tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79939532558451579262024-03-17T02:28:02.562-07:00Proof ParsonsOur blog covers some of the most common business writing questions in the digital world. Contact the owner by emailing katie@proofparsons.com.Katie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842999158771845575noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-11201321070240321282015-12-28T18:51:00.008-08:002015-12-28T18:51:59.108-08:00Six Tips to Help You Hire the Right Employees<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A recent survey found that <a href="http://www.surepayroll.com/">poor hiring costs small business
owners roughly $10,000</a> per wrong hire. We also learn that just under half of
all new hires fail within their first 18 months of the job. This happens so frequently because
flaws are often overlooked during the hiring process. Wondering how hiring managers can identify the qualities
that make happy and driven employees in order to avoid hiring mistakes? These
six tips are key to hire the right employee:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Assess the work ethic.</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ask your candidates to elaborate on their
work experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen for
details and keep your ears open for signs of excitement and motivation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re interviewing recent graduates
who may lack in the experience department, see what extra curricular activities
they took <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNjIV-k5-ieWIUUiLBcrNT09qDekDy5ltzzzh2L0gW6ExhjD_yEwFgIyhENgHzO4C62xk1SqXcdDsm9Mqmqd-tEx-eAWUwiBvNW1z_afhcpPz5Utbrzhl5qaUXSYEesIaD9qyypwczEbs/s1600/Ideal+Employee.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNjIV-k5-ieWIUUiLBcrNT09qDekDy5ltzzzh2L0gW6ExhjD_yEwFgIyhENgHzO4C62xk1SqXcdDsm9Mqmqd-tEx-eAWUwiBvNW1z_afhcpPz5Utbrzhl5qaUXSYEesIaD9qyypwczEbs/s1600/Ideal+Employee.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo via: chrislema.com</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
part in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
“Listen” to their resume.</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Resumes are simply a story about their
author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check for jobs and
activities that coincide – an indication of a strong work ethic and the ability
to commit multiple activities simultaneously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look for patterns in previous positions such as length of
employment or job structures they gravitate towards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make a note of gaps between jobs and have the candidate tell
you about them.</span></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Determine integrity.<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ask the candidate about his or her biggest failure
or disappointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have them tell
you more and it and pay close attention to see if they took the right level of
responsibility for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were there
moral conflicts in their decision-making process?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If so, how was it handled?</span></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Evaluate maturity.<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have the candidate share where he or she
hopes to be in five or ten years to get an idea of their career drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also have them share one of their
biggest regrets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they reflect
on their regret, listen for maturity about it instead of bitterness and
whining.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Throw them for a loop.<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Instead of shaking hands and sending your
candidate off at the end of the interview, invite them to join you on a tour of
the building or in the cafeteria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Watch how they act and converse in a more casual setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new setting will really illuminate
his or her personality traits and give you idea who they really are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Heed your gut.<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Candidates need to have strong examples of how
they handle situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they
give weak answers, make sure to ask targeted questions during their next
interview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have any doubts,
don’t ignore them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your gut is
telling you something isn’t right, listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t want to hire someone who gives lots of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“right” answers if you simply don’t
feel they’ll be a good hire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hiring the right employee is a challenging
process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hiring the wrong one is
costly and time consuming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take
the time to find a candidate who will mesh well with your team and you’ll reap
the benefits of a positive impact on your total work environment.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-6323514457629036532015-12-28T18:50:00.001-08:002015-12-28T18:50:08.602-08:00Questions to Ask a Writer or Writing Company Before Hiring<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You
have a business and need a writer, but aren’t sure where to begin? As when hiring any employee, be sure to
get all of the facts straight. Here are six questions to ask a writer before
you hire:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
How
will you communicate and deliver completed assignments?<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When
you hire a writer, you will likely have a primarily virtual relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, more writers work via
email.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may never work with the
writer face to face throughout your relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure to find out which ways your writer will
communicate and how you will receive completed work. <a href="http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/keys-building-effective-communication-workplace-1575.html">Effective
communication is key to company success</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
What
is your turnaround time?<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Deadlines
must be must – no matter what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
writers don’t have assignments over in time, that isn’t a good <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDfGo4yC-TOXqjgDeVKG40V3Ygdx-HYcDKYnjpI8of6H3j5ldCCeZJVmsCMFjH4O2noUhL7HvMJC54e6auyvEGr3eTWr7iT-Z7MTFqFUx3x1349YYsLfzMO5cRtrt1Ecc2ZlhDN7wOOKT/s1600/Content+Writing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDfGo4yC-TOXqjgDeVKG40V3Ygdx-HYcDKYnjpI8of6H3j5ldCCeZJVmsCMFjH4O2noUhL7HvMJC54e6auyvEGr3eTWr7iT-Z7MTFqFUx3x1349YYsLfzMO5cRtrt1Ecc2ZlhDN7wOOKT/s1600/Content+Writing.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Photo via sunlightmedia.org</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your projects deserve to be handled
with care so make sure to hire a writer who can commit to meeting deadlines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
What
is included in the quote?<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Find
out what quotes from your writer include.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Revisions, and if so, how many? Does the writer expect time for travel,
if applicable? Does he or she charge for in-person meetings? These are all
important things to know prior to hiring him.</span></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
What
industries can you write about?<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Usually
freelancers can writer about a variety of topics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s great to find out where your writer excels, and which
areas he or she does not feel comfortable with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A good freelancer identifies his or her weaknesses and sets
limitations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During an interview,
request samples of the writers work to see if his or her claims hold true.</span></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
What
are your freelance work hours?<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Find
out if your writer is a full-time writer or if he will be writing around
several other commitments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Depending on your needs, the answer to this question may be a
deal-breaker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have short
deadlines or the need to reach your writer immediately, and he or she has a
full time job, this writer may not be the best choice for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, even writers with other
commitments can still work out well.</span></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Do
you know how to optimize content for search engines?<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In
today’s world, experienced writers are proficient at optimizing blog content –
and it’s considered part of the process of writing an assignment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure your writer knows how to
optimize a title and blog content and write a compelling meta description that
makes readers click. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before
you hire a writer, ask some key questions to help you get to know the writer a
little better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By doing so, you
can hire someone who is hardworking and dependable and forge a long lasting
relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What
questions do you ask a writer prior to hiring him or her?</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-82930013001823466762015-12-28T18:48:00.001-08:002015-12-28T18:48:21.886-08:00Smart Online Marketing Goals for 2016<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Marketers, the New Year is right
around the corner so it’s time to think about online marketing goals for 2016.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A lot of things have changed this year,
so it’s important to take some time to analyze the tools and trends that have
emerged as you sit down and devise your online marketing goals for the upcoming
year.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Focus on goals that will
help lead your business to greater success, that are achievable and that will
help make you a happier, less stressed small-business owner.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here are three that should top your
list:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Refine your online marketing
strategy.<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">The online world of marketing evolves
constantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a year or two, the
same campaign may work -- but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make it a
continuous point to re-evaluate your marketing strategy in efforts to
incorporate new strategies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spend
time researching new software, tools or breakthroughs as they relate to SEO,
social media, PPC and analytics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once you grasp what is happening in the industry, figure out which
processes are valuable to your business and strive to incorporate them into
your workflow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try to delve into new
technology with your eyes wide open and adopt the new changes with an open mind
– </span><a href="http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-new-technology-businesses-4047.html">cutting-edge technology is advantageous for businesses</a><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Monitor your website’s performance.<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">SEO requirements change very quickly,
which means it is essential to monitor your website’s performance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An analytics service is good, but your
involvement needs extend beyond that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Monitoring your website’s performance doesn’t mean simply logging in
weekly to see if you have more traffic than weeks past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to check for traffic
indicators, Google penalty threats, inbound link reports and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you understand how Google updates
affect you and your website, you can modify your online marketing strategy
accordingly to better your performance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
</h4>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Jump
on the Attribution Modeling bandwagon.<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Attribution
modeling is much less complicated than the term implies. It’s a simple concept
that essentially means reading website analytics data and focus on how users
get to your website, navigate your website and why they leave your
website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The focal point is user
experience and how your visitors interface with the design of your
website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oftentimes, small
businesses obsess over simply the volume of traffic alone – and while volume is
important, so is a positive user experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Get
a jump-start on these marketing goals before 2014 is here and your small
business will gain a head start on its online marketing strategy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember not to get stuck in marketing
ruts and to always research new, better technology that can reinforce your
online brand presence, strengthen website performance and boost online sales.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com139tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-2581429768024750872015-12-28T18:46:00.003-08:002015-12-28T18:46:49.799-08:00Seasonal Business: Make the Most of Your Slower Months <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Photo
via myproverbs31life.com</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><!--EndFragment--><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br /></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Seasonal businesses don’t have to be
viewed as a business that only operates during a few short months – there are
ways to help boost business all year long, and make the most of those slower
months.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Even after your presumed
key season has passed, you can use your resourcefulness to learn more about the
needs of your customers and try out new ideas.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;"> </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a;">Here are some specific ways to maximize the months when you
have a little down time:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Have a blog and maintain it.<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To build page rank, focus on your
blog during the slower months. While it’s important to treat your blog like a queen
all year long, it’s crucial not to neglect it when your business is slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write posts that are full of great
content and are relevant to your target audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your page rank will increase – just remember it doesn’t
happen in a day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Extend your season.<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sell something specific to cold
weather?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of the typical
November through March sales months, try to extend your season by one to two
months both before and after that time frame. If you offer your products or
services for a slightly lower cost your customers will take note and business
will likely boom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your season is
probably longer than you think.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Seek niche markets.<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you bake cookies, pies and muffins
that sell like crazy around the holidays, find a way to increase revenue during
the other months too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider
adapting your products to a niche market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Contemplate developing gluten or sugar-free products that a smaller
audience will adore. There's a lot of reasons </span><a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/203958"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">why you should serve a niche market</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></span></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Hold
an event or cross-promote.<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As
you work hard to stay afloat during the less-than-prime months, remember you
are not alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Team up with a
complementary business and co-market an event or promotion with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think outside of the box -- a
photography business could cross-promote with business that sells photo props
or headbands for children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
bed-and-breakfast could cross-promotes with a nearby restaurant or offer deals
to a play or movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be
afraid to reach out to other businesses – you just may form a successful
partnership ally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
<h4 class="MsoNormal">
Seek
customer reviews and feedback.<o:p></o:p></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">During
your slower time, concentrate on how to earn new, or repeat business during
your next busy season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Customer
reviews are priceless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask for
testimonials and success stores from past sales seasons and feature those in
your e-newsletter, your blog or social media websites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only will this speak volumes about
your business, but your customers will also enjoy the recognition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While
your business may have months that are significantly more profitable than
others, don’t write off the other months of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The slower times can be a great way to build clout around
your business, try new products and seek feedback from your customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your customers’ needs are different all
year long – so do your best to serve those needs in ways your current business
allows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How
do you maximize the slower months of the year to help your seasonal business?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-35485014586109363282015-12-28T18:44:00.003-08:002015-12-28T18:44:36.778-08:00Tips to Help You Start, Maintain and Grow a Business BlogBlogging has literally exploded over the last few years. In fact, even back in 2005, BusinessWeek proclaimed that <a href="http://www.sba.gov/community/blogs/community-blogs/small-business-matters/thinking-starting-blog-tips-help-you-start--0">Blogs Will Change Your Business</a> – and the publication was right. If you’ve been holding off with the belief that blogs are a fad, it’s time to realize they’re here to stay and your business needs one. <br />
<h3>
Why are blogs important for business growth?</h3>
Blogs reach and engage large audiences in a way that traditional one-way information doesn’t have the capability to do. At the same time, blogs put a face to your business name while highlighting your expertise and passion for your industry. Another bonus: blogs are collaborative and they encourage interactions. Soliciting comments from readers is a great way to engage with customers. <br />
<br />
Here are some tips to help you start, maintain and grow a small business blog:<br />
<br />
<h4>
Identify a goal and blog intention</h4>
While you want to promote your business, don’t make the plugs too obvious in your content strategy. Decide what your purpose is and allow it to drive your content. Most blogs are centered on sharing information that their readers find useful. Define your goal, and adhere to it.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Start your blog with the right software</h4>
Once you decide you want a business blog, consider your hosting software options. Free blogging software can be a simple and cost-effective solution for small businesses. If your blog takes off, you may consider integrations with existing business Wed domains (and remember to communicate to your readers of the host changes). Remember to make sure your blog is simple for users to navigate.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Dedicate yourself to regular and relevant blogging</h4>
Two signs a blog has lost its way are when there are no active posts for more than two weeks, and <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iHc1rc3UXgQcS0vhZDQuhaE48j6AVbaeVr2vF8KvlYWQ2J6Bj_XGx9d4L_J96zsapA-HDC7doRnG614a19Io1lRZHSZWC96Ek4FMximsOohGemBVn_rkbNiFfvwO0HAGvIBjvRQol362/s1600/grow+your+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iHc1rc3UXgQcS0vhZDQuhaE48j6AVbaeVr2vF8KvlYWQ2J6Bj_XGx9d4L_J96zsapA-HDC7doRnG614a19Io1lRZHSZWC96Ek4FMximsOohGemBVn_rkbNiFfvwO0HAGvIBjvRQol362/s1600/grow+your+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Photo via www.zincsolutions.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
when blog content is off topic from previous posts. Blog inactivity and irrelevant posts give an unfavorable impression of your business. Keep your posts consistent with the use of a calendar and research current issues so your blog is compelling and relevant. <br />
<br />
<h4>
Develop a traffic-generating plan</h4>
Last, but far from least, is finding a way to move visitors to your business blog. There are a number of ways to generate traffic to your blog, both non-traditional and traditional in nature. Add built in RSS feeds and remember that your email signature and main business Website and great places to link your blog. <br />
<br />
<br />
Your blog is worth the time and effort it takes to start and sustain. By sharing content via your blog with your visitors, you’ll establish a strong reputation for your business within your industry. Happy blogging!<br />
<br />
What has helped you maintain and grow your blog following?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" width="181" /></a></div>
Lori is a work-at-home mom living in Noblesville, a suburb of Indianapolis. She is mom to two young children and enjoys spending time watching them grow. Lori enjoys shopping, spending time with her husband and kids, reading, and traveling.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com81tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-25989858681075408912015-07-30T07:00:00.000-07:002015-07-30T07:00:05.648-07:00Why You Should Guest Blog (or Hire Someone to do it for You!)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You have figured out </span><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/08/06/14-ways-to-make-your-blog-get-real-attention/" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">ways to make your blog get real attention</a><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. But do you
contribute guest posts to other blogs?
While it may seem like the last thing you have time to do, or
counter-intuitive, guest blogging is worth it. You can reap huge benefits from guest blogging, or hiring
someone to guest blog on your behalf.
Guest blogging allows you to take what you do and love and spread
knowledge into other areas of your target market. It spreads your reach and builds an authoritative reputation
for you and your business. Here
are some ways content outside of your virtual walls can benefit your business.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Reach
a broader audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Through
writing guest posts, you create added awareness with people who are interested
in the topics you’re writing about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These people may not know about your business, but will see you as an
expertise and in turn, want to check out your business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you will…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Attract
new leads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There’s
no double that guest blogging provides a perfect opportunity to generate
leads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The readers of the blog you
contribute to are likely looking to solve a problem – and your post may help
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a win for all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Build
strong relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Relationships
are the foundation of a strong business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Contributing guest blogs is one of several ways to establish new
relationships with other bloggers in your niche.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It allows you to join an already-established community, and
share what you know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, it
could also lead you to new partnerships with the blogger for future business
opportunities. You never know what doors it may open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">SEO
benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Guest
posting is good for search engine results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you write guest blogs, you prove that you are well
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VVH6DI25IRwy-jFs-cQCQ4xPbF467Jgragi00HLZzyxjhUDFO7JpOHqDMofTOJ3B4KucQT_hkEfyNp8tCnzYIRmYR0w5EDkzxTz1tRq6AmYaEzta5t1TtQxmcT13l9cv4sbw2pYB1AFU/s1600/Guest+Post.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VVH6DI25IRwy-jFs-cQCQ4xPbF467Jgragi00HLZzyxjhUDFO7JpOHqDMofTOJ3B4KucQT_hkEfyNp8tCnzYIRmYR0w5EDkzxTz1tRq6AmYaEzta5t1TtQxmcT13l9cv4sbw2pYB1AFU/s1600/Guest+Post.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo via edgital.org</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
informed about and have experience related to the products or services you
provide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that people
who enter a search into Google for the topic may find the post you wrote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, this happens when you write on
your own blog too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However if the
blog you guest post on has larger readership and significant social media
following, it’s more likely to be shared socially – a SEO indicator that the
content is high quality and relevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Guest
blogging, whether you’re the author or you hire someone else to write the posts
on your behalf, is a great way to build credibility and receive greater personal
and business exposure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider
the many benefits of guest blogging as you ponder whether or not to invest the
time in writing for another business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s time well spent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How
has guest blogging proved beneficial for your business endeavors?</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-11113963045412112522015-07-29T06:30:00.000-07:002015-07-29T06:30:01.055-07:00Why You Should Hire Work from Home ProfessionalsAre work from home individuals capable of completing work at the same level and quantity as those who work from a brick-and-mortar building? Many people may have this question run through their minds as they contemplate hiring a work from home professional. But the answer is yes; individuals who work from home boast a lot of positive attributes that may them the perfect addition to your team. Let’s explore some of the reasons why you should hire work from home professionals:<br />
<br />
They’re highly motivated.<br />
Work from home professionals are given a great sense of freedom. Many of them find this type of work environment extremely desirable. A standard office has its distractions such as loud co-workers, numerous phones ringing and distractions when simply filling up a water bottle. Those who work from home tend to work more hours than those who work in a typical office setting with higher productivity.<br />
<br />
They are more productive.<br />
Many work from home individuals are great at time management. They may check their email after hours, just to prepare for the next day. This means questions may be answered on timely basis. The human brain does best when it focuses on things for about an hour and a half. When you’re a slave to your cubicle, that doesn’t work. Traditional job structure doesn’t allow for individuals to maximize their productivity according to the way the human brain best functions.<br />
<br />
They have no commute.<br />
There is no commute for work at home individuals, which means your employee won’t be late. They <br />
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save on gas and wear and tear on their vehicle. Hiring work from home professionals means you’re helping make the world a little more eco-friendly.<br />
<br />
They’re empowered.<br />
Individuals who are trusted to work from home are instantly empowered, which means they a lot of pride in their job because they feel trusted. Work from home individuals are more creative and more enthusiastic about their work than those who work in a traditional office setting.<br />
<br />
Save on overhead costs.<br />
When you hire a professional who works out of their home, you actually save money. You don’t have to have the office space to accommodate the individual, nor any of the other costs that come along with housing an employee in a brick-and-mortar setting for forty or more hours per week. There are a lot of ways <a href="http://http//www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/how-to-be-technologically--and-cost--efficient/2012/02/07/gIQAZMwERR_story.html">companies save money when employees work from home</a>.<br />
<br />
While it may be hard to step back and hire an individual who works in a different state or even a different part of the country, you’ll be glad you did. Professionals who work from home are experts who are both productive and able to produce high quality work. <br />
<br />
Why did you hire a work from home professional? Was your experience excellent?<br />
<br />
Photo via: comerecommended.com<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8rOX0wSHWDE0h0P9k9KPGpPAlEWhIM1tbz6S6koHvu4vBBH9YHCDlRO4LlVEDwaOqMld30zePld27KkeZcqvjJxsqWPpjHhatrp8Ni6be5876Q68Z1vOoej7fWkIobuYrunkc4raQ9qX/s1600/Lori.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8rOX0wSHWDE0h0P9k9KPGpPAlEWhIM1tbz6S6koHvu4vBBH9YHCDlRO4LlVEDwaOqMld30zePld27KkeZcqvjJxsqWPpjHhatrp8Ni6be5876Q68Z1vOoej7fWkIobuYrunkc4raQ9qX/s1600/Lori.png" width="181" /></a></div>
Lori is a work-at-home mom living in Noblesville, a suburb of Indianapolis. She is mom to two young children and enjoys spending time watching them grow. Lori enjoys shopping, spending time with her husband and kids, reading, and traveling. Feel free to leave her a comment.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-85147995056577584722015-07-28T12:04:00.001-07:002015-07-28T12:04:17.279-07:00Page Rank: The Basics<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Page
rank is a term that many of us throw around without truly understanding. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Everyone uses it but no one really
understands how it truly works. Billions of pages exist and millions are
generated daily and the search issue is more complex than you probably think. Pared
down to the basics, it’s a numerical value that indicates the importance of any
page on the Web.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">It’s an algorithm
named after Larry Page, the name of its developer and one of the founders of
Google.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">This algorithm used by
Google web search engine ranks websites in their search engine results. Page
Rank is one of hundreds of factors used to determine search results.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">But how does it work?</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Pages
that are more “important” carry more weight than pages that are deemed as less
important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may wonder if it
really matters to your business and the answer is yes, it does!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Page rank is an important factor as it
relates to a site’s ranking in the overall organic search results. Plus </span><a href="http://www.optify.net/inbound-marketing-resources/new-study-how-the-new-face-of-serps-has-altered-the-ctr-curve"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">websites in
the top three organic positions on Google receive over 58 percent of all clicks</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> from Web
users according to a study from Optify.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The
rank of a page is determined by three factors; the first is the number of pages
linking to your page. The next is the Page Rank of the pages linking to your
page. The third is the total number of outgoing links from the pages linking to
your web page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJv-EeNYc-QyMTS_28Pnw8JZ5VZZ8xnJ22X2VChDXf3s519tMgOHOCz28NauJt7Yp2A-pIIERhriNhX9hgM-UvxCnW5K76aHPu_X-Dqr8MokLZdfnfg2ko6b3IDe5C6H06pQBz32mI52P/s1600/Page+Rank.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJv-EeNYc-QyMTS_28Pnw8JZ5VZZ8xnJ22X2VChDXf3s519tMgOHOCz28NauJt7Yp2A-pIIERhriNhX9hgM-UvxCnW5K76aHPu_X-Dqr8MokLZdfnfg2ko6b3IDe5C6H06pQBz32mI52P/s1600/Page+Rank.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo via: www.mypremiumtricks.com</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You
gain the most Page Rank boost from pages that have high page rank themselves and
link to only a few other websites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Incoming links from pages of low page rank with many outbound links
boost your pages</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: right;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">page rank – as long as you don’t link back to them. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As
the Internet grows, the scales that determine Page Rank constantly evolve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This results in changes in a page’s
Page Rank, where the measures will increase or decrease for no apparent
reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Called the “Google dance”,
this phenomenon is just another reason why it’s essential to continually build
your site by adding fresh content and to work on building the site’s number of inbound
links from other highly ranked sites.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The
reason Google works is simply because it relies on the millions of people who
post links on website to verify which other sites afford valuable content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Google then assesses the significance
of every web page with the use of several techniques.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fun
Fact: Page Rank is derived from the name of its developer Larry Page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s one of the founders of
Google.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hopefully this info provided some clarity about what it is and does. Remember that Page Rank tells the
importance of a page in relation to other pages. It’s just one of many factors
that determine ranking in the search results. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-17353521930020037932015-05-28T11:30:00.000-07:002015-05-28T11:30:00.903-07:00Ways to Find New Ideas for Blog Topics<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After
writing blog post after blog post, you may find yourself struggling to come up
with fresh and relevant topics to elaborate on. However, to keep your audience engaged, you need to
continually generate simple yet powerful new content. Here are some easy ways to find new ideas for your business
blog.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Answer
customer questions.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Your
customers come to you with questions because they see you as a knowledgeable
expert in the industry and value your opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s likely lots of other people out there have the same
questions as your customer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those questions
you receive are the perfect starting point for a blog post. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a couple benefits to this type
of post too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, you will
establish yourself as an expert in your field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, you’ll increase the chances that others will find
your blog when searching for this topic and possibly earn yourself some new readers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8QbFiEF3LUx-hrOoGFzVKLnnpI41lTFdneruNj-uJQtYcWmqTck-yQKjSmqRORLqCtfjtpo0mC1Iy0PdgsWU-DgaU7gvhZwcuCdc0OBVVyelN9W_Z9Sis7GuGDe1A1XU531_5VJYsALD/s1600/Blog+Post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8QbFiEF3LUx-hrOoGFzVKLnnpI41lTFdneruNj-uJQtYcWmqTck-yQKjSmqRORLqCtfjtpo0mC1Iy0PdgsWU-DgaU7gvhZwcuCdc0OBVVyelN9W_Z9Sis7GuGDe1A1XU531_5VJYsALD/s1600/Blog+Post.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo via worthofweb.com</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Read
industry related blogs.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While
you don’t want to completely steal other people’s blog posts, reading industry
blogs can spark a new idea for a post and you can add ideas of your own to
complement it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you see a post
that you like, take the topic and discuss your own thoughts in relation to
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t forget to rovide
references and data to support your thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Newsjack.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A
great way to think of a new blog topic is to write a blog about a recent news
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When something happens that
makes the news, use the event to write a post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Discuss the possible impact it may have and make a point to
add value and provide additional insight to make your post stand out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Share
and discuss Infographics.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Look
around for Infographics related to your blog’s focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check sites like Mashable and Pinterest and upload the image,
then do a brief write up on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can even create your own Infographic and write a post about it too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are lots of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-long/why-your-business-should-_b_4192309.html">reasons why
your business should be using Infographics</a>, and this is just one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Hold
an interview.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Instead
of scouring online for ideas, seek a customer or thought leader who is willing
to help you and discuss industry trends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hold a face-to-face interview or send the questions via email and use
your response as content for your blog post. Interviews are nice in a lot of
ways – they are also a great opportunity to collaborate with others in your industry.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">An
active blog with fresh content is a great way to boost your business’s bottom
line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider these tactics to
generate more topics for content.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What
techniques do you use to think of new ideas for blog content?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-79622847090120019742015-05-27T04:03:00.000-07:002015-05-27T04:03:00.569-07:00Ways to Show Customers You Care in the Digital Age<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Customers
are the lifeblood of a successful business. Of course – any customer likes to
feel appreciated – so it is important to express your thanks.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After all, a solid business is founded
on good relationships so showing your clients you’re invested in them is a
smart move -- it establishes trust and loyalty, pure and simple.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">According to Gartner Group, </span><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/gartnergroup/" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">80 percent of your company’s future revenue
comes from 20 percent of your current customers</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So it’s a must when it comes to
customer retention and saying thanks will help you do just that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Most
businesses have the same ideas when it comes to saying thanks to their
customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of doing what
the other businesses do, you need to think outside of the box to make an
impression that will draw repeat business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some ways to show your customers that you care in
the digital age:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Use
a video to thank them</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A
brief video is a great way to personally thank your customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Address them by name and it will
resonate like nothing else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A personalized
video is the equivalent on a handwritten letter in our age of digital everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s personal and unexpected and truly
makes your customer feel as though they are appreciated.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3T7zKeO6WlEaJz3phdGfwUyiFuoDUapxUk8yoe4PNX93OeWADj9S2z1lTfG0J-YiDV-cPiogDE3ve_0Pwnml7NmBQeFTay-lS2ZF_U0SMB28oc_NtwRi8fK-kSb8S3BGCAM5g0L0kJdo/s1600/Show+Your+Care.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3T7zKeO6WlEaJz3phdGfwUyiFuoDUapxUk8yoe4PNX93OeWADj9S2z1lTfG0J-YiDV-cPiogDE3ve_0Pwnml7NmBQeFTay-lS2ZF_U0SMB28oc_NtwRi8fK-kSb8S3BGCAM5g0L0kJdo/s1600/Show+Your+Care.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo via onthecloud.mycroburst.com</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Name
drop</strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank
your customer individually with a personal message or on your Facebook
page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can even thank them in
your blog or in your company newsletter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Drop their name and it will let them know you notice them and show them
that you value their business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Brand
outside of the box<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It
is as good of a time as any to be the business known for the cool… anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Skip the pens, coffee mugs and mouse
pads – they’ve all been seen time and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What other ideas do you have?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chances are anything you want to brand is possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you give away another calendar, it
is likely going to be shoved to the back of the drawer with all of the other calendars
your customers already have from their dentist office and their plumber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brand something your customer will love
– and you may even make their Facebook page too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Handwrite
a letter<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In
the era of digital everything, there is nothing you can do for (nearly) no cost
that will make a bigger impact than sitting down and writing a thank you letter.
The feeling of opening your mailbox and finding an envelope with a handwritten
letter inside is unlike anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t underestimate the power of traditional snail mail – it can be a
refreshing change from the world of technology.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You
don’t have to do what all of the other businesses do when it comes to showing
your sincere thanks to your customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Break away from the stale and unimaginative ways of expressing your
gratitude and get creative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
and your employees are likely an untapped spring of resources – you just have
to dig beyond the surface to find them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How
do you show your customers you appreciate their business?</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-49876331626009652332015-05-26T04:01:00.002-07:002015-05-26T04:01:21.584-07:005 Practical Reasons You Should Run Your Business Remotely<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Running
your company remotely is a feasible and very attractive option for many
entrepreneurs.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">The technological
tools exist to share and collaborate on documents, you can communicate in real
time and it’s attainable to meet your deadlines.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">There are also many practical advantages.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Here are some reasons you should run
your business remotely:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Y2YEoIBd-j0ucPjV7qOnPSXKL3RH6XYIElWoM3X2nFJcUV0pIanNbHpaNKvkS9DZHNOPvgIs9LbIh_jcdgq2C9Dsby_gfBS7bGnvb7t-wzXml8vYtiO7ErUwdgpB_gSZr6VeTgDKfYG3/s1600/money+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Y2YEoIBd-j0ucPjV7qOnPSXKL3RH6XYIElWoM3X2nFJcUV0pIanNbHpaNKvkS9DZHNOPvgIs9LbIh_jcdgq2C9Dsby_gfBS7bGnvb7t-wzXml8vYtiO7ErUwdgpB_gSZr6VeTgDKfYG3/s1600/money+house.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;">Photo via amistadbonds.com</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px; text-align: start;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>Lower
startup costs.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This
is a no brainer, but a very important advantage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a young company, lower overhead costs are a dream come
true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saving on office rental and
running costs allow you to hit the ground running with minimum expenses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can use those funds to best develop
your product or service and make yourself more competitive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>Purposeful
communication.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Not
sharing a brick and mortar physical space doesn’t mean less communication.
Often it promotes a need for more frequent and purposeful contact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without the ability to walk into an
employee’s office at any given time or have a talk in the break room means each
and every point of contact becomes essential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meetings have a new meaning and employees have a mutual
respond for one another’s time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>Team
quality.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">On
paper, remote working may seem like you’ll be more relaxed…and it’s a
possibility with the right team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Due to distance from your workforce, it’s essential to make the right
hires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find a team of people that
are disciplined with a strong work ethic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>Give
your employees space.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Space
from your employees promotes a sense of trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have the right team, your employees can feel
empowered and produce quality work, even without you breathing down their
necks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working together, but at a
distance encourages employee growth and hopefully they’ll thrive on the
responsibility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>Extend
your reach.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A
business without a localized office gives you the ability to hire employees around
the world. A global presence gives your company diversification while allow you
to tap into problems with a different mindset and expose your product or serves
to more markets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through hiring
people that can’t commute to an office like working moms, you’ll see different
ideas and innovation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So
many entrepreneurs live and breathe their startup. Their passion is the drive
of the young business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes
being up close and personal can lead you to see problems in just one way or
approach things from a specific angle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having some distance encourage you to look at opportunities
differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Running your startup
remotely is practical and more young entrepreneurs are seeing the undeniable
benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">What
are your thoughts on working remotely?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" width="181" /></a></div>
Lori is a work-at-home mom living in Noblesville, a suburb of Indianapolis. She is mom to two young children and enjoys spending time watching them grow. Lori enjoys shopping, spending time with her husband and kids, reading, and traveling.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-64772919607617433502014-09-29T17:34:00.000-07:002014-09-29T17:34:00.063-07:005 Reasons Why You Should Outsource Your Business Writing<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Outsourcing
used to be a bad world in the world of business, but not anymore.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">If you opt not to outsource, you’re
losing money and your business growth may come to a standstill.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">More businesses than ever are looking for ways to make it possible to save money by outsourcing the tasks that make sense.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">One area where this is especially true is in business writing. By outsourcing this writing, you </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">loosen
up the reins and delegate those tasks to professionals.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Here are five reasons you </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">should outsource your
business writing: </span><br />
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<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Outsourcing
produces greater results.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A
common misconception is that outsourcing results in inferior quality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s just not true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you outsource to a high-quality
individual or business, you’ll get the same result – high-quality and well-written
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Outsourcing
promotes expansion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Outsourcing
also allows you to expand your services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you can give your customers more, you can retain </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">more customers. Let professionals help you in your
business writing while you tackle the areas of your expertise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Outsourcing
leads to greater revenue.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Once
you expand your services, you can make more money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, you make money when your outsourced employees are hard
at work – work you don’t have to perform yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can have teams working on multiple projects simultaneously
which means more work accomplished without the overhead traditions employees
incur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Outsourcing allows you to focus
on growing your business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When
you outsource your business writing, it leaves you to attend to other functions
such as growing your business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
frees up time so you can network and make connections that lead to better opportunities
for your business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it’s
hard to delegate tasks when you feel like you should be doing it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s a good idea to step back,
relinquish control and trust in a professional to do your writing so you can
concentrate on generating income.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Outsourcing empowers you to enjoy
your business lifestyle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Many
people go into business to get the life they want:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a large salary, freedom to take vacations and more time with
their family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But soon they
realize that operating a business is very demanding and they don’t have time.
Outsource your business writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It provides you with more time to enjoy your family and take vacations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Outsourcing
can build your business and increase your revenue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time, it frees up time so you can build your
business and take a vacation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While many owners take pride in having the business on their
shoulders, realize that outsourcing your business writer is a smart investment
you can make that will result in long-term business success.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">How
has outsourcing helped your business?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Photo
via backstreetmedia.com </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" height="200" width="181" /></a></div>
Lori is a work-at-home mom living in Noblesville, a suburb of Indianapolis. She is mom to two young children and enjoys spending time watching them grow. Lori enjoys shopping, spending time with her husband and kids, reading, and traveling. Feel free to leave her a comment.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-88457807554983917872014-09-25T11:10:00.000-07:002014-09-25T11:10:00.480-07:00Are Social Media Accounts Helpful to my Business – or a Waste of Time?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">As
you look at your business to-do list, you may wonder if your social media
efforts are really worth it, or if they’re just a waste of your valuable time. With
</span><a href="http://thesocialskinny.com/216-social-media-and-internet-statistics-september-2012/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">91 percent
of online adults using social media regularly</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">, why wouldn’t social media accounts be
beneficial? I’m here to tell you that social media accounts are beneficial for
businesses of any size, especially if you make it a priority to keep them
active. Focus on the big dogs of
the social media network like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Let’s take a look at how these social marketing powerhouses
are helpful when it comes to you and your business.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>Facebook<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If
you’re hoping to create a community surrounding your brand, set up shop on
Facebook. It’s a good place to seek out customer feedback and improve customer
service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, Facebook business
pages are a great place for reciprocal communication.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just remember that your business page needs to be monitored
and <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrm6DG0jCLR6hBjWkzOhlMA2yiaQ4hzWVUc-pFWl58gEwEm05ibvTGbiq8K-1YORN4fu4lcifJZ9AehN-isiB9XUouTwd9QdWrmwiC_X6aftDGpBebLD0PsmLBU_KZl6LMFSkBFILAkLWW/s1600/Social-Media-Business-300x240.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrm6DG0jCLR6hBjWkzOhlMA2yiaQ4hzWVUc-pFWl58gEwEm05ibvTGbiq8K-1YORN4fu4lcifJZ9AehN-isiB9XUouTwd9QdWrmwiC_X6aftDGpBebLD0PsmLBU_KZl6LMFSkBFILAkLWW/s1600/Social-Media-Business-300x240.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Photo Resource: pingler.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
updated regularly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">With
over a billion monthly users, it’s the biggest social media network worldwide,
so the chances are your target audience is out there just waiting for you to do
something that sparks their interest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep in mind the key to Facebook success is to make your
followers feel involved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>Twitter<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Twitter
has a fast-paced newsfeed that allows people to get real-time updates from the
businesses they follow. It’s also a marvelous way for business owners to stay
up-to-date on industry trends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Twitter’s
140 character limitations per message make it a great source for sharing brief
information, although it doesn’t do the job of building a close-knit community quite
like Facebook. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prioritize your
time on Twitter and make your responses to questions or comments the first
thing you address.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay
consistently active, whether you’re sharing a blog post or a sale, in order to
keep the attention of your followers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><strong>LinkedIn<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A
great place to find employees and show off your expertise in the industry, LinkedIn
is an account worth maintaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The pros of this social media account include a page that takes minimal
monitoring and the lack of urgency when it comes to posting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
Use LinkedIn to showcase your business and its products and services. Your
business page has a section where you can post business updates. LinkedIn is also
a prime place to attract employees, make business connections or prove the
legitimacy of your company.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Social
media platforms all require monitoring and time to keep your customers and
viewers happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the time
spent is well worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Social
media accounts are a fun and rewarding endeavor that allow business owners to
share their passion with people who are seeking the products or services they
offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" height="200" width="181" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lori is a work-at-home mom living in Noblesville, a suburb of Indianapolis. She is mom to two young children and enjoys spending time watching them grow. Lori enjoys shopping, spending time with her husband and kids, reading, and traveling. Feel free to leave her a comment.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-82144906332384710032014-09-24T17:37:00.000-07:002014-09-24T17:37:00.242-07:00Local Partnerships: Spread the Word about Your Business<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Today’s
environment is competitive.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">That
means you need to have ongoing efforts to keep your customers attention and increase
your revenue. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">The good news is
that businesses can help one another in these efforts. Local partnerships are a
low cost way to offer customers more value and grow your sales at the same time.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Combine forces to cross-promote your
businesses. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Here are some
ideas you and another local business can promote one another:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Take
a moment to like one other on Facebook.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDq3oLUsZbhS0YyfKt_PGJT7CCVVkwZvAA8mJOdUDC5vl07uQYFQdSSnV0OA15VuK0FaPxtj88qEGzvhuSTKoHLBPnujvw0-3pDocqlq1c6uVaVa1ENCcA7NaaRjRorLoTPgwlfsWGCL8h/s1600/shaking+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDq3oLUsZbhS0YyfKt_PGJT7CCVVkwZvAA8mJOdUDC5vl07uQYFQdSSnV0OA15VuK0FaPxtj88qEGzvhuSTKoHLBPnujvw0-3pDocqlq1c6uVaVa1ENCcA7NaaRjRorLoTPgwlfsWGCL8h/s1600/shaking+hands.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Photo Via: 2012books.lardbucket.org</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Go
ahead and ‘Like’ your local partners on Facebook and invite your friends to do
the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a moment and post
something relevant to your partners company, and tag the business name so your
friends notice your referral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is an easy and excellent way to build a business’ Facebook community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Create
a contest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Contests
are important as you build your community and should remain key as you
cross-promote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An idea to try:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both you and the partnering business
can post the information about a contest of your choice on your fan page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Encourage your fans to visit the other
business’ website, select their favorite product that’s offered and post the
reason he or she selected that particular product.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give a gift card for the most creative response.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sponsor
a local event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Have
an upcoming event in your town?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You and your local business partner can use this opportunity to market
your businesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Decide which
organization you’re passionate about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sponsor the event so your business names are featured
on all literature leading up to the event, on materials handed out the day of
the event and on the t-shirts participants receive upon registration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Refer
one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Think
along the lines of a general contractor and a landscaper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These businesses share a target
audience, so this is an easy example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The general contractor refers the landscaper and vice versa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both businesses can run specials
together to allow for simple up-sell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People value their time, so
your customers will love the referral so they don’t have to ask their friends
who to use, then call a bunch of businesses for quotes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Referrals are a great way to share
advertising and gain access to new customers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There
are endless partnerships local businesses can forge with one another. It’s all about
creativity and figuring out what you hope to accomplish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really a brilliant concept- create
additional value for customers without the hefty costs attached to typical
marketing strategies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s win for
everyone involved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Are
you currently running a cross promotion strategy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is it working for your business?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" height="200" width="181" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lori is a work-at-home mom living in Noblesville, a suburb of Indianapolis. She is mom to two young children and enjoys spending time watching them grow. Lori enjoys shopping, spending time with her husband and kids, reading, and traveling. Feel free to leave her a comment.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-607364221442350782014-09-23T11:09:00.000-07:002014-09-23T11:09:00.140-07:00Four Components to a Great Blog Post<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 3.0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">According
to </span><a href="http://www.hubspot.com/?AID=10983339&PID=4003003&SID=1c6tm2gkdyprq"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hubspot</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;">, websites
with a blog get nearly 55 percent more viewers than websites that don’t. But if your blog is lacking, it can be
a big waste of your time. So what
is a great blog post? It’s one
that keeps people interested in your content. It encourages, informs, educates
and entertains your reader. Consider
these tips to make your posts more attractive, generate more visitors and get
more shares.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Select
a strong title.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Think
along the lines of relevant and descriptive when you choose your title.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s considered the most important part
of any post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of the most
common words and phrases that people use when they may refer to your product or
service and use those keywords in your title.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While cute titles are interesting, you may lose your readers
if they have to think of what the post may be about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Focus on a title that’s clear and interesting to invite
readers to check out your post. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgwVLuwturA5CHYvbJF7xXLped73O-fj7-BNR-TKkzSMs6T_eT8GRAbHQylV6zRo9DCdCTSGg-1N27KYpqKEGBLIIv1rbeXu4mGzhyphenhyphen-9sgjxWGu3uWdM8M4vi_d-lizZTz3jfhsPTgC9y/s1600/great+blog+post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgwVLuwturA5CHYvbJF7xXLped73O-fj7-BNR-TKkzSMs6T_eT8GRAbHQylV6zRo9DCdCTSGg-1N27KYpqKEGBLIIv1rbeXu4mGzhyphenhyphen-9sgjxWGu3uWdM8M4vi_d-lizZTz3jfhsPTgC9y/s1600/great+blog+post.jpg" height="200" width="188" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Photo resource: </span><a href="http://www.aimzo.com/" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">www.aimzo.com</span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Add
images or videos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Relevant
multimedia content can turn a blog article into a memorable and fun article to
read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It breaks up text, making it
more visually appealing to readers at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember to always link back and give credit to the
originator when applicable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
little eye candy on your blog goes a long way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Write
high quality content.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Have
your customers in mind to make writing quality content a simpler task. What
exactly is quality content? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>High
quality content is information that helps your audience, gives information or
advice and provides a few laughs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Write your blog posts in a manner that addresses the kind of customers
you like to serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will
separate you from boring stuff people find on the Web and allow you to build a
community of followers who look at you and your blog as their go-to spot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Don’t
forget blog links.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Links
are an essential component to a blog for a lot of reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They add value to your blog by pointing
readers in the direction of useful information and enhance your blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you link, don’t forget to double
check and make sure they work before making your blog go live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Anyone
who writes a blog likely has the goal to make it one that readers follow,
bookmark for later and share with their friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The right mix of components can make your blog powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Utilize these tips to make your blog one
that readers flock to for advice and tips, and the first blog your readers
recommend to their friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" height="200" width="181" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lori is a work-at-home mom living in Noblesville, a suburb of Indianapolis. She is mom to</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">two young children and enjoys spending time watching them grow. Lori enjoys shopping, spending time with her husband and kids, reading, and traveling. Feel free to leave her a comment.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-88862879788520450552014-09-22T11:08:00.000-07:002014-09-22T11:08:00.423-07:00Does My Local Business Really Need a Website?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Think back to the last time you used a phone
book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, they’re still in
existence, and on occasion they’re convenient if you know just what you
need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the simplicity of
finding a business on the Internet with the use of search engines means that
less people use phone books when they search for products and services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So many businesses yet to have a good
website, or have no website at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is a big mistake you can fix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Prospective customers are always searching the Internet for products and
services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some small
business website myths unveiled:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don’t have adequate staff to maintain the
website.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This concern is legitimate since a website
with old content and out of date information is a poor reflection on your
company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news is that
it’s actually really easy to update your website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many Content Management Systems make this task simple so
don’t worry about adequate staffing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It costs too much to create a website.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not in every case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are lots of websites that can be created for a
reasonable price that in turn drive new customers to your business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is true that the more pages your
website has, the larger the investment is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s an investment that can help lead your business to
success on a much </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCQp5JY36Kkjj5b7EErkSakdfXmmD5tvX2uPCYALNDP-ceO6zIq2eaB2Vaa2mJy42FrYJZvrob34F7MGhjxtVguQaJd3lKqWrJt5DWJ6oXaGnXk2EUkoaLB5yzB6ZT-o8S5iQspuNJ2s7/s1600/Website.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCQp5JY36Kkjj5b7EErkSakdfXmmD5tvX2uPCYALNDP-ceO6zIq2eaB2Vaa2mJy42FrYJZvrob34F7MGhjxtVguQaJd3lKqWrJt5DWJ6oXaGnXk2EUkoaLB5yzB6ZT-o8S5iQspuNJ2s7/s1600/Website.png" height="140" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Photo Resource: cheapwordpresswebsites.com</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">larger scale. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I can get away with using a free, simple website.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A website that’s like a brochure – one that
contains a Home page, About Us, hours and a contact us page isn’t quite
enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s pretty boring and not
the least bit engaging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The web is
an interactive visual medium that provides small business owners the chance to
really interact with its customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Use sound and create a website that will do your business some good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">SEO stuff is confusing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">SEO stands for search engine optimization and
yes it can be confusing if you’re not familiar with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, all that it refers to is the
use of words and phrases on your website that your customers would likely use
when they search for products and services in a search engine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They search for products that you offer,
and because you wrote your website with those key phrases, the web will lead
them to your website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s that
simple!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start by creating a list
of possible phrases or have an analysis of what people are searching so you
know the keywords you should focus on as you create your website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Optimized keywords will raise your
website to a higher ranking on Google and Yahoo too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As a small business, you need to take
advantage of the benefits of a website.
A website provides a perfect opportunity to be there when prospective
customers are searching for a product or service that you offer. A website is a way to drive customers
to your business, earning additional revenue and creating more loyal customers
at the same time.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" height="200" width="181" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lori is a work-at-home mom living in Noblesville, a suburb of Indianapolis. She is mom to</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">two young children and enjoys spending time watching them grow. Lori enjoys shopping, spending time with her husband and kids, reading, and traveling. Feel free to leave her a comment.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-6194157078952602232014-09-22T06:09:00.001-07:002014-09-22T06:09:40.498-07:00Test1b8d8e4a7531cac95dd75b7f19a5d83ba87ab6e1539741fc9aKatie Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02842999158771845575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-26658822070131010512014-09-21T11:08:00.000-07:002014-09-21T11:08:09.666-07:00How Blogging Benefits Your Business<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not
sure if you should bother blogging?
Consider it again. The use
of blogs is spreading like wildfire as small business owners realize the power of
a blog and what it can do for their business. Essentially, blogging has turned into a marketing tool that
strengthens a business’ brand in a big way. Here is what blogging can do for you:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Establish
your business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If
you want to let your customers know all about your business, and what products
and services you offer, <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4j3P-muGjD9wLw1gwNn3WH1YtRO_3ejeWjqBZpJrSUspvYWbROkPRpH3lqaGfmTev8c7OYLRc0UEMIGZ80monBqYzcyJsp1DQJS-D5hITBQ9I4PqPosHKljoshzgN-Mw_rS4xh5Rg493u/s1600/blogging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4j3P-muGjD9wLw1gwNn3WH1YtRO_3ejeWjqBZpJrSUspvYWbROkPRpH3lqaGfmTev8c7OYLRc0UEMIGZ80monBqYzcyJsp1DQJS-D5hITBQ9I4PqPosHKljoshzgN-Mw_rS4xh5Rg493u/s1600/blogging.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Resource: paranormalpointofview.blogspot.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
get blogging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Blogs are the perfect way to establish your business and show your
current and prospective customers that you’re an expert in your field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention, blogging allows you to
reach thousands upon thousands of people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Increase
traffic to business sites.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blogs
are an affordable and key platform that attracts new customers to your business
website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When people type keywords
into a search engine, a long list of blogs will show up as a result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if they type in the very words
your blog used, the person will learn about your business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Create
a network of followers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If
you regularly post relevant and accurate information on your business blog,
you’ll likely wind up with a large number of followers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These followers will become customers
and use your business to fulfill their needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Followers also churn out more followers through positive
word of month that can lead to increase business opportunities and revenue for
your business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Provide
Customer Support<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If
you seem to have the same question come up time and again, go ahead and blog
about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blogs are a great
resource for customers as a form of additional customer support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Write out the solutions of common
problems so customers can get the answers they need directly from your blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Share
more with your customers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Often
times, there is more to tell your customers than what is on your website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your blog is a great place to elaborate
on specific subjects for your customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of overloading your customers with an
abundance of information on your website, use your blog to speak to clients and
tell them all the extra’s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Promote
your business events.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Use
your blog as a way to directly promote your upcoming events and sales.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blogs are the perfect marketing tool
for your business and serve as an avenue to inform your customers of news such
as changes in your company or new products and service your business is
offering. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blogging
is an affordable and simple way to benefit your business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just remember that building a
successful blog takes persistence and patience, and that the hard work you put
into your blog will pay off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzg8QF4QXGEnvTqMChykQwagT3xKnArG8CtMF3zLSUzn3FDB8ZvGkS4wXXiQ2O2wzzuT7Xni5i8i54y9xJAYn913OY4ZpKIIixkXUejHSa0Azif0tNvGxHETXyh5LrO8xXf-QLnO7xrGm9/s1600/Lori.png" height="200" width="181" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lori is a work-at-home mom living in Noblesville, a suburb of Indianapolis. She is mom to</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">two young children and enjoys spending time watching them grow. Lori enjoys shopping, spending time with her husband and kids, reading, and traveling. Feel free to leave her a comment.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-41769355415650752362014-09-21T11:07:00.001-07:002014-09-21T11:07:45.163-07:00Marketing Ideas that Help Boost Your Profit<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There’s more to marketing than just sending
out a few mailers. To best
advertise your business, it’s essential you think outside of the box, come up
with brilliant ideas and execute them.
These six ideas can help boost your profit and make your business one
that people love.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Make it Simple for Buyers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Think of ways to make the gift-giving choice
easy for customers. Offer additional suggestions by price and use social media
to highlight inventory that appeals to your target audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Offer complimentary gift-wrapping (and
promote it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a huge time
saver and convenience your customers will love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Online stores can offer free shipping if a customers spends
a specified dollar amount as an additional promotion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Generate a Buzz<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Create excitement around your business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use Facebook or other social media
avenues to hold </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwolD4SSN8OwfoNLiN9i-gvaOq7LGr7TJTb5XROlMdF7qZ9LWxfBaktsyapk3XzVv2trfVObPVubKaBUBBYwcKxYeHz_bIBzcoNcmIchxOD-SaWRtHHsvyS1i-HxGmHLx_HX55FCFJWc53/s1600/Increase-Profit-Dollar-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwolD4SSN8OwfoNLiN9i-gvaOq7LGr7TJTb5XROlMdF7qZ9LWxfBaktsyapk3XzVv2trfVObPVubKaBUBBYwcKxYeHz_bIBzcoNcmIchxOD-SaWRtHHsvyS1i-HxGmHLx_HX55FCFJWc53/s1600/Increase-Profit-Dollar-photo.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Photo via www.runapptivo.apptivo.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">contests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
instance, if it’s near a holiday such as Christmas, ask your fans to submit
their funniest pictures of the family from a Christmas past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By getting people involved and engaging
your fans, your business will become one that people enjoy doing business with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Target the right audience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Think about what services and products you
offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who is your target
audience? For instance, if you run a business for families, offer something
simple like a free cookie or beverage for children when they visit your store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learn from the well-loved restaurant Chick
Fil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This tasty fast food
restaurant now offers a cool service known as mom valet where moms can go
though the drive through, order and pay for their meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then mom’s can park their car and go
into the restaurant where the staff at Chick Fil a have the food ready at table
for the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk about
customer service!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Offer discounts for those who serve our
country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">People who have served, or are currently
serving in the military deserve to be recognized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they should be. Think of a way to honor those people who
are fighting for our freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Honor them in the form of a discounted service or product, and include
this in your marketing and promotions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Get good press.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This one may seem like it’s out of your
control. But it’s not!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
steps you can take that make sure media notices your business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A simple way is to help the
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Volunteer at a local
shelter or raise money or food for the local food bank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Share pictures of your staff in action
or the containers of food and non-perishable items you’re taking to those in
need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Promote your business through email.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of direct mail marketing, try
email marketing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s more
efficient, saves time, reduces marketing-related expenses and is better for the
Earth. Not to mention, it’s more likely to convert to a sale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Marketing your business can be a
challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coming up with
innovative ideas to spread the word of your company isn’t always easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about what makes you loyal
to a business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make purchasing
from you simple and convenient, and people will flock to your business time and
again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-86081991650032235352014-07-17T04:28:00.000-07:002014-07-17T04:28:04.116-07:00What is Page Rank – And How Do I Improve Mine?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Every
business that has a website has a goal: for it to rank high in the search
engines like Google and Yahoo. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">When people go to the search engines in hopes of a product or
service you offer, you want them to find your business. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">A higher rank results in increased
visitors, typically leading to more sales.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Now that you know what page rank is, let’s talk about how to
improve it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vNeUyYNaxLaxRMXhbeAbnwFEH8oXKYyB4ncZnwKIAAuoPZsKFydbIIWe3aLTh_Jdgn7TmjC8qkTPkxindj7An-IzBPsv7TulSkujzz2C8eJp1U5sSXwWFap1AfLbAyNNygCHj3FOYBTO/s1600/Marketing+SEO.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vNeUyYNaxLaxRMXhbeAbnwFEH8oXKYyB4ncZnwKIAAuoPZsKFydbIIWe3aLTh_Jdgn7TmjC8qkTPkxindj7An-IzBPsv7TulSkujzz2C8eJp1U5sSXwWFap1AfLbAyNNygCHj3FOYBTO/s1600/Marketing+SEO.png" height="163" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Photo via seomarketingprogram.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Select
the right key phrase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Your
key phrase is a critical part of getting page rank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your phrase isn’t competitive, that makes things a little
easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure your key phrase
is in the title and in the body of your page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If
you phrase is competitive, then you’ll need to make your site worthy of a high
ranking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think: when you search on
Google, the best sites usually rank at the top, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Google wants it that way, because of
the Google search engine wizards refer bad sites, people will turn to Bing or
Yahoo instead of Google.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Earn
your high ranking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When
it comes to a high ranking for your business, it’s not about tricks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The search engines never stop tweaking
their formula, so tricks won’t do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Make your site worthy of a good ranking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Attributes that make a website high quality (according to a
search engine) include a page that’s relevant to the term being searched for, has
an authoritative voice, share useful content, is well-established, is quick to
load and has links that work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Build
a quality site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Figure
out which sites are beating you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Is you site better than them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If so, you’ll likely eventually surpass them in ranking, just be
patient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If your site isn’t quite
as good, make the necessary improvements and higher rankings will follow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Seek
expert help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Seeking
profession help is going to be very beneficial when it comes to making your
page rank escalate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Professionals
are called SEO’s, or search engines optimizers, specialize in improving your
page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These experts know just how
to help you determine which keywords you should target to get other sites to
link to yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To help your page
see more traffic and earn more sales, expert help is the way to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">As
customers peruse the search engines, it’s crucial your business ranks high on
the list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Concentrate on writing
content that’s compelling and original to attract links naturally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Focus on your own judgment of quality,
and add value for Internet users and you’ll see your site steadily rise up the
search engine results page. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Is
your website search engine friendly?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-60255687640584379692014-07-17T04:26:00.003-07:002014-07-17T04:26:32.168-07:00Five Reasons Your Company Needs a Blog<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blogging has become a household word, continuing to grow in
popularity and likely extremely beneficial to your company. Even if it doesn’t
seem like having a blog is necessary or even appropriate for your website, you
may be happily surprised with the results. With some writing skills and the
knowledge of what your company offers consumers, you could create daily, weekly
or even monthly blog posts. And if writing isn’t your forte, you can hire
someone to do it for you. What are some top reasons a blog is important to the
success of your website?</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMBg5GmYVwjbSHVGkyk5wEAJMhJ6FxLstrL7p1f32xtneTfVNR6RhkFLRLl9VX2j5GMoZhwQsiVRVILgFZnHta83vTMzvhwWNuMKZT4bbyehNFWyFDoGGU85mFWyK-FMsTGDZnGM226s3/s1600/4420336383_b4ec1412f1_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisMBg5GmYVwjbSHVGkyk5wEAJMhJ6FxLstrL7p1f32xtneTfVNR6RhkFLRLl9VX2j5GMoZhwQsiVRVILgFZnHta83vTMzvhwWNuMKZT4bbyehNFWyFDoGGU85mFWyK-FMsTGDZnGM226s3/s1600/4420336383_b4ec1412f1_z.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Provide Company
Information and Updates: Blogging relevant industry or business information is
helpful to your customers. And this benefit can be two-fold; not only are you
keeping your public informed, but they will also reach out to you when in need
of products or services. Customers will appreciate learning more about your
company and establishing you as a good resource for their needs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boost Results of
Internet Searches: SEO- we have all heard it, but what does it mean? Search
Engine Optimization is defined as the “process of affecting the visibility of a
website or a web page in a search engine's "natural" or un-paid
search results” and is invaluable to finding success with your company website.
Blog posts can feature key words and topics that will help people find you. By
maintaining a blog your name will continue to rise in the ranks when someone
does a relatable internet search.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Provide Hard
Tracking Number Data: Blogs offer analytics that help you to see how many
people are tuning in and checking out the content you are sharing on your site.
This can give you a real picture of when your posts are having the most impact
and also help you see if you are reaching your target audience. The data is
very specific and will help you tailor your blogging for maximum impact. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maximize Your
Marketing Dollars: Blogging is a relatively easy and affordable way to drive
potential customers and business to your company web page. Linking key words
and adding other appropriate web addresses will bring views to your site. And
having archived posts means that you could see ongoing returns; an older blog
entry can be accessed for years to come without needing to make any
modifications.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Utilize Public
Relations Opportunities: Getting your company name out to the public is a top
priority when building towards success. As a business blogger you will be
viewed as an industry leader to many and you may be contacted for interviews.
Public relations opportunities like this would help bring recognition and
potential financial gains to your business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the end, blogging can be a fun experience, not to mention
a great way to stay informed with current events and remain an expert for your
product or service. How would a blog impact your business?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
Maura Bensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09688788260810555387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-18388595061841565142014-07-17T04:20:00.002-07:002014-07-17T04:20:51.465-07:00Four Sizzling Summer Marketing Ideas<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Summer
is here so get outside and enjoy the weather.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Sunshiny days, blue skies and green grass boost your
customer’s moods and they spend additional time outside of their air-conditioned
homes.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">That makes these warm
months a great time to get outdoors and market in fun and creative ways.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">We have some sizzling ideas to heat up
your summer marketing campaign.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiKaTI0mmKpbHLtsyxdgTECnNRVWcSxilhs34KqEl1R2UdJI4uji6J8Od2NH_Kmn-GKGz84UXA1Mx69jsuaqJCQjZKfFwadUg1l3z35e0rkST-YryiAQP62EUoorN-SCMP3v9meR3RfeX/s1600/summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiKaTI0mmKpbHLtsyxdgTECnNRVWcSxilhs34KqEl1R2UdJI4uji6J8Od2NH_Kmn-GKGz84UXA1Mx69jsuaqJCQjZKfFwadUg1l3z35e0rkST-YryiAQP62EUoorN-SCMP3v9meR3RfeX/s1600/summer.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Participate
in a community event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hot
months in many towns accompany street fairs and carnivals, outdoor movie
nights, concerts in the park and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your chamber of commerce or city’s parks and recreation department can
tell you about the events scheduled for these upcoming months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about which events have potential
and plan to host a booth and hand out samples of your product or show off your
service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use a fishbowl to gather
business cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another way you
can get your business name out there is to donate products to the event or
sponsor an event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In exchange, ask
to have your business name on the marketing pieces related to the event such as
programs or flyers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Host
an event for your customers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Host
a party, barbecue or even a wine tasting evening for your clients and prospects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the perfect way to thank your
customers, find out in more detail their needs and wants, and encourage more
business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you own a
restaurant or retail store, have a summer-themed event for loyal customers like
an after-hours exclusive shopping night, or a specialty five-course dinner at a
discounted price. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Fly
a flag!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">With
the 4<sup>th</sup> of July around the corner, this is a great idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>American flags become a landmark
because they’re so noticeable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you have a flagpole, that’s great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If not, think about having a flag bracket installed on the side of your
building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t have a
brick-and-mortar location? You can give away miniature American flags as you
attend summer networking events instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Sponsor
a giveaway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Krispy
Kreme Donuts took advantage of </span><a href="http://nationaldonutday2013.com/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">National
Donut Day</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">
on June 3<sup>rd</sup> giving away a free donut to everyone that walked through
their doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This gave the popular
franchise the change to introduce itself to new customers and also scored some
publicity countrywide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it
isn’t feasible for you to give away something free to every American, that
doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of this tactic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giveaways are an incentive for customers to do something for
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sign up for an email
newsletter, like you on Facebook or something similar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wile everyone who gets a freebie or
discount won’t become a customer, you will get a lot of attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s exactly what you want, right?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">What
creative ways are you marketing your business this summer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiKaTI0mmKpbHLtsyxdgTECnNRVWcSxilhs34KqEl1R2UdJI4uji6J8Od2NH_Kmn-GKGz84UXA1Mx69jsuaqJCQjZKfFwadUg1l3z35e0rkST-YryiAQP62EUoorN-SCMP3v9meR3RfeX/s1600/summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Photo
Resource: </span><a href="http://www.printcopyfactory.com/"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">www.printcopyfactory.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">If
you have a small local business, or one that is more global, it is typically a
good idea to have a shop online that offers your services and products
available for sale.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">So many people
today actually prefer to shop online, even if they have a local store just down
the road.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Wondering how to make
sure those who visit your website trust you?</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">Use these three tactics and watch your prospective customers
turn into regular customers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Demonstrate
security<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Despite
the ever-growing prevalence of shopping on the Internet, there’s still a risk
for scams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWK44M_1D2XH1sAr0CreQ_8pktxFatBjCpiPEnzGOKsLxRV4-n8dt5Y7wFk3AsS_SPz0jxhyphenhyphen6tKE-pUAC_r8T9bK2IPFCKttG7-uY83SSzan_nVP8KIIef1W7yNIMthHE8Catg4bc_Nhz/s1600/Online-Credibility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWK44M_1D2XH1sAr0CreQ_8pktxFatBjCpiPEnzGOKsLxRV4-n8dt5Y7wFk3AsS_SPz0jxhyphenhyphen6tKE-pUAC_r8T9bK2IPFCKttG7-uY83SSzan_nVP8KIIef1W7yNIMthHE8Catg4bc_Nhz/s1600/Online-Credibility.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">important that
your online site demonstrates how secure you keep information and how
trustworthy you are to entice shoppers to choose your store over online
competitors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">To
show your customers that your business is one that is trustworthy, you can show
the measures you can to protect their personal information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you have a secure page, your
customers will see a lock icon in the browser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Customers will also see that your web page URL has a ‘S’ at
the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a number of </span><a href="http://web.appstorm.net/roundups/self-publishing/15-great-ways-to-secure-your-website/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">ways to
secure your website</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">List all
prices clearly<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Another
step to increase trust among your customers is to clearly share your prices,
the costs associated with shipping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Customers are much more likely to make a purchase if the shipping prices
are shared clearly on your website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Other information that builds credibility includes the details of your
shipping and policies related to refunds and exchanges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People aren’t going to move forward
with their purchases if you leave them with too many unknown details about your
prices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Feedback
from your customers<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Don’t
you want to hear what people say about a business and it’s products and
services before you make a purchase?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Prospective customers want to hear from people who have had experience
with your business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want to
know what people thought of their products and services, and hear if people
were pleased with their purchase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Share your feedback, reviews and testimonials clearly on your website to
allow your current and prospective customers to see and read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This will encourage purchases from
those who stop by to visit your website and help them feel like they can trust you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While some negative and malicious
reviews are better left unshared, a few that may be less than idea are okay to
share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just make sure you show how
you fixed the issues with your customer to ensure their satisfaction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Businesses
of all sizes can benefit from building their credibility and reputation
online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure to always have a
website that shows your honesty and willingness to ensure your customers are
satisfied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These three tips are a
great check list to use as you make sure your website is one that will make
prospective customers trust and believe in your business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Photo via: </span>365outsource.com</div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-38155135588485536242014-06-03T09:30:00.000-07:002014-06-03T09:30:00.143-07:00Businesswomen: Master the Art of Negotiation<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Women often debate about the best pieces of career advice
women give one another. Some say
books can teach you to be a good leader.
Others argue that the majority of business books are actually written by
men, and they simply don’t understand the challenges face in today’s business
world. Here we have compiled the
most successful tips that businesswomen often struggle with, focusing on
negotiating. Here are five tips that
can help women conquer their nerves, ease their jitters and master the art of
negotiation:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Over-prepare.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prior to enter any type of negotiation setting, get
organized from an informational stance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jot down the reasons you’re negotiating for what it is that you
want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once your rationale is
clear, compile research that backs your argument.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, if you’re hoping to hire help, assemble the criteria
for bringing on an.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s the
minimum number of people an assistant typically supports?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does revenue have a minimum amount of
revenue it must clear in order to validate hiring help?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be prepared to express the ways an
assistant would add value to the organization.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stay steady. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before your meeting, prepare your facts and your
demeanor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t walk into a
negotiation without your ducks in a row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The result can be a complete nightmare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Demonstrate your optimism and show that you believe a
solution that satisfies all parties is reachable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boost your self-confidence by focusing on your strong points
and abilities; dwell on your successes to help remind yourself of your value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Role-play the negotiation prior to the
real thing with a person your trust beforehand to help control your emotions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Inquire strategically.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAgOODzKpkY9vNJob4XfYR0vA9ZOFNiMZfZDvBbADI8Mo2iQHUxuYGJ9v2erpMc3pdbCd_D8YdZ17Rw_2_hyFAJw0LBm8kNz9uhDYVE0q9QU5zlGHYMXQJr3g-ATCP5oVWO-WiG8qp-NT/s1600/negotiation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAgOODzKpkY9vNJob4XfYR0vA9ZOFNiMZfZDvBbADI8Mo2iQHUxuYGJ9v2erpMc3pdbCd_D8YdZ17Rw_2_hyFAJw0LBm8kNz9uhDYVE0q9QU5zlGHYMXQJr3g-ATCP5oVWO-WiG8qp-NT/s1600/negotiation.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">www.forbes.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In a negotiation setting, questions that require open-ended
answers are often times incredibly powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Questions of this nature open up the dialogue and also can
earn you additional time if you need to compose your thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think along the lines of: Can you
elaborate on how you came to this solution? What is preventing us from coming
to an agreement?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Strategize silently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Use silence to your advantage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When people are nervous they tend to ramble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So don’t talk too much, you just tend
to over-promise or under-sell—things you’ll later regret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay quiet and think so you can prepare
for your next move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Silence also
makes your counterpart open up and talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Silence helps keep you in the more favorable position. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Identify mutual gains.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Seek out a way that both parties benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A win-win is the best way to negotiate;
never look at the situation as a win-loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There has to be a positive in their somewhere if you look at
the situation with an open, optimistic mentality.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The art of negotiating is one that is tricky, but can be
conquered with the right mentality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Take an optimistic approach and the above tips can help you overcome
your fears and struggles and end up on top.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What advice do you have for other businesswomen? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Photo Source: forbes.com</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7993953255845157926.post-26450854189502012472014-06-02T16:35:00.002-07:002014-06-02T16:35:22.421-07:004 Ways to Improve Your Website This Week<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Business
owners are notoriously busy.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">You
need to run your business, manage your Web presence, serve your customers, pay
invoices and keep up with social media efforts.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Oh, and it’s nice to have a little bit of a personal life,
too.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">With your plate so full of
tasks, wouldn’t it be great to get one thing under control? Here are five
things you can do so your website is in great shape next week:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Improve
your About Page.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Most
small business owners wind up ignoring the about page on their website. If one was created, that seems like a
small feat. Besides, no one really
looks at the page anyway, right?
Wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One
of the worst things a business owner can do is ignore the About page. Customers frequent this page to learn
about the business, build a relationship, understand what your business is all
about, and decide if your company is worth doing business with. Use your About Page to share your
story, credentials, pictures, your values and other humanizing
information. Don’t view your page
as a laborious task, think of it as a place to formally introduce yourself to
your audience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Show
off your social media skills.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Put
your social media profiles on a pedestal!
Use your website to highlight your social skills. Are you on Facebook? Twitter? Awesome.
Include icons on your home page and other prominent pages of your
website (think your About page or Contact Us page) so your visitors will follow
you on these social networks.
Cross-linking increases the strength of your profiles and gives
customers an additional place to engage with you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Update
your blog</strong>.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84Pljq_Kn5sbdpUGSl2-aQFbZufUfOrbDd1hsvE9s4H6lXrOE9pZcR0aTwj5P81hv_tJ3M33PF_i1hMUsaoDyumt59mKkD5qISDrHp4hbfamX_-UYP7NQ64jxNJcMHD_xQHmWj5h7oMHO/s1600/Website.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh84Pljq_Kn5sbdpUGSl2-aQFbZufUfOrbDd1hsvE9s4H6lXrOE9pZcR0aTwj5P81hv_tJ3M33PF_i1hMUsaoDyumt59mKkD5qISDrHp4hbfamX_-UYP7NQ64jxNJcMHD_xQHmWj5h7oMHO/s1600/Website.png" height="140" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo via djdesignerlab.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It
isn’t really that hard to bring some life back to your website. Use some of your time this week to make
some changes to your blog. Write a
post that directs your audience to look at the pages within your website that
you’ve revamped. Answer some
questions about consumer issues and give your take on where the industry is
going. Talk to your audience
again. Updating your blog gives
your audience something to read and engage with, while also boosting your rank
on the search engines. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><strong>Focus
on Navigation.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<strong></strong></div>
<strong></strong><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One
of the most overlooked parts of your website is navigation. It’s essential to creating a website
that encourages a successful business.
Your website should be user-friendly, simple to navigate and intuitive. Focus on what your customers need to
know so they can find their way to your products quickly. Don’t try to get over-clever when you
name tabs on your site. Think
simple and do some keyword research to ensure the phrases you’re using in your
site navigation are still relevant. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Your
website is a crucial component to a successful business. A few small changes can lead to a big
boost in customer satisfaction, leading to happier, loyal customers that come
back to your for business time and again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Photo
Source: djdesignerlab.com</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00609334796387562407noreply@blogger.com0