Marketing and writing tips for small business owners

Writing & Grammar Tips:

Rules for Comma Usage

Capitalization Rules

Press Release Writing Tips

Small Business Services:

kedespo Productions
Services include DVD Photo Albums, Video to DVD Transfers, Family History to DVD, and Memorial Tributes.

Kathy's Cards
Original greeting cards featuring the work of photographer Kathy Esposito.

Professional Photographers
Class reunion photography. We come to you. On-site printing also available. Located in Dayton, Ohio.

California's Best Incorporating Service
Online document preparation and filing service for California corporations, non-profits, LLC, LLP, good standing, corporate kits, and more.

Find out how eFax delivers faxes right to your email inbox. Try it free – instant activation.

Print postage from your PC. Try Stamps.com today!

Search Engine Optimization - Search engine optimization without monthly search engine fees

ExecFocus.Net Marketing - We are Internet marketing experts offering SEO, marketing strategies, affiliate marketing, press release broadcasting, promotions and much more one client success at a time.

Synthium Media - Vancouver Internet marketing, search engine optimization, and website hosting company

IMAGERY Business Services - Provides virtual office and answering services to portray the image of a large corporation.

Exhibit Deal - The Original Exhibit Wholesaler offering portable trade show displays at nearly half the market rate.

SEO Leaders.com Search Engine Marketing - Provides search engine marketing and web site promotion services.

Marketingtool.com - Find videographers, flash designers, and other computer professionals along with help for public relations, search engine optimization and more.

Relenta - All-in-one web-based email marketing, CRM, contact manager, calendar, and sales force automation software.

Reciprocal Link Software & Management Services - Discover how you can easily add a well-organized, search engine friendly, reciprocal links directory to your web site to increase your traffic.

Exchange migration 5.5 to 2003 Computer networking services. We know your technology and can help you use it to gain competitive advantage of your competition.

Services for Individuals:

WritingScholar.com Essay Writing Tutor - WritingScholar offers online essay writing help for high school, university, and adult learners.

Authorlink - All about books, writing, and publishing. We're the publishing marketplace for editors, agents, writers, and readers.

Is Your Marketing Plan Fresh?

Do your advertisements have typos in them? (Are you sure?) Is your catalog outdated? (Why?) Do you have the email addresses of all of your clients? (Why not?) Do you contact those clients? (Again, why not?) How long has it been since you updated your web site? (Too long?)

Typos and outdated information can result in lost sales. If you don't contact former clients via email, you are missing out on endless, low-cost advertising opportunities and quick, easy sales. A static web site quickly loses the interest of your clients. If your business web site doesn't include crucial information - such as contact information and, at the very least, generalized information about your products or services - you are losing the business of new clients as well.

In order to stay in the minds (and wallets) of consumers, you should change and update your advertising materials regularly. Branding your business is one thing; people will think of you when they see your logo or hear your catch-phrase. But if you use the same content in each ad, you will certainly fall short of your sales goals.

Newsletters: An Untapped Marketing Method

Your small business may be focusing on bringing in new clients through advertisements in the newspaper, by direct mail, and via radio or television commercials. But you may be neglecting a large segment of potential clients. Your own.

Many companies fail to realize the resell potential of their own clients. They already know you. They already know your business. And if you’ve done things right, they already trust you.

People are more apt to return to a company with which they’ve done business than go to a competitor (assuming the products and services are acceptable, of course). So advertise to them! Remind them that you are there.

• Mail “Happy Birthday” discount flyers on their birthdays.
• Send emails with sales that match recent purchases. For instance, if your client purchased a pencil from you, send an e-zine that advertises lead refills or your multiple paper products or an eraser, for goodness sake!
• Send a personalized letter to check on your customer’s satisfaction with prior purchases and offer a percentage off of future sales to bring them back.

Here is the secret key to winning and keeping clients. Are you ready for this? Do you have your pen and paper? Keep them educated. Inform them. Entertain them. Write it down; it’s that important.

People don’t like being interrupted with loud sales pitches during the ball game. They don’t like annoying ads during the easy listening drive at five. And they certainly can’t stand all of the junk mail and spam that is continually shoved at them. So how do you reach your client without annoying or angering him?

Educate. Inform. Entertain.

A newsletter does this without pushing your product and without irritating your potential client. Are you a physician? Include relevant health care information. Do you sell food products? Include great-tasting recipes. Do you sell cameras? Offer tips and techniques for better photos.

Newsletters slip into your clients’ mailboxes or inboxes filled with information that is relevant to their lives. They open it and read the articles, stories, and jokes. And if it’s done right, they walk away with your company in the back of their minds – happy that you provided them with valuable information, a laugh, or a discount. The next thing you know, your past client is back again.

** Added bonus: Emails can be forwarded, and mail can be shared. Make sure that your articles are professionally written and relevant to your clientele, and they may pass your newsletter on to a friend.