WriteBusiness.net Online Blog

Archive for the ‘Mktg-Internet’ Category

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

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

The New Year, for me, has always been an exciting and happy time! Recently I was posting in one of the great groups I belong to and I compared the New Year to a new page.

The new year always brings the opportunity for what seems like a new beginning, a chance to “start over”. It always seems crisp, clean and exciting! We all get to start with a ” new page ” and it’s up to us what we want to “write” on it!

Take a few minutes and reflect on last year and your goals, but don’t dwell on the past year’s missed opportunities. We need to look ahead with excitement and anticipation for what we can do with this year’s new opportunities (pages) that will be presented.

Whatever you “write” is an opportunity within itself! At the beginning of a new year we are all at the same point, granted some may be beginning with more than others, but we are all beginning!

As you begin “writing” your business this year, focus on ways to “work smarter and not harder”. We unclutter and organize our garages, our houses, our closets, our cabinets, right on down to our drawers! Shouldn’t we do the same for our minds?

Eliminate (unclutter) situations that are stressful. Focus (organize) on what you did that was positive last year that caused your business to grow and then expand on each of those areas.

Increase your exposure, be seen.  Link up to other peoples blog post through your post and send a trackback. Follow and join in conversations on Twitter and Facebook with leaders in your niche. Join or participate more in discussion groups on LinkedIn.  Create videos and upload to You Tube.  You want to always be looking for additional ways to be seen as you market your business.        

The old saying “You can’t see the forest for the trees” sometimes prevents us from seeing new opportunities for marketing and growing our business. Ask a friend or an associate, who’s opinion you value, to comment on what you are doing or not doing.

They aren’t seeing the same “trees” you are seeing and can offer a different view….they might even help you to be able to “see the forest”!

As you begin “writing” this new year don’t lose site of balance. Remember to keep all the “pages” in perspective. From time to time you will need to turn the “pages” down, walk away and take time to enjoy life and everything that goes with it.

So, what do you want to “write” on your new page this year? It’s all up to you! Just get your “keyboard” going, “write” one word after another and then–press enter!!! After all it’s….. A New Year and A New Beginning!

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

On LinkedIn your most valuable piece of real estate is your Public Profile area.  What is your profile (or lack of it) saying about you?

As a copywriter, one of the first places I look for information on a person, client, or business is their LinkedIn profile.  I’m amazed at the number of people/businesses that aren’t utilizing their LinkedIn Public Profile area.

LinkedIn is a powerful professional networking site viewed by other businesses, colleagues, prospective clients and patients, and your competition.

If you had the opportunity to advertise (Free) your business/practice on the front page of your city newspaper, would you jump at the chance to share the benefits of your business or would you just pass it up?  I’m sure you would jump at the chance!

Similar to a newspaper, your LinkedIn profile area is your ‘Front Page’ opportunity to tell your viewers – who you are, what you do, and most importantly…how you can solve their problems.  

Here you want to list your business information, accomplishments, and benefits you and your business provide.  It can be as long or as short as you want it to be.  Medium length is a good length to create. 

You want to make sure you give your viewers the information they are looking for. List the benefits for them. How you can solve their problems, what solution they will receive in doing business with you, how you can make their life simpler-less stressful.   Answer in your Public Profile area the questions your viewers are asking in their minds, what they are looking for – why they are searching.

Your Public Profile area is where you and your business can shine. But remember, they aren’t asking about you, they are asking what can you do for them!

Make sure you also create your shorter, more professional, LinkedIn Public Profile URL, if you haven’t done so already.

Whether you create your profile yourself or hire a reliable copywriter, don’t overlook your LinkedIn Profile: Your (powerful) Front Page Opportunity!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Livvie Matthews, Copywriter,  Social Media Marketing Specialist, Blogger, and Speaker helps you build relationships and provide customer solutions within your targeted market through your online and printed marketing content.  e-mail Livvie@writebusiness.net or visit http://www.writebusiness.net   http://www.linkedin.com/in/livviematthews

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