Blog
Is Anyone Reading Your Blog?
Would you keep spending time creating, and posting, fabulous content on your blog if you knew no one was reading it? Well, if you don’t have a way for visitors to get new posts then I’m afraid that’s exactly what’s happening.
So if your blog is like a cactus isolated out in the middle of the desert where no one can get to it, it’s time to make some changes.
Here are some of the things you need to have on your blog if you want it to get read (in order of importance):
1. Option for visitors to receive updates
When people visit your blog if they don’t have a way to request future updates they’ll probably never read another post because they won’t be returning. Not because they’re not interested, but they’re busy and they’ll forget.
I recommend offering both an RSS feed and adding an e-mail sign up (one option for this is http://www.feedburner.com). This needs to be in a prominent place on your blog.
2. Add a ReTweet button
If you don’t do #1 above, no one will even know there is information to ReTweet. And even if you’re not on Twitter, add the button anyway. Why pass up the opportunity to let other people share you content?
3. Add a Facebook ‘like’ button
4. Have a link on your blog to your website and vice versa
Take action now to make sure your valuable posts are getting read! And if you like this post, and want to get more like it be sure to subscribe to my RSS feed or get e-mail updates by signing up here on the left side of this page.
Are You Making This Mistake with Your Business Card?
Is your business card really helping you connect with prospective clients? This short video (less than 2 minutes) will explain how to change your business card so it works harder for you!
What to Do Before, During, and After a Networking Event
There are important things you need to do before, during, and after a networking event in order to make it successful.
What I Learned from the Pizza Delivery Guy about Marketing
One night a few weeks ago we ordered pizza for dinner. We ordered from the same place we always do but this time something different happened.
After about thirty minutes the doorbell rang and there was the young pizza delivery guy with our dinner.
He handed us our pizzas, we paid for them. And then he pulled out something else from his warming container.
It was wrapped in a sack and as he held it he explained that they had a promotion going on. He had a kid’s pizza and wanted to know if there were any neighbors that we would like to give that pizza to.
Immediately we thought of our neighbors across the street who have three little boys. With that, the pizza delivery guy went next door with the surprise pizza present and gave it to our neighbors.
Now why is this so cool? First off, it’s a unique idea that gets people talking about it. Creating buzz is a great way to grow your business. And second, everyone benefits – here’s how:
1) The pizza company gets to interact with a new customer and they are welcomed as they do it. Think about it, if someone knocked on your door out of the blue (even if it looked like a real pizza delivery guy) and said he wanted to give you pizza, would you take it?
Maybe, maybe not. You might be a bit suspicious. But because the pizza was sent by us, neighbors they know, they probably didn’t think twice about accepting it.
I don’t know about you, but I would be delighted to get a free pizza from my neighbor.
2) We felt great because we got to give our neighbors a free surprise without having to do anything.
3) The neighbors got a free pizza from us (via the pizza company). That builds good will between us as neighbors.
So what does this story have to do with your business and how you market your products and services? You can take this idea and creatively apply it to your business to create the same kind of ripple effect.
If you can, take fifteen minutes right now and think about how you could implement this concept into your business. If you don’t have time now, schedule time in the coming days and outline a plan to implement.
WHAT TO GIVE?
So what could you give to people in your network (clients, partners, and friends) that they could give to someone in their network? It needs to be something valuable that people want, a sample or taste of one of your products or services.
HOW TO PRESENT THE GIFT?
Although the pizza example is a product the same concept applies to services. You can share tasty information by creating a physical representation of your services (printed report, CD, or DVD).
Creating something that can be consumed immediately (like the pizza) will have a strong impact.
WHEN & HOW OFTEN TO GIVE?
It can be a quarterly, semi-annual, annual, or a one time action. Depending on your business you can tie it to a holiday or season (or both). You can also make it a permanent action if it works well for you.
If you do something original and buzz worthy your business will stand out and get noticed. I hope you’re starting to see that you can design a surprise give away (like the kid’s pizza) that will increase your visibility, expand your reach, and build new connections.
© Stephanie Ward 2010
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set their profits on fire! Grab your FREE copy of the special report ‘7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.
What a Niche Can Do for Your Business
Having a niche can transform your business! Watch this interview to find out how.
Are You Doing These Things to Follow Up After a Networking Event?
You’ve prepared for a networking event and attended it, now what?
What’s the best way to follow up so you that you make the most of your networking efforts? In this video I share practical tips you can use to follow up and build relationships over time.
Which of These Marketing Strategies Do You Use?
The key to making marketing work for your business is to pick a few marketing strategies that fit for you and then do them consistently.
Are you using any of these eight marketing strategies? Choosing your marketing strategies is the 5th step to attract more clients. You can get the full report with all seven steps, 7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time, for free at http://www.fireflycoaching.com.
How to Finally Get That Project Done
As a business owner you’ve probably got several projects that you’re dying to get started or some you desperately want to finish. But something always gets in the way and it seems like you never get to it. It’s time to change that. Think of a project you’d love to complete. If you don’t have a project in mind, here are some ideas to get you thinking:
- Starting an ezine
- Creating a new product or service
- Being more active with social media and/or blogging
- Making videos for your business
- Creating a structured referral plan
Keep your project in mind as you read through the reasons you might be stuck and what you can do about it.
1. Not sure how to do get it done, lack of skills
Whenever you do something for the first time there is always a learning curve. And you’re probably not the first person who has done this type of project. So ask around, see how others do it. You can also post a question on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter. Learn it yourself or outsource it.
2. Don’t know what the content could be
You know heaps more than you think you do. Take a look at all of the information you’ve created, talks you’ve given, assessments you have, articles you’ve written, and questions from your clients. Think about the biggest problem your clients face and address it.
3. Lack of time
Start monitoring how you are spending your time and see if your activities match your priorities for your business. Maybe it’s time to let something go that isn’t bringing you the results you expected. And if you really can’t free up any time, you can always outsource.
4. Lack of resources
If it’s an important project that will increase the bottom line of your business, and your budget is limited, consider finding someone to trade services with.
5. You want to wait until you figure it out completely
This is a biggie for a lot of people. Trust me; perfectionism does not necessarily deliver better results. You will learn by doing and improve as you go. Now I’m not advocating being sloppy or having a half-hearted strategy. But if you wait until everything is perfect you’ll be waiting forever.
This quote by Anne Lamott captures the essence of this, “Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life.”
If you’re still not sure what the block is, try writing down all of your thoughts about the project. Don’t worry about structure, just do a brain dump and get everything out. Then go back and read it and see if you can identify the cause or a thread of reasons that point to the cause.
I hope you’re feeling an urgency to dive in and tackle that project that’s been hanging over your head. You’ll be amazed at how good you feel once it’s done and you start attracting more clients.
And you may wonder why it took you so long and wish you had done it sooner. But don’t let that be a negative, take it as the lesson that it is and remember it for your next project.
Action creates momentum, so get started and keep going!
© Stephanie Ward 2010
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set their profits on fire! Grab your FREE copy of the special report ‘7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com.
If You Don’t Have a ‘Call to Action’ You’re Missing Out
Your ‘Call to Action’ is the first step in your marketing sequence. If you don’t have one that’s clear and compelling you are missing out on potential business.
In the two videos below (total of both less than 4 minutes) you’ll learn about how to create your own effective ‘Call to Action’ and how to market it. Creating your marketing sequence is the 4th step of the 7 Steps to Attract More Clients, you can get the full report on all 7 steps at for free at http://www.fireflycoaching.com.
How Do You Answer: What Do You Do?
When you answer the question “What do you do?” is it clear and memorable?
This short video (less than 2 minutes) from the Amsterdam Business Lunch covers part of step 3 of the 7 Steps to Attract More Clients, your Magnetic Marketing Message. You can get a copy of the entire report for free at http://www.fireflycoaching.com
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