7 brand new services are available at The Colorado Connector for small business owners who want to see greater success in 2012. The updated business development menu includes:
$79 Laser Strategy Session
$27 Pinterest set-up and optimization
$47 Four-Pack of posts for blogs
$97 Sales Page Copy Writing
$47 Resume and Career Services
$27 Marketing Reviews for restaurants and spas.
To learn more about these services, visit the NEW Services For 2012 page by clicking here.
EXPOSURE IS EVERYTHING! For your star to shine it must be seen. Our New Media Marketing and Promotion services put you front and center and keep you top of mind. HIRE US - we'll get the word out!
Showing posts with label strategy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label strategy. Show all posts
Tuesday
The Sales Track- Basics to Closing the Deal
Being an educated and enthusiastic learner, I love to discuss the knowledge I have learned through experience, education, and mentoring that has made me a successful salesperson. I love Sales, I love dealing with people, and I love the challenge.
In sales, you never know who you are going to deal with or what is going to happen. The best strategy I have implemented is a technique called “The Sales Track.” When you first review this strategy, it looks as if its just common sense. Anyone who understands the sales process knows that these actions are just the basics. But as I continued to mature as a salesperson, I learned that this strategy is much more than just steps, it is a total and complete sales flow. So here it is:
The Steps of the Sales Track
1. Meet and Greet
2. Determine the Match
3. Show Features/Sell Benefits
4. Overcome Objections
5. Close
6. Congratulate
Simple right? So go make it happen Captain! This sales strategy will work for any type of sales if implemented correctly. Whether you're a Car Salesman, Network Marketer, a Telemarketer, or in any sort of Retail, this system WILL work. The key to this process is that you must understand the full definition of each step and complete each step before moving to the next. I will break down each step, as well as the importance of following the “track”, in the articles found at http://www.salessavy.com/
Thomas Kelly- Enthusiastic learner sharing knowledge on Sales Training, Sales Tips, Sales Techniques, and Sales Strategies. Feel free to add proven techniques and critique where needed. More article found at www.SalesSavy.com .
In sales, you never know who you are going to deal with or what is going to happen. The best strategy I have implemented is a technique called “The Sales Track.” When you first review this strategy, it looks as if its just common sense. Anyone who understands the sales process knows that these actions are just the basics. But as I continued to mature as a salesperson, I learned that this strategy is much more than just steps, it is a total and complete sales flow. So here it is:
The Steps of the Sales Track
1. Meet and Greet
2. Determine the Match
3. Show Features/Sell Benefits
4. Overcome Objections
5. Close
6. Congratulate
Simple right? So go make it happen Captain! This sales strategy will work for any type of sales if implemented correctly. Whether you're a Car Salesman, Network Marketer, a Telemarketer, or in any sort of Retail, this system WILL work. The key to this process is that you must understand the full definition of each step and complete each step before moving to the next. I will break down each step, as well as the importance of following the “track”, in the articles found at http://www.salessavy.com/
Thomas Kelly- Enthusiastic learner sharing knowledge on Sales Training, Sales Tips, Sales Techniques, and Sales Strategies. Feel free to add proven techniques and critique where needed. More article found at www.SalesSavy.com .
Thursday
Client Networking – How to Create a Buzz About Your Business
Today’s Market Strategy for the Small BusinessWhen most business professionals think of networking – the immediate thought is networking with other professionals. One very overlooked arena of networking is that of your existing client base.
Yes, your clients network. Not formally and probably not ever with one another, yet they network. They network with their friends, colleagues, church members and so forth.
Get to know your clients, pay attention to their personalities. Find what Malcolm Gladwell, author of ‘The Tipping Point’, calls ‘The Connector’ and ‘The Maven’ in your client base. These clients already talk about you - it is in their nature. However, learning how to identify these clients and then creating methods to make it easy for them to do what comes naturally, is indeed effective.
The Connector
This is the person that knows a lot of people. Moreover, the people that this person knows are from diversified social and economic groups. The Connector is friendly and will strike up a conversation with anyone with the sincere desire to learn something, transforming a stranger and a chance encounter in to a friendly and warm experience.
A Connector is curious and is excited to learn about another person. A Connector is skilled at connecting the people that he or she meets with each other.
This is the person that knows his barber’s mother has Alzheimer’s and is in need of in home care that meets with his stock broker that happens to mention that his daughter is working for a home care service that specializes in Alzheimer’s care who then puts the home care company and the stock broker’s daughter together with his barber’s family.
A Connector finds joy in helping others by connecting the person with a solution to the person with the need. They are effective, in part, because they are wonderful listeners and because they enjoy helping others without expecting anything in return.
A client with a Connector personality, if they believe in your service, will send you more clients than you will ever receive from a professional referral source.
The Maven
In the Yiddish language it means ‘one who accumulates knowledge’ This is the person that loves information. This person takes great joy in sharing with others what they have learned with the intention of helping or assisting you.
This person often times has a wide variety of interests and can offer a fact or opinion to most any conversation. This person can tell you where the best buys are for nearly anything you wish to purchase. They can tell you what businesses in your area have the best reputation for service after that sale – and which ones don’t.
Mavens are the type of people that like to pass out coupons, enjoy secret shopping services, will readily take part in a survey and agree to test a product, resource or service. If a Maven becomes a ‘believer’ in you and or in your business – then you can certainly expect a great deal of referrals directly from this client. This Maven will talk about you to everyone he or she meets that may need or someday need what you offer. This Maven will remain loyal towards you, so long as continue to provide what this Maven has come to value as the true benefit of what you offer.
Naturally, as you network within professional settings, you want to tune yourself in to the Connector and the Maven personalities. These are key people to know. You will want to provide opportunities for these people to get to know more about you.
Meanwhile, do not overlook your customer base! Think of some creative programs that you can tailor directly at your Connector and Maven clients to continuously remind them of the excellent services that you provide to everyone within your community. Help your clients help you – so that you in turn – can help more clients.
See how Senior Approved Services is using this concept to help our Connectors and Mavens - Monthly Contest
Founder of Senior Approved Services, Barbara is an advocate for seniors and has developed a system that helps the elder care business and the seniors that contract with these businesses.
Yes, your clients network. Not formally and probably not ever with one another, yet they network. They network with their friends, colleagues, church members and so forth.
Get to know your clients, pay attention to their personalities. Find what Malcolm Gladwell, author of ‘The Tipping Point’, calls ‘The Connector’ and ‘The Maven’ in your client base. These clients already talk about you - it is in their nature. However, learning how to identify these clients and then creating methods to make it easy for them to do what comes naturally, is indeed effective.
The Connector
This is the person that knows a lot of people. Moreover, the people that this person knows are from diversified social and economic groups. The Connector is friendly and will strike up a conversation with anyone with the sincere desire to learn something, transforming a stranger and a chance encounter in to a friendly and warm experience.
A Connector is curious and is excited to learn about another person. A Connector is skilled at connecting the people that he or she meets with each other.
This is the person that knows his barber’s mother has Alzheimer’s and is in need of in home care that meets with his stock broker that happens to mention that his daughter is working for a home care service that specializes in Alzheimer’s care who then puts the home care company and the stock broker’s daughter together with his barber’s family.
A Connector finds joy in helping others by connecting the person with a solution to the person with the need. They are effective, in part, because they are wonderful listeners and because they enjoy helping others without expecting anything in return.
A client with a Connector personality, if they believe in your service, will send you more clients than you will ever receive from a professional referral source.
The Maven
In the Yiddish language it means ‘one who accumulates knowledge’ This is the person that loves information. This person takes great joy in sharing with others what they have learned with the intention of helping or assisting you.
This person often times has a wide variety of interests and can offer a fact or opinion to most any conversation. This person can tell you where the best buys are for nearly anything you wish to purchase. They can tell you what businesses in your area have the best reputation for service after that sale – and which ones don’t.
Mavens are the type of people that like to pass out coupons, enjoy secret shopping services, will readily take part in a survey and agree to test a product, resource or service. If a Maven becomes a ‘believer’ in you and or in your business – then you can certainly expect a great deal of referrals directly from this client. This Maven will talk about you to everyone he or she meets that may need or someday need what you offer. This Maven will remain loyal towards you, so long as continue to provide what this Maven has come to value as the true benefit of what you offer.
Naturally, as you network within professional settings, you want to tune yourself in to the Connector and the Maven personalities. These are key people to know. You will want to provide opportunities for these people to get to know more about you.
Meanwhile, do not overlook your customer base! Think of some creative programs that you can tailor directly at your Connector and Maven clients to continuously remind them of the excellent services that you provide to everyone within your community. Help your clients help you – so that you in turn – can help more clients.
See how Senior Approved Services is using this concept to help our Connectors and Mavens - Monthly Contest
Founder of Senior Approved Services, Barbara is an advocate for seniors and has developed a system that helps the elder care business and the seniors that contract with these businesses.
Be a Featured Entrepreneur in February
We're getting ready to publish! Email your biz bio coloradoconnector@comcast.net to be a featured entrepreneur! Don't "pitch" - educate! Include contact info & links.
Friday
2 Things Your Ecommerce Website Must Have
Online shopping is the latest trend among customers. Why would you still go to the shop personally when you can do shopping from the comforts of your own home? Because of the rising popularity of online shopping, more and more business persons are setting up their own ecommerce websites to meet the needs of customers and of course, earn big money online.
There is a very bright future for ecommerce websites. As long as there are needs that should be met, there will be customers. For ecommerce website owners, earning money online can be so easy. If people need your products and services, your website will stay alive as long as you want.
Online Competition For Ecommerce Websites
Because of the increasing numbers of online shoppers, there is a need for more ecommerce websites. The problem, however, is that there seem to be several ecommerce websites now. A lot of business persons have answered the call to sell something online. This makes online competition very tough.
Just think about this, if you sell health and beauty products online, there are hundred more several websites like yours. They also offer the same products and services. If there is one customer looking for a health product, he has a hundred choices to choose from. So how can you increase your website�s chance of getting that customer?
Plan Ahead And Market Your Ecommerce Website
This is one thing that most ecommerce website owners do not completely understand. Most of them think that once they have set up their websites, they don�t have to do anything anymore. They will just sit and wait for sales. This may be true ages ago, but with the tough competition now, if you don�t do anything, you won�t get any sales.
Ecommerce websites need two things to consider. First is planning and the second is marketing. Before setting up the website, there must be a thorough planning first. In planning, you must consider the target market, budget, design and other factors that will affect the overall performance of the website.
Second is website marketing. After you have set up your website, you need to work on a marketing campaign. Through marketing, you can make your website more popular and visible to your target market. There are several web marketing options which you can use. The choice of the web marketing option depends on the need of your website.
Remember not to stop working on your website after the set up. If you stop working on it, the sales will also stop. Continually market your website for continuous sales.
This article is written by nPresence, an online web marketing agency that specializes in Search Engine Optimization, Pay Per Click advertising, Content Management Systems, Web Design, Conversion Tracking and Analysis. Looking for the hottest web marketing tools? Please see Internet Website Marketing.
There is a very bright future for ecommerce websites. As long as there are needs that should be met, there will be customers. For ecommerce website owners, earning money online can be so easy. If people need your products and services, your website will stay alive as long as you want.
Online Competition For Ecommerce Websites
Because of the increasing numbers of online shoppers, there is a need for more ecommerce websites. The problem, however, is that there seem to be several ecommerce websites now. A lot of business persons have answered the call to sell something online. This makes online competition very tough.
Just think about this, if you sell health and beauty products online, there are hundred more several websites like yours. They also offer the same products and services. If there is one customer looking for a health product, he has a hundred choices to choose from. So how can you increase your website�s chance of getting that customer?
Plan Ahead And Market Your Ecommerce Website
This is one thing that most ecommerce website owners do not completely understand. Most of them think that once they have set up their websites, they don�t have to do anything anymore. They will just sit and wait for sales. This may be true ages ago, but with the tough competition now, if you don�t do anything, you won�t get any sales.
Ecommerce websites need two things to consider. First is planning and the second is marketing. Before setting up the website, there must be a thorough planning first. In planning, you must consider the target market, budget, design and other factors that will affect the overall performance of the website.
Second is website marketing. After you have set up your website, you need to work on a marketing campaign. Through marketing, you can make your website more popular and visible to your target market. There are several web marketing options which you can use. The choice of the web marketing option depends on the need of your website.
Remember not to stop working on your website after the set up. If you stop working on it, the sales will also stop. Continually market your website for continuous sales.
This article is written by nPresence, an online web marketing agency that specializes in Search Engine Optimization, Pay Per Click advertising, Content Management Systems, Web Design, Conversion Tracking and Analysis. Looking for the hottest web marketing tools? Please see Internet Website Marketing.
Thursday
Basic Online Business Techniques...
When someone starts an online business, and many do, they tend to think that they know what they are doing. In other words, they don't have a clue. Everyone keeps telling them that they need a nice looking website, throw some affiliate programs on it, advertise at free classifieds pages, and watch the money roll in. Easy money, right? That's what they think.
"I don't need anyone to show me how to do this. It shouldn't be hard at all. Actually, it should be a walk in the park." Many people probably think like that. So they advertise here and there. Free classifieds. Free advertising. Maybe some forum posting every day. Free traffic, right?
A few days go by. Then a few weeks go by and they only made about $30 in sales in one month. Many continue to do this and think that if they keep doing the same thing, maybe a miracle will happen.
Not so......
It so very true that the online work at home arena is highly competitive. If you are doing the same thing and keep getting the same results over and over again, not only are you killing your potential for online success, but you are allowing other competitors to pass you by. The only thing that you need to do is to stop and find someone who is already succeeding with their online business. Become like an investigator. Investigate what they do EXACTLY on a daily basis that created that wealth for them.
Here are a few good pointers on what you can do to succeed online:
1) Start Getting Educated......
Again, find someone who is very successful online and see what they are doing on a daily basis that creates their success. Do some detailed research online as to what methods and techniques are working for them and others. You can not succeed if you keep associating yourself with people who aren't successful online. So you need to take yourself by the hands and start to associate with successful online friends.
2) You need an Auto-responder.....
Before I go into explaining this subject, it is important that you know that you will want to work with an opt in email subscribers who will come to your site and give you their personal permission to send them periodic emails. What you will not want to do is to buy email subscribers. If you do buy them and send them your emails, then this can kill you and your online reputation.
Having and opt-in email list will allow you to free up lots of your time because your prospects will be receiving messages from you periodically and automatically. The nice thing about email marketing is that instead of you having to call them each time you want to promote something, which will take you forever, your auto-responder system will be working for you while you go out and have fun.
Imagine having an opt in list of 10,000 subscribers. If you were to call each one of them to promote one of your programs, think how long it will take you to reach all of them. It would be impossible for you. With email, you can contact them all in a matter of a few seconds or minutes. You write one email and hit the "submit" button, and you are all done.
"If I don't get an auto-responder and email subscribers, will this cut my chances of succeeding online?"
I am not saying that it will, but if you do get one, your income will just keep growing all the time as your subscribers do.
3) Find a mentor
After you find someone who is very successful online, email them and tell them that you will want to work with them one on one if it is possible. Don't try going into their training thinking that you know it all. Listen and follow each guideline that they are recommending to you.
This person will be your mentor. Your coach and most of all, your friend.
By stepping out and trying a proven way to make money online, you will begin to see that you too can make a nice income online. And the best advice that I can also give you is to never ever give up. A lot of people are making nice incomes online and so can you. Believe in yourself and you will succeed.
Article by:
Pat Watt is the owner of www.workbizfromhom.com and www.workathomeonlinejobs.info. Her sites are geared for people who are looking for a legitimate and honest work at home opportunity and/or an online business.
"I don't need anyone to show me how to do this. It shouldn't be hard at all. Actually, it should be a walk in the park." Many people probably think like that. So they advertise here and there. Free classifieds. Free advertising. Maybe some forum posting every day. Free traffic, right?
A few days go by. Then a few weeks go by and they only made about $30 in sales in one month. Many continue to do this and think that if they keep doing the same thing, maybe a miracle will happen.
Not so......
It so very true that the online work at home arena is highly competitive. If you are doing the same thing and keep getting the same results over and over again, not only are you killing your potential for online success, but you are allowing other competitors to pass you by. The only thing that you need to do is to stop and find someone who is already succeeding with their online business. Become like an investigator. Investigate what they do EXACTLY on a daily basis that created that wealth for them.
Here are a few good pointers on what you can do to succeed online:
1) Start Getting Educated......
Again, find someone who is very successful online and see what they are doing on a daily basis that creates their success. Do some detailed research online as to what methods and techniques are working for them and others. You can not succeed if you keep associating yourself with people who aren't successful online. So you need to take yourself by the hands and start to associate with successful online friends.
2) You need an Auto-responder.....
Before I go into explaining this subject, it is important that you know that you will want to work with an opt in email subscribers who will come to your site and give you their personal permission to send them periodic emails. What you will not want to do is to buy email subscribers. If you do buy them and send them your emails, then this can kill you and your online reputation.
Having and opt-in email list will allow you to free up lots of your time because your prospects will be receiving messages from you periodically and automatically. The nice thing about email marketing is that instead of you having to call them each time you want to promote something, which will take you forever, your auto-responder system will be working for you while you go out and have fun.
Imagine having an opt in list of 10,000 subscribers. If you were to call each one of them to promote one of your programs, think how long it will take you to reach all of them. It would be impossible for you. With email, you can contact them all in a matter of a few seconds or minutes. You write one email and hit the "submit" button, and you are all done.
"If I don't get an auto-responder and email subscribers, will this cut my chances of succeeding online?"
I am not saying that it will, but if you do get one, your income will just keep growing all the time as your subscribers do.
3) Find a mentor
After you find someone who is very successful online, email them and tell them that you will want to work with them one on one if it is possible. Don't try going into their training thinking that you know it all. Listen and follow each guideline that they are recommending to you.
This person will be your mentor. Your coach and most of all, your friend.
By stepping out and trying a proven way to make money online, you will begin to see that you too can make a nice income online. And the best advice that I can also give you is to never ever give up. A lot of people are making nice incomes online and so can you. Believe in yourself and you will succeed.
Article by:
Pat Watt is the owner of www.workbizfromhom.com and www.workathomeonlinejobs.info. Her sites are geared for people who are looking for a legitimate and honest work at home opportunity and/or an online business.
Saturday
Best Marketing Tactics for Growing Your Small Business
By: Stacy Karacostas
Lately, it seems most entrepreneurs are looking for a marketing “silver bullet” that’s going to take their sales—and their business—through the roof. And plenty of folks are willing to sell you one.
Unfortunately, there’s a fatal flaw with always thinking about your marketing in terms of tactics, and trying this one or that one…
You are totally relying on luck of the draw!
It’s like stuffing quarters in a slot machine and pulling the handle over and over, hoping this time you’ll get some money out of it. Sadly, customers aren’t likely to come pouring out of the bottom of a one-shot tactic while bells ring and orange lights flash.
Besides, running a business is nothing like playing slots. And you simply can’t afford to rely on lady luck.
Instead you need a specific plan and strategies for taking your business from where it is today, to where you want it to be tomorrow. And you need to be able to track results. That way you can continue to improve on your marketing efforts down the road.
Otherwise, at best, you end up doing twice as much work for half the reward. At worst, your business limps along or grows too slowly for you to achieve your personal, financial and business goals (Remember those? You did have some when you started your business, right?).
The bottom line is…
The best marketing tactics in the world aren’t going to do diddley-squat to grow your business unless they are part of a bigger strategy.
To make an impact you need every piece of marketing you do to work together strategically to create what I call “Critical Marketing Mass”.
This is the point where your ideal customers see or hear your name and core message so often, your marketing takes on a life of its own. Soon half the people you meet have already heard of you. And those that haven’t quickly understand who you are, what you do, and why they should buy from you instead of the competition.
Sounds great, right? Then clearly you’re ready to quit pulling the handle and throwing away money on different marketing and advertising tactics, hoping something brings in customers.
That means it’s time to do a little planning.
What you really need to know before you choose any marketing tactics
In order to choose the best marketing tactics for your business, you have to carefully consider: your target market, your business and sales goals, your brand, market position and USP (that’s Unique Selling Proposition, or the reason they should buy from you instead of the other guy), your strengths & skills, and your available budget versus the potential return on investment.
This sounds like a tall order, but if you’ve already got a marketing or business plan, you should know a lot of these details. And if you don’t, there’s no time like the present to start.
Once you have the details down, it’s just a matter of doing your due diligence to make sure your marketing is going to make the right impression (reinforce your brand) on the right people (your ideal customer).
And then doing some basic calculations to make sure the tactic you choose is likely to make you more than it costs.
Of course, even the best marketing strategies and tactics won’t grow your business if they aren’t written write. So don’t make the costly mistake of thinking you can just sit down and write a money-making ad, sales letter, Website, or anything else.
You either need to learn the art copywriting yourself, or hire a proven sales copywriter to do the job for you. Only then can you feel confident that the odds of success, and sales, are in your favor.
Article by:
With more than 20 years experience running small businesses, author Stacy Karacostas has developed a variety of proven tools, tips and tricks that take the struggle out of growing your small business. Discover all kinds of powerful resources, free for the taking, at www.success-stream.com.
Lately, it seems most entrepreneurs are looking for a marketing “silver bullet” that’s going to take their sales—and their business—through the roof. And plenty of folks are willing to sell you one.
Unfortunately, there’s a fatal flaw with always thinking about your marketing in terms of tactics, and trying this one or that one…
You are totally relying on luck of the draw!
It’s like stuffing quarters in a slot machine and pulling the handle over and over, hoping this time you’ll get some money out of it. Sadly, customers aren’t likely to come pouring out of the bottom of a one-shot tactic while bells ring and orange lights flash.
Besides, running a business is nothing like playing slots. And you simply can’t afford to rely on lady luck.
Instead you need a specific plan and strategies for taking your business from where it is today, to where you want it to be tomorrow. And you need to be able to track results. That way you can continue to improve on your marketing efforts down the road.
Otherwise, at best, you end up doing twice as much work for half the reward. At worst, your business limps along or grows too slowly for you to achieve your personal, financial and business goals (Remember those? You did have some when you started your business, right?).
The bottom line is…
The best marketing tactics in the world aren’t going to do diddley-squat to grow your business unless they are part of a bigger strategy.
To make an impact you need every piece of marketing you do to work together strategically to create what I call “Critical Marketing Mass”.
This is the point where your ideal customers see or hear your name and core message so often, your marketing takes on a life of its own. Soon half the people you meet have already heard of you. And those that haven’t quickly understand who you are, what you do, and why they should buy from you instead of the competition.
Sounds great, right? Then clearly you’re ready to quit pulling the handle and throwing away money on different marketing and advertising tactics, hoping something brings in customers.
That means it’s time to do a little planning.
What you really need to know before you choose any marketing tactics
In order to choose the best marketing tactics for your business, you have to carefully consider: your target market, your business and sales goals, your brand, market position and USP (that’s Unique Selling Proposition, or the reason they should buy from you instead of the other guy), your strengths & skills, and your available budget versus the potential return on investment.
This sounds like a tall order, but if you’ve already got a marketing or business plan, you should know a lot of these details. And if you don’t, there’s no time like the present to start.
Once you have the details down, it’s just a matter of doing your due diligence to make sure your marketing is going to make the right impression (reinforce your brand) on the right people (your ideal customer).
And then doing some basic calculations to make sure the tactic you choose is likely to make you more than it costs.
Of course, even the best marketing strategies and tactics won’t grow your business if they aren’t written write. So don’t make the costly mistake of thinking you can just sit down and write a money-making ad, sales letter, Website, or anything else.
You either need to learn the art copywriting yourself, or hire a proven sales copywriter to do the job for you. Only then can you feel confident that the odds of success, and sales, are in your favor.
Article by:
With more than 20 years experience running small businesses, author Stacy Karacostas has developed a variety of proven tools, tips and tricks that take the struggle out of growing your small business. Discover all kinds of powerful resources, free for the taking, at www.success-stream.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)