Bizsuccess

Friday, May 4, 2012

By: Susannah Morgan

Plain and simple; contests work. Contests are proven to garner response from your customers because everyone loves a chance to get something for free. Put together ideas for contests that are relevant to your company and come up with specific goals. Do you want your business to gain more followers? Maybe you’d rather just increase your brand awareness. Consider your objectives first and you’ll be one step closer to the success your business deserves. See below for the top places contests work best:

1. Social media.

If you have recently created a Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or other social media account, hold a contest to gain more followers.

2. Tradeshows/local events.

People love attending trade shows just to receive free stuff. Take this valuable opportunity to hold a contest at your booth. This is a great opportunity if your objective is brand awareness. Prospects who have never heard of your business may stick around to learn more.

3. In-store.

Inform customers at your retail location of a contest at the checkout counter or while they are waiting on their service. More »

Friday, April 27, 2012

By: Susannah Morgan

As a small business owner, you may be fighting to get your name in the news. Get Busy Media‘s research states that only 50% of businesses survive five years, though 70% make it to two years. Don’t let your small business be a statistic. Harnessing the power of small business PR can help your company survive. Use the tools listed below:

1. Build your network.

Associate with reporters in your area. Follow and engage them on social media. It’s important to get journalists on your side and build trust that turns into press for you.

2. Write interesting press releases.

If your small business can’t afford a PR consultant, you can write press releases on your own. View samples of press releases for others in your industry. Make sure the content is interesting and worthwhile to the network of reporters you have built.

3. Have patience.

Getting significant press takes time. After connecting with reporters, you may start to get asked for quotes for their articles. This doesn’t happen right away, so don’t let it frustrate you. More »

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

By: Susannah Morgan

According to Bursin-Marsteller, the number of companies being talked about on Twitter has increased by 90% over the last year. Social media is not just for reconnecting with high school classmates anymore, instead, it has developed into a great tool for facilitating business and building brand awareness for your company. If your small business hasn’t incorporated some type of social media into your business plan, you are missing out on a great opportunity. Read below for some tips to consider when engaging in various online communities:

1. Be personable.

When posting on Twitter or Facebook, make sure to act like a real person interacting with your followers. Put some personality into your posts. The movers and shakers of social media don’t act like robots, and neither should you.

2. Think strategically.

If your small business marketing budget is tight, and you don’t have the means to hire a full-time social media expert, make sure to invest in only the big guys. This may mean only creating Facebook and Twitter accounts, instead of every social media site available to you. While being active on as many networks as possible is good, you still need to make updates daily in order to create a following.

3. Give discounts.

Studies by ExactTarget found that nearly 40% of Facebook users who become fans do so to receive discounts and promotions. More »

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

By: Susannah Morgan

According to BIA Kelsey, 97% of consumers check online for local services before they make a purchase decision. Your online presence should include your Kudzu profile page, a website, a blog, and a Twitter and Facebook page, if possible. The more abundant your company is online, the more powerful your credibility becomes. Make sure your small business website includes the following:

1. An easily accessible contact page.

Have a section on your company website which features your business address, phone number, fax number, and email address. You may also include a sign-up button on this page that subscribes customers to your newsletters or enters them in giveaways.

2. An online photo gallery of your work.

According to OnlineGraduatePrograms, 1 in 4 people abandon a website that takes more than 4 seconds to load. Make sure your main homepage stays away from large photos that could cause slow load times. Instead, have a separate page which links to your Kudzu photo gallery or includes a slideshow of before and after photos. Seeing is believing; and customers want to see the work you do before they hire you. More »

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

By: Susannah Morgan

As a small business owner, do you feel like your success is stagnant? Are you running out of ways to reach new customers and build a larger customer source? Bring in more cash to your company bank account by establishing yourself as an industry expert. While this process takes loads of patience and a lot of action, it will pay off tenfold. Abide by the tips below to become a trusted expert in your industry:

1. Find solutions.

Survey your existing customers to figure out what problems they deal with the most. The better you know and understand your customers, the easier it will be to serve their needs.

2. Be informed on the latest technology and industry news.

Be aware of and implement the latest technology for your services. Customers expect the best, and this will give you an edge over your competition. More »

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

By: Susannah Morgan

As a small business owner, it’s vital to take a step back every now and then to review the business plan of your company. Benchmarking is a great way to compare the success of your company to those in your trade. Look at those companies that are of a comparable size and have related objectives as yours. Gather research from industry groups who collect poll data from their members. In the current economic times, benchmarking is especially important. Below are 4 things to consider during this arduous but essential process:

1. Niche.

What are your company’s specialties? If you don’t already have a niche in mind, now is the time to focus on what your company does better than your competition and market it to your prospects. More »

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

By: Susannah Morgan

It’s no secret– customers turn first to companies they trust. Your company’s credibility is a key factor to success. No one wants to unknowingly hire a fly-by-night operation. While uniformed technicians and branded company vehicles send a message to your current customers, it may be difficult to translate your credibility to online prospects.

Hubspot‘s research indicates that this year, the audience of internet users in the U.S. will expand by 3.1 percent to 239 million, representing 75.6 percent of the total population. If your company’s web presence is sparse, now is the time to concentrate on building it out. Below are three ways to increase your online credibility:

1. Online reviews.

If you have already achieved multiple reviews on your Kudzu profile, the next step is to spread those reviews across a wide variety of mediums. Call them out on your Facebook or Twitter profiles. Create a reviews widget on your business website. Link to your reviews in your email signature. More »

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

By: Susannah Morgan

Merchandise branded with your company logo is a fantastic, economical way to advertise your small business. What’s a better way to advertise than for a prospect to literally walk away from you holding a tangible reminder of your business? In fact, promotional merchandise is an $18 billion dollar industry. See below for some benefits of implementing promotional items to your advertising campaign:

1. Longevity.

Research shows that over half of people keep branded merchandise for over a year. When choosing products, stick to items that consumers will not quickly dispose of. Stay away from branded gourmet food packets and plastic bottles of water that will be in the garbage by the end of the day. Mugs and t-shirts are better options.

2. Usefulness.

Everyone loves free stuff! 83 percent of people surveyed by the Promotional Products Association International enjoying receiving promotional pieces. Pens, notepads, markers, and highlighters are easy to keep handy. Consider stocking up on writing tools because they will be shared and used most often by people. More »

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

By: Susannah Morgan

Even if your small business doesn’t have tens of thousands of dollars to spend each month for a comprehensive, integrated TV and radio campaign, there are dozens of ways to market your company successfully. Instead, reach your customers on a more personal level with these tips:

1. Send incentives to new homeowners.

Get in touch with a list broker to buy the contact info for new residents in your neighborhood. Mail them a coupon to try your services and welcome them to the area.

2. Meet and greet your neighbors.

Set up a booth at community events and join in on town parades. Volunteer at local food drives and participate in charity races.

3. Support local teams.

Personalize plastic megaphones, pompoms, or koozies to hand out to the crowd during your local high school’s football game. Print a coupon on the back of the game ticket, put an ad in the program, or advertise your business on the scoreboard. More »

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

By: Susannah Morgan

A recent survey by Webs.com reports that the top New Year’s resolution for 57% of small business owners is to focus on attracting new customers. Networking events are a great place for small business owners to meet new people and boost business. However, navigating networking events can be a daunting task without the right tools under your belt. Take a look at the following tips to make the most of it:

1. Stand out from the crowd.

After a while, everyone in a dark suit can start to look the same. Wear a unique accessory to make attendees remember you. Ideas include a bold scarf, interesting tie, or unusual piece of jewelry.

2. Claim the best spot.

Make sure to stand in high traffic areas like the food station, bar, or by the entrance.

3. Know your business.

Be able to answer the question of how your company differs from competitors. Explain the story of your business in a short but memorable way.

4. Come prepared.

Give your business card to everyone who requests it. Make sure all contact information including voicemail, phone, fax, email and website is clearly legible. Leave the back of your card blank with matte finish for guests to easily jot notes about you. More »