Archive for the ‘Bus. Basics’ Category
Is Your Social Media Policy In Place?
May 22nd, 2010 at 9:07 pm by Livvie
Social Media has certainly become a factor for practices today. Engaging online on social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and even your practice blog presents tremendous opportunities for your practice, however how you participate, inside as well as outside your practice, presents tremendous accountability.
An example would be the recent firing of a waitress here in Charlotte, NC for her posting, off work, relating to a situation that happened at work in the restaurant while she was working. Fortunately for the restaurant, they had their social media policy in place for this situation.
In his post Social Media in the Workplace, Michael J. Lotito says: Â
The best way to protect your company is to make sure you have a clearly outlined policy.
Whether or not your practice participates in social media, you can’t afford to ignore or downplay it’s role in todays workplace. By being proactive, your employees will be clear about what is acceptable in your practice and what isn’t when you have your social media policies in place.
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5 Business Marketing Tips For Uncertain Times
June 25th, 2009 at 5:24 pm by Livvie
Be positive: Uncertain times can bring about anxious and uneasy feelings. Being positive and maintaining a positive attitude is critical at this time. You have a tremendous opportunity for impacting your team’s attitude. Accent the positive!
Celebrate successes: Concentrate on what’s going right instead of centering on what was done wrong. Your “success� metrics may have to be measured on a smaller scale for now, but celebrate your accomplishments each week!
“Pin-Point Focus� your marketing: What worked in the past may not be what’s needed for today. Re-evaluate (closely) the content of your marketing materials and web site content to make sure they are valid and applicable to today’s changing marketplace. These are tight times. You need results for right now, not long term results… that can come later.
• Rewrite your web site content to communicate value, risk free offers, and stress guarantees
• “Pin-Point� messages emphasizing value, cost savings, and special discounts
• Emphasize free trials, free gifts and even free shipping
• “Pin-Point� what your customers can expect for their investment
• Increase online marketing and e-mail marketing – reduce time spent branding.
Make it personal: Keep current customers happy – do not take them for granted. Now is the time to “talkâ€? to your customers by e-mail or telephone. Talk about the uncertain times, their new concerns and changing values, where do they stand in these challenging times, and what you can do to help. Let them know you are there for them. You can bet your competition is contacting them!
• Remember: It’s more cost effective to market to existing customers than trying to get new customers, especially in downtimes.
• Keep sending direct mails and e-mails (set up autoresponder e-mail campaigns)
• Continue marketing and advertising – now is not the time to stop or cut back! This can help you gain a larger section in your marketplace and establish your expertise, especially if your competition is cutting back during this time.
Be seen: Always…keep your name in front of your customers and potential customers. Whenever there’s a change, a new web site or new/updated content, your business opens, or you write an e-book, e-mail your customers, business associates, and even friends. Also send out Press Releases to the media and post to online Press Release sites. Publicity is the most powerful way of advertising and it’s Free!!
Reputation…What’s Yours?
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:24 pm by Livvie
With all the news of unethical corporations and businesses in today’s troubled economy, is it any wonder the public is asking who’s trustworthy in these seemingly untrustworthy times and are skeptical about who to trust for doing any type of business?
With the financial and economic crisis dominating the news, there’s no doubt about it…we are in an economic storm. Unemployment is up, consumer spending is down, cutting back is in, and over spending is definitely out!
Whether you are a new or an established business, these are changing and often scary times and changing times require changing courses…literally.
But not all is doom and gloom. At this time it’s critical you review your current marketing materials and develop new marketing messages that address your clients concerns, their changing values, and their priorities for helping them and their clients survive in these economic down times.
Time is of the essence, and if you don’t feel comfortable in revising/creating your new materials or are pressed for time, contact a reliable freelance copywriter.
It’s Time To Set Some Goals. Are You Ready?
September 22nd, 2007 at 6:01 pm by Livvie
September is a busy time! End of summer, last vacations, back to school shopping, and back to school.
For a short time, our normal schedules are put on the back burner. Then when things began to return to normal, it’s time to get back “into the groove”.
This time of year is the perfect time for goal setting. The fall is coming, the air is crisp, colors are magnificant, and inspiration is everywhere!
During this three month time period before the beginning of a new year, it’s time to look at what you want to accomplish in the next year and time to put down the steps you need to take to get you there.
It’s like the saying…money is not the end, but the MEANS TO the end. In other words, it’s not just money you want, but what the money will allow you to do or accopmlish.
So, we can have our goals, but unless we put into steps what’s needed to get us TO the goals, we’re just spinning our wheels.
Start with where you are right now. What did you accomplish to this point this year towards your goal? Don’t forget to pat yourself on the back for accomplishing these items…good job! If there are some things you didn’t finish/accomplish, then start right there.
