75 Big Marketing Ideas for Small Marketing Budgets
Don’t have a six-figure marketing budget like the “big boys” to throw around? Worry not my friends you can still go big without breaking the bank.
Here are 75 big marketing ideas you can begin implementing today to grow your business regardless of the size of your marketing budget. Many of these can be done with little to no money, and will cost you nothing more than a bit of your time.
1) Get Active on Twitter
It takes just a few minutes to make a contribution to Twitter and making this a part of your daily business routine is a steady way to build up a network of followers interested in your area of industry.
2) Start a Blog
This needn’t be an everyday thing but posting to a blog a couple of times a week is a way to keep in touch with your customers and to convey more about your business and the market in which you operate to your potential clients.
3) Blog Commenting
Contribute to the conversations on blogs by bloggers in the same niche in which you operate.
4) Forum Discussions
Find and sign up to forums on a related topic to your business. Actively take part and get to know your fellow posters. Try searching for “Your Topic + Forum” in Google to find relevant conversations.
5) Register Your Business with Google Local
Google has been offering local businesses a chance to register their business address and phone number in its local listings for some time
6) Register Your Products or Services with Google Merchant
Another helpful and free service from the search giant, Google Merchant is a place for businesses to upload a data feed which includes products or services.
7) Make Your Business Cards Memorable
Choose a design that stands out. Here are 51 creative business card ideas to get you started thinking creatively.
8). Consider Paid Search
Google AdWords is the largest sponsored search result program. While this marketing channel isn’t free, it does fall under budget marketing ideas for new businesses simply because you are able to manage it yourself within a small budget.
9) Build a Basic Reward Scheme
Offer an exclusive incentive to your regular customers which will help the business retain customers and win new ones.
10) Improve Customer Service
Many forget that customer service is a form of advertising. You’re advertising that you care, and that gets noticed.
11) Let Customers Know You Appreciate Them
Customers who feel appreciated are going to give the love right back in the form of loyalty. Send them and email, make a call, interact with them any way you see fit. Just let them know they are important.
12) Become Vain
Do you know what your customers are saying about you online? Get vain, and search for yourself! Then, respond to your customers.
13) Don’t Forget Current Customers
We’ve all heard the old adage that it’s easier to keep an existing customer than win a new one. But it may also be worth going through your list of older inactive customers and trying to reactivate a few of the better ones. Give them a call, tell them you value them, ask what it will take to get them back. You might be surprised at how simple or low-cost it is. If they say no thanks, consider it a learning opportunity and wish them the best. Then call them back in a year and ask again.
14) Article Marketing
Write expert articles and submit them to sites such as Ezinearticles.com. Here is a list of the top 50 article directories, ranked by Alexa. Get writing!
15) Advertise on Yourself
Make some simple t-shirts with your company name and website on them, wear them around town
16) Advertise on Someone Else
Check out guys like iwearyourshirt.comfor a fun, creative, and realtively cheap way to get your company seen.
17) Add your Business to a Review Site
Adding your business to a review site such as Feedback Jar can help put you in touch with customers.
18) Email Signature
Use every email as a way to promote yourself and your business.
19) Social Networks
There is a social network for every niche. Join one and start networking.
20) Leave Biz Cards
You’ve followed #7 above, now don’t just leave those cards in your pocket! Give them out, to anyone, everywhere. Heck, just leave them laying around, or in library books, or anywhere your customers may see them.
21) Postcards on Windshields
Easy and cheap to print, place them under windshields at parking lots. The more creative your card the more they’ll get noticed.
22) Flyers on Community Boards
Community cork boards are everywhere. Try putting up a flier or two on these boards…cheap and easy, and you never know who will read them.
23) Join Your Local Chamber of Commerce
A local chamber can be a great way to get your business out in the community for very little cash outlay. Chambers offer programs and services free for their members, and oftentimes refer business to chamber members.
24) Give a Talk at an Event
Any chance you get to get in front of a group and show your expertise – do it!
25) Send Special Deals to Your Newsletter List
Give your newsletter subscribers even more value by offering a “Newsletter only” deal.
26) Don’t Have a Newsletter List?
27) Give it Away for Free
If your product or service rocks – it’s your best advertising. Give it away for free, for a limited time of course, then charge when they can’t live without it.
28) Have a “Weird” Sale
Read about a guy who ran a pretty successful “I just broke my foot so you get 25% off sale”. The key here is to keep it fun, and get people talking about it.
29) Ask Your Customers for Referrals
Don’t be shy, come right out and solicit referrals from happy customers. They will be happy to tell their friends about you.
30) Give’mSomething to Give
Put something in the hands of your happy customers they can give to somebody else. Free samples, a “refer a friend” coupon. Build a small army of happy customers to help you spread the word.
31) And While Your Giving
Don’t forget to always give’ em the pickle.
32) Free Classifieds
Use free classified ad servicesto promote your product or service. Aside from big online classified ads (Craigslist), there may be other free options specific to your geographical area, maybe even some free inclusions in local print media. Do some Google searches and see what is available in your hometown.
33) Reciprocity Advertising
Talk to local business owners and explore cross promotion you may be able to do with them. They are probably in the same boat as you, and would be willing to work out a “scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” type of marketing campaign.
34) Barter
You may think of bartering as particularly “old school”, but there is no reason you can’t trade a product or service with another business in exchange for some marketing opportunities. Trading an hour of your consulting time, or a couple free products to a local business who is willing then to plug you in their newsletter or mailings could result in a better deal than paying out of pocket for the same marketing. Start with the barter directory, and go from there.
35) Write a Press Release
Write your own press release and submit it to the appropriate channels. If what you’re doing is particularly newsworthy, send it to local media. Also submit your press release to the free services online.
36) Networking
Scout out free networking events in your area, you’d be surprised how many “meet-ups” there are. Not only are they a great way to get out of the house, but think of every networking event as a mini-marketing campaign. Use MeetUp.com to scan for opportunities near you.
37) Organize a Meet Up
Not seeing a meet up that meets your needs? Organize one.
38) Link Exchange with Other Businesses
Offer link exchanges on related business websites where your link will add value to their visitors, and their link will add value to your visitors.
39) Cross Promote
Like a link exchange, but more in depth. Set up a cross promotion with another business. For example if you sell pencils, find a business that sells paper and work out a deal to send each other business.
40) Develop a “Niche Discount” That You Get Known For
I read about a guy who gives a “Laugh Discount” – a small % off if a customer can make him laugh within X minutes of meeting him.
41) Guest Post on Blogs
Expand your reach and audience. Use a service like MyGuestBlog to find blogs looking for guest articles. Or guest post with us.
42) Publish a Free Report or White Paper
Put out a free report related to what you do on your website, or distribute it to those in your target market. A report is a great way to get your name out there, show your expertise, and best of all these reports tend to get shared. Also, use the free report as an incentive to subscribe to your newsletter email list.
43) Encourage Sharing
Once you have a free report to give out, better than waiting for it to get shared, build in some encouragement to do so. Offer a deal if they share it with “X” number of people.
44) Make a Helpful YouTube Video
Video is pretty easy to produce now, and nobody expects it to look like Scorsese directed it, so put up a couple helpful videos explaining how to use one of your products or how we can benefit from your service. Better yet, answer a common question about what you do, or solve a problem in your video, it will get shared if you’re good.
45) Video Testimonials / Interviews
Better than just you on video ask some satisfied customers to take part in an interview where they talk about you and what you do. This is the best social proof that you don’t suck.
46) Partner With Another Business to Give Away a Prize
Don’t have the money to give away much on your own? How about partnering with a complimentary business to give away a great prize and getting some great advertising for the two of you? Then figure out a way where both of your customers can enter for a chance to win!
47) Sponsor an Event
Cheaper than you think, and sponsoring a local event can really give you a lot for your money.
48) Use Your Friends and Family
Ask friends and family to spread the word about your business.
49) Print a Coupon on the Back of Your Business Card.
People rarely use their business cards as a form of advertising. But if you want to have people remember you, or actually use their service, why not put something on your card to encourage their business…you’re giving those cards out anyway, right?
50) Join and Attend Professional Groups
Join a couple professional groups. These don’t have to be related to your niche, they could be something you want to get better at (such as Toastmasters), or an area of interest. You’ll meet other professionals, and who knows what those contacts will turn into.
51) Newsletter Cross-Promotion
Buddy up with another business and do some cross promotion in your newsletters. Again, you’ll want to be complimentary businesses to each other for this to really work.
52) Do Something Different
Write down everything you and your competitors have in common, then come up with one thing you can do differently than them – then do that.
53) Start an Affiliate Program
Use a service like Shareasale.com to start your own affiliate program. Offer a nice commission and people will be happy to sell your products/services.
54) Ask for Testimonials & Use Them!
Ask for testimonials from existing clients. Good testimonials are perfect for your web page and promotional items. Don’t just ask for testimonials and then let them sit. Put those things on everything you do – website, advertising, handouts, newsletters, etc.
55) Send Promotional Items
Send out invoices to your clients? Why not send them a small promo gift to go along with it? You never know where those pens will end up.
56) Join a Social Networking Site For Business Owners & Entrepreneurs
Here are 40 such networking sites, take a look and find one that suits you and your business. Then get using it.
57) Pull a Publicity Stunt
Are you the creative type? Not shy in front of crowds? Try a memorable, creative, or weird publicity stunt!
58) Hold a Webinar
Creating live, online seminars or webinars is relatively easy these days. Why not hold a webinar relating to your expertise, then promote it as a freebie or special benefit to current customers or to attract new customers?
59) Offer a Guarantee
It’s been shown that guarantees result in more sales. Make an iron clad guarantee, or better yet offer a guarantee that is outlandish and gets noticed…but if ever called on it, be sure you hold up your end of the bargain.
60) Get Reviewed
Use ReviewMe.com to get reviewed.
61) Become an Expert on Q/A Sites
Jump on a Q&A site and be helpful, answer questions related to what you do, become a trusted expert. These should get you going:
62) Donate to a Charity Auction
Charity auctions are constantly in need of things to auction off and raise money with in the process. You’ll feel good about your donation, and get your name out there.
63) Do a Memorable Giveaway
Local tire sellers Les Schwab has a “Free Beef” event every year. Buy tires, and get free beef – what does one have to do with the other? Your guess is as good as mine, but it gets people talking and that has been a very popular sale for many years now.
64) Go to a Trade Show
If you can find one in your niche – great! If not, go and talk to people…you just never know who will need what you sell.
65) Use your 404 Error Page
You know that “404 Error Page” you get on a website when it can’t find what you were looking for? Well, you can customize that page to say whatever you want. So instead of your visitor seeing “Hey sorry you’re lost”, have it say “Sorry you didn’t find what you’re looking for here’s 10% coupon off our services to make up for it”.
66) Surprise Upgrade ala Zappos
Why not “upgrade” a customer out of the blue sometime? Completely make their day, make them feel special, and they will tell everybody they know. It worked for Zappos…
67) Use Your “Thank You” Page
When someone signs up for your online newsletter they are taken to a thank you page. Customize this page to offer them something of value, give them a deal, coupon, whatever – just use the space creatively!
68) Use Someone Else’s “Thank you Page”
Chances are other website owners haven’t thought about using their own thank you page to promote something. Why not offer to buy some add space on their page? It will probably be cheap, and as long as there are some synergies between your businesses it can be effective.
69) Create a Podcast
Podcast can be quick, easy, fun, and FREE to produce. Here’s how to get startedPodcasting
70) SEO Your Website
Making sure your potential clients can find you is important. Take a few minutes to make sure your site is SEO’ed. Here’s 9 tips to get you started.
71) Know you USP
What is your unique selling proposition? You first need to know why people should buy from you. Once you do, you’ll have no problem telling them.
72) Create an Elevator Speech
In 30 seconds or less can you tell me what you do, what makes you special, and why I should care? That’s your elevator speech. Think about how many times you are asked what you do, the better you get at explaining it the more customers you will get – easy as that.
73) Sponsor a Local Youth Team
When I was 6 my soccer team was sponsored by the local Uhaul. Almost 30 years later I still remember that…30 years from now some grown up kids could remember your business, and their parents could have been using your business.
74) Place Google Ads for Influential People You Want to Meet
Do what this guy did to get a job, but replace the names with people you want as clients.
75) Your Turn
Put the 75th idea in our comments below.
Small Business Start-Up Priority #1: Your Office Desk
The Small Business Boom
With all the funding available these days for starting your own business, it is no wonder so many people are choosing to do so. And with so many new businesses around, it is important to ensure that you have the edge it takes to draw a profit in your market. For any business the bottom line is of paramount importance but for a business start-up even more so.
The smart way to surviving and prospering in the early years is by spending the necessary time planning and making smart investments.
Your principal, whether it consists of loans or your own saved cash, is the fuel that will get your business off the ground. The more you invest initially, the longer it will take for you to start turning out profits, but the more properly equipped for success you will be, assuming you plan well.
Your Office Set Up
Most home office set-up investments are used to purchase a few basic things:
A personal computer
An office desk
Peripherals (printers, scanners, extra speakers, fax machines, etc.)
Other job-specific necessities (computer programs, envelopes, etc.)
Of these, the most consistently needed are the first two: a computer and a desk. With the speed at which technology is constantly changing and developing, it is important to know what to look for in a computer, fortunately there is lots of information out there to help you with your PC purchase. Office desks, on the other hand, serve a more basic, less complex function, but there is surprisingly little to be found in the way of advice about this essential purchase, this is what I would like to spend some time on in this article.
When Shopping For an Office Desk
Keep in mind every aspect of your business throughout the process of shopping for your desk. Ideally you need to know how much business you expect to be doing, what the realistic requirements of that business would be, how much time you intend to spend at your desk each day and doing what tasks, and what your relationships with your customers and associates will be like.
A Desk That Speaks Success
Ultimately, the customer is the most important element in the success of any business. The more personable your business appears to your customers, the more likely they will be to choose your product or service.
So of course having an attractive office desk is important where you have a business that requires you to be meeting customers in person on a regular basis. An executive desk may well be your best bet, a Dmi executive desk for instance. Typically a traditional desk in Cherry Veneer, Mahogany or Walnut Veneer will do wonders for your credibility.
Some businesses, however, are run entirely online, and if this is the case then your top priority is that your desk be functional.
You can save a lot of money by buying a more plain-looking contemporary office desk, but which is also packed full of features, like; a hutch, under the desk storage space, grommets for cable management, lateral files, adjustable shelves, keyboard tray and computer tower storage.
The Right Desk for the Job
I reality your choice may not be as clear cut as I have suggested here. That’s to say you may never be receiving customers in your office but you may like to have something that still looks good. There are some nice metal and glass office desks which are inexpensive and offer great functionality.
There is an enormous range of available desks tailored to every imaginable function; in order to know what desk is right for you, you have to make a lot of decisions about what exactly your business is going to do. How extensive will your customer relations be? Will you correspond via email, telephone, fax, conventional mail, or all of these? Will you be shipping packages regularly? How much storage space will you be needing?
Each of these decisions has implications concerning what you will need in a desk, and under-planning by overlooking any of these details can be a costly mistake at worst and a pain in the rear end at best.
Used office desks are not easy to sell, and new ones are not cheap to buy. Make sure you know what equipment besides a personal computer your desk will have to accommodate.
You Know What Desk Is Best for You
While all of these factors are important, there is another overriding one, the way you feel about the desk you are thinking of purchasing. Starting your own businesses is one of the hardest things you can do. If you are serious about doing it without getting burnt out, you need to be satisfied with your work environment. Having the right office desk improves your attitude toward your business, increasing your chances for success.
Finally, because of the long hours required of entrepreneurs, it is important that you find a desk that fits your body type. Injuries related to computer use and other tasks that involve repetitive motions of the hands are no joke. The last thing you need is constant pain holding you back from accomplishing all you are capable of in your market. Take your time and find the right desk for you.
About the Author
Lloyd Burrell is an expert in office desk furniture and other office-related subjects and he is also publisher of the leading office desk review website. Lloyd is British, but currently lives on the West Coast of France with his wife and two children. His hobbies include traveling, enjoying French cuisine and culture, and keeping fit. Whether you are wanting to buy a DMI executive office desk or a ready to assemble office desk, Lloyd can help you find the right product for you.
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7 Ways to Save Big Money When Starting Your Business
Do you think you have a great new business idea? It is easier than ever to start a great company that looks and sounds professional for peanuts. With all the virtual services available today, you do not need many of the things that were traditionally required in years past. And to top it off, some are even free.
There are countless business owners starting companies with very little money and turning them into a multi-million dollar companies years later. Here are some tools and services you can use to help start your adventure.
Business Identity
First things first. Before your business can have any sort of existence, you need a company name, logo and identity. You can have a professional custom logo made for as low as $99 to $149. Thelogocompany.net has an impressive portfolio and are relatively cheap compared to others for how many different mockups you receive. Once you have a logo, you will need some business cards printed. Overnightprints.com will do it for as low as $10.
Office Space
If your business requires a place to conduct your work and meet with clients in a professional atmosphere, the cheapest way is to use what they call executive office suites. You are renting an individual office or room in a building housing a number of other offices all rented to other business owners. Many of them have common amenities such as furniture, phone, Internet, kitchen and meeting rooms. Web sites like readyoffices.com should help you find what is available in your area.
Telephone System
Technology has really improved and help advance telecom systems. Do you want your business to sound like a fortune 500 company with a phone system? You can with a service they call a virtual pbx or phone system. You can have your own toll-free number with an auto attendant. No matter where you are, you can sound professional and stay connected. Companies like grasshopper.com have plans starting at only $10 a month. There is also a service called Google Voice that is fairly cool and free. It allows you to pick a local number that you can have forwarded to as many land lines or cell phones as you want.
Faxing
Buying a fax machine is so 1990 and using a digital or virtual fax service online is so 2010. You can receive faxes and download or have them emailed to you. Faxesanywhere.com is a good choice for only $7.95 a month.
Credit Card Merchant Services
Like most businesses, you may need to accept credit cards as one of your payment methods. If you need this ability, we recommend obtaining a merchant account. This is a professional way to accept credit cards as well as having the most products to choose from to process your cards. Such products can be terminals, Internet gateways, wireless terminals, electronic registers, etc. There are hundreds of processors to choose from including many of your local banks. MerchantMaverick.com is a great review site that has reviewed almost a hundred different processors and should help you find a solid, reliable processor.
Making it Legal
Many businesses should opt to incorporate their business. Forming an LLC has become the most popular option in recent years. It has a lot of benefits over other structure types and is relatively easy to do. You can use a service like legalzoom.com or do it yourself for free. You will still have to pay the state fee regardless of how it is done. To do it yourself, simply go to your Secretary of State’s web site. Follow their instructions on how to file, fill out the articles of organization form and submit the papers. If you are a sole operation, it is not necessary to file the Operating Agreement. This agreement spells out the financial and management rights & responsibilities of the LLC members. You can file this anytime after you form your LLC, but it is recommend to work out the details before hand with any other partners to avoid any agreement issues. You can find templates for this file online for very cheap and even free possibly.
Number Crunching the Easy Way
Hiring someone to do your book keeping can be expensive. You can do it yourself for not very much. There are several online services that charge very reasonable prices, such as outright.com and freshbooks.com. Freeshbooks even has a free plan to get you started.
About the Author: Curtis Stevens is with Gotmerchant.com, a merchant account provider that helps merchants accept credit cards. They also provide ecommerce tips to businesses through their company blog.
Photo Credit: krossbow
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The Top 5 Ways for Small Businesses to Save Money
When starting a small business, it is tempting to go straight for the biggest, best, and newest of everything.
But if you’re like most entrepreneurs, you’re doing this on your own, without the wallet of a big investor or a silent partner to see you through the tough times. That said, you need to save money wherever you can.
And chances are, unless you are offering some sort of specialized technological services, you don’t really need the most expensive new toys on the market.
So, to get started, here are the top five ways you can save when starting a small business.
Computer Equipment
This is an absolute necessity for small businesses nowadays. At the very least, you’ll need to conduct some amount of business online, so you’ll have to have internet access. In addition, you can do all of your bookkeeping via software like QuickBooks or Bookkeeper. However, buying hardware and software for your small business can get very pricey, so to save money, think about searching for something refurbished.
Most computer companies offer older (but still viable) computers at discounted prices. Or if you have to have it new, look into offers from Dell. They have all kinds of cost-effective solutions for small businesses and they will be able to offer more discounts if your business grows.
Ditto on software. It’s natural to gravitate towards known brand names, but less expensive software may do the same job or even fit your business needs better than the high-priced option.
Office Equipment
This could be anything from furniture to the paper in your printer. For starters, skip the stuff at office stores. The furniture is too expensive for the quality you get.
Instead, look at other options like Costco (a business account has other benefits, as well) or estate sales, especially if you’re outfitting a small space. As for office supplies, look online. You’ll pay for shipping, but you’ll probably save a lot on everything else. And buy bulk when you’re able.
Staff
Don’t be too quick to hire on a large staff. You may want to go big right out of the gate, but try to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint.
Cutting head count initially is huge money-saver, and depending on how fast your business grows, you don’t want to have to fire and re-hire. Plus, if you start small, you will not only save on salaries, you’ll also spend less in extras like insurance and bonuses.
Office Space
The same as with head count, you want to start small. Leasing a huge office space is a great way to waste money.
Instead, opt for a smaller space with better visibility and accessibility (if you’re counting on foot traffic, this could be a much wiser use of your funds). And try to start with a short lease in case you do see outrageous growth and need to expand.
Finally, Shop Around
This applies to absolutely every aspect of your business. A little legwork can get you better rates on everything, from phone and internet service to the bagels you bring in on Fridays. As a small-business owner, you can’t afford to throw money around, so take the extra time to make every penny count. In the long run, it could make the difference between whether your business sinks or swims.
Guest post by: Sarah Harris of Zen College Life where you can find accredited online colleges and browse top nursing schools.
Photo Credit: alancleaver_2000
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Why eCapitalism Needs Compelling Content
You’re probably going to groan when you hear the word “Content”. You’re just trying to run a business that happens to have an online presence. You never intended to get into publishing. So why do you need to be concerned about Content?
Your website is up and running. You ticked all the boxes with your web development and design. What about the Content? Have you put much thought into the words for your website?
If your business has an online presence, you are a publisher whether you want to be or not. Compelling Content is now an absolute business necessity. If you neglect this part of your business, you risk getting slaughtered online.
What you need is Content that is both fresh and engaging. And you need a steady stream of it. And this is why:
Fresh….
You need fresh content because visitors and search engines like the fresh stuff. If you serve fresh Content up to Google, you’ll keep the search engine beast happy. It gives users and Google a reason to visit your website regularly. Make sure your fresh Content is an internet virgin and hasn’t been published online before.
Engaging…
You need engaging Content because to make sales online, you need to capture the hearts and minds of your prospective and existing customers. You won’t do this with fresh dull Content. You will do it with fresh engaging Content. Let your business personality shine through. Nobody likes bland.
If your site is stuffed with fresh engaging Content, users and Google will learn to trust you. From there, sales, referrals, backlinks and long term relationships will follow.
Rudyard Kipling wrote “words are… the most powerful drug used by mankind”. Burn this phrase into your mind and apply it to your online business. A business blog is a great way of adding fresh Content to your website on a regular basis.
SEO Content… is that what I need?
So you think keyword-stuffed bland SEO Content will do the trick? Think again. SEO Content which is written primarily for search engines tends not to engage your users. Site visitors and Google don’t like it when you don’t engage your visitors.
When writing or commissioning online Content, focus on who the user is and make sure the Content will add to the User Experience. It’s all about putting your user first. Google advises webmasters to “make pages primarily for users, not for search engines”. Ignore this advice at your peril.
Be good to your Content and it will be good to you
Most small businesses don’t yet realise the power of compelling Content. Now is your chance to stay ahead of the game by paying attention to this element of your online business.
If you have the skills in-house to write quality content, consider yourself lucky. If you don’t have the skills, outsource the task. Don’t cut corners with your Content. It’s a false economy. If you treat Content as an afterthought, expect to pay the price.
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About the Author: Witto is the boss at The Wittery®, The Witty Writer Marketplace. His mission is to connect businesses with pre-screened freelance writers who will write fresh witty content to order. You’ll find him and his tribe at TheWittery.com. He leaves the funny business to the witty writers.
Photo Credit: chrisdlugosz
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Turning Frowns Upside Down Zappos Style
Admit it…at one point in time we’ve all not met our customers needs.
A change in the way we do business, a product we just can’t offer anymore, or a delivery time that is less than stellar has left them with a frown on their face.
Can You Turn a Negative to a Positive?
But what if we could take these negatives, and turn them in to long term positives for our customers, essentially turning their frown upside down?
Let me give you a story to illustrate a point, I’ll leave it to you to decide if you can do something similar in your own business.
The Story
A couple weeks ago was my birthday and my mother in law sends me a Zappos gift card – score one for mom in law! I’m not a big shoe shopper, but when I do I use Zappos.
So, I’m looking for a pair of “dress sandals” since summer’s coming (guys, you know what I’m talking about – those are the sandals we wear for nice occasions, weddings and such. Ladies – you’d still just call them sandals). Anyway, I find a pair I like, click “buy” and all is well.
Later that night I get an email from Zappos saying “Congratulations, your order has been upgraded to overnight shipping for FREE!”
Yahoo! I’m excited I’ll be getting my sandals quick, and I feel rather special my order was upgraded for FREE!
…then it dawned on me.
Not that long ago, free overnight shipping, both ways, was standard at Zappos. And here I am a short while later getting excited over something they took away from me, and now selectively give back once in a while.
Anybody else see the brilliance in this?
They had to change the way they did business, and no longer could guarantee me overnight shipping both ways unless I paid a little more for it. Think about that, that is a HUGE negative for the customer. That free overnight shipping is the reason why many people shopped with them, and (along with stellar service) was the “thing” they were known for.
I don’t know how many orders get upgraded, 50% maybe? But what Zappos did was brilliant. They took a service that was once standard, eliminated it, then selectively gave it back to customers and made them feel special.
Possibly Value Adding In Process
When something becomes “standard”, it is then the new normal. So while Zappos built a brand around customer service and overnight shipping, after a while that was the normal for them – it was expected. What they’ve done now is brought back the value in overnight shipping, while increasing customer satisfaction.
Conclusion
Business is still booming some two years after the free overnight shipping went away. Customers still rave about the service. And now people talk about how cool they feel when they win the overnight shipping lottery and get their dress sandals 3 days quicker than they bargained for.
Think it was a coincidence that a company built around customer service figured this out and turned their biggest negative into a positive? I’m betting my new pair of dress sandals it’s not.
Photo Credit: Phil W Shirley
Three Keys to Startup Success
Once the lightbulb turns on, there is no stopping a determined entrepreneur. He works diligently, night and day, to outline the business plan, the product plan and brainstorms how to find funding. He bursts with excitement when telling others about his great idea, and quickly gets his business off the ground and headed toward startup business success.
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What’s missing from the scenario above? If you answered “everything in the middle” you’d be right. Within any startup business, there are many factors that go into ensuring business success. Each of these ingredients can be brought together to build one, solid business foundation to grow the success of the business as a whole.
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Assuming you already have a strong product or service offering and you have the resources to start the business, there are 3 key ingredients that can mean the success or failure of the business recipe: The Right People, The Right Tools and The Right Energy.
The Right People
Having the right people in your business is huge! When hiring a team to help bring your business increased success, make sure they have the following:
- A can-do attitude
- A roll-up-your-sleeves mentality
- The brains to improve the business and processes
- The guts to take chances
- The desire to succeed
This might seem like a lot to ask, but if you don’t see these traits in the people you are interviewing, do not hire them. It will cost you time, money and energy just to find out that the decision to bring them on board was a bad one.
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However, if you hire people who exemplify the traits above, you have just scored yourself a big win. These team members will work hard for you, will be dedicated to the business and the product and will bring your team forward toward greater business success.
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You can’t take chances here. Make sure you hire the right people right off the bat and watch how they help shape your business for the better.
The Right Tools
It’s no longer enough to give your employees a computer, a phone, an email address, a desk and chair and expect them to work efficiently. You now need to give them access to the right tools with which to communicate, stay organized and keep on task.
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How do you prefer to communicate with others in your business? Is email working as well as you’d like? My guess is probably not. Outline communication processes and look for online solutions that facilitate greater communication and collaboration. Social media-like services mixed with instant messaging and communication storage can greatly increase the outcome of each online conversation, and bring team members together.
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Find easy online solutions to store business documents, customer files and training information as well. And try to keep all this organized in the same system in which you manage work. Scheduling tasks, managing projects and organizing work with documents and communications only increases the efficiency of the work tools you use, and you will love the way it easily brings people and work together.
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Giving your team access to these types of solutions will start them off on the right foot and increase their ability to stay organized, on task and increase successful business communications.
The Right Energy
Startups thrive off of the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of their people. It takes a lot of nights and weekends to make a startup business successful, and without the right energy in your team and your business, that work either won’t get done or won’t be of high quality.
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So how do you keep the people in your business energized and excited to tackle the work at hand? Here are a few tips to do just that:
- Work together
- Stay organized
- Celebrate success
- Have fun
Building up the positive energy in your team and showing them the fruits of their labor can dramatically increase their desire to continue working and to put forth the effort it takes to increase your startup success.
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By ensuring you are including the right people, tools and energy in your startup, you are virtually guaranteeing yourself great business success. So roll up your sleeves, get to work and watch your business turn into something great!
About the Author: Dana Larson is the Marketing and Community Manager at OnePlace, an online business collaboration and organization solution that increases the effectiveness of business communications and team productivity.
A smart and outgoing gal, Dana and the rest of the OnePlace team blog regularly about team collaboration, business techniques and productivity solutions at http://blog.oneplacehome.com
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Photo Credit: otodo
5 Survival Tips for Today’s Savvy Entrepreneur
My joy was short lived. After waiting about a month for a client to pay me on a (5 day net) creative project, the check came in the mail. I did the “happy dance” ‘til I was dizzy!
Getting paid would allow me to catch up on some of my obligations as a small business owner myself, already struggling in a struggling economy.
I began to figure out my bills and hope for a few left over dollars to do a
mini-splurge at the local thrift store.
Before the ink could dry on the check, the client contacted me. She asked me not to cash it, as the funds would not “officially” be available for another week due to an unanticipated emergency. Needless to say, I was shocked and devastated.
The check was already late, and based upon my income projections, I promised to pay several of my vendors. Her not honoring her word prevented me from honoring mine. And unfortunately, it wasn’t the first time.
Not long before that, a publisher with whom I had enjoyed a long-term business relationship, came down with a bad bout of the flu, and extended his apologies for not being able to issue checks because he was bed-ridden for two weeks.
Life happens. That goes without saying. But just because you’re a “small” business owner doesn’t mean you should be “small time” in the way you conduct your business or handle crisis management. In fact, you should be more prepared for mishaps due to fewer resources. The buck stops with you!
Not providing for “the worst case scenario” can cause irreparable damage and affect your ability to compete with larger businesses; ultimately costing you in terms of customer loyalty, client confidence, and bottom line objectives.
After all, folks figure if you can’t handle your business challenges, why should they trust you with theirs?
Whether you manage a staff of one or 91, here are a few business practices you should employ to cover your assets and protect your bottom line.
EXPECT THE BEST BUT PREPARE FOR THE WORST
Do you have a back up if your files are destroyed on your hard drive? Do you have systems and people in place if you become ill or need to take a vacation? Are your records well kept if someone needs to temporarily assume your duties, or establish a paper trail of your activities? Could your business recover if you lost a key client? These are all points to consider in your strategic planning. Always have a plan B.
HAVE AN EMERGENCY FUND
“Save for a rainy day” has become more than a cliché; in today’s economic climate it’s as crucial as a commandment! Experts differ in the exact amount an “emergency fund” constitutes—some say the equivalent of three months salary, others advise six months. Apply it to your individual lifestyle and circumstances, then act accordingly. Today.
EMPOWER YOUR STAFF
Hire competent people and give them the training and resources to act independently in resolving small customer issues. Assigning them responsibility and accountability helps them to develop personally and professionally, and improves the efficiency of your organization. Understaffed? Hire an intern.
ESTABLISH SUPPORTIVE ALLIANCES
Don’t perceive all your peers as a competitive threat. Seek out owners with whom you have a compatible work ethic and similar visions and values, and find ways to enhance each other. This can be accomplished through online groups or networking associations dedicated to your particular field or trade.
HONOR YOUR WORD
Many small business owners go to great lengths to overcome perception issues and convey a professional image. They invest in elaborate web sites, purchase fancy business cards, and go the whole nine yards to recruit clients and impress associates. But all these measures can be in vain if they establish a reputation of repeatedly not honoring their word– whether it’s to a client, a vendor, a business partner, or employee. Never over promise and under deliver. Don’t say one thing and do another. Always strive to keep your end of the bargain because ultimately your livelihood affects others.
Follow these five tips and you’ll successfully navigate the many “obstacle courses” that come with owning a small business, and you’ll breathe easier too.
About the Author: Jennifer Brown Banks is a veteran freelance writer who teaches at Coffeehouseforwriters.com and blogs at Bloggingpro.com
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Photo Credit: eflon
8 Ways Small Businesses Can Use Twitter Effectively
Social networking can help a small business making more money. While having customers as friends on Facebook is great, Twitter is a tool that should not be overlooked.
8 great ways a small business can implement Twitter to increase profits are:
1. Growing Customer Relations
Being in business is all about people. Without them, there is no company to run. This is what makes Twitter so great. When people Tweet you and you them, they feel closer to you and your business leading them to your door because of the new personal relationship.
People like doing business with people they know.
2. Promoting Sales
Rather than let a stock item go bad and end up in the spoilage bin a message on Twitter might bring in some excited customers who would love to buy something at half price that they are going to buy anyway.
3. Getting the Word out About a new Product or Service
When something new and exciting comes in some people miss out on it. This is lost revenue that could be taken in as a result of building a relationship with clients through Twitter. Simply saying “Limited time new coconut M&M’s in stock” can go a long way compared to leaving coconut candy lovers out in the cold.
4. Special Offers Only to Those who Tweet
Twitter customers can become part of a special class of clientele. For example, you can Tweet to your customers “Bring this Tweet in for a free Father’s Day coffee.” Customers who see it will be there because they love free stuff, and those in the store who see it will want to be in on the special promotions as well.
5. Directing Customers to Product Reviews
When a new product comes into the store, business owners can sell them to customers by writing a review on their blogs. If customers like what they see they will either buy it from you or they can buy it through Amazon.com, which you can affiliate with to retain some of the profits.
This will result in satisfied customers to be very satisfied with you as their consumer advocate. Not only did you direct them to a product that you sell, but you offered them an online alternative to purchase it. The result is them saving money on the product and time by not having to go out to get it.
6. Cheap R&D
One thing businesses cannot often afford early in the game is research and development. The great thing about a small business, especially if it is local, is that owners and managers can use Twitter to gather information about customers likes and dislikes.
A gas station owner, for example, can ask his Twitter network, “do u like or dislike a full service pump option?” Some customers will reply that they like it in inclement weather, or that they do not like that it costs more at the pump and then they feel as though they have to tip the attendant. This feedback can be invaluable to the success of a business.
7. Special Customer Announcements
When a customer has a big event they may want to get the word out. You can offer free announcements to those on the network. This can be very exciting for those who get accepted into law school or want people to know they’ll be playing a concert at the park.
And when these people see that you care enough about them to help them get the word out, they’ll be loyal customers for life.
8. Promoting Worthy Causes
The best thing about influence is that it can be harnessed for good things. A compassionate capitalist will care about his community and support worthy causes in it. Simple Tweets like “Breast Cancer Walk Sunday, 9:00″ can go a long way in helping others and growing one’s business.
About the Author: Melissa Tamura writes about online degrees for Zen College Life. She most recently ranked the best psychology schools.
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