Is Choosing Your Online Resources Overwhelming? Not When You "HIRE" Them!

Choosing online resources doesn't have to be an overwhelming experience.  It can be quite simplified if you look at it as simply hiring "people" to work for you! After all, in many cases your online resources are replacing people!

So, just start at the beginning - your business. -- For purposes of this blog post I am making up a business, but just fill in your own as you read.  It will make sense! --- You own several local gyms with fitness programs.  Who would you hire to help make your business a success?

Sales is often first on the list, so lets define what your expectations are for a sales person?

1. Prospect for new members from businesses - company programs & individual memberships
2. Make sales appointments, meet, form relationships, identify matches, and convert to sales.
3. Provide demonstrations of exercise equipment and additional pieces of fitness program
4. Connect to existing or past members to know their experience
5. Invite to the gym to meet the people  and take a tour.
6. Educate on the experience of being a member, benefits, and other high-lights.

You are now ready to make your job opening public.. Which resource(s) are a match for each of the job expectations?  In your first round of interviews just do some preliminary sorting. The following is a typical first go-round of possible candidates.

• Number 1- Social Networks - LInkedin - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest 
• Number 2- Social Networks - LInkedin - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest
• Number 3- Youtube - Webinar - Slideshare
• Number 4- Webpage of Testimonials  - Linkedin Profile Reference Section
• Number 5- Blog - Website Pages - Youtube
• Number 6 -Social Networks - LInkedin - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest- Tele-Seminars

Now you are ready for your second round of interviews.  You have narrowed down your list of options by each expectation.  Your next step is to really look at the purpose of each expectation and match that to each of the resources you have identified in terms of best match to worse match. You will end up, in most cases, with a group of resources that will work together to give you the whole. 

In the above example it will be one or two of the social networks teaming up with Youtube, your blog and your website testimonial pages!  That combination will build a "core" communication plan from which you expand on if you wish and if you have the time.

The largest benefit you will gain is that you "KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING WHEN YOU GO ONLINE!"  You know what you are expecting to be done per each resource so you can create your messaging accordingly. 

The next largest benefit you will gain is that "YOU WILL ACHIEVE RESULTS!"  That actually might be the largest benefit for many of you!
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This is a process I implement with all of my clients and I am happy to answer any questions you have. Please leave as a comment so all can be shared. 

You are also welcome to contact me if you would like to explore how you could get help with creating an online resource hiring plan for your business!  Mention this blog posting and you will receive a 20% discount on the service!! 

I hope to hear from you. Again.. just leave questions and/or comments below!

In the mean time ..
Keep Your Business Garden Growing
margie
www.todaysway.net

How To Use Social Media Networking For Multiple Jobs

Hi everyone ...

Using social media networks for multiple jobs!  How does that work?  Does it mean that being active via "social networking" will accomplish two or more jobs for your online marketing?  YES ...but only if you are active with direction, purpose, and pre-defined tasks.  Then you can use social media networking for multiple jobs successfully! 

Let's go back to comparing employees to online resources. Picture that you're working in HR at a company.  Your boss says, I'm short a person in shipping. I'm going to use you in shipping today!  You go over to shipping and work there for the day.  Or maybe you went back and forth during the day. OR ... maybe you are able to do both from one desk.  In any of these scenarios, different tasks are being done from the same source, YOU. Your boss is just using you in different ways.

Question is, did you just know how to do both tasks naturally?  Of course not.  You had to be made aware of the job expectations,  the purpose and the tasks needed to be done on the day(s) you worked each, correct?  Well, it's the same thing with your online resources.

Social media networks can by "hired/used" for advertising, marketing, prospecting, opening sales, cementing sales, post sale support, services, and more.
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BUT, can all of the above happen just by the fact that you post on a social network?  NO.  Simply being there does not get the job done ( just like with people).  AND the social network by itself does not make it happen either.  Do not think because you have a facebook account that "facebook" will make things happen.

When using social networks, each time you create a posting you must know your assigned job expectation, purpose, and the task you want to complete.  It's that simple.

Putting some thought into each post will create results.  Simply randomly posting and being seen ... well, how productive would an employee be who just randomly showed up to be seen?   It's the same thing with your online resources.

Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Would love to know your thoughts!

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

How to Create A Road Map For Your Online Communications!

A Raod Map? Yes, why not?

• When you think "internet" do you just see resources to choose from?
  Do you then pick and choose,  go by suggestions,  see what happens when you try something?
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• When you think "traveling cross country" do you see endless highways to choose from?
  
  Do you then decide to layout a route and map how you'll get to where you want to go?

Imagine if you responded to "traveling cross country" the way you might when choosing your online resources ... maybe you'll eventually get there. But maybe not! 

So, why not create a road map for your online communications?  You'll be amazed at how much easier your online marketing life will be.

How do you do this?

Look at your online marketing communications and where you begin and where you end. Most businesses begin in the office putting the word out and end in the office with sales!   So what happens in between?
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Draw on paper the steps from start to finish and assign a resource to each step. See what you come up with for your resources.  That alone is a good "thinking" exercise.  You might have the same resource doing a couple of different steps.  Is that possible?  Yes and my next blog post will discuss that. For now just know that you can. 

Here's a sample outline you can refer to. Use it to sketch a map for your purposes.See what you come up with! Please share!! Would love to hear about your results.


Head Quarters ( your website)
HR - .Mktg/Sales  - .Products/Services - Ops - Manuf - Service -Shipping - Training - Contact
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   Reaching out ...
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Marketing
Going where potential buyers hang out and "attracting" them to you
Assign resources ... what will they do?
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Advertising
Targeting potential buyers with purpose of  "attracting" them to you.
     Assign resources .. what will they do?
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Prospecting
Looking for matches .. your solutions to their needs
Assign resources... what will they do?
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  1st Sales Appointment
Creating a "connection" ... good first match solution/need
Assign resources... what will they do?
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Selling for Deepening Knowledge
Developing a "connections" ... deepening the match, solution/need
Assign resources... what will they do?
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Close the Sale
How to Purchase - Where to Purchase
Assign resources... what will they do?
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Service
How to Service
Assign resources... what will they do?
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Stay in touch - Repeat and Referral Business
Staying in front of your buyers ... reminding them you exist!
Assign resources... what will they do?
. Hope you have fun doing this as well as see how productive it can be!  Today's Way is ready to help you fill it out if you have problems and/or questions.

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

Do Your Email Subject Lines Reflect Your Professionalism?

The email subject line - Do you give it much thought when you create one? You should!

The intent of the subject line is to have people want to open and read the email message. It's amazing how much time can be put into the writing of an email only to have the subject line inspire readers to delete or just pass on by without opening!  Something is going on .. laziness, assuming too much, just not thinking?  Who knows?  But it's catchy!  Seems like people are saying, "if they get away with it, I'll do it also."   Not good!

The subject line is also a first level "connection" to all you communicate with.  It provides you with an opportunity to present yourself "in front" of your business clients and co-workers frequently. So I ask, do your email subject  lines reflect your professionalism?  And in what way ... good or bad?

If you want to send out the emails that recipients what to receive, open and read, and reflect quality professionalism,  start with the Golden Rule of online communications!
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                  "Remove The Need For Readers To Have To Think!"
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Ask yourself if "your" subject lines follow this Golden Rule.  Are you being clear, distinct, to the point and leaving no question in the reader's mind as to what the message is "about."   Your reader's head stays clear - no grey requiring  "guessing, confusion, ie.having to think?"

Also remember that emails are meant for quick communications.  Readers are going into their inbox and scanning down while they have a "minute" to check their emails.    Make your first few words "speak" to what the rest of the subject line is about.  It's those first few words that will be seen, i.e. Invitation To Promotion Party For John Stevens  vs.   You Are Being Invited To A Promotion Party For John Stevens. Both subject lines "are" distinct ... but the first one gets to the point faster for the reader.

Last, but not least, much of creating a good subject line is basic consideration for others, good etiquette, manners .. .call it what you might... but it boils down to thinking of your recipient, not yourself!  Making it easy for "them" not you! 

Start using these tips and ideas for creating better subject lines and see what happens in your office and with all your business interactions.  Are you getting better replies, are you seeing better subject lines sent back to you,  are your overall email communications better.  Would love to receive your comments and thoughts.

Also, know that Today's Way offers one-on-one email workshops and seminars specific to individual businesses. Call to inquire how we may help you!  

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

Which Way Do You Begin Your Messaging? "YOU" "YOUR" or "I" "MY" "OUR"

Have you ever noticed how intimate the connection is between you and your computer screen?

It's a very private one-on-one moment.  Just you and your thoughts about what you are looking at . Your readers experience this same intimacy and it's power is so great that you are throwing away opportunity if you don't use it wisely.

One major way to maximize this intimacy and create quality connections with your readers is to always put your reader first! Your readers are "in their heads."   They have all sorts of thoughts going around in their head and if they have a need for what you offer they only care about how what you have will help them!

How do you put your readers first?  Begin your postings and messaging with "you" and/or "your."  Write to your reader's mindset.  Any use of "I" - "We" - "Our" .. etc. just gets in your reader's way and distances your message from your reader.  And, that gives your readers a space in which to "disconnect" and move on!!!  You don't want that!

Here are a couple of examples.  See which creates a stronger connection with "you" Which one brings you into the message more. Which one is more intimate?

#1a
I have a wonderful product that cleans your car within minutes.  Would you like to make your car washing easier?
#1b
Would you like to make washing your car easier?  Take a look at this product that will clean your car in minutes!  Worked for me ... let me know what you think!
#2a
I want to invite you to a great training on marketing.  I am teaching how to increase your sales by 100% in a month.
#2b
You are invited to a great new training on marketing! If you'd like to increase your sales by 100% in a month you might want to check it out.  It will be taught by me, ________. Find out more here!
or
Does doubling your sales in one month interest you?   If so, you're invited to a training that will teach you how!  It's being taught by me, ______. Find out more here!

Added Value:  This way of initiating a conversation works great in live conversation as well!  Start all your conversations by putting who you're talking to first!

Sometimes you won't catch yourself because as the writer, you are in your mind also!   You have to make the effort and create a habit of thinking about your "reader's"  mindset before you start communicating..   One great habit to get into is to never push the "post" or "send" button until you re-read as though YOU were on the receiving end. 

Would love to get some feedback on how it goes for you.  Or if you agree or disagree.  Just leave a comment below. Thanks so much!

In the mean time,
keep you business garden growing,
margie hanson
www.todaysway.net

Does Your Website Make A Good "First Impression?"

What is the "first impression" people have when they land on your website?

• Do visitors know immediately that your business is a match for their need?  
• OR, do they have to guess if your site is right for them?

If you answered "yes" to the first option you are looking good.  If nothing else this one element can make or break you.  If visitors don't immediately see a match, very few will stick around to form any kind of impression.

First impressions are never so important as they are on your website.  AND believe it or not ... it's not how pretty your website looks that makes the first impression, but how well you connect to your visitor!

Websites that make good first impressions include:

1. An immediate clear, distinct and short welcome that lets visitors know they have found a match for their needs. Sometimes this can be done with a single sentence.  Sometimes you'll see bullet points that list several specifics.  In either case ... clear & distinct.  No thinking required.
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2. A welcome message that is easy to "see" .... does not requires "left to right" reading. The message is received via a single glance!  Cannot be missed!
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3. "Next steps"  that are  easy to see and access after landing on the website and connecting with the welcome message.  Not all will go to the same "next" destination,  so you must make choices visible for your visitors  that are, again, easy to be seen and opted for!  Have clear navigation choices.
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4. Self introductions, especially if you are a professional service.  Allowing your new visitors to get some idea of who you are... a photo, an audio,  and a video is ideal.  This is so important if you are in a business where personal chemistry matters, i.e. doctor, dentist, massage therapist,  etc. If you have this type of business, who "you" are is the elephant in the room until your prospective client can see & know a bit about you!   Show your visitors you understand that and you will make a good first impression. .
   
5. Clean and simple presentation of all content. Lots of white space is always good and makes it easy for visitors to see where you want them to first land and then easy for them to know their choices for their next landing spot. People like uncomplicated!! 
   
6. Up to date resources, i.e. have social media icons that go to live pages!  Have a blog and/or newsletter.  You don't have to have all the bells and whistles but do show that you are up to date what is going on in the technology industry.
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7. Current photos &  news items.  If you did a promo on the July 4th parade and your booth at the event on your home page and it is now, November, you are NOT making a good first impression.
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8. Content  that connects and speaks with your visitors!  Your website is a conversation with your visitors and they want to know you are talking to them about what they need.  They do not care about you talking about you.... hope you see the difference?
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9. An attractive color scheme is always a plus.  Same thing with the font face and size that you use. Make it easy on the eye(s). HOWEVER, as mentioned above .. this is secondary to all 1-8 items listed above. r.  

Remember, first impressions last. They form the base of trust for everything that happens afterwards.  In life AND on your website!! Give your website homepage a once over.  See what you discover.

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