of contacting people after a networking event to sell them on your product or service, you can connect with them in order to provide information that will be useful to them. By providing useful information, you will stand out in that person’s mind. When they need that type of information again or information they know you offer — you can bet your phone will ring!

Your follow-up actually begins while at the networking event. Pay attention to what others tell you. Ask what they need. Listen attentively. If you know a person or business who can fill that need, share the information and promise to follow-up with contact details.

After the networking event here are three ways to follow up so you don’t feel like you’re bothering someone:

Read the entire article here.

My computer automatically reset its time this morning, thinking Daylight Saving Time had ended. (It usually ends the last Sunday in October.) But, thanks to the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005, Daylight Saving Time will end at 2 a.m. the first Sunday in November this year (November 4). So you’ve got another week of Daylight Saving Time, folks.

So check your computers, cell phones, or any other smart device that may change time on its own. Otherwise you’ll be late to lots of things this week!

What are some of your best practices and tips for making your customers/clients feel special? Are you doing anything special for your clients for Valentine’s Day? If you’d like to share, I’m writing an article about this very topic and would be glad to give reference to you (and your business) in the article. Send your tip to glenda@hinztime.com. For each tip, you’ll be entered into my Valentine’s Day contest (see info below). I look forward to hearing your responses, and will post the article here on my blog when completed.

Now, one of the ways I like to make my customers feel special is by sending them an unexpected greeting card…when they get some good press, they’ve lost a couple pounds and shared with a list I’m on…anything that they need a little “pat on the back” for or “just because.” And sometimes I even add in a gift card to Starbucks or Home Depot or another of the many gifts cards available. If you’d like to discover how you can send personalized greeting cards to your clients (from your computer, any time of the night or day), go to www.easyholidaycards.com and request a no-obligation demonstration AND you’ll be entered into our Valentine’s Day Contest to boot!

Here are the Valentine’s Day Contest prizes:

*Ten (10) greeting cards (plus postage) through SendOutCards ($25 value) - 2 prizes, 2 winners

*One personalized handwriting font ($49 value) - 1 winner

Here are several different ways to enter (You can enter more than one way):

1. Send your tip for making your customers/clients feel special and receive one entry for the greeting card prize. Send 2 tips and receive 2 entries, etc. Send your tips to glenda@hinztime.com

2. Request and complete a no-obligation demonstration of our personalized greeting cards and receive one entry for the greeting card prize. Request your demonstration here. (Enter TimeSaver as the coupon code.)

3. Refer someone to me (they must complete the demonstration) and receive one entry for the greeting card prize. They can request their demonstration here. (Have them enter your name as the person who referred them as the coupon code.)

4. Sign up as a SendOutCards customer through me and receive one entry for the personalized handwriting font.

There’s lots of ways to enter! All entries must be received by midnight Central time on Tuesday, February 13. Winners will be announced by Noon on February 14, 2007.

Two of my colleagues reminded me today that time is running out on Skype’s offer for a whole year of unlimited calling within the U.S. and Canada for $14.95! (But hurry…it goes to $29.95 after January 31, 2007!) You get 12 months of unlimited calls to any phone in the U.S. and Canada, right from your computer. They’re also giving you more than an hour of international calling time AND $50 in coupons to get a Motorola headset, Netgear WiFi phone, and a Polycom speakerphone.

Thanks Mary McDonald (The McDonald Consulting Group) and Paula Fehringer (blueship.com) for jogging my memory and saving me some money! You’ve got a week to get in on this deal, so don’t space off like I almost did! (Or hopefully you’ve got a friend like Mary or Paula who will remind you!)

There are only a few days left in the year. Dr. Jeanette Cates has some tips on taking those last-minute tax savings.

Read more.

There’s an email rumor going around describing a new scam in which crooks rob you of your gift card balance. If you buy Gift Cards from a display rack that has various store cards you may become a victim of theft. Crooks are now jotting down the card numbers in the store and then wait a few days and call to see how much of a balance THEY have on the card. Once they find the card is “activated,” they go online and start shopping. You may want to purchase your card from a customer service person, where they do not have the Gift Cards viewable to the public.

An even better idea…buy and send your gift cards through your SendOutCards account and never have to worry about this! Don’t have an account yet? Click here to set up a gift account and try it out!