Small Business Can Succeed No Matter What The Economy

by Jimm Fowler
http://www.mywebsource1.com/

“How is business going?”

I ask this question almost 50 times a week while trying to sell my web design and marketing business. The economy is in the tank. The lending to businesses is teetering on the edge of calamity. What are small business owners supposed to do?

They advertise. They advertise and they are realizing the benefit of a web site. This is obvious because I see more and more people building their own business to stave off the failing economy. I see people working on small business ideas because they are so unsure of what tomorrow is going to bring. Our presidential candidates are offering vague suggestions of what they are going to do to help us.

It would seem by the bleak economic news that we see each day, starting a small business would be bad, but people are falling back and becoming self-reliant. What’s more, they are getting business! People still need things. The big businesses are not what drives today’s economy. Small businesses do.

Here is some advice to continue your business in our current financial state:

1. Stick to your guns. Don’t cut your prices even though you may have the instinct to go that route. The money is out there, you just need to find it. People don’t buy things they don’t need because it is 15% off. They buy things they need because they need them. The only thing you succeed in doing when you undercut your product is your profits and the perceived value what you offer.

2. Network and grow. What is your percentage of closing a sale? You need to know that number and then get in front of the people to reach those goals. Waiting for the phone to ring or come in through the door is a failing business plan. Go out and spread your name. Get people to know who you are and then get them to purchase from you. If you can close 25% of the sales you get, and you need 25 sales a month to survive, you better be talking to 100 people each month.

3. Contact those people that you have spoke with in the past. Whether you are sending out a newsletter, blogging, or just picking up the phone – you need to TALK to people that have shown interest in your product. Keep in touch with suppliers, too. These are your lifeline to future business and being on a friendly basis with them will keep you moving forward in the future.

4. Keep looking for financing. Just because the news is saying that we are in a money crunch doesn’t mean you can’t get the funding you need to continue your business to grow. You just have to be smarter in getting the funds for your business. This means you need to have a well, drawn out plan. You have to illustrate how that plan will be implemented and then you have to go after the people who will see your vision and offer you the money to succeed.

5. Finally, keep looking forward. It really doesn’t matter what the economy is doing at this time if you have a great idea. You may have to curtail portions of your idea to meet with the times, but a money-making idea will always make money – no matter what the environment says. If you don’t believe that, go out to your local restaurant area and see if their parking lots are empty. Go into your local shopping district and see if it is a ghost town. Sales may be at different levels, but people are still shopping.

Go forth with your business and succeed. The only thing stopping you IS you.

Bow Wow Beach

Bow Wow Beach
By James Fowler

Today, my wife and I found a new dog park to take our faithful mutt, Porthos ( a Dalmatian/Boxer mix). It was called Bow Wow Beach in Stow, Ohio, and it consisted of 7.5 acres of park facility with a huge lake in the middle of it. This park just opened a few weeks ago and it is, by far, the best dog park we have ever visited. A dog park, you ask? What does a dog park have to do with internet marketing? I asked myself the same question, as I sat under a shade tree watching Porthos run in and out of the water with over 200 other pets. I sat there and watched hundreds of dog owners and their children and asked myself, what non-profit shelter or local pet store isn’t out at this park recruiting from the faithful animal lovers that have driven here to allow their dog a bit of fun in the sun on a beach?

As our dogs are running around, people had three options: to watch their pets, talk to others about dogs, or do nothing. There is a captive audience from dawn until dusk made up of a very determined group of individuals who love pets – dogs, in particular.

I would share a web site address with you of this doggie oasis, but there isn’t any, which is a shame for the park’s committee in Stow, Ohio. These are dollars they are missing out on. A quick search on Google reveals one blog on the park, a newspaper article, and an announcement from a local Akron, Ohio animal shelter.

The park, itself, was originally a children’s swimming hole. The Stow park’s committee put up a fence around the 7.5 acre area and is now working on separating large dogs from small dogs. There is even a facility to wash the sand off your dog before you leave. Stow has the right idea. They need to follow through with it.

Some ideas that I would offer the City of Stow and local area shelters and businesses:

1. Put up a big sign at the entrance. At least let people know it is there.


2. Invite the area animal shelters to have a “day at the park”. While they are there, the city should collect donations from the patrons. Believe me, they have a gold mine here, added contributions to the park will only add to the benefit of this wonderful place and dog owners are willing to support a facility that makes their dogs happy.


3. Let local businesses pass out flyers or advertise in a “Bow Wow Beach” newsletter. Make sure other communities can participate in this.


4. Get a web site and announce upcoming events.

To the city of Stow, Ohio, I applaud your park facility and your efforts to make dogs and their very enthusiastic owners happy. Keep up the good work!

Email Marketing For Small Business

by James Fowler
www.mywebsource1.com

One of the best methods of making sales on your web site is to contact people who have already purchased from you in the past. You could have their names and emails from purchases made through your web site, directly, or from people you have come in contact with through your brick-and-mortar store.

Email marketing is tricky, however, because there is a very fine line between emailing people that want your product and those nasty spam messages that fill our mailboxes each day. So, how do we make the determination?

The answer is simple enough: Don't email anyone you haven't actually made contact with. The temptation to buy a mailing list is always there, but don't do it. That is spam and it will actually drive customers away from your web site.

So, the next step is building your list. This is an on-going problem with many companies, but I will give you some tips on overcoming this hurdle.

1. Collect emails from your web site. Whenever someone orders from you, gather their email and put it on your list of people to contact. These people have already created a connection with you by making a purchase and you now have permission to sell more to them.

2. Have a place on your web site that allows people to sign up for a newsletter, more information, notices on sales, etc… This will add to your list quickly.

3. Hold a contest and give something away. Make sure that the only method of doing this is via sending you information on the client. You must have it that anyone can enter the contest and that the winners will be notified by email. This will add many people to your list.

4. If you have a local business, be sure that each customer that comes in gives you there email. An easy way to do this is to ask them at the check out counter. Offer a monthly giveaway or some incentive to do this. Talk up your online newsletter at your storefront and have people sign up for advance notice on products.

Once you have your list built, it is time to email your customers! As a suggestion, do this about once a month. It is best to run a special with your email. If you are sending out a monthly newsletter, include your specials within its' contents. Always offer a link at the bottom of your email letter for the person to "Opt Out" of receiving your emails.

I hope you find this article useful and if you need any help starting an email campaign, feel free to contact me at www.mywebsource1.com.

Email: The Practically Free Marketing Strategy

by James Fowler
www.mywebsource1.com

Do you email your customers?

Email marketing can be very effective, but you have to be careful. The difference between an email marketing letter and spam is a razor-thin line. You must know your customer to email them. Most businesses don’t even know their customers to email them. It amazes me how many places I have worked with don’t collect an email with every person that walks through their door or purchases from them. I’ve even run into businesses that don’t keep the emails from the people who have purchased from them online! While you can rent email lists, the email method of contacting your customers is almost free and should be a staple in your marketing strategy!

Some simple rules to follow in making your own email campaign:

• Email specials to your customers once a month. Too little and they forget who you are, too many and you become a nuisance.
• Your email could be special, but better yet, if you want to get the emails opened on a regular basis, combine your special with some news-related items. Make it a newsletter if you have the time and mix in a special.
• If you want to email more than once a month, offer the customer something like a coupon aimed directly at them. Example: “Thank you for shopping with us. Here is an extra 10% off coupon if you buy something else in the next 60 days.”
• Invite your customers to open houses or meet-and-greets at your storefront.
• Always, always, always collect an email and keep it for your list. Have your customer service people automatically ask for an email when the phone rings.
• Add a spot on your web site to collect emails from potential customers.
• Every person you meet, every business card you collect should be added to your email list.
  

Hopefully, in time, your list will grow to thousands of people and your business will grow as your advertising costs go down!

Who Is Your Customer?

Who is important to your business?

Who should you sell to on your web site?

Who do you want to contact?

An existing customer is easier to sell to than prospecting a new customer. You want to keep in contact with people that have already given you money. Someone that has already said "Yes! I want your product or service!" should be at the top of your marketing plan.

In any business word-of-mouth (or "word-of-mouse" on the web) is generated by people that know you and your existing customers. Keeping these people happy is a keystone to your business success.

Finally, don't write someone off just because you "thought" they were going to be a customer. Keep their name and information. Email them or call from time to time. A "no" today, may be just a "not yet, thanks".

Expect Exactly What You Expect...

Great Expectations

I live in a small town with a lot of small town sentiments. People living here like the fact that we live in a small town and they resist big business. There are two grocery store chains in town.

The first is a one-stop shop. They have everything you can possibly find or need. When you leave, they have automated, self-service check out lanes. Getting in and out of this store is fast and efficient.

The other store is more expensive and may or may not have what you are looking for. However, they offer fully cooked meals for two with a different menu every night and not only will they take your purchases out to your vehicle, they put them away for you and say, "Have a nice day."

Can you guess which store does more business in my small town?
The "small town" store would do poorly in a major city. At the "small town" store (which incidentally is a large chain), things move slower and you are liable to run into people you know – and that is what people who go there expect.

Live up to what is expected of you and your business.
For more information about local business, subscribe to this blog or contact James Fowler directly.

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Tangled up in the World Wide Web?

Is Your Local Business Tangled in the World Wide Web?
by James Fowler
www.mywebsource1.com

How would your local business benefit from having a web site?

Isn't the internet geared towards the world, as in world wide web?


Ask yourself five questions.
1. Do people in your community own computers?
2. Are there new people coming into your community that do not know about your business?
3. Do your customers come into your business as much as you would like?
4. Do you know who your customers are and know how to reach them?
5. If you only had a way to contact your customers when they did not come into your store that was cheaper than the U.S. mail, would you use it?

Obviously, the answers to the first two questions are 'YES' and NO your customers don't come in as often as you'd like them. So how do you get the positive results that you want from your business and how can this be accomplished with a web site?

If you don't know….don't be shy, click this link and ask me. There are no stupid questions.

I welcome all questions that you may have about Search Engine Marketing or getting your local business up on the web and making it work for you.