A recent article in the Dutch business magazine Sprout said Twitter is expected to be the first internet medium that will reach one billion users.  

At PICNIC 2009 Maurice Beerthuyzen reported media futurist Gerd Leonhard as saying, “In two years you’re in social business or in no business.”

So, if you’re not yet on Twitter, sign up.  If you’re already using Twitter, why not make the effort to learn additional ways you can use it to grow your business.

I know, I can hear you saying that you barely have time to do all of the marketing activities you’re already doing!  But please consider the impact this new strategy can have on your business. 

Here are some basic facts.  Twitter is a free service where you can post messages (called tweets) of up to 140 characters.  This is also known as micro-blogging.  You can follow people’s tweets and share your tweets with people who follow you.

This isn’t going to be about ‘how to’ get set up on Twitter. There is a ton of marvelous information out there for free out on how to do that.  Here are two resources to get you started: Twitter for Business report and http://twitterwatchdog.com/ (scroll down to the bottom of the page and sign up for a free Twitter success report).

I want to focus on WHY you should get on board and how using Twitter can help you grow your business and be more profitable.

I’m not an expert on Twitter and I continue to learn more all the time.  I just started my account in March of this year.  As with any new service, you can actually learn by doing and watching what others do.

BENEFITS FOR YOUR BUSINESS:

1. Meet potential new clients you would otherwise probably never encounter
2. Discover new business opportunities
3. Connect with strategic alliance partners
4. Position yourself as an expert and attract media attention
5. Promote your events
6. A place to share your knowledge if you don’t have an ezine or blog (If you do have an ezine and blog, Twitter will complement them fabulously).

And yes, I have met some amazing people on Twitter and have discovered new opportunities for marketing my business.

WHAT TO TWEET ABOUT:

It’s true, some people do tweet about what they are eating or that they are going to walk the dog.  As a business owner you can make the majority of your tweets about your area of expertise, information that adds value.  For example, you can share:

- Fresh ideas and insights

- Practical tips

- Helpful resources (blogs, articles, quotes, etc.)

If you want to see what I tweet about you can follow me at: http://twitter.com/fireflycoaching.

As a time saver you can connect your Twitter account to your Facebook and LinkedIn accounts so that when you post something on Twitter it automatically shows up on Facebook and LinkedIn (for tips on these two services read my ‘Why Facebook and LinkedIn are Good for Your Business’ here. 

Are you starting to see how Twitter can help you expand your network and grow your business?  Make the decision to get an account and start using it today.  Invest the time to learning how it works so you can take advantage of this amazing marketing strategy and rock your business.

© Stephanie Ward, 2009

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/.

Is your website bringing you new clients?  When is the last time you took a long hard look at exactly how your website helps you attract clients?  Now is the time to implement five tips that will make your website actually bring your new clients.

Of course, you need people to visit your website in the first place.  You’ve probably heard about getting ‘traffic’ to your website.  That’s a topic for an entire article of its own.

For now, let’s focus on making sure that you’re making the most of your website for the people who do visit.

Implementing the following five tips will transform your website into a client attraction tool.  If you do all of them the likelihood of converting people who visit your website to clients will increase greatly. 

1) VERY VISIBLE & CLEAR INVITATION TO TAKE ACTION 

Your call to action, the one action you want prospective clients to take, should be very visible on your home page.  It needs to appear ‘above the fold’ meaning that it can be seen without having to scroll down.  Why not include it on every page of your website.

The one action that you want people to take needs to be very specific.  You need just one action with simple instructions.  Don’t be confusing.  For example, do you want them to: sign up for your ezine, call you, or send you an e-mail?  Choose one and make is easy to do.

2) GIVE AWAY SOMETHING VALUABLE

Hopefully you offer a free valuable giveaway (a report, audio, or a consultation).  It’s easiest if this process is automated so that you save your precious time.  There are several options for this; two popular services are AWeber and Constant Contact (both offer free trials.) 

3) ABILITY TO STAY IN TOUCH

Most people who visit your website will not come back.  Not because they don’t like you or what you do, they’re just busy.  So you need to invite them to give you permission to be in touch.

This can be linked to your free offer.  When the process is automated people who are interested simply need to provide their e-mail address in order to receive your free offer. 

If you plan to send additional messages (like a regular ezine) be sure to communicate that clearly so they are aware of that when they sign up.

4) LET THEM SEE YOU

People want to know who the person behind the business is so please include a photo.  We humans like to feel a connection and that can be achieved to a certain degree with a photo.

You can use various photos of yourself (and your team if you have one) on different pages of your website.  Make sure the pictures are high quality and fit with your personality and brand.

5) KNOW WHO IS VISITING

Analysis may not seem glamorous but it can be really exciting when you understand who is visiting your website.

Google Analytics is free and really amazing way to know who is visiting your website.  To sign up just visit Google Analytics.  It tells you how many people have visited, where people found out about your website, where they are located (with a really cool map), and so much more!

When your website has a clear call to action, allows you to give away something valuable, creates a way for you to stay in touch, makes you visible, and allows you to analyze who is visiting, you will be able to attract more clients. 

Don’t delay.  Make the decision today to change your website and start growing your business.

(c) Stephanie Ward, 2009

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.

As a business owner you know the kinds of clients you want.  Why not go one step further and make a list of actual companies you would like to have as clients.

Then, get clear about who it is you want to contact within each company.  What position does the person hold?  Is it the owner?  Is it someone in HR?  Is it the sales manager?

Once you have your list, ask people in your network if they know the person who holds the position in the companies you have identified.  If so, ask if they would be willing to introduce you via e-mail or a phone call. 

If you aren’t able to find someone who can introduce you, you can still approach companies without cold calling.  Begin by finding out the names of the people you want to contact (Google or call).

Then send them valuable information you have created along with a personal letter.  Be sure to send it in the mail (snail mail).

Your valuable give away can not be a brochure that is information all about your business and what you do.  It is hugely important that you send content that is practical and informative for the person receiving it.

Think about things like: tips, trends, research, pitfalls to avoid, etc.  It can be a few pages or many; the key is that it must be relevant and applicable to the person and their business.

(SIDENOTE: Be sure to leverage your valuable give away, see how here).

In the letter you can say that you are sharing this information because you believe the person may find it valuable.  Also state that you will call next week (you can include a date and time if you want) to find out if the person found what you sent is useful.

So when you call as promised, it’s not a cold call because the person has received valuable information from you (for free).  This makes it a warm call.  You simply want to find out if it was of interest for the person.

It is important that you have a marketing sequence in place so when a potential client is interested; you know what the next step will be.  Is it a proposal?  Is it a consult?  Is it a scheduled phone call?

If there is interest, but not a need right now, there are still several opportunities.  First, ask people if they would like you to check back with them in a certain time frame.  If yes, put it in your calendar and do it.

Second, if you have a newsletter with valuable information, you can ask people if they’d like to receive it.

Third, if they are not interested but you feel a positive connection, you can ask if they know one (yes only one) person who may need what you are offering. 

Why only one?  Because if you ask people if they know ‘anyone’ they will draw a blank.  But, if you ask for just one person, it’s much easier to think of someone.

Please remember to thank everyone who takes the time to talk with you or give you referrals.  Yes, even the people who are not interested in what your business offers.  One of the best ways to do this is to send a thank you note in the mail.

Are you starting to see how sharing valuable information and connecting with potential clients can be relaxed and rewarding?  Create your give away, share it, and make a warm call to discover the possibilities. 

© Stephanie Ward, 2008

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.