5 Ways To Post About Your Business Without Talking About Your Business

How do you talk about your business in daily online postings without appearing to be selling, advertising, simply trying to push people into doing business with you?

How can I post about my business, but mix it up.  Make my postings be related to my business but be more interesting and not all sound the same?

These are questions I get asked quite frequently.  And there are so many answers.  There are literally  unlimited ways to post about your business comfortably AND in a variety of "original" interesting ways.

Here are just 5 ways for you to post about your business without talking about your business:

1. Share your  industry news with readers.
    Readers will see these posts and connect you to your industry.  For "new" connections it's a first step for them to associate you to your industry and for  your "regulars" it is a show of your professionalism and being on top of your game.  The Pulse section of LinkedIn is a great place to find up to date industry news and of course, Google is king!  Keep your eyes on the news in general and if there is any connection between the world/local news and your industry ...post about that! 
2. Share your "value."
   Talk about what your business provides without mentioning your business products and services. For example, for a business that sells boats;  A post could be as simple as -  "The value of a day out on the water!  All the worries of the office are gone! "  OR you could use a story format such as,
   "Picture this! You've had a hectic week in the office. It's Friday and you're heading down to the docks to board your boat just in time to unwind with a beautiful view of the sunset. A few friends come by to visit and you all go for an evening sail.  The cares of the work week are gone.  Let the weekend begin!"  Share you VALUE ... no business talk.
3. Share client stories.
   This is similar to the above but in this case, you would generically use a client story to share the "value" they received and are experiencing.  A popular format is "Before and After."  For example your post might be:  "Just heard wonderful news from a Mom who brought us her teenage daughter several months ago. Before:  Shy, Reserved, Uncomfortable about her skin.   After & NOW:  Confident, Lively & Engaging, Comfortable with herself.  Love contributing to these changes!"   No mention of products and services.  You are just sharing results. 
4.  Share Photos!
   One more about value using photos.  Photos are worth 1,000 words, right? Post images/photos that present what is received via your business offerings.   If you provide business loans, show photos of an investment property.  If you provide relaxation, show a photo of a beautiful mountain stream or someone just being happy! If you provide energy, show a photo of a runner, a mom running with her kids, and so on. You might add "your own" quote on some and leave some plain.   NOTE: A fun idea; create a story over several posts via several photos!!  Remember to number them though. Also .. try taking local "real" photos vs stock photos.  Be original.
5.  Talk about community activities.
   Promote and share what is going on where you live.  It works for local business but it is also great for national and international audiences. The activities you share can be a common denominator with people and ignite a "reach-out" to you!  Talk about your involvement OR just that something is happening.  It adds a nice dimension to your online presence both personally and business wise.

Hope these 5 ideas will give you some new energy and direction for your posting success.  Include them into a "mix" of types of postings.  You must still include postings that make a connection between a reader's needs and you solutions .. .postings that lead your buyers through the states of attract, connect, engage, and convert.

Today's Way has a variety of ways of helping businesses create effective postings that reach out and connect with buyers.  Postings that talk about one's business without talking about your business and also learning how to create posts that sell with out selling.  Know how to lead your clients to you.  If you would like to know more, schedule  a complementary conversation from available times on my calendar this coming Monday & Tuesday.  Click Here to schedule!
Enjoy your online posting!
margie hanson
www.todaysway.net

7 Ideas For "What To Talk About" In Online Business Postings!

Are you one of many out there who can never think of what to talk about in your online business postings?  It is probably the one factor that makes people "think" social media takes too much time ... they never know what to say!  
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The fact is there is so very much for you to share as business people!  There are endless thoughts, types of information, news, insights, etc available to you. There is absolutely no reason to ever suffer from writer's block.   

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Here are 7 ideas for "what to talk about" in your online postings.  Take them to heart and they will propel you into an endless generation of awesome business postings.  Postings that will attract, connect and convert your readers into clients. Postings that help you grow your business! 

1. Your Industry.
   Google "what's new" in your industry.  Or maybe you already know from other sources.  Share a specific about what is happening within your business world .... a statistic, an announcement, any happening that will let readers know about "your world."  This type of posting is great for attracting potential prospects to your "world"... what your business cares about ~ the success stories of your industry .. your purpose.
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2. Community Reach-Out
   Another great way to "attract" but also "connect" with new prospects.  Many a business relationship was born because of shared community interests ... products and services followed. Talk about how your business is involved with community activities .. what are you supporting,  participating in, donating to etc.  Be appreciative of being a part of a cause. Show a caring for those the cause or community event is supporting, etc.
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   You can also just let people know what is happening!  Yes, it can be that simple. For example, just share that it is National Wear Red Day and explain what that means! Or locally that there is a eco-drive at a school on a certain date coming soon. People love to know what you "care" about! 
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3. Products & Services
   This, for some reason, seems to be so difficult for people to know where to begin. To cut through the overwhelm, try this tip.  Write on a piece of paper just "one" item that you sell, product or service. Next to it write 3-5 different demographics that purchase it. Next to each demographic write WHY they buy it ... what are they "getting" via your product/service. Let's use a sailboat for example. Sailboats are bought by  single men,  sailing enthusiasts, and families. Single men buy to impress dates; sailing enthusiasts buy to race; families buy for convenient weekend vacations!   Do this for everything you offer .. individually and in packaged offers. You will be buried in posting ideas for attracting, connecting and converting!
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4. Tell A Story
   
   Everyone loves a story.  Can't think of one?  Again, think of something your offer BUT don't think of it via your mind.  Focus on your "heart" as you think about it.  Bet you'll remember something touching, an experience, or a happening that you can turn into a story.  It doesn't have to be long. Actually the shorter the better. Just three sentences will do it .. include a beginning, the message, and an ending~  You're done! 
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5. Your Clients
   
   Who loves what you offer?  Talk about them! People love to see where they "fit" so talking about who purchases and uses what you offer is a great way to "attract" and "connect!"    You can't always talk about what you give, so mix it up by talking about who likes to receive and benefit from your business. 
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6. The History Of What You Offer
   
   Everything has a beginning.  Where and how did what your offer begin?  What made what you offer happen?  Even services have a "birth" .. by you, by the industry, by users, etc.  Talk about it!  It's great information to deepen relationships and it's also usually interesting information to read! 
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7. What People Say!
   
   Testimonials can be great to share in a posting!  Ones that refer to specific results with what you offer are the best.  Always introduce them though so that readers don't think you are the one giving your own business all the praise.  Remember, your buyers are your best sales people. 

Did you think there could be so much to talk about in your your online postings? Just remember to pick specifics in all cases. Don't try to cover it all in one post. Spread it out. Your audience is huge .. there is time to cover it all.  
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Hope this posting helps you go forward to attract, connect and convert readers into lots of new buyers for your business, keeping it growing and blooming! Helping businesses create effective online postings is part of what we do here at Today's Way.  Contact us for a customized program to help you with your online postings. 

Keep Your Business Garden Growing, 
margie
www.todaysway.net

How Did You Name Your Business? Some Food For Thought.

How did you name your business?  Did you choose a name to make a statement, have an energy of its own?  Did you intend it  to be a reflection, a symbol or perhaps send a message?
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There can be a lot to think about when choosing a name for one’s business and sometimes the names just come easily! You usually begin with some kind of “starting” principle or point of reference,  just as you do when naming a baby or even a pet!  But then what happens?
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Let’s look at a few major companies and how they chose their names:

MacDonalds -  rather simplistic.  The originators were Dick and Mac McDonald. Their first go round was as McDonald’s BBQ but realizing they sold more hamburgers than anything else they changed to just selling burgers and simplified their name to McDonald’s!  They put 2 golden arches over the stand to attract people driving by!  

Cisco Systems -  The founders, employed at Stanford,,  were driving by Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco  and realizing their newly invented product would make a huge advancement in the “bridging and compatibility” of data connections,  immediately grabbed onto the name “cisco” ( short for San Francisco) and their logo was created, patterned after the San Francisco bridge.
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Nike  -  Nike takes its name from Nike (Greek Νίκη, pronounced [nǐːkɛː]), the Greek goddess of victory. The swoosh logo was the result of a designer sketching multiple “marks’ … the swoosh being the one chosen by Nike. Some people say  it symbolizes a simulation of the greek goddess Nike’s flight
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All very interesting.   And,   I bet all of you are extremely familiar and probably even customers of each of these businesses and never even thought about the origin of their names.  You simply know them for what they do and what they contribute! Very normal to think that way, which leads me to asking, "what is it that happened between the naming of each business and what their names mean today?" 
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Think you have to say their names are still in sync with why they were given their names, even as they  have grown and expanded their market share and customer visibility. They have each been successful in staying true to the original intention of their names …  with a slight tweaking by McDonalds. And therefore they each carry an essence that comes at the very mention of their names. There is really no need or reason to go back and discover where or how their names evolved. There is no gap that creates the curiosity to wonder where did "that" name come from?  It just "is" even when it might not make obvious sense.
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My question for all of us to ponder is, “are we doing this with our businesses?  Are we developing and deepening the soul and essence, of our businesses?  Are we keeping the original intention of our business name in mind as we grow and expand  - creating a deep footprint?   You might be asking, “are you referring to branding?”    Yes, that is part of it but it goes beyond branding.  It speaks to the purpose and goals you create that lead to your branding. Hope that makes sense.
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Let’s turn to you and your own "personal" name.  If you look in the mirror could you see yourself as the holder of any other name?  At this point in your life, would it fit?  Would it work?    Try the same exercise with your business name. Could your change your business name today?  Would another name fit at this point? Would it work? 
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If you said no to the ability to change your business name at this point, you are most likely in sync.  If you said yes,  take some time to think about your business before renaming.  Maybe the name is good and you just need more focus on your business activity.  On the other hand, maybe a name change is a good thing to do!  Look at what McDonalds did as they simplified to just serving hamburgers.
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It’s not for anyone to say a business name is good or bad.  It’s what the business name  represents that makes the statement.   What it portrays to people  when they hear it and "that" comes with what you do under your business name.
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Going back to the 3 businesses mentioned above, each of their names represent today a true essence of their beginnings … but what people see today at the mention of each of these business names goes way beyond  when the names were originally assigned. The San Francisco reference for "cisco" is lost to many, but the intention of "connecting" is as strong as can be!  How many people  know there is a goddess named Nike? But - Nike products are worn by those out there in the sports field who experience "victory" and are chosen by many a weekend warrior for that reason.

Lots to think about with your business name -- when you create it and as you develop and expand your business.  Just giving you some food for thought!  Enjoy!

Keep Your Business Garden Growing,
margie
www.todaysway.net

Linkedin's New "Profile" Feature - "Relationship"

Have you gone into your Linkedin Directory lately and seen what's new on the profile pages of your connections?

There's a fun, but also very useful, new feature with which you can assign all sorts of information to your connections!  You can find it by going to your directory and bringing up the profile page of any random connection you have.  Underneath their profile image you will see two tabs ... 1) "Contact Info" which has always been there, and 2) "Relationship" - the new feature!

Think you'll find it very robust. Using will enable you to see when you last contacted someone in your network and you can even add notes, set a reminder and jot down other useful information.

When you click on "Relationship" several options immediately appear for your use:

1. Notes - here you can enter any info you like!  No one can see it but you. 
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2. Reminder -  this feature makes it easy for you to stay connected with your network. You can type in what you need to remember and then choose to have an alert sent to you in one day, one week, one month or even set up recurring reminders!
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3. How You Met - Store the details of how, when and where you met your connections and who, if anyone, introduced you. Great for putting who may have introduced you or who you had in common when you first met. 
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4. Tag -  Assign any category you desire to your connection.  You may later do a search by the tags that you create as you build your communications with the members of your network.

What do you think? Would love you to share ideas you may have for its use?  Just leave a comment below.  My favorite  part is the "tag" capability.  Love to see how my network builds out by interest and types of businesses! The "tag" feature will let me do that!   Again, let me know what you like best!

Keep your business garden growing ...
margie
www.todaysway.net

5 Marketing Ideas For The 5 Final Weeks Of 2014

Wow ...

Can you believe there are only 5 full work weeks left in 2014 and that includes this week?   It's true, and with that you have to look at the marketing opportunities, of course!

The abruptness of it all hit me while having my morning coffee, but  taking pen in hand, here are 5 marketing ideas that came to mind.

1. Implement A "Drip Marketing" Campaign.
   Wikipedia defines drip marketing as a communication strategy that sends, or "drips," a pre-written set of messages to customers or prospects over time, usually via email.  Sounds perfect at this time of year for those who deal with healthy eating, exercise, finances, relaxation, psychology, travel, etc.  Create a "drip" campaign that will guide your prospects and clients through the holiday season as appropriate for your industry.
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2. Create A Gift Certificate or Shopping Coupon
   Most people think "retail" when gift certificates and/or coupons are mentioned. If you are a retailer, make sure you have your own gift certificate/coupon for year round use, but also become creative for the holidays.  See if you can partner with an associated business for a package gift certificate/coupon that will make both or you (or as many businesses as you include) more successful and attractive than going solo.
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   Gift certificates and/or coupons are also very useful for professional service providers.  Given the number of entrepreneurs that exist today,  the gift of a  coaching session, tax appointment, even a small insurance policy or stock certificate could be welcomed with open arms!   Think of what you might be able to put together that would work for  the recipient of the gift and how the gift might introduce your services to both the recipient and the gift giver for ongoing business.
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3. Gather Email Addresses
   No matter what type of business you are in, gather everyone's email address all the time.. Retailers, it just comes naturally with every purchase you receive, but even more so during the holidays.  So easy to ask to use for follow-up, special dates, anniversary/birthday reminders, refills, new items etc.  For everyone else the holidays make it much easier to ask for one's email address just because it's the holidays!  Say you want  to include them on your holiday mailing list. At the same time ask if you can also stay in touch with them throughout the year, via email. A very easy way to get permission!!  
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4. Share Your Favorite Non-Profits.
   People love good things!  The holiday season is a perfect time to let people know what your favorite non-profits do and for you to tell your story about why you support them.  It will strengthen your bond all the way around and also help your favorite non-profits.  Love and goodwill ... sounds like the holidays to me!
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5. Review Your 2014 Marketing Strengths and Weaknesses
   Grab a cup of coffee or glass of wine and review your business over the past year;. What were your strongest marketing efforts and what were your weakest.  What will you let go of and what do you want to work on. Use your best and your worse to carve out your marketing direction for 2015.  Now is the perfect time for getting all your thoughts together. Come January, you'll be too busy!! 

Hope some of these look enticing to you and will propel you forward during these last five weeks! You are welcome to add some more of your own. Please do!

In the mean time,
Keep your business garden growing ....
margie
www.todaysway.net

How Easy Is Writing Online For You? Do You Feel Like Yourself?

Writing online can be intimidating.  You are speaking to an individual reader multiplied by many, many, many more!  It's a very intimate connection to a huge audience!  Simply like nothing else you've ever experienced!

It's no wonder that many find it difficult to be just "themselves' when writing online.  It's a skill that definitely does not come naturally to many, yet, the more natural you can be via your online communications, the more opportunity you have for creating online relationships that trust you and believe in you.  

Let's just look at writing.

• When we write it's just us speaking so it's very easy to come across as talking "to" people.  But. that doesn't work so well online.  You can get by, but it's not the ideal for maximizing your opportunities. 
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• Also, when we write, it's easy to talk about yourself and write from your very own perspective. That doesn't work so well online either. Your writing style appears to be a presentation, possibly staged, cold,  resembling a term paper or research report ... definitely not authentic nor natural.

Looking back at my own experience, one of my favorite ways to get away from these more stilted ways of writing was to pretend there was a person sitting with me at my desk.  I would speak out loud to this invisible person and write the way I spoke.. This worked really well.. 
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Next what I worked on was my online personality or style. That meant, to me, defining my perspective about my writing. I established in my mind my ongoing audience, who was in it, and what were their interests.  With this defined I could then "share" what I was writing with this invisible audience.  I could imagine their questions, ask my own questions, and achieve somewhat of an intimate ongoing natural conversational style.  

What it took to perfect and cement my own natural style was a daily blogging just to myself!     I committed myself to 30 days of blogging, just to me.  By the end of the 30 days both ideas and my writing were flowing.   Am also happy to say that was more than 3 years ago and all is still good! At least, I hope you'll agree!

Whether you do it my way or via a way of your own, do find your own natural style. Being natural allows more value to come from what you write.  You show more interest in serving and helping your readers.  You are sharing.  You are "with" your audience.
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Some of what we do at today's Way is to help people be more natural in their online writing.  If you think this is a challenge for you, think about getting yourself some help.  Very few can change their style overnight.  Your first step is to consciously want it and then step 2 - do it.  Practice will make your perfect ... and natural!
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Let me know your thoughts.  Leave a comment with your experience!

In the mean time ..
Keep your business garden growing!
margie

www.todaysway.net