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Archive for the ‘Bus. Building’ Category

Thinking about starting or just starting an Internet business and finding it can become an overwhelming process?  Below are 7 steps to help guild you along the way.

1.  Start a blog:  Your blog is your prime piece of real estate.  It’s your hub in Internet and Social Media marketing and is used for producing value driven content which search engines love.  Most of your status updates from Twitter, FB, and LinkedIn should contain links back to your blog posts.   Blogs help establish you as a thought leader in your niche market and creates credibility and trust.  A good program to use for creating your blog is wordpress.org.  There are many free templates available, just do a Google search for free wordpress templates.

2.   Begin interacting with your market:  Create your profile on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and You Tube.  Also look for 1 or 2 groups to join and join in the conversations.  This is where you will begin building relationships and creating credibility and trust as you establish yourself as a leader in your area of expertise. A word of caution:  This is where it can become overwhelming, so set your own pace and always ask for help.  There are plenty of people online willing to help you each step of the way. 

3.  Build your list:  Many times we try to develop the products first, then try to “drive” the people to the products.  Instead build your list first,  create the product, then “draw” the people to the products.    One of the biggest benefits to interacting with your market first on your social media sites is having already gained your market’s trust.  The time spent building those relationships makes it much easier to gather the email addresses of your market needed for building your list.  In this new marketing arena, people are more likely to share their email with those they know and feel they can trust.

4.  Provide Consistent Value:  You must provide value…consistent value.  As you present your information, think about how it will benefit your readers.  What do they want to know?  What do they want to see?  How can you provide solutions for your readers?  Never underestimate what your readers know.  Some of the very basic information may be exactly what they are looking for.  We have a tendency to think if we know it, everyone else must know it also.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Include value packed, basic and advanced, information for your readers.  Remember:  Be specific, be informative, be approachable, and (very important) always be genuine.

5.  Find out what your subscribers want…Ask!:  You have something to offer, remember?  That’s why you are in business.  Ask your subscribers specifically what problem they are having. What’s their biggest challenge, their most frustrating problem, or their most pressing issue?  Provide solutions for your subscribers.  Let them know you not only have their solution…you are their solution!

6.  Stay in contact:  Another element in your Internet business is keeping your name and targeted marketing content in front of your clients/patients and prospects.  A question often asked is: How often should I contact subscribers on my list?   There isn’t a clear cut answer except to never spam or harass your list.   Contact them  with valuable content a minimum of one time a month, but more preferably, every two weeks or weekly contact is good.  The point is you want to keep your name in front of your market as the go-to person for the solution to their problems or to buy your products and services when they are ready to purchase. 

7.   Build relationships:   In all the above listed steps, there is one connecting element…building relationships.  Be personable and accessible.  Viewers need to know what you have accomplished, yes, but more importantly, they need to know who you are and that you are real.  It’s relationships first and business second.

Summary:  Through your blog posts; interacting with your market; building your list; providing consistent value; finding what your subscribers want; and staying in contact, you will be building profitable relationships while creating credibility and gaining trust as you leverage these 7 steps to build and strengthen your Internet business.

Technorati Tags: Building Business, Internet Marketing, Livvie Matthews, social media marketing

Over the past year a huge shift in marketing has been taking place.  Gone are the days when the print media was leading/selling the customer.  Newspapers, telephone books/ads…print media is no longer in control (that’s why they’re having trouble),  users are in control and it’s a total mind change!

• Today’s consumer is Internet/social media savvy and is not going to be “sold”. 
• Today’s consumer wants to be educated first in order to be able to make an informed decision
• Today’s business owner sets out to give consumers the information they are seeking and along the way estabish themselves as thought leaders in their fields

In order for businesses to be competitive in today’s market business owner’s need to establish and utilize an Online presence so they are found when and where their target market is looking.

Amber Naslund’s post 10 Ways To Get Serious About Social Media  in Social Media Today  gives 10 excellent ways, with additional resources,  for getting serious about social media.

I like #7  Quit waiting for the water to be perfect before you get in.  Which one is your favorite?  Have any you want to add?

Technorati Tags: Building Business, Internet Marketing, Livvie Matthews, social media marketing

I received an early Christmas gift today!  The engine light had come on in my car letting me know it was time to have the oil changed.   Since purchasing my Toyota, I’ve had it serviced with Toyota Scion of Concord NC.  They have always done a very good job and provided good service.

When I called and made the appointment this morning I was told it would take about an hour to change the oil and rotate the tires.  My husband drove his truck so we didn’t have to wait around while they completed the service and they were to give me a call on my cell when it was completed.   

Jack and I went to Starbucks, bought  pumpkin spice latte’s , went shopping in Garden Ridge, and made a trip to WalMart.  After almost two hours and no phone call that my car was ready, I was getting a little irritated that it was taking so long and I hadn’t received a call.  After all, it was Friday…I had places to go, people to see, and things I needed to do!  So we headed back over to the service department.

When I walked in, I didn’t see Paula (Marlowe) the lady who had helped me.  So I asked another service person if they could tell me if my car was ready.  I explained I was told it would be an hour procedure and it was now two hours and I hadn’t heard anything.  This was about the same time that Paula walked up.  She said she was just getting ready to call me. 

Then she took me over to her area and read the list of  “recommended service” that needed to be done.  I wasn’t doing any of that today, but told her I’d like a list with the prices included to discuss with my husband.  Paula then said it would take about 5 minutes and she’d have the list ready and I could check out. 

Twenty minutes later and even more irritated, I asked the check out person to see how much longer it was going to be.  By this time I had really gotten ill. 

Just at that moment, Paula appeared and instead of coming on in the door and walking me to the check out (their usual procedure), she called me to the door again.  I thought….gezzzz are they going to recommend more work to be done…am I ever going to get to leave today??!!  Now I was really getting upset!

Then Paula said, “Ms. Matthews, we’ve taken care of your oil change and rotated your tires for you.  I’m sorry for your wait and the inconvenience to you…the service is on us today, there is no charge to you!  I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and come back to see me!”

Talk about being caught off guard and being speechless…my husband loves it when I’m speechless…doesn’t happen too often he says.  As I regained my voice, I said in a very humble tone, I hadn’t expected that and I really appreciated it! 

Now that’s customer service!  I hadn’t said anything, but I’m sure Paula could tell in my actions that I was  gettung upset.  Even half price would have been nice, but no charge…WOW! 

In just two short sentences Paula had made me feel she valued my time, appreciated  my feelings, and valued me as a customer!  

Thank you, Paula Marlowe  and  Toyota Scion of Concord NC!!!   Will I go back…ABSOLUTELY!   Will I recommened Toyota Scion of Concord NC…ABSOLUTELY!!   After all, isn’t this what we’ve been talking about with Social Media…Good Customer Service Really Can Build Relationships!  

What are your thoughts?

Technorati Tags: Building Business, Livvie Matthews, social media marketing

I enjoy receiving questions and input from viewers and even though the two questions received below are regarding dentistry, they can apply to businesses as well.  Here are the two very interesting questions:

1)What are the top three rules for harnessing Social Media to the advantage of a dental practice?

2)What are three most effective things a dentist should do with his or her FaceBook or Twitter account?

Social media is still relatively new in the realm of using it for business and offers an incredible opportunity to get to know your target market.  Social media is a bridge that gives you access to people, information, and even companies/businesses you didn’t have access to in the past.

Word of mouth advertising is the best form of advertising and social media IS word of mouth advertising…on steroids!

Used correctly, it isn’t something that can be done quickly, it does require strategy, a plan of action, and like anything else you are building…it takes – time.

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: Blogging, Building Business, Internet Marketing, Livvie Matthews, social media marketing

If you are considering entering the social media arena or have just begun, one of your major challenges is to define your companies social media policies.  This means what’s acceptable or not acceptable to your company and what you will and will not post.  This can require some planning on your part before you begin.

Even if you are seasoned in your social media program, time and experience will also present the need for changes down the  road. 

Mashable’s Pete Cashmore’s recent post Social Media Policies from 80+ Organizations references some very good links to posts regarding social media policies and do’s and don’ts. 

Read and then see if you need to RE-define your social media policies.

Technorati Tags: Building Business, Internet Marketing, social media marketing