Posted by Beverly on
February 3, 2010
5 Tips To Make Customers Come To You
1. Determine who your customers are and what their needs and wants are. Know how your product or service can satisfy that need or want.
2. Make sure you select the proper medium to carry out your message and choose the proper location within that medium.
3. Direct your message to where your prospects are listening, viewing or reading.
4. Create a forum or place of business that is unique in some way. Make customers feel different and special while doing business with you.
5. Instill and practice the concept of continuous quality improvement and quality customer service as a way of life in your business.
Article courtesy of SCORE
Posted by Beverly on
January 14, 2010
5 Tips on Preparing for Disaster Recovery
In the wake of the happenings in Haiti, this is an important post. As a woman in business, you must be prepared for just about anything because on any given day some type of disaster could strike in your community and create havoc in your business and personal life.
You must recognize that your business can suffer a natural disaster. Small businesses the world over have been affected by disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and fire.
Develop your recovery plan before disaster strikes. Make sure everyone in your company(if you have emplouees)—and your immediate family—is familiar with the plan and knows what steps to take in emergencies.
Have adequate insurance. You’ll need coverage not only for property damage and loss (including inventory), but also for business interruption.
Draw up a list of telephone numbers for all employees if you have any. I would also recommend maintaining a customer list as well. Assign certain employees (or family members) to call others if disaster strikes. That way, you can learn who is all right and who needs help, and you can quickly communicate instructions about your business.
Calling your client base is also a good idea to let them know what has happened—especially if you have projects you’re working on for them or have products to be shipped, etc.
Don’t forget your computer system. Keep backup programs and duplicate records (accounts receivable, client information, and the like) at a different, safe site.
Brought to you, in part, by SCORE, America’s small business mentors, at www.score.org.
Posted by Beverly on
January 2, 2010
5 Tips to Brand Your Business Online
Special Guest Post By: Christine Banning, SCORE VP of Corporate Relations
1. Protect Your Name. As an entrepreneur, your name is vital to your brand & the identity of your business. Be sure to secure a domain name in your name. For example, www.myname with .com, .net and/or .biz. It’s usually a good idea to register multiple domains in case someone types the wrong extension, that way you can be found. Network Solutions and GoDaddy are two choices to register a domain name.
2. Create a Founder Profile Page. Brand yourself on your Web site. Create a profile about you to build trust with potential clients. Make it easy for visitors to find info about you. Clients and prospects want to know who you are in terms of industry, experience and personality. Personalize your Web site and share info to build a relationship with visitors to your site.
3. Prepare for the Future. Millions of people use mobile devices to connect to their business, when they are out of the office. Make sure your Web site is accessible to these devices and will load quickly and easily. Even if your site is not yet formatted for .mobi, get the name. By registering a domain with a .mobi extension you secure the name for your company.
4. Protect Yourself from Spam. Search bots troll the Web looking for email addresses. This can lead to spam emails to your inbox. Protect your business email box. Use email addresses on your Web site like: contactus@domainname.com, media@mybusiness.com or moreinfo@mybusiness.com.
5. Considering joining LinkedIn or ZoomInfo. These popular, social networking sites give you a free way to post a biographical profile. Be aware: everything you post is public information. You give up some privacy when you post info. The sites can provide connections between people with similar interests. The sites add to search engine results for your name & your company name.
Brought to you by SCORE, America’s small business mentors, at www.score.org.
Posted by Beverly on
January 2, 2010
5 Tips for Marketing Your Website
As a woman in business, you should have a website. A website allows potential customers to learn more about your and your business. Here are some tips on how to market your business through your site:
Think strategically. Your Web site should be a part of your overall marketing plan.
Choose a Web site address (URL) that’s intuitive and easy to remember. Your company’s name (if it’s short) or the name of your main product might work well.
Put your Web address on all your printed material, including business cards, letterhead, press releases and invoices. Include it in all your advertising.
Don’t forget offline media and traditional publicity techniques. Send news releases promoting your site to newspapers, broadcasters, and magazines.
Speak at conferences and trade shows, and write informative articles for trade publications. When you do, mention your Web address.
Brought to you by SCORE, America’s small business mentors, at www.score.org.
