Foursquare - Did You "Check-In" Today?

The word is out about foursquare ~ a web and mobile application that allows members to connect with friends and share where they are located.. People can learn about new places to go, where sales are going on and where foursquare is offering "specials!" It's becoming a fun game for users and a money maker for some businesses.

So, who's using foursquare? How are you using it? Share with us please!

Foursquare seems like a fun way for businesses to attract repeat business ... actually more than attract. They can actually "lure" clients to their venues. I would love to hear "live" actual stories of how people are using Foursquare as a business and as a user.

If you are not familiar with foursquare visit my newsletter this week. It explains it all: Click here!

Ok .. now I'm waiting to hear from you!

Keep your business growing,
margie

How Well Do You Target & Maximize?

Hello all ....hope you had a fun Halloween!
x
All the Halloween activity got me thinking about how even "trick or treating" is a study in communicating. Think about it ... we target homes within communities and we dress up in accordance with the holiday in order to please and receive candy! If we target those who know us best and they know they will be targeted, the odds are pretty good that the candy will be "really" good!
x
It's the same thing in business. Various levels within the business process have different communities of conversation. Each of these communities needs to be worked to get the best results, i.e. candy. Prospects are a community close to, but not quite, the same community as customers. Your strategic partners are a community as well as your staff.
x
How many communities does your business have? Have you ever stopped to think about it this way? I'm really curious and would love it if you would share.
x
Upon identifying your communities it is so important to maximize your communications within each community ... engage, interact and build strong and loyal communities. Online resources can play a huge role in assisting you with this. My weekly newsletter covered some of the many.
x
You can see my mailing by clicking here. Take a look and see if you use any of the online resources I highlight for the specific reasons I mention. OR ... are do you have some that are using you? If you know of others please share as well! Would love to hear from you.
x
Keep your business growing ...
margie

QR Codes

Do you have your QR Code yet? They are those square black and white boxes you are starting to see all over the internet and soon in offline places!
x
QR stands for "Quick Response" and that's what happens with a QR code. They were created so that mobile phones can scan them and have instant access to what ever online information you want to provide access to! My weekly mailing goes over some specific sites where you can create your own QR Code as well as sites where you can find apps for scanning. Right now I'd love to know how you are using your QR codes? Do you have one yet? Are people scanning them?
x
Looking at some of the uses I think the retail shop owner is going to have lots of fun. They can be put in store windows and connect people directly to Yelp accounts and Foursquare if you are using either site for local referral status. Also a great idea for offering giveaways! Or maybe a direct connection to your facebook page! The ideas are endless so let's share some.
x
My facebook friend, Anise, first introduced them to me. Check out her QR Marketing Group on facebook. She has put them on T-shirts ... another great way to get your QR Code around town. It's possible to put the on coffee mugs also and of course hats and other promo items.
x
What do you want people to have "Quick" access to? Create your QR code today! Here's what they look like.....this is my QR code for this blog!


Can't wait to hear from you ... but in the mean time ...

Keep your business growing ....
margie

What's "Your" Purpose For Social Networking?

Hi ..

So what is "your" purpose for social networking? Do you have one? Hope so, cause it is the first step to take in order to justify your time on a social network.

It is imperative to have a purpose and/or intention if you are looking for business on a social network. Without knowing why you are there, how can you create any connections that will end up giving you new, repeat and referral sales? This is when people are wasting their time.


I just discussed 5 business reasons to use social networking for business in my weekly mailing. They are E-Commerce, Lead Generation, Branding, Research, and Customer Retention. You can read all about it by clicking my title here on my blog or if you are a subscriber, it should be in your inbox.
x
My question in this blog is "what is "your" purpose? Is it any of the 5 listed? Other? Are you achieving your purpose via social networking? How are you doing it? Please share.
x
Personally I have found all the power to be in the posting ~ knowing how to engage the reader with the benefits of what is offered so that the selling is almost transparent! It's powerful to experience. It's my "bait," as I like to say. ( click here for "Six Steps For Going Fishing On Social Networks )

x
What do you find powerful? What works for you?
x
Keep your business growing ...
margie

Google Voice ~ Have You Tried It Yet?

Well, it's been here a month now ... have you tried Google Voice? I activated it when it was first released and have found some parts of it great and some ... well, let's say "less than great."

If you haven't tried it yet you can access it from your Gmail account. On the left side of your inbox there is a link. If you click on the Title line of "this" posting, you will be taken to my latest weekly newsletter which walks you through the setup and the basics of what you need to know.

Would love to gather your thoughts and discover what pieces of it make you love it or NOT!! The free calling, YES FREE CALLING (even to Canada), is nice. Beyond that I have a couple of things to share ....

First, what I like a lot. I connected "only" my cell phone number to Google Voice and the best part, for me, is the voice mail support. My voice messages are transcribed to text on my phone and also sent to my Gmail inbox as a message. When I access the text message in Gmail there is also a link to a "live" voice recording. LOVE being able to file my voice messages as well as to hear them. The transcription is "pretty good" all things considered ~ enough to be impressive.

What I don't like! Use of a Google number that can support all your telephone numbers is hyped. BUT when I went to choose a number you had to keep putting numbers in until you found one that wasn't already being used within your chosen area code! I spent over 20 minutes and came up with nothing. Does anyone know another way of creating a Google number?? Would love to know!

These are my highlights! Please share any of yours and lets really make use of Google's most recent service together!

Keep your business growing ...
margie

Selling Without "Selling"

Hi everyone ...

Does the idea of selling make you uncomfortable? I used to feel that way. What was really funny was that after someone would give me an appointment and spend an hour or more with me, I would still feel uncomfortable asking them if they wanted to buy my goods! Why was I there .. of course they planned to buy something! What was my problem?!

Now many years later I use a process I put together based upon primarily the Max Sacks training program and my own observations on "polite" communications. The end result is a sales process that I enjoy. I feel like a matchmaker and the best part is that the sales tend to close themselves!

Having been asked many time to share my sales process, I have finally created a 1-on-1 telephone training that I believe will change not only your selling success, but your life! At its completion you will be able to sell without selling! How great is that?

Check it out here and let me know your thoughts! http://bit.ly/cYUJ3d

Meanwhile ..


Keep your business growing ...
margie