Save Money While Still Getting Your Marketing Message Heard

Meeting payroll and covering overhead are the first orders of business through these tough economic times. However, too many entrepreneurs and small businesses look to their marketing budgets as a way to cut costs–a big no-no when clients and customers may be that much harder to come by. Here are five simple ways to save money while still reaching as many clients and customers as possible.

1. Have a cost-conscious focus

The less expensive a product or service, the better. If that’s your business, have your marketing materials reflect that cost-conscious focus.

2. Ramp up social networking

Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are free and reach millions of prospective customers at one time. They also provide potential customers with a subjective feel for who you are and why they should want to connect with you.

3. Embrace a good cause

Embracing a good cause can present a viable opportunity for low-cost marketing. Best of all, approaches to cause-driven marketing are endless!

4. Offer a guarantee

With few exceptions, every business stands behind its product or service in some capacity. But few also leverage that form of assurance as the powerful marketing tool that it can be: a rock-solid declaration of the unshakable faith you have in what you provide, if nothing else.

5. Interact with contests

Contests offer visibility, customer interaction and the lure of victory. Utilize social networks by hosting a contest through Facebook!

 

Read the entire article written by Jeff Wuorio here: http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2009/july/202256.html

DON’T READ THIS EMAIL BLAST!

Getting consumers’ to open email blasts can be quite challenging… and frustrating to say the least. All too often such emails contain empty promises or ask for a call to action- both considered a hassle (not to mention SPAM).

Here are some simple tips that will help your email blast open-rate.

1) Create an enticing headline. Why do you choose to read certain magazine or newspaper articles over others? Certain headlines stand out. My title obviously got your attention (although I realize it is quite obnoxious). Nobody wants to open an email with a boring and/or generic subject line- no, you are not an exception so start thinking outside the box.

2) Appropriately time your email blast. Believe it or not, the day of the week you choose to send your email blast greatly effects the open rate. Mondays and Fridays are bad for obvious reasons while Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday have a high open rate. Time your email blasts accordingly and you will definitely notice a rise in open rate as well as response rate.

3) Personalize the sender name/signature line. Email received from an unfamiliar sender has “junk mail” written all over it. When creating a sender name you should consider what is most recognized. Maybe it is your name. For example, which would you be more likely to open– an email from Barack Obama, President of the United States OR barackobama@xyz.com? The first option is much more personal and recognizable.

Read the entire article here: http://submit-link.org/5-tricks-to-getting-your-email-blast-higher-open-rates/

Defending Your Online Presence

Negative online reviews left by former customers are an absolute nightmare for any business. On a positive note, this negative feedback can actually be used to increase business and here’s how.

When responding to not-so-favorable reviews you must first apologize and explain. Also take this time to clear up any misunderstandings that may have contributed to the review(s). When responding remember to always take the high road no matter how harsh the customer’s feedback. Your goal is to build a sequence of positivity not to make matters worse.

Responses should also be given in a timely manner. Responding quickly shows you care about your customers and demonstrates your commitment to quality service. Negative reviews often sit for months without a response. Sometimes these unsatisfied customers never get a response which in turn gets them even more fired-up. Not to mention cynical feedback generates cynical feedback.

ABOUT POWERHOUSE USA

Powerhouse USA is a full-service advertising, marketing and promotions agency dedicated to helping your business flourish in today’s competitive environment. Located in Orlando, Florida, the Powerhouse USA team specializes in all forms of advertising and marketing, including traditional advertising media (television, radio and print) and online marketing (social media, website development, reputation management, Google AdWords and other search engine marketing and optimization efforts). As a fee-based company, Powerhouse utilizes its various resources and contacts to provide businesses with extraordinary service and effective results.

Motivating Your Sales Team: Cool it with the Criticism

How can I motivate my sales team? Why do they lack motivation? These questions are common and answers to them are countless. In the wake of cliche answers I realized a more important question exists. Whose job is it to motivate a sales team? Many believe it is solely the responsibility of management. I beg to differ.

What’s lacking is self-motivation. This baffles me to say the least and here’s why. When managers want to motivate their sales staff they pay them by commission- that is the point!  If my income were commission-based you’d better believe I’d have the motivation to sell. So what do unmotivated individuals do to better their situation?

Surrounding yourself with positive people is crucial. Regular encounters with positive people will result in improved motivation by nature. I’m sure you’ve been told that the attitudes of those around you eventually rub off. Well, it’s true. Nothing improves motivation like a positive attitude.

When effort is shown it is now managements’ job to commend these efforts. Are you that manager who is quick to criticize yet hesitant to praise? With so much time spent jumping down employees’ throats of course you’ve run out of time for a few words of encouragement now and then. Some criticism is understandable and natural, don’t get me wrong. However, it becomes dangerous when it attacks someones character and/or happens continuously. It’s pretty evident as to why this might put a damper on motivation. Now you’ve not only personally attacked your employee but you’ve made them less productive than they already were. Don’t be that manager. When you notice improvement in performance, even the slightest bit, be sure to give recognition. Praise builds self-confidence which results in motivation. If criticism is in order you must be conscious of how you go about it. Keep the individual’s need for motivation in the back of your mind! Before long you will notice the substantial roll that praise plays in motivating your sales team.

No amount of criticism will light a fire under someone who lacks self-motivation- it’s that simple.

 

ABOUT POWERHOUSE USA

Powerhouse USA is a full-service advertising, marketing and promotions agency dedicated to helping your business flourish in today’s competitive environment. Located in Orlando, Florida, the Powerhouse USA team specializes in all forms of advertising and marketing, including traditional advertising media (television, radio and print) and online marketing (social media, website development, reputation management, Google AdWords and other search engine marketing and optimization efforts). As a fee-based company, Powerhouse utilizes its various resources and contacts to provide businesses with extraordinary service and effective results.