Archive for the ‘Tips’ Category

Don’t Wait To Start Collecting Email Addresses!

Monday, October 26th, 2009

As your business or practice grows, along the way you’ll probably consider the idea of doing regular email newsletters or occasional blasts about special events.  Even if  you are brand new in business, it’s a good idea to begin to collect the email addresses of your clients, colleagues and prospects.  Give them a way to “sign up” on your website, but also collect names after you do a talk or teach a class or attend a networking event.  Get permission to add people to your list…so when you are finally ready, you’ll have a list already!

Tags: collecting emai addresses, newsletter lists, permission marketing
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There is no prize in going it alone!

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

The myth of the strong, rugged individualist who starts up his/her own business is just that…a myth.  When you are running your own business, it can be nearly impossible to do everything, so take a good long hard at what you are spending time on and strategically outsource tasks.  Hire a graphic designer to do a professional logo.  Use a bookkeeper to manage your QuickBooks and track your income and spending.  Get a coach to have a sounding board.  You’ll go further faster.

Tags: Business Coach, business idea, entrepreneurship, small business, starting a business
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Got a new business idea? Test it first!

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Got a world-class business idea?  Make sure that customers think it’s as good an idea as you do.  Can you find a way to do a test or trial with a small group of your target prospects?  What will they buy?  How much will they pay?  Before you invest your life savings and quit your day job to start a new firm, make sure that you have a sound concept that people will pay for.  And then when you test, LISTEN to what the clients say and adjust accordingly, it will save you a lot of time and aggravation in the long run!

Tags: Business tips, customers, new business ideas, testing, trial
Posted in Blog Posts, Tips | 1 Comment »

Don't confuse your business with your website

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Your business (what you do that makes you money!) is NOT the same as your website.  Don’t embark on building a website for your small business or practice until you are clear on what your fundamental money-making model is.  Then you can deploy your website and other Internet marketing tools like newsletters, blogs and social media in ways that make sense…TO DRIVE BUSINESS!

Tags: confusing business with web marketing, Small business tips
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Integrate all your Internet marketing efforts

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

If you have social media memberships like Facebook and Linked In (or Twitter), make sure you put links to your profile on your website.  And vice-versa.  Use the social media platforms to drive traffic to your main web site where potential clients can learn more about you and potentially to do business with you!

Tags: Internet Marketing Tips, social media integration
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Have you registered your own name as a URL?

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

You should own your own name, preferably as a dot.com.  Like www.deborahgallant.com.  Domain registration is easy and inexpensive (about $10 per year) and you don’t have to build a brand new web site at that address:  you can just “point” your domain at your main professional website.  And you can create a professional email account for yourself at your domain even if you don’t use it for a while.  Easy to do and makes you look much more polished than using Hotmail or Yahoo!

Tags: domain registration, Internet Marketing Tips, professional email
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Are you missing a valuable online marketing opportunity?

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Do you have a signature file set up for your outgoing emails?  Email is one of the most overlooked Internet marketing opportunities available!  If you use and email management system (like Microsoft Outlook, which comes installed on most new PCs or Entourage on a Mac), you can easily add a block of contact information and promotional copy to EVERY email correspondence.  Make it easy for people to contact you and learn what you do!

Tags: email as marketing, signature files, Web marketing tip
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