We all know that networking works but for many, it is not enough. Getting out there and meeting new people and following up with them is a great way to create relationships and referral partners but if you want to survive and thrive in an economy like the one we are currently in, you need to do more. This article is about some of the things an entrepreneur or small business owner can do above and beyond networking to attract more clients and customers without breaking the bank.
First, keeping in mind that most people do business with people that they know, like and trust, and statistics will back this up. We all know that what someone else says about you is 1000 times more powerful than what you say about yourself. In a 2009 Nielsen Global Online Consumer Survey, they found that 90 percent of consumers say they trust recommendations from people they know, and 70 percent say they trust consumer opinions posted online. What are you waiting for? Go out there and get some testimonials and recommendations and then post them on your website, in your brochures and anywhere else you can think of. Be shameless.
Another way to get more business is to list your business on sites such as yelp.com. Yelp describes itself on its website as an online urban city guide that helps people find cool places to eat, shop, drink, relax and play, based on the informed opinions of a vibrant and active community of locals in the know. Yelp is a free site that says more than 25 million consumers visited the site last month looking for everything from mechanics to day spas. You can learn more about Yelp at their website and see the Yelp tutorial to get their tools working for you. Consider asking your customers to rate you on yelp in exchange for offering them a free service or creating a contest for the best recommendation. Provide an incentive for your customers to give you a positive review and watch your business attract new clients and customers effortlessly.
Social media is another great way to attract more business. Facebook is not just for keeping up with your kids, friends and social circles. You can use this social media tool to create a Facebook fan page or like page as it is now called can keep your customers or clients updated on a regular basis automatically. Facebook is now the Worlds No 1 social media website boasting over 600 million users. About half of those users go on Facebook each day for an average of 55 minutes. The average user of Facebook has around 130 friends connected to their profile page and 'Like' about 80 pages, groups causes or events. In Internet marketing terms, that's a lot of highly targeted potential customers.
Here are just a few reasons why you may want to consider having a fan page on Facebook to attract more customers: Fan Pages are indexed by the search engines, Fan Pages are highly customizable, People who “Like” Fan Pages are opting in, Fan Pages can be personalized, Fan Pages give you a chance to engage and interact with your customers, Fan Pages breed advocates for your business, Fan Pages are measurable and best of all, Fan Pages are free!
Face facts, Facebook is here to stay and is one the best bargains around for growing your business.
Tweet Tweet. Yes, you can grow your business using social media is through Twitter. Consider creating an account with twitter and asking your current customers to follow your business on Twitter. and build from there. A store owner can announce sales or tweet special Twitter-only discounts. A maid or housecleaning service might post tips on how to get out stains not to mention how to handle the holidays and offer specials. Restaurants post recipes, ask questions about food preferences, and of course share discounts. It's all about engaging your potential customers. If this seems too overwhelming, consider hiring a virtual assistant to do some of your tweeting and social media work. The small investment may bring big returns.
Don’t forget about Yahoo and Google. If you are not listed, you are invisible. Google has a Local Business Directory where you can register your business absolutely free. The search giant even allows restaurants, for example, to post their menus or photos of entrees, and enables customers to submit reviews. This service is open to all types of small businesses -- with hundreds of thousands posted. (Yahoo offers a similar service.)
There's no reason not list your business on both sites - it does not matter whether you are a solo business owner, a mom and pop or a larger establishment. Leverage the extraordinary reach of these search engines. To learn more, read the tutorial on Google to help get you started.
Finally, write a newsletter and invite your customers and clients to sign up to receive it. Include interesting information and write it in a way that your customers and clients will find it valuable enough to want to pass along to others. You can build your list of subscribers by putting something on your website inviting people to join your newsletter list or you can write your newsletter in hardcopy and mail it to your clients and customers. Give them a reason to keep it and look forward to the next edition. Staying in front of your customers or clients is essential. Remember, nobody wants to be sold but almost everyone wants to buy. Just keep your name in front of them with interesting information and you will not be forgotten.
Networking is great to grow your business but remember, that to take your business from good to great, you have to attract an endless flow of business and that means not only getting out and meeting people but taking advantage of the internet to attract new clients and customers. You will be a magnet that cannot be resisted.
Rhonda L Sher: The Sloganator Rhonda L Sher was born talking. She fell in love with words as a child and has never stopped communicating since. Her father once commented that she was vaccinated with a phonograph needle. Not only has Rhonda inherited her father's humor, but it's that quick wit that has become the signature that has helped propel her clients to stardom.Acclaimed Keynote and workshop leader, Rhonda has authored two books, "The 2 Minute Networker" and "The ABC's of LinkedIn," "Get LinkedIn or Get Left Out" as well as numerous action guides, articles, workbooks, jingles and corporate slogans.
In addition to writing, Rhonda uses her gift of gab as a featured keynote speaker, consultant and corporate trainer throughout North America. She has successfully taught hundreds of business men and women on the art of business networking and written hundreds of elevator pitches and slogans.Rhonda's greatest talent lies in her ability to create fabulously catchy slogans that are memorable, upbeat, easy to repeat and create instant brand identification. In addition to the books, audio and video, Rhonda creates slogans and taglines for her clients which are memorable, bring them business and make them, money. She works with you to create a corporate slogan for your business that sets you apart from your competition. Her creativity and energy will tap into your customer's mind and have your phone ringing off the hook with new business.
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