Can You Create A Diagram Of Your Online Marketing Strategy?

Hi everyone ...

If you were asked to sketch a diagram of your online marketing strategy could you do it? 

If yes .. congratulations!  You "know" what you are doing or worse case, you know what you are "trying" to do with your online business activities. 

If no .... you are not alone.  It's not a good thing to be in this situation, but again ... most business owners have no idea of how to even begin diagramming their online activities.  When I ponder as to why this is, I come up with too much, too fast!  

Websites grew on businesses very slowly.  It took a while for businesses to know why they needed a website and what they would use one for.  Many businesses dived in with one before they had a clue why, but it all sorted out.  I would say that now, 10 -12 years later,  the majority of business owners with websites know WHY they have one and what it is used for. 

One-to-One email grew with more and more popularity. Believe it or not, it wasn't "that" long ago that you had to ask business owners if they had an email address, let alone what their email address was.  But slowly "all" got in sync with the shift to email and here we are today with email often the preference over the phone and our US Postal system going bankrupt!! 

Newsletters became the next popular resource. Newsletters require ongoing work by users so were implemented by fewer. For a long time it was the one "optional online resource" with the website and 1-to-1 email being "must haves!" 

BUT THEN ... the blog got brought back to life (blogging was actually the very 1st resource, but that's another posting!) .. and with that micro-blogging was born with twitter being the most well-known example of micro-blogging.  Social networks began to bloom,  Fast Pitch was my 1st ( long before facebook was a twinkle) and we all remember My Space (enjoying a rebirth of sorts lately)  and oh soooooooooooooooooo many more sites!  They all were created with or adapted themselves into having a micro-blog feed. 

All of a sudden chaos!  What was a controlled implementation of online resources became an onslaught!  Could they all be useful? If so, can I choose some? Do I need all? How do I use them?  Do I have time?  and so many more questions, confusion, and lost direction surrounded us!

The answer to all of this is different for each and every business out there!  Even if a selection of businesses are benefited by the same selection of resources, their individual use of each resource could vary in large degrees.   Does this make it easier or harder?  Probably more time and attention up front but then easy sailing into all the new and expansive opportunities online marketing brings to all businesses!
The key to the success of all of it is the "basic communication" that occurs on or via chosen resources.  1-to-1 email and newsletters brought the term CRM (customer relationship management) to the front of marketing objectives.  The internet could collect user interests and buying habits .. the computer could store and sort the gathered information ... the basic seeds to grow solid business relationships were able to be planted.  Online communication resources are today the fertilizer and water to have those seeds grow into solid, trusting and loyal customers for new, repeat and referral business.  I often tell business owners to look at online resources as employees and "hire" them accordingly by job description! 

Do you agree? What are your thoughts? Please share.  

Also know, if you need some help making a diagram of what you are using, that's what I do! I help businesses sort it out and come up with what's best for you! 

From, 

Keep Your Business Garden Growing! 

How To Make A Transition To A WordPress Blog or Website!

 
Hello ...

Once you know "if" WordPress is for you, what's the next step to take? 

Making a transition to WordPress deserves serious thought as the entire direction of your online presence will at some point be supported by a content management interactive hub.  It is the way the online world is headed for a multitude of good reasons! One major reason is the ability to have up-to-date information immediately available for your prospects and clients! A bit of a competitive "must" .. yes?

Right now the proven leader for an easy to use content management system is WordPress.  It's an excellent platform to implement and will serve you well.

So where do you begin? 

STEP 1: GRASPING THE CONCEPT
The best first step, from my experience, is to understand the WordPress platform.  The end result of a WordPress product can look pretty similar to a traditional newsletter and/or website.  However the "behind-the-scenes" - the how, where and why content is applied within the platform is a bit different and is what makes all the difference!

A kaleidoscope is a great analogy to what happens on a WordPress platform. Do you remember playing with one?  Watching all those different shapes of colors of glass rearrange themselves and take on different looks based upon "reflections from internal mirrors." 

In WordPress, the individual pieces of your business content and the pieces of the WordPress platform become the pieces of colored glass. It can appear in different ways for different types of buyers in different sections of your blog/website as the season, month and time of day changes!!!  AND ... you get to do all this yourself .. without having to pay your web person!

For some of you, the above example might be a "stretch" .. but it gives you at a minimum the right mindset to continue. 

STEP 2: IDENTIFYING YOUR COMMUNICATIONS   
Once you have an understanding of the dynamics, you need to put your basics (the pieces of your business) on paper. It's the same exercise I have my clients do with a traditional website, blog or any communication.  Who are you talking to? How many different types of people do you talk to? What actions do you want these readers to take?  What do you offer, what information is needed, to make them take those actions?  What are the different "seller to buyer" types of connections that will be required?

If you want to go slow you might want to pick just one segment of your business for the above exercise.  Once these elements are identified  you will want to think about how many different combinations, sorts, tallies, etc you will want to create from all your pieces. Again, what are the different "seller to buyer" types of communications that will be required?  Get that nailed and you can move onto setting up your WordPress structure.

STEP 3: CREATING THE STRUCTURE
WordPress Themes are the heart and soul of your structure.  They provide the basic components that will support the presentation of all your different seller to buyer communications identified in step #2. Themes all do different things and have to be chosen carefully. You do not want to be restricted by a theme and not be able to maximize your communications! 

Within each theme, you create the pages of your WordPress blog and/or website. Each page (or communication) will have a different purpose. Which pages have postings? Which are static? Which are both? Where on each page do you want a sidebar? What type of "widgit" will support the type of info you want in a sidebar?  What type of "sorting" of data do you need to give access to (archives, categories, etc)? Are any plug-ins necessary for supporting your varieties of content and/or coding,... and so on. 

One very practical part of a theme is if you outgrow a beginning theme you can just change the theme and your content will find their respective home immediately on the new theme!  It is a transparent transfer!!

Most people require some instruction on the above components of the
WordPress structure.  Some components are pretty self-evident but not all. A good place to "play around" to get familiar before you get serious is on www.Wordpress.com.  Activate a free WordPress blog on the WordPress servers and play!! 

STEP 4: GOING FORWARD WITH YOUR BUSINESS
Transitioning your business to a WordPress platform can be done in different ways. It depends mostly upon your schedule, the amount of content, the timing, the desire, the ability and sometimes the budget!

Some people begin with a WordPress blog. Over time the blog is expanded and enhanced and before one knows.... they have a WordPress website. Anyone who begins this way is more apt to apply self-instruction! Not necessary as there is always instruction available, but often the case. There is a chance of missing some core capabilities if you are on a novice level.

Other people are ready to create a WordPress website immediately.  There are many free themes available to use. However if you go this route of creating a website, let me recommend you invest in a custom designed theme. Get the layout, components, functionality, colors and other that you need for your unique branding and communications. Todays Way offers this service so make sure you speak with us before going forward without!

Know that Today's Way is here to help you with your transition, of any kind.  Don't let yourself be left behind. On your own or with our help, go to www.wordpress.com for free themes and hosting.  You can also go to www.wordpress.org  for themes to install on a private web-hosted wordpress program.  If you already pay for web hosting there is a huge chance that you have Wordpress already sitting there waiting for you to activate.

Visualize that kaleidoscope I previously mentioned and place your business communications inside of it. How great would it be to have the pieces of your business that were just presented to buyer A  be able to appear for  buyer B with just a click. As long as you submit your content to the platform  ... you, yourself, can make all the updates, changes, and additions to your WordPress platform that will achieve this and more!

Structure, step #3,  may require some assistance and I strongly suggest that you do get help in understanding "structure."  It is your driver's license for  driving your business forward into 2012. Well worth any investment

Check out my current Special on "all" of my trainings .. Back To School For Business Owners!  There is a training listed for creating a WordPress blog for $110.  90 minutes plus a 30 minute follow-up call.  Don't miss out!

Keep Your Business Growing!
margie

Who? What? Which? When? How? Got Online Overwhelm?

Ever find yourself looking at a new online resource and asking ... Who? What? Which? When? How? Happens to a lot of people as they get introduced to yet one more online resource that will solve all their online marketing problems.

The good news is that online overwhelm can be easy to solve. Believe it or not the core elements for marketing and selling online are the same as the traditional roles we all know so well - client, product, store/office, advertising, training, service, staff, sales, mail, phone, networking. No different, just different players! You just need to "breathe" ... and create a map.

A map allows you to assign a defined purpose to each of your online resources. It helps eliminate duplication, (the cause of much wasted time & confusion) and makes sure you have all your "crucial' bases covered! It also makes it easier to develop a strategy for all your resources.... making them work together with a goal of maximizing your results from the least amount of resources.

Give it a try. If you need an example, go to my weekly mailing, that I just sent out, where I outlined some of the basic assignments of the more popular resources. It will give you an idea of a basic map. You can access it by clicking here:

What I would love to know in this posting is what is "your" confusion? What makes you get online overwhelm OR how do you prevent it from happening?? Please share with us .... cause as this year evolves with web3.0 and more and more video and more and more mobile interactions, we all need to get control of ourselves and our businesses!

And also ... let me invite you to participate in my weekly special. Be one of the first two to contact me via phone or email and tell me you found out about the special via my blog. The special is any of my trainings listed here at 1/2 off. I'm feeling really good tonight so take advantage!


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

How Well Are You Using The Internet? Do You Know?

There are a few questions to ask yourself when you first sit down to review your business and how you can immediately start to make it grow!

1. Does your business have a website?
   x
   YES
   Is it doing al lthat it could for you?
   Does it create new busines? How well?
   DO YOU KNOW?
   
   NO
   Maybe now is the time to create a website!
   Maybe not!
   DO YOU KNOW?
   x
2. Do you send newsletters that create new business?
   x
   YES
   Is it's success justifyoing the time put into it?
   Are you using the newsletter as effectively as you could?
   DO YOU KNOW?
   
   NO
   Why not? Could it help you? YES? NO?
   DO YOU KNOW?
   x
3. Is your daily interactive email heling your business?
   x
   YES
   Great job! Congratulations. BUT, could it be even better?
   DO YOU KNOW?
   
   NO
   Why not? How could it help?
   DO YOU KNOW?
   x
4. And what about all the additional resources out there?
   Blogs, Video, Audio, Pay Per Click, Search Engine Optimization,
   Tele-Seminars, Webinars, and more!
   Are these for you?
   DO YOU KNOW?

Think about each of the above four questions.
Post your answers here and see how we can help you!
You can also contact me via http://www.todaysway.net/
... it's your choice!

Keep your business growing ... know what you are doing and why!!!