If you’re feeling the need to get more from your emails, PowerInbox wants to help. PowerInbox can incorporate ecommerce, videos, photos, real-time updates and more within the body of email messages. There’s no need to click out of the email to accomplish a task with PowerInbox, which makes it great for both marketing emails (to customers and prospects) and project management-related emails (to employees or independent contractors). Recipients can browse stored items, schedule meetings or appointments, interact with project management duties and more–right in the email. They can also watch videos or buy products directly within the email. PowerInbox works with Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and Outlook and the platform is easy to use and understand.
Small Business Success Index 5
| Index Score* | Grade | ||
| SBSI INDEX | 73 | C- |  |
| Capital Access | 67 | D+ |  |
| Marketing & Innovation | 65 | D | |
| Workforce | 76 | C |  |
| Customer Service | 88 | B+ |  |
| Computer Technology | 75 | C | |
| Compliance | 92 | A- |  |
| *Index score is calculated on a 1-100 scale. | |||
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Need a Salesperson? Consider a Manufacturers’ Rep
February 22nd, 2012 :: Rieva LesonskyBy Rieva Lesonsky
Hiring a salesperson can be a huge decision for a small business owner—mostly because it’s often a huge expense. Good salespeople can command premium wages, leaving you in a Catch-22 situation: You need that salesperson to increase your sales, but without the sales, you can’t afford to hire the salesperson. So what can you do? One way to get around this dilemma is by hiring a manufacturers’ representative (or rep).
Kind of like freelancers, manufacturers’ reps are independent salespeople who are hired by several client companies. They’re most commonly found in business-to-business industries, and will usually focus on a specific industry so they can develop expertise.
Unlike in-house salespeople, reps are paid on commission, which means you’re only paying them if they get results for you. And since they typically work from their own offices, you don’t have to provide equipment and office space for them.
Reps are a great option for a growing company, since they usually want to see some level of success before they take on your business. If you’re a local business trying to expand regionally or a regional company looking to go national, a rep can be the perfect solution.
How do you hire a rep? First, determine what you need, including what are of the country you want to sell to and what type of customers you are seeking. The more narrowly you can focus, the better your chances of finding a rep with that particular expertise.
Referrals from other business owners or buyers in your industry are a good place to start finding reps. You can also advertise for reps online or in trade magazines. Contact manufacturers’ rep associations such as The Manufacturers’ Agents National Association or associations for your industry.
A good rep may work for businesses in the same industry, but they should not work for directly competitive companies. Also make sure the rep has adequate time to focus on your products, and talk to references to get a feel for the person’s reliability and effectiveness.
You’ll need a detailed contract that covers your expectations, payment and when the relationship can be terminated. Reps are independent contractors, so the contract is essential in spelling out how you want them to perform.
Stay in contact with your rep regularly and do all you can to help him or her succeed. A good rep can be the linchpin in your growth strategy.
Image by Flickr user buddawiggi (Creative Commons)
Small Business Social Media Trends
February 21st, 2012 :: Monika Jansen
When it comes to small businesses, Anita Campbell, author of Visual Marketing, knows a thing or two. Recently, Michael Stelzner of Social Media Examiner interviewed Campbell for her insight on small business social media trends. Here are some of the key takeaways:
Believe it or not, some small businesses won’t get much business from social media, no matter how hard they try. For example, a small landscaping company that gets most of its business from local neighborhoods may not see an impact from Facebook or Twitter. Campbell suggests businesses like this should stick to fliers, word of mouth marketing, and customer testimonials to get their message to the target market.
Campbell’s biggest tip for growing an online community sounds familiar, but it is worth repeating: When it comes to social media communications, don’t just broadcast – engage! Campbell believes in pulling information back in from your social networks and fostering back-and-forth conversation, rather than sending out tweets and posts that simply tell your audience what you’d like them to know. Give them a chance to talk, too, and you’ll get a better return for your investment on social media.
And, what is the biggest mistake Campbell sees small businesses making online? It’s neglected websites, and they’re really a turn-off for customers. When your website is out of date, and you greet customers with 2-year-old information, you’re sending customers a bad message. If you are neglecting your website – your online storefront to the world – how much attention do you give to your customers or to other parts of your business?
Campbell is constantly watching small business trends through her sites, BizSugar and Small Business Trends, and here is what she is seeing now:
- Everyone is going mobile, including small businesses. They are embracing mobile marketing with text messaging, location-based coupons and QR codes.
- Many small businesses are getting really good at social media. They’re out there testing different campaigns and communications tactics, and they’re getting big results.
Are you one of the small businesses embracing mobile and excelling at social media? You can check out more small business marketing tips and trends from Anita Campbell on BizSugar and Small Business Trends.
Image courtesy of creative design agency Arrae
Mobile Marketing’s Hottest Audience
February 20th, 2012 :: Rieva LesonskyBy Rieva Lesonsky
If you think mobile marketing is all about reaching out to teenagers, techies or Gen Y hipsters, think again. One of the hottest markets for mobile purchasing is one you may not expect: moms.
It’s no secret that moms are major decision makers when it comes to household purchases. And if you know any moms, you know how much they rely on smartphones to stay connected, whether at the office, at home or on the go with the family. Now the advent of tablets is changing the game even more by giving moms a new way to access information and shop wherever they are.
Over the holidays, tablet computer ownership surged, with many of them given as gifts. Pew Internet and American Life data shows nearly 20 percent of Americans now own tablet or ereader devices. And a Nielsen study late last year found almost half (43 percent) of tablet owners are female.
The Kindle Fire and the latest iteration of Barnes & Noble’s Nook are also changing the game because they compete more directly with the top-selling tablet, the iPad, and are heavily marketed to women.
Tablet users are desirable customers: Many studies have found tablet users spend more time browsing online, are more likely to buy online and spend more when they do buy than smartphone users. Simply put, the tablet shopping experience is a lot more enjoyable than shopping on a tiny phone.
So what do you need to do to grab tablet-toting moms’ business? First, make sure your business website is optimized for tablet use. This means focusing on visuals, so be sure you have outstanding photos of your products. Think of tablet shopping like a digital catalog. The phrase “couch shopping” has been coined to reflect where most tablet use takes place—while relaxing at home—so your tablet experience should be fun, easy to use and engaging.
Of course, moms aren’t mindlessly flipping the pages of your digital catalog. They’re hunting for information and bargains, so be sure your tablet shopping experience is packed with product details, including reviews and comparisons to help Mom make the right decision.
While research so far seems to indicate tablet shoppers prefer browsers to apps, you shouldn’t discount apps altogether. If you can create an app to make shopping more fun, faster or simpler, do so. Also keep in mind that many moms share tablets with kids or use them to keep the kids entertained. If relevant to your business, an app targeting kids (such as the ability to create a “wish list” that Mom can access later) could be a great marketing tool.
Take the time to explore how tablets can help you reach moms, and your business will reap the benefits.
Image by Flickr user anurag adrihoti (Creative Commons)
Small Biz Resource Tip: Get Smart Content
February 17th, 2012 :: Maria Valdez HaubrichYou can’t be all things to all visitors on your website, but you can try to give each visitor a little individual attention by adding Smart Content. Smart Content lets you customize text, images or calls to action to different audiences simply by embedding code directly into your Web pages. The application lets you set rules, such as where the visitor is from, and then leads the visitor to their customized content. You can get Smart Content analytics to see how your new content is doing, and the app also works with your current analytics program such as Google Analytics.
Why You Should Use User-Generated Content
February 17th, 2012 :: Rieva LesonskyBy Rieva Lesonsky
Is your small business getting reviews and recommendations from customers on social media? If not, you may need to take steps to encourage this type of social sharing. A new study from Bazaarvoice, reported by eMarketer, found that consumers of all ages are increasingly relying on recommendations and reviews—both from people they know and from strangers online—when making purchasing decisions.
Bazaarvoice studied how “user-generated content”—which includes reviews, recommendations, questions or comments—was used by consumers in deciding what products, services and brands to patronize. The study focused on two different age groups: Millennials (29 and under) and Baby Boomers, and looked at content on brand websites, social networking sites and third-party websites (such as Yelp!.com).
What differentiates Boomers from Millennials? Boomers (aged 47-65) were more likely to rely on people they knew for recommendations; 66 percent relied on this source. Millennials, however, rely pretty much equally on people they know (51 percent) and anonymous user-generated content (51 percent) when deciding what to buy. websites (51 percent) to influence their buying decisions.
Millennials were also more likely than Boomers to share their brand experiences online, both positive and negative. One-fourth preferred to share this type of information on third-party sites (such as CNET), but the biggest group (42 percent) said social networking sites like Facebook were their favorite place to share information about brands.
Although 17 percent of Boomers do share positive brand experiences via social media, and 21 percent share on third-party websites, the preferred method for Boomers was email (38 percent). In comparison, just 24 percent of Millennials used email to share purchasing experiences.
While there are some significant differences among the age groups, there are two major takeaways for your business:
1) Both age groups are becoming more comfortable with relying on other consumers’ input and advice when making purchases. As familiarity with social sites increases among all age groups, the age-old practice of “word-of-mouth” is only going to get more and more digital.
2) Both Millennials and Boomers trusted user-generated content significantly more than they trusted advertising or publicity. In fact, they trusted other users’ opinions even more than impartial news articles about brands.
If your business isn’t already encouraging this type of feedback from customers, this study is a clear sign that you need to start.
Image by Flickr user Owen Brown (Creative Commons)
Social Media Small Business Success Stories: Part 2
February 16th, 2012 :: Monika Jansen
In the first part of Social Media Small Business Success Stories, I highlighted four companies that have shaken things up online to create results-driven social media marketing campaigns. This article introduces you to four more success stories, to give you ideas on how to make their strategies your own.
Success Story 5: You can probably imagine that a company called Social Media Explorer nails it on the social media marketing front. This company is a B2B agency that teaches – you guessed it – social media marketing techniques and provides information products. Here are the secrets to their success:
- Social Media Explorer uses Intent, a Twitter plugin, directly on their homepage to show users whether they are already following the company on Twitter. Are you making it easy enough for website visitors to follow you on Twitter or Like you on Facebook?
- The company features numerous guest authors on its blog, and it promotes them by prominently highlighting authors’ social profiles to encourage reader interaction. Do you give social love to guest authors to help them expand their influence and feel appreciated?
Success Story 6: Take a moment to visit JarvieDigital to enjoy gorgeous photos and learn a couple of social media tips. Scott Jarvie is a professional photographer and namesake of the photographic method, The Jarvie Window. Here are his social media strategies:
- Of course, Jarvie has exceptional photos on his site, but it’s his use of these photos that makes him a social media success. He uses different strategies to promote his services on Facebook and Google+ through photo sharing. Have you thought about the unique challenges different social networks present for your social media strategy, or are you trying to apply the same strategy to completely different communities?
- Jarvie shares resources on his website and social sites to demonstrate his expertise and to grow his fan base. Are you freely sharing resources to establish yourself as a thought leader and to encourage more follows and Likes?
Success Story 7: Point your browser to SEOMoz, a search engine optimization and social monitoring service provider. This company uses its technical expertise to help it stand out socially. Here is what they do:
- SEOMoz uses gaming mechanics to generate participation from their site members and writers. When these users post, comment, or Like content, they earn points to distinguish their expertise. How can you make engagement more fun and addictive on your own site?
- The company knows to use social proof to build trust and credibility. Their home page features the logos of companies that use SEOMoz so everyone can see they’re in good company. Do your clients showcase your success? Consider using well-known clients to establish trust with visitors by using social proof.
Success Story 8: EasyLunchboxes is another example of a solopreneur using social media to compete on a higher level. This blog by Kelly Lester helps parents find healthy solutions for packing lunches for kids to take to school. Take a cue from Lester by trying these tips:
- When users visit the Facebook page of EasyLunchboxes, they are greeted with a custom welcome tab explaining what the page is all about and why users should become fans. Don’t forget this valuable piece of Facebook real estate by seizing the opportunity to encourage visitors to take the next step and Like your page.
- Even though she is a busy mom and an actress, Lester has taken the time to deliver unique content through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and her blog. Her marketing plan includes strategies for each of these platforms, as well as integration across all her social media channels. Have you thought about your social media marketing plan in pieces and as a whole? Even though different strategies should be used for each platform, they should all integrate into a cohesive communications plan.
The companies highlighted in the previous two articles range in size from small to large and span across various industries. Use their stories to inspire you to create your own story of social media marketing success.
Do you have your own success story to share with our readers? Please leave a comment below.
Image courtesy of creative design agency Arrae
Social Media Small Business Success Stories: Part 1
February 14th, 2012 :: Monika Jansen
I’m a firm believer in benchmarking to learn new skills and to tweak my knowledge base. Studying what other successful marketers have done well, and avoiding others’ mistakes, is an efficient way to gain a competitive edge. Here are eight social media small business success stories, broken into two articles, to inspire and to teach:
Success Story 1: Take a quick visit to The Prospecting Expert’s social media sites, and you will find our first example of social media success. The Prospecting Expert, founded by Steve Kloyda, is a B2B consulting firm to help sales professionals refine their prospecting skills. Here are the tactics in Kloyda’s bag of social media marketing tricks:
- Kloyda has made impressive use of video and podcasts to expand his social reach and convey information in an clear and interesting way. Does your content translate to these media?
- His social media channels share consistent branding, though use of Kloyda’s photo and logo across all platforms. Clean up your own image by checking your platforms for consistency.
- Kloyda’s content is mobile through the offering of an iPhone app directly on his site. While custom apps may be expensive, they offer considerable value for on-the-go customers.
Success Story 2: Click on over to Coconut Bliss, an organic dessert company whose products became well known through social media marketing. Here is what Coconut Bliss does to make everyone scream for their ice cream:
- The company shares fun experiences of customers eating their ice cream to show the brand’s friendly personality and delicious products. Does anyone on your staff know how to take great photos? Invest in a camera, and share photos across all your social media platforms.
- Coconut Bliss gets fans engaged by running promotions and contests exclusively on social media. Consider launching your own contest to grow and excite your fan base.
Success Story 3: JamaicansMusic is an online music channel and quite the social media success story. Using their social media savvy, the company grew their fans to 1.5 million in only four months! Here’s what they do best:
- JamaicansMusic keeps fans coming back for more by offering contests, free music and games to encourage Facebook fans to revisit their page and share it with friends. What can you do to encourage repeat visits to your own page?
- Visitors to JamaicansMusic’s website know instantly that the company is social because there are three opportunities – right on the home page – to connect socially. Are you sending enough social signals and providing plenty of opportunities to connect?
Success Story 4: You don’t have to be a large company, or even one with multiple employees, to be a social media success. Ana White, a self-described “homemaker” who is really a carpenter, runs a website that empowers women to take on carpentry projects. White has over 51,000 Facebook fans who enjoy her DIY furniture projects. Here are her smart and simple tactics:
- White publishes free how-to guides for building furniture, and she asks fans to post pictures of their finished pieces. Fans enjoy sharing with each other, and White understands that this sharing provides great user-generated content. How can you get your own community involved in the content creation process?
- White has created a community and tended to it without overshadowing it. She comments on roughly half of her fans’ posts, and she doesn’t post all that often. However, her fans constantly post and answer questions for each other because the community has been set up for real communication. What can you do to take your own Facebook communications from one-way to a place of real community?
Next up: More inspiring stories in Part 2!
Image courtesy of creative design agency Arrae
