"Shoestring marketing makes a comeback" by Steve Strauss

In this time of tight budgets, where both entrepreneurs and their customers are increasingly reluctant to part with a penny, it is actually more important than ever that the small businessperson step up their marketing. As Richard Branson advises, recessions are time to expand, not contract.

Most entrepreneurs instinctively know this and that is why the trend now is towards increased marketing that costs little but delivers big, such as:

•Online video: Online video is a way to better interact and connect with your customers. Teach them something new about you or your products.

•Blogs: Anecdotal evidence: At a conference I attended earlier this year, fully half of the small businesses surveyed said they are increasing their blogging and as such are successfully using blogs to grow their business. Blogs make you more accessible. Blogs increase your SEO. Blogs can build your business. Even if you only get, say, 50 people consistently reading your blog, that's 50 more potential customers than before.

•Old school: Coupons, word of mouth, direct mail, customer service.

Copied from USA TODAY by Steve Strauss

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What is the purpose of your website?

To have a successful website, you have to figure out the purpose of it.

Do you want it to be an ecommerce site?  an informative/educational site? a leads generating site?

What does your competition's website look like?  How can you stand out from them?  

What message to you want to convey?  Make sure you keep your message clear & simple and convey it throughout the site.

Come back and get more tips on making your website successful.

Why do I need a website?

Have you been debating on whether you should take the plunge to have a website for your business?   Is it worth the time/money to start one?  Will it really help my business?

These are all great questions when determining whether or not you want to start a website for your business.   Here are some reasons to take the plunge...

-  It is important to make it extremely easy for your customers/prospective customers to find you.  More and more people prefer using online searches to find contact info rather than the traditional telephone books.

-  You can find web designers that will provide you with good quality design while still being affordable.

-  Many people like to do their homework on your business before they call you to place an order.  Having a high-quality, content-rich and informative website will help convince your prospective customers that they want to work with you.

-  Having a website can be beneficial to your business if you have a quality design, strong content and a web designer that can help you market your website online, giving you an ability to reach customers that you never could have previously.

There are many other reasons that websites can benefit your business.  In the following articles, we will talk about some strategies to make your website successful.

Three Steps to Organization at the Office

We all know that losing a work order and forgetting about an appointment are all bad business! It makes your company come across as incompetent. No business owner wants that!

We have all made those mistakes here and there. The problem comes when it happens repeatedly because of lack of organization! There needs to be a place for everything and a process for everything in order for our business to run smoothly. Your organization skills directly correlate to customer satisfaction.

A book that I would highly recommend is Three Steps to Organization at the Office by Bev Coggins in the 1-2-3...Get Organized series. It is an easy read (and small enough that you can take in your purse/briefcase) and read when you have those "hurry up and wait" times in your schedule.

I would highly recommend this website to any business owner who wants their business/personal life to be more manageable and efficient. Check out the free articles! Also, subscribe to Bev's blog and get organizational tips sent directly to your email.

1-2-3...Get Organized

For the next couple of entries, we are going to feature one of our clients, 1-2-3...Get Organized. We just finished re-designing their website. Being organized in both your business and personal life make for a much higher quality of life. It makes you feel like you have some control over your life. When we live in a state of chaos, we are being controlled by the chaos, and not really accomplishing what we want to.

An organized business/office/workflow help our companies run smoothly and keep our customers happy. But I think organization helps give us time/space to be able to dream about/plan for the next step in our business growth! If we are so overwhelmed by the "tasks of the day" there is little time to plan ahead. And burnout is right around the corner!

So, for the next couple of days we will feature a couple of Bev Coggins' books on how to "organize your life, one area at a time"!

Right now 1-2-3...Get Organized is having a 25% off sale until August 20th celebrating the new website! Remember to type the code '123' to get your discount! Organize your life starting today!!