How To Set Up Your New FaceBook Page For Your Business -Video
New Haven Small Business Marketing ~ Tips, Techniques and Strategies For Branding/Design & Marketing Your Small Business
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Why Entrepreneurs Benefit From the Weak Dollar By Gene Marks
Why Entrepreneurs Benefit From the Weak Dollar By Gene Marks
I just read that more than 5 million people watch iCarly every week. And that more than 22 million Kid Rock albums have been sold in this country alone. But I'm not going to take that as evidence that we're a country on the way down. I understand that Allen Iverson made $29 million last year, which is $28,923,000 more than the highest-paid school teacher in Philadelphia. But that's no reason to panic. And I'm not going to let the weakening dollar get me down. Yes, I read the papers. Yes, I see our greenback reaching new historic lows against other currencies on a daily basis. But I'm not upset about it.
Most small businesses buy products and services from local suppliers and sell products and services to locally based customers. Sure, we've been hearing about the evils of a weak dollar: how our purchasing power and prestige is diminished. How it's become much more expensive to travel and buy stuff overseas. But if you're a pizza shop owner, an architect, or a local electrician, none of these things really make a difference to your profits.
In fact, there's some good news in the decline for smart entrepreneurs.
Like the fact that our goods are cheaper. Companies and consumers in other countries are buying more of them. There's the firm in Lexington, Ky., that's selling its high-end audio technology, now competitively priced, to a growing base of overseas buyers.There's the company in Minnesota that sells trucks to the Middle East and finds that more than half of its forecasted sales now come from overseas.
Cheaper Goods Boost Foreign Sales
Then there are the international giants like DuPont (DD), and Boeing (BA) that are seeing large jumps in foreign sales, and the small firms that sell products and services to them that are reaping the benefit. There's the Seattle company that sells wastewater treatment products overseas that's exploding with growth because of the weak dollar.Even industries in hard-hit states like Michigan are finding relief from this recession as foreign buyers are snapping up cheaper autos and parts. And then there are the countless small companies that sell online to customers in far-flung places that can now afford their products. American farmers are selling more wheat and soy to countries in need of food than ever before. This is all because of our declining dollar.
Cheaper goods allow some smart business owners to open new markets and make new relationships. One client of mine has been getting unsolicited quote requests from all corners of the world. He's now wishing his new friends in India a Happy Diwali and future drinking buddies in Russia a joyous Victory Day. Because of the falling dollar coupled with the ease of communicating over the Internet, a growing number of smart business owners are building relationships with smaller companies outside the U.S.
A weak dollar has given some small businesses the opportunity to revisit their domestic customers, too. These were the people who used to buy their products overseas until the low exchange rate made things so frigging expensive. Now we see retail groups and chambers of commerce in Seattle; Portsmouth, N.H.; Hernando, Miss.; Denver; and dozens of places around the country urging their neighbors to buy locally. Americans are buying more American-made products because they're cheaper to buy than the foreign-made goods. Remember outsourcing? One company in New Jersey closed its call center in Israel last year because it was too expensive to operate in a weak dollar environment. Similar companies running call centers or offering programming and other information technology services in the U.S. may well find a growing number of customers coming back from India.
Influx of Travelers and Investors
A weak dollar brings more visitors to the U.S. The travel industry had a lousy year in 2009. As a result, there are now much lower online fees, air fares, and hotel rates around the country. And small businesses are benefiting. Hotel occupancy and related tourism services are up in Massachusetts. Officials in New York are bracing for an influx of foreign tourists. Already tourism officials in Las Vegas are reporting increases in visitors and gaming revenue. With a cheap dollar and a recovering worldwide economy, I expect to hear many other languages spoken at Disney World and other American tourist destinations this year. Smart business owners who cater to the travel industry are making this bet, too.
A weak dollar brings in foreign investors. International companies operating in Gainesville, Ga., are ramping up production, employing more people, and providing opportunities for suppliers. In Chattanooga, a French company is hiring 300-plus employees and doing business with dozens of smaller local companies as it finds it's cheaper to set up shop in the U.S. Foreign firms and individuals are hungrily eyeing real estate deals in America that haven't been this cheap in decades. That will lead to sales commissions, development work, and construction projects for local small businesses. The U.S. stock market has risen more than 30% since the beginning of the year, fueled by the low dollar and the attractive pricing of American stocks. Business owners and consumers like myself see our financial worth rise, breathe a sigh of relief, and start spending a little more.
So tell me, is the U.S. in decline? It's possible. There are millions of Americans killing brain cells watching Glee and The Biggest Loser each week. But the falling dollar? This isn't a decline. For many small business owners, it's an opportunity.
I just read that more than 5 million people watch iCarly every week. And that more than 22 million Kid Rock albums have been sold in this country alone. But I'm not going to take that as evidence that we're a country on the way down. I understand that Allen Iverson made $29 million last year, which is $28,923,000 more than the highest-paid school teacher in Philadelphia. But that's no reason to panic. And I'm not going to let the weakening dollar get me down. Yes, I read the papers. Yes, I see our greenback reaching new historic lows against other currencies on a daily basis. But I'm not upset about it.
Most small businesses buy products and services from local suppliers and sell products and services to locally based customers. Sure, we've been hearing about the evils of a weak dollar: how our purchasing power and prestige is diminished. How it's become much more expensive to travel and buy stuff overseas. But if you're a pizza shop owner, an architect, or a local electrician, none of these things really make a difference to your profits.
In fact, there's some good news in the decline for smart entrepreneurs.
Like the fact that our goods are cheaper. Companies and consumers in other countries are buying more of them. There's the firm in Lexington, Ky., that's selling its high-end audio technology, now competitively priced, to a growing base of overseas buyers.There's the company in Minnesota that sells trucks to the Middle East and finds that more than half of its forecasted sales now come from overseas.
Cheaper Goods Boost Foreign Sales
Then there are the international giants like DuPont (DD), and Boeing (BA) that are seeing large jumps in foreign sales, and the small firms that sell products and services to them that are reaping the benefit. There's the Seattle company that sells wastewater treatment products overseas that's exploding with growth because of the weak dollar.Even industries in hard-hit states like Michigan are finding relief from this recession as foreign buyers are snapping up cheaper autos and parts. And then there are the countless small companies that sell online to customers in far-flung places that can now afford their products. American farmers are selling more wheat and soy to countries in need of food than ever before. This is all because of our declining dollar.
Cheaper goods allow some smart business owners to open new markets and make new relationships. One client of mine has been getting unsolicited quote requests from all corners of the world. He's now wishing his new friends in India a Happy Diwali and future drinking buddies in Russia a joyous Victory Day. Because of the falling dollar coupled with the ease of communicating over the Internet, a growing number of smart business owners are building relationships with smaller companies outside the U.S.
A weak dollar has given some small businesses the opportunity to revisit their domestic customers, too. These were the people who used to buy their products overseas until the low exchange rate made things so frigging expensive. Now we see retail groups and chambers of commerce in Seattle; Portsmouth, N.H.; Hernando, Miss.; Denver; and dozens of places around the country urging their neighbors to buy locally. Americans are buying more American-made products because they're cheaper to buy than the foreign-made goods. Remember outsourcing? One company in New Jersey closed its call center in Israel last year because it was too expensive to operate in a weak dollar environment. Similar companies running call centers or offering programming and other information technology services in the U.S. may well find a growing number of customers coming back from India.
Influx of Travelers and Investors
A weak dollar brings more visitors to the U.S. The travel industry had a lousy year in 2009. As a result, there are now much lower online fees, air fares, and hotel rates around the country. And small businesses are benefiting. Hotel occupancy and related tourism services are up in Massachusetts. Officials in New York are bracing for an influx of foreign tourists. Already tourism officials in Las Vegas are reporting increases in visitors and gaming revenue. With a cheap dollar and a recovering worldwide economy, I expect to hear many other languages spoken at Disney World and other American tourist destinations this year. Smart business owners who cater to the travel industry are making this bet, too.
A weak dollar brings in foreign investors. International companies operating in Gainesville, Ga., are ramping up production, employing more people, and providing opportunities for suppliers. In Chattanooga, a French company is hiring 300-plus employees and doing business with dozens of smaller local companies as it finds it's cheaper to set up shop in the U.S. Foreign firms and individuals are hungrily eyeing real estate deals in America that haven't been this cheap in decades. That will lead to sales commissions, development work, and construction projects for local small businesses. The U.S. stock market has risen more than 30% since the beginning of the year, fueled by the low dollar and the attractive pricing of American stocks. Business owners and consumers like myself see our financial worth rise, breathe a sigh of relief, and start spending a little more.
So tell me, is the U.S. in decline? It's possible. There are millions of Americans killing brain cells watching Glee and The Biggest Loser each week. But the falling dollar? This isn't a decline. For many small business owners, it's an opportunity.
Gene Marks, CPA, is the owner of the Marks Group, which sells customer relationship, service, and financial management tools to small and midsize businesses. Marks is the author of four best-selling small business books and writes the popular "Penny Pincher's Almanac" syndicated column. He frequently speaks to business groups on penny-pinching topics. More penny-pinching advice from Marks can be found at http://www.quickerbetterwiser.com/. Follow Gene on Twitter at @genemarks on and Facebook at http://facebook.com/quickerbetterwiser Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gene_Marks |
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Highly Effective Non-Technical SEO Strategies By Sammy Kirkland
Web users find information, product(s) or service(s) on line in three ways. These are:
a) Through Direct Traffic - This method involves a user entering a web address directly into the address bar of a web browser or by clicking a bookmark or a link in email. People who fall into this category are usually those familiar with the company or a web resource and they could be repeat visitors.
b) Search engines - these are programs that crawl the internet and index sites based on keywords and other relevant factors. "Search engines are simply information retrieval applications" and users can find any web resource indexed by any particular search engine by supplying a keyword that corresponds to the any word in the search engine database of billions of indexed sites.
c) Referral - this refers to traffic that originates from a referral site, this happens by people clicking on links in a referral site and getting directed to the target site. I.e. Facebook users clicking on a link from their FB account that eventually takes them to a corporate site somewhere. Referrals are usually qualified traffic because someone has to be interested in a site ad to click on it.
Of all the methods outlined above, companies only have control over a) and C). Since search engines rely on a number of other factors. method a) and c) also rely on a company's offline marketing efforts. SEO strives to provide methods for improving website ranking that lead to increased traffic.
There are two types of search engine traffic, these are:
Pay Per Click - PPC
Such results in Google are usually displayed as "Sponsored Links" in Google through the use of their Adwords program. Other major search engines such as Yahoo Search and Bing also have their own. PPC is the quickest method to drive qualified traffic to a site.
Organic Search Results
Also referred to as natural search results, these are results obtained on basis or merit of a website and not through purchase. Due to the sheer number of sites that compete for this position, only sites that highly placed in organic results receive customers attention.
How are sites ranked?
Ranking criteria used by major search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing is constantly evolving, the real formula for ranking sites is closely guarded secret by search engine proprietors. But generally, it is believed that search engines rank sites based on relevancy, authority, popularity and trustworthiness.
Below are some non-technical strategies that can be used for SEO
a) Writing Interesting content that is also relevant for your website.
b) Link building though acquisition of highly relevant links.
c) Being ethical and avoiding questionable tactics frowned upon by the SEO community and loathed by search engines.
d) Build authority though networking
e) Increase popularity through encouraging repeat visitors.
Use sound marketing principles together with the above non-technical strategies to increase your site ranking.
Sammy Kirkland in website development, programming and design. If you'd like to know more about our services, please visit our site at http://www.seoboutiques.com/ecommerce-X-Cart-Website-Design.html
a) Through Direct Traffic - This method involves a user entering a web address directly into the address bar of a web browser or by clicking a bookmark or a link in email. People who fall into this category are usually those familiar with the company or a web resource and they could be repeat visitors.
b) Search engines - these are programs that crawl the internet and index sites based on keywords and other relevant factors. "Search engines are simply information retrieval applications" and users can find any web resource indexed by any particular search engine by supplying a keyword that corresponds to the any word in the search engine database of billions of indexed sites.
c) Referral - this refers to traffic that originates from a referral site, this happens by people clicking on links in a referral site and getting directed to the target site. I.e. Facebook users clicking on a link from their FB account that eventually takes them to a corporate site somewhere. Referrals are usually qualified traffic because someone has to be interested in a site ad to click on it.
Of all the methods outlined above, companies only have control over a) and C). Since search engines rely on a number of other factors. method a) and c) also rely on a company's offline marketing efforts. SEO strives to provide methods for improving website ranking that lead to increased traffic.
There are two types of search engine traffic, these are:
Pay Per Click - PPC
Such results in Google are usually displayed as "Sponsored Links" in Google through the use of their Adwords program. Other major search engines such as Yahoo Search and Bing also have their own. PPC is the quickest method to drive qualified traffic to a site.
Organic Search Results
Also referred to as natural search results, these are results obtained on basis or merit of a website and not through purchase. Due to the sheer number of sites that compete for this position, only sites that highly placed in organic results receive customers attention.
How are sites ranked?
Ranking criteria used by major search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing is constantly evolving, the real formula for ranking sites is closely guarded secret by search engine proprietors. But generally, it is believed that search engines rank sites based on relevancy, authority, popularity and trustworthiness.
Below are some non-technical strategies that can be used for SEO
a) Writing Interesting content that is also relevant for your website.
b) Link building though acquisition of highly relevant links.
c) Being ethical and avoiding questionable tactics frowned upon by the SEO community and loathed by search engines.
d) Build authority though networking
e) Increase popularity through encouraging repeat visitors.
Use sound marketing principles together with the above non-technical strategies to increase your site ranking.
Sammy Kirkland in website development, programming and design. If you'd like to know more about our services, please visit our site at http://www.seoboutiques.com/ecommerce-X-Cart-Website-Design.html
Monday, January 17, 2011
Local Search Listings For Your Local Small Business
Local Search Listings For Your Local Small Business
Looking to get more exposure for your Local Small Business online? If you sell to local customers, they are looking for your products and services in the city or state they live in. For getting your Local Small Business listed on Google and easy for your local customers to find you, list your business in Google Places. Google wants local customers to find your business!
Using Keywords, Inbound Links, and Local Search Listings are a greta way to get your site in Organic Searches for FREE!
Looking to get more exposure for your Local Small Business online? If you sell to local customers, they are looking for your products and services in the city or state they live in. For getting your Local Small Business listed on Google and easy for your local customers to find you, list your business in Google Places. Google wants local customers to find your business!
- Go to www.google.com/places
- Select : Add New Business"
- Enter Your Business Address, Details, Photos, and Category
Using Keywords, Inbound Links, and Local Search Listings are a greta way to get your site in Organic Searches for FREE!
7 Steps to Building the Right Social Media Connections
7 Steps to Building the Right Social Media Connections
By Angelique L. Rewers (c) 2011
Once upon a time, it seemed as though the number of "followers" or "connections" a person had on social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn was akin to the number of votes they had for homecoming king or queen. It was the grown-up version of a high school popularity contest.
However, as these websites have now matured - and as entrepreneurs and business owners have figured out how and how not to use them - most everyóne has come to realize that it's not about the number of connections you have, but the number of right connections.
Just like in the real world, you want to make sure you're making the most of your networking time by connecting with those people that have similar or complementary interests or expertise and, therefore, create a mutually beneficial relationship - particularly when sites like Facebook limit your number of friends to only 5,000. In fact, many people who have large followings of the wrong people are taking the drastic step of deleting their connections and starting over from scratch.
Whether you're just getting started building your social media network or you're a seasoned pro, who's thinking about doing a major overhaul, here are seven steps you can take to help you build the right connections.
1.) Start With the People You Know. If you're still not using social media and are hesitant to get started, the best way to get your feet wet is by connecting with those you know personally: your friends & family, your neighbors, and your co-workers. But don't stop there; your network is likely a lot bigger than you might think. Don't forget about your former co-workers, your connections through professional organizations to which you belong, your clients or customers, members of your mastermind communities and even vendors with whom you've done business.
2.) Add the New People You Meet. Not so long ago (unless you were in sales), the majority of the business cards you collected at networking events, conferences, trade shows and other professional development opportunities probably went in the garbage can the next day. Today, however, there's no excuse for not taking a few minutes to extend the life of those connections by sending social media invites the very next day. Be sure to remind the person who you are by referencing something from your conversation or by providing a piece of follow-up information that you promised.
3.) Follow Your Followers' Followers. Check out the connections and followers of your colleagues, peers, friends, etc. On Twitter you can easily see who your friends are following, as well as who is following them. Facebook automatically provides suggestions of people you might want to add because you have a lot of shared connections. In LinkedIn you may need to ask your connection to make an introduction. In any case, if you have things in common with your networkers, it stands to reason that a good portion of their followers is also worth following. Just be sure not to "spam" your connections' lists.
4.) Broaden Your Reach. Extend invitations to people in groups to which you belong in both the real and online worlds, such as professional organizations. On LinkedIn you can connect with the folks you "meet" through LinkedIn Groups. And on Facebook you can make connections when you're invited to attend an event or when you join someone's fan page.
5.) Follow the Experts. We're constantly learning from experts in our respective industries. Why not reach out to these folks in the social media world? Maybe you've just read a great book. See what the author has to say on Twitter. Or maybe you've gotten a brochure for an upcoming conference that you'd love to attend but can't. Before you throw the brochure in the trash, search for the speakers' names on social networking sites and send them an invitation to connect. Let them know that you saw their session description for the conference and you're disappoínted you're going to miss it, but would love to keep track of where else they might be speaking.
6.) Do Some Digging. Don't forget to take the time to search for people who share similar interests as you or who would be an ideal customer for your business. Granted, this is the most time consuming of all the methods. But it will give you the chance to unearth new sources, experts and connections that will add value to your business and who you might not otherwise have ever "met." Be on the lookout for bloggers, reporters, and analysts who cover your company or industry.
7.) Invite Others to Follow You. To truly create an online "relationship" it needs to be a two-way street. One of the best ways to encourage others to follow you is by showing that you will provide value to them. In other words, be worthy of their time. Start by ensuring your online profiles are professional (i.e. no avatar photos) and accurately describe who you are, what you do, and what topics you're interested in. Provide content and commentary that matches that profile, is timely and doesn't spam. Promoting is fine so long as it's balanced with valuable content. Link to blog posts, videos and articles your followers would find interesting. Ask questions and provide insightful comments on other people's posts. Make it easy for others to follow you by providing "follow me" widgets on your website, blog posts, article archives, and podcasts.
Remember: It's not about the number of connections you have on these sites - it's about the quality of those connections. Today, people are looking for authenticity. They want to meet real people with real things to say who will add value to their personal and professional lives.
Are you doing something interesting to find valuable contacts on social media sites? Leave us a comment and tell us know what strategies are working for you!
By Angelique Rewers, ABC, APR
- Richer. Smarter. Happier. -
About The AuthorThe Queen of Clarity - Angelique Rewers, ABC, APR, harnesses her extensive experience working with Fortune 500 companies to help solopreneurs clarify their marketing focus so they can build a business that makes them happy and makes them money.
If you're looking for simple, low-cost ways to boost your sales, get Free marketing *Brilliance!* now at: http://www.richersmarterhappier.com/brilliance_ezine.htm
By Angelique L. Rewers (c) 2011
Once upon a time, it seemed as though the number of "followers" or "connections" a person had on social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn was akin to the number of votes they had for homecoming king or queen. It was the grown-up version of a high school popularity contest.
However, as these websites have now matured - and as entrepreneurs and business owners have figured out how and how not to use them - most everyóne has come to realize that it's not about the number of connections you have, but the number of right connections.
Just like in the real world, you want to make sure you're making the most of your networking time by connecting with those people that have similar or complementary interests or expertise and, therefore, create a mutually beneficial relationship - particularly when sites like Facebook limit your number of friends to only 5,000. In fact, many people who have large followings of the wrong people are taking the drastic step of deleting their connections and starting over from scratch.
Whether you're just getting started building your social media network or you're a seasoned pro, who's thinking about doing a major overhaul, here are seven steps you can take to help you build the right connections.
1.) Start With the People You Know. If you're still not using social media and are hesitant to get started, the best way to get your feet wet is by connecting with those you know personally: your friends & family, your neighbors, and your co-workers. But don't stop there; your network is likely a lot bigger than you might think. Don't forget about your former co-workers, your connections through professional organizations to which you belong, your clients or customers, members of your mastermind communities and even vendors with whom you've done business.
2.) Add the New People You Meet. Not so long ago (unless you were in sales), the majority of the business cards you collected at networking events, conferences, trade shows and other professional development opportunities probably went in the garbage can the next day. Today, however, there's no excuse for not taking a few minutes to extend the life of those connections by sending social media invites the very next day. Be sure to remind the person who you are by referencing something from your conversation or by providing a piece of follow-up information that you promised.
3.) Follow Your Followers' Followers. Check out the connections and followers of your colleagues, peers, friends, etc. On Twitter you can easily see who your friends are following, as well as who is following them. Facebook automatically provides suggestions of people you might want to add because you have a lot of shared connections. In LinkedIn you may need to ask your connection to make an introduction. In any case, if you have things in common with your networkers, it stands to reason that a good portion of their followers is also worth following. Just be sure not to "spam" your connections' lists.
4.) Broaden Your Reach. Extend invitations to people in groups to which you belong in both the real and online worlds, such as professional organizations. On LinkedIn you can connect with the folks you "meet" through LinkedIn Groups. And on Facebook you can make connections when you're invited to attend an event or when you join someone's fan page.
5.) Follow the Experts. We're constantly learning from experts in our respective industries. Why not reach out to these folks in the social media world? Maybe you've just read a great book. See what the author has to say on Twitter. Or maybe you've gotten a brochure for an upcoming conference that you'd love to attend but can't. Before you throw the brochure in the trash, search for the speakers' names on social networking sites and send them an invitation to connect. Let them know that you saw their session description for the conference and you're disappoínted you're going to miss it, but would love to keep track of where else they might be speaking.
6.) Do Some Digging. Don't forget to take the time to search for people who share similar interests as you or who would be an ideal customer for your business. Granted, this is the most time consuming of all the methods. But it will give you the chance to unearth new sources, experts and connections that will add value to your business and who you might not otherwise have ever "met." Be on the lookout for bloggers, reporters, and analysts who cover your company or industry.
7.) Invite Others to Follow You. To truly create an online "relationship" it needs to be a two-way street. One of the best ways to encourage others to follow you is by showing that you will provide value to them. In other words, be worthy of their time. Start by ensuring your online profiles are professional (i.e. no avatar photos) and accurately describe who you are, what you do, and what topics you're interested in. Provide content and commentary that matches that profile, is timely and doesn't spam. Promoting is fine so long as it's balanced with valuable content. Link to blog posts, videos and articles your followers would find interesting. Ask questions and provide insightful comments on other people's posts. Make it easy for others to follow you by providing "follow me" widgets on your website, blog posts, article archives, and podcasts.
Remember: It's not about the number of connections you have on these sites - it's about the quality of those connections. Today, people are looking for authenticity. They want to meet real people with real things to say who will add value to their personal and professional lives.
Are you doing something interesting to find valuable contacts on social media sites? Leave us a comment and tell us know what strategies are working for you!
By Angelique Rewers, ABC, APR
- Richer. Smarter. Happier. -
About The AuthorThe Queen of Clarity - Angelique Rewers, ABC, APR, harnesses her extensive experience working with Fortune 500 companies to help solopreneurs clarify their marketing focus so they can build a business that makes them happy and makes them money.
If you're looking for simple, low-cost ways to boost your sales, get Free marketing *Brilliance!* now at: http://www.richersmarterhappier.com/brilliance_ezine.htm
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