Small Business Growth Strategies

There is a lot of advice floating around about how you should market your business online. You can make yourself crazy trying to keep up with all the websites, forums, social media networks, blogs, technologies and strategies that abound.

Trying to do it all is like throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. This strategy is not only exhausting, it is largely ineffective. Instead, develop an online visibility plan that is clear and focused. Not only will you quickly see results, but you will save yourself countless hours of time and frustration. Following are some steps to get you started.

1. Have a Purpose

You can call it your mission statement, your unique value proposition or even your business plan, but whatever it is for you, it must be defined. Great companies don’t get great without knowing what they stand for. And when it comes to communicating online, if your purpose isn’t clear, you risk being just another face in a very big crowd. Before you even begin to think about your presence online, you need to know what it is your company stands for and what it is you have to offer.

2. Define Your Target Audience

Too often businesses try to appeal to the masses and then fail to stand out. Being seen and heard in the right places starts with knowing who you want to reach. It’s the difference between Whole Foods and your corner grocery store.

Whole Foods appeals to discriminating shopper who is willing to spend more on wholesome products and a unique selection. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, the company maintains its focus and marketing efforts on meeting the wants and needs of its target audience. Shoppers outside of the target may still wander in on occasion, but the store could lose its appeal if it tried to be just another grocery store.

Choosing a distinctive niche allows you to sharpen your marketing focus. It also gives you a starting point—a target in which to aim. It does not prevent you from reaching outside of that market, but it helps your audience know that what you offer is uniquely suited to their needs.

3. Optimize Your Website for the Search Engines

This advice is evergreen and sets the foundation for everything you do online. Optimizing your website makes it easier for your target audience to find you. If you haven’t already done so, learn about the importance of keywords, content and external links. These elements are essential for a site that draws traffic from the right sources.

Keep in mind that website traffic is relative. A site that draws 500 hits per month from the right kind of visitors can be ten times more successful than a site that draws 5,000 hits per month from visitors who don’t make a purchase. A focused website strategy that incorporates basic search engine optimization makes all the difference.

4. Engage with Your People

Online forums and groups can be a powerful outlet for finding and engaging with your audience.  You could spend countless hours each day spamming forums across the web and repelling your audience, or you could pick one or two forums that reach your target audience and make an impact. To stand out, begin by contributing to the conversation. Answer questions, demonstrate your knowledge and become a valued resource. Soon your audience will begin to seek you out.

5. Create a Clear Social Media Strategy

With the growing number of social media sites available, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Instead of trying to maintain profiles in a dozen or more sites—and doing a less than stellar job, choose two or three social media networks and focus your energy on managing those well.

This starts with knowing which sites appeal to your target audience. Are you marketing to the generation Y? Then MySpace would probably be a good choice. Want to reach executives at Fortune 500 companies? Hop on over to LinkedIn. Targeting moms ages 35 and up? Facebook is probably a good choice. You can also find industry-specific networks through sites like Ning.com. Whatever networks you choose, remember to focus on your target audience, engage in online conversation and demonstrate value. This is a simple recipe to social media marketing success.

6. Find Your Authentic Voice

There is a lot of noise online, and much of it feels like yelling:

“Buy my product or your life will be a disaster!”

“Let me tell you how awesome I am!”

“Pick me, pick me! I have the answers to all of your problems.”

I view these noise-makers as an opportunity. Instead of adding to the noise, when you communicate with authenticity and provide value, you will stand out above the noise. People will naturally be drawn to what you are doing.

Tony Hsieh from Zappos is a great example. He has well over a million followers on Twitter, and not because he’s pushing the latest shoes. Tony is funny, engaging and even inspiring. His company started and maintained its focus on providing exceptional customer service along with a tremendous selection of product. As a result, Zappos has thrived and developed undeniable customer loyalty.

This kind of success isn’t achieved by sending out daily e-mail blasts, trying to be seen everywhere, or generally annoying people. It’s achieved by having a clear focus, a defined target audience, an optimized website, and an authentic voice behind it all. Put these elements in place and you will be on your way to creating online visibility that produces real results.

***You are welcome to reprint this article provided the author bio is included:

Stephanie Chandler is an author of several business and marketing books including “LEAP! 101 Ways to Grow Your Business” and “From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money with Books, eBooks and Information Products.” She is also CEO of http://AuthorityPublishing.com, which specializes in custom book publishing for nonfiction books. For author and speaker details, visit http://StephanieChandler.com.

written by Stephanie Chandler \\ tags: online visibility, search engine optimization, ~SOCIAL MEDIA~

1. Family – From third cousins in Columbus to great-aunts in Alberta, Facebook is a fantastic tool for reconnecting with your family tree and keeping in touch.

2. Friends – There is a good chance that if you spend a little time on Facebook you will bump into your BFF from 6th grade, your junior prom date, your college roommate and your favorite coworker from your first job. If you’re really lucky, one of them will post a photo you forgot about!

3. Jobs – In a tough economy, the job market is fiercer than ever. Turn to LinkedIn if you want to expand your prospects, network with executives from every Fortune 500 company, reconnect with past coworkers and managers and uncover golden job opportunities.

4. Groups – From business networks to Honda Civic owners and everything in between, you will find your people in groups on Facebook and LinkedIn. And if you don’t, why not start a group of your own?

5. Discounts – Getting ready to buy a car? Check to see if your auto dealership has a Facebook Fan page. Coffee lover? Peet’s and Starbucks are showcasing deals on Twitter. Smart retailers are connecting with customers through Facebook and Twitter and offering loyal followers big bargains.

6. Give Back – Non-profit organizations are abundant on Facebook. Support your favorite cause by becoming a fan, engaging in a related group and getting involved.

7. News – Follow the New York Times, your local t.v. news channel and more on Twitter for breaking news alerts and links to articles.

8. Entertainment – Need something to do this weekend? Hop on over to events on Facebook or check the Fan pages for your favorite destinations (the zoo, local museum, etc.). Or log on to Twitter for tweets about where Jessica Simpson is having lunch and what your favorite reality t.v. star is up to.

9. Education – Want to learn about the latest trends in mobile marketing? Or stay up to date on your favorite industry? All kinds of facts and figures can be found through “the big three”: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

10. Community – Though social media sites reach a global audience, you can search all of the sites by keyword to find other users in your own backyard. Connect with your local community, start a movement, promote your business, partner up to support a cause or create change.

11. Business – Promoting a business via the internet can feel a lot like being a needle in a colossal hay stack. For retailers and service-based businesses, social media presents tremendous opportunities to build brand recognition, generate leads, and keep in touch with existing and past customers.

12. Cool Factor – If you have teenagers, you know it’s not always easy to connect with them. Now you have a chance to impress your kids with your social media savvy by sending them a Facebook friend request!

written by Stephanie Chandler \\ tags: facebook, linkedin, twitter, ~SOCIAL MEDIA~

Successful entrepreneurs share something in common: they set goals. A goal is like a target. You can have all the ammunition in the world, but without a clear target to aim for, you can end up shooting blanks.

I am a firm believer in goal setting. Each year I write a detailed Goal Plan and post it next to my desk. Having clear intentions and specific goals keeps me focused. Some people do this at the start of a new year, while others use their birthday as the annual launching board. It doesn’t really matter when you create your plan, as long as you get it done.

When you take a goal out of your head and commit it to paper, something magical happens. Not only does it solidify your commitment to achieving the goal, but it is the first step in moving closer to the target. Better yet, set goals that feel a little bit out of reach. These are the best kind because they push you beyond your limits. And while some goals may take longer to achieve than planned, with persistence you have no choice but to move closer to them, bit by bit.

Each year I review my progress and inevitably find that I achieved and even surpassed many of the items on my list. Throughout the year I keep a list of accomplishments as an additional way to measure progress and stay on track. Sometimes goals change along the way, and that’s okay. They are almost always replaced by something bigger and better.

To get started, write a bulleted list of goals you plan to achieve in the coming year. Following are some items to include in your Goal Plan as you embark on creating your best year yet.

Overall Revenue
I don’t know of any business owner who wants to earn less money year over year. The point of a revenue goal is to reach for greatness—to pick a number that seems slightly unrealistic as incentive to find ways to reach that number.

Detailed Revenue Streams
Most businesses have multiple revenue streams based on products, services, internet income and other factors. Consider setting goals for each of your revenue streams. Some may be shifting with the economy and some may show more promise than others. Detailing specific revenue goals can be a fantastic way to prioritize where your attention should be spent in the coming year.

New Products and Services You Will Launch
As you detail your revenue streams, factor in new products or services you plan to launch. Companies don’t grow by staying idle. They innovate and launch bigger, better products and services that lead to business growth.

Time Management
Most entrepreneurs struggle with time management. Identify ways that you can get a better grasp on time by cutting back on commitments that no longer make sense, minimizing the amount of time you spend on e-mail or delegating more of your workload to an employee or virtual assistant.

Family Time
Achieving success in business won’t matter if your personal life is failing—and at the end of the day you can’t hug your business! Commit to spending more time with your family whether that means being home for dinner six nights per week, carving out one-on-one time with your spouse or kids, or refusing to work weekends. This commitment pays huge dividends.

Personal Time
Can you remember the last time you took a day off to do something you love? We all need to recharge our batteries; this is essential to high performance at work. Commit to taking several long weekends during the year, take that vacation you have been thinking about, read several books each month, participate in golf outings, visit the spa, or schedule a monthly lunch with a friend. Figure out what best fills your personal tank and make it a priority.

Health Commitments
You’ve heard it before—without your health, you risk losing everything that matters. Decide what a healthy lifestyle means for you, whether it is visiting the gym four mornings per week, taking walks mid-day, dropping a bad habit, getting your insomnia under control or cutting out sugar. When you commit to taking care of yourself, everything else in your life will benefit.

Material Goals
Setting goals to acquire material possessions, especially things that you frequently daydream about, can provide tremendous motivation. Items might include a new car, major home improvements, or an indulgent vacation to an exotic destination. Identify items from your ultimate wish list and figure out what it will take to acquire them.

Charitable Giving
One of the most rewarding ways to enjoy success is by giving back to others. Pick a favorite cause or two and donate your time or money. You might even decide to sponsor fundraising events or include your children in related activities. Charitable giving comes back to you in some unexpected and powerful ways and deserves to be part of your vision.

Strategic Business Goals
This is the category for everything else business-related that you want to achieve. Maybe that includes hiring more help, forming new strategic alliances, launching a new blog, getting major media exposure, or stepping up your internet marketing activities. From small changes to big shifts and everything in between, take the step to making your strategic goals a reality by adding them to your list.

Review, Achieve, Repeat!
Once your Goal Plan is complete, post it next to your desk or somewhere that you can review it regularly. Be sure to track your progress. You might create a spreadsheet to list your accomplishments or start a journal where you jot down successes and develop strategies for meeting the goals on your list.

Make a habit of recreating your list each year and keep your previous lists in a folder where you can review them. As the years pass by, it can be tremendously rewarding to have a record of your journey. You will inevitably see the progress you have made in all aspects of your life and over time, this exercise will become one you look forward to each year.

About the Author
Stephanie Chandler is an author of several business and marketing books including “LEAP! 101 Ways to Grow Your Business” and “From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money with Books, eBooks and Information Products.” She is also founder and CEO of http://AuthorityPublishing.com, which provides custom book publishing and internet marketing services. For hundreds of resources for entrepreneurs, visit http://BusinessInfoGuide.com.

*You are welcome to reprint this article provided the author bio is included!

written by Stephanie Chandler \\ tags: business, entrepreneur, goal plan, goal planning, how to create goals

Many moms struggle to find a way to earn some extra income and still have flexible time to devote to family. Whether you’re interested in part-time work or want to start a full-time business at home, here are ten business ideas that can fit into the busiest of schedules.

1.      Virtual Assistant – Virtual Assistants provide administrative services to small businesses that don’t have in-house staff to handle these duties. A variety of tasks can be offered at an hourly rate or on a per-job basis ranging from contact database management and writing and sending business letters, to designing brochures and newsletters and coordinating mass-mailings. Realtors and small business owners make good target clients for these kinds of services.

2.      Freelance Writer – Freelancers write articles for newspapers and magazines. Most articles require research, must be well-written, and suited to the style of the publication. Pay can vary widely from $.10 – $2.00 per word. Businesses also contract freelance writers to create reports, press releases, advertising copy, and other special projects.

Read more…

written by Stephanie Chandler

EBay’s online auctions have created business opportunities for thousands of people. Now the Trading Assistant program is making it easier than ever to start a business from home.

Trading Assistants act as brokers, selling merchandise for others and keeping a percentage of the profits. The profit potential can be great, especially when selling high-value items.

Though there are millions of registered users on eBay, many people still don’t know how to sell goods themselves. A Trading Assistant fills a need in the marketplace, allowing you to make a profit while helping others unload their stuff. Almost everyone has a box of items in their garage or closet that they would like to sell.

Getting Started

You will need to decide what types of products you are willing to sell and may want to set a minimum value on merchandise you accept. It can be difficult to make a profit on $5 items so many assistants require the products have a minimum estimated sales value of $10 or $20.

Most assistants set their fees between 20%-40% of the ending auction price. You may also want to charge a per-item listing fee of $1-$5, and possibly deduct this from the commission if the auction ends successfully.

Read more…