marketing

Top 5 Ways To Lose A Customer

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In the business world, there are too many things that can go wrong. You might as well not make things worse on yourself by not treating your customers the right way. It is really easy to be turned off as a customer, especially when there are a thousand other companies that do the same thing as you, but are a lot cooler about it. Here are my 5 favorite things that you could be doing to lose customers… So read them and stop doing them.

1. Having Inaccurate Data

As a company, customers are the most important thing for you. Without them, you actually have nothing. You can’t just call yourself a business and make money, people have to believe in you and your product. What happens when you don’t treat your customers right? Nothing. And Nothing is bad.

Your customers should always feel important. If you reach out to them with an email or something and get something simple like their name wrong, that is pretty offensive. Not only that, but it can make them feel like you don’t care enough about your company to even get simple things right. If you can’t get a name right, then how are they supposed to believe in your product or service? What about that are you going to mess up too?

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In order to run a successful business, you have to make sure every single customer feels important. Not only that, but you yourself have to know that they actually are important.

2. Not Maintaining A Relationship

Once you get done making your deal with your customer, that shouldn’t be the last you hear from them. It also shouldn’t be the last they hear from you. A lot of companies fail because of thinking that way. If you maintain a positive relationship with every new customer, that means you will always be on their mind to some extent. It is also way more likely that they will return to you for their future needs. This does, however, bring me to my next point…

3. Being Annoying

Yes, it’s important to maintain a relationship with your customers and clients. BUT… You don’t want to be the type of company who is constantly calling and trying to shove yourself down people’s throats. You can’t force people to spend money, and it’s really annoying to them to feel like they are being pressured. Nothing is wrong with giving them a little nudge in the right direction, but when that nudge becomes a push, they are going to avoid doing business with you at all.

Different age groups also prefer to be contacted and followed up with in different ways, so make sure you do a little bit of research first. It’s not hard to Google these things and find tons of studies on them. Younger customers prefer to get emails. They check them regularly and they go straight to their smartphones. Older customers probably hardly ever check their email, so sending them is just a waste of time. Instead, try sending out letters through snail mail.

4. Ignoring Them On Social Media

If you are a company, you either have a social media presence, or you’re going out of business soon. You need to either accept your client’s friend requests, follow them back, or whatever it may be that you do on that specific website. Most customers expect a response within an hour, and none of them really has any sympathy for a delayed response, even if it is a night or a weekend.

It would be silly not to do these things anyway. Social media gives you the best of everything. You get free marketing, you can always keep people updated on the latest news from your company, and you can gather very valuable information from anyone you are connected with on any social media site. Don’t be a fool, get the most out of it that you can.

5. Not Listening

It is not hard to see what people think about you, your products, your services, or anything about your company. People post online about pretty much everything. You’ll be able to see what people like, what they don’t like, anything. You can also use the internet to give surveys and gather analytics. Not listening to what your customers have to say is ridiculous. Not using negative survey feedback to your advantage is ridiculous. Instead of looking at negative comments and bad experiences as a negative thing in general that you should ignore… use it as a positive thing and give the people what they want. Your business should be alive (growing, changing, evolving) all the time. There is nothing wrong with a little bit of constructive criticism. At the end of the day, it just means more business.

Customers are the life force of any business and it is crucial that you keep these customers happy. These 5 things are surefire ways to lose valuable customers, which will certainly mean the downfall of your company. So, needless to say, avoid these things AT ALL COSTS!

Content originally published here

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The 2015 Boston Small Business Expo At A Glance!

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small business growthWhether you’re in the startup phase or a long-established company, the Small Business Expo has the right resources for you. They’re the nation’s largest business-to-business expo, and they’ve made it their mission to help small business owners and entrepreneurs achieve their business dreams. Their free, one-day expo offers invaluable insights and exclusive networking opportunities with a wide range of business-critical workshops, seminars, and presentations from top industry experts. If you’re looking to drive your business forward and take the next step to success, join them this year at their Boston expo location for this can’t miss event!

  • Develop business leads &new customers!
  • Network with peers in your industry!
  • Shop for new innovative products and & services!
  • Gain invaluable industry insights!

Are you looking for a display or monitor rental for the 2015 Boston Small Business Expo?

Get Your Monitor Or Display Rental For The 2015 Boston Small Business Expo

Why Should You Attend?

Every year, over 50,000 small business professionals and entrepreneurs across the country attend Small Business Expo to take their business to the next level. Join us in learning from the best and the brightest in the industry as you network with like-minded business professionals and learn strategies to advance your business.

WHERE:

Hynes Convention Center | Halls A & B
900 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02115

WHEN:

Thursday, October 8, 2015, from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM (PDT)

Are you looking attend this year’s event and searching for hotels in the Boston area? The Small Business Expo site has a list of travel accommodations, including parking options for the event. The site does offer discounts as well!

If you’re looking to register for this year’s event, registration is still FREE for the Boston location!

This content was originally published here.

*Rentacomputer.com is not affiliated with or in any way authorized by the 2015 Boston Small Business Expo. Rentacomputer.com is an independent nationwide technology rental provider and this information in no way implies affiliation to the event or venue described above.

Be Unique! Make Your Business Stand Out with These Tips!

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It’s always been hard to make your business stand out from the rest. In this day and age, it’s even harder. You need to play on and exploit the strengths of your business in order to come out on top. Here are some different things you can do to really help yourself stand out in the sea of small businesses today.

Create Content That People Will Care About

One of the main points to creating content is to get people interested. If you can get people interested in the content you are putting out, then chances are you will be able to get those same people interested in what your company is actually offering. Make sure that your content stands out, and it is something that people will actually be interested in.

Go Green!

This environment is the only one we have so, naturally, it’s important that we take care of it as best as we can. What was once a new business method, “Going Green” has become a staple of the modern business. Going green may not set you apart from business in general, but it could very well set you apart from business that you are in direct competition with. Customers love knowing that the businesses they support are supporting things like recycling and conservation so this should be a main focus for your business.

Understand The Context Of Your Content

You have to be aware of the context of your content. This means that if you are gearing your content to a certain demographic… You have to put it in a context that makes sense for that demographic. Speak the way your fan base speaks. Once you understand that, it’s easy.

Think About Your Website Before You Make Changes

When you redesign your website, make sure it looks clean and streamlined. Nothing is better than a clean, simple, well designed website that is easy to navigate. If people can’t find what they want in just a few seconds, they will take their business somewhere else. It should also be easy on the eyes.

Use The About Page To Get People Interested

Everyone always visits the about page first. So this is where you really want to put a lot of effort. You should use this page to sell yourself the best way possible and show your potential new clients what makes you special.

Use Images To Your Advantage

Image based marketing has become a way bigger deal in the last few years. People like to look at interesting things. Make sure you are catching someone’s eye and getting your point across at the same time.

Keep Your Message Consistent

Make sure you are keeping your content simple enough to understand, while still making it interesting. With so many businesses out there using the same tactics, one of the best things you can do is deliver a constant message and keep your goal in mind with all of the content you put out.

In today’s rapidly growing business world competition is stiff and there are always new companies sprouting up that have the potential to take customers away from you. The most important thing for your business is to stand out among all the others. Make sure people see your business and only your business. Follow these tips and you will be well on your way to having a truly unique, stand-out business model.

Content originally published here

3 Tips To Avoid Internet Marketing Scams

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Avoid Online ScamsThe online world is full of scams. While this does not sound very promising for someone who is starting up their own business, it is important to be aware of the risks and dangers that are out there. Finding unbiased information is a lot more difficult these days, especially considering the amount of marketing that takes place on the Internet. There will always be people out there who are looking to make a quick buck. The first thing business leaders need to understand is what they have to do in order to avoid getting tricked or scammed. This is especially important for businesses like Pittsburgh Internet Marketing Exact and individuals who are just started to sell their services online.

Avoiding the Scams: Look for Reviews

Internet marketing scams can take a number of different shapes. This is often what can make it difficult to determine what is the truth and what is a scam. Some scammers are very clever and very good at hiding their true motivations from readers. If you receive an offer, it is a good idea to see if others have received it as well. What you can do is simply search online to see if others have had the same experience. By reading through the reviews of a specific company or website, you will begin to get an idea of what the company is like. It is important to remember that some customers may have it out for the company, and may falsely state that it is a scam. The trick here is to look at how many reviews state the company is a scam. Another possibility is that the scammer paid ‘customers’ to write good reviews of their website. Although this is not a completely accurate way of determining a scam, it is a good indicator that something is not right.

Contact Details

This may seem like a very simple thing to do, but it is vital that every business has contact details available. Normally when you go onto a website, there will be an icon that clearly marks out the company’s contact information. These will normally include a telephone number, an address, an e-mail and sometimes even a fax number. A lot of the time, there will also be a help desk available for customers who have questions. Steer clear of websites that have none of this. If you want to make doubly sure, you can always ask a question. See how long it takes for the company to get back to you. Companies that take themselves seriously and care about their customers needs will always respond to you promptly, even if it is two or three days later.

Look at Their Product Patterns

Scammers generally do not have sustainable products. Since these products generally do not last, they are going to constantly need  new ones in order to replace them. Take a look at the product history of the company and, again, make sure to look at reviews. Patterns of new products being released only months apart is going to indicate a true scam here.

Keeping safe on the Internet is important, and it is also important to scrutinize anyone that you come across. There is a lot of opportunity out there for unscrupulous people to take advantage of others. By knowing some of the telltale signs, you will be able to avoid the worst companies.

Should Small Businesses Utilize Online Advertising?

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small business online advertising

Sometimes small businesses may not be sure of the best way to advertise and get the word out there about its products or services. Because advertising and marketing strategies are changing constantly to fit society and its needs, it can be difficult to decide which strategies will be most effective for your company.

Web analysts have been saying almost since the creation of the Internet that online advertising was going to take over the advertising world by storm. Online advertising has definitely made a huge impact, but it hasn’t quite taken the world by storm yet. According to years of research on the steady increase of online advertisement, the predicted “boom” in online advertising could definitely be right around the corner.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PwC are releasing some numbers that illustrate that a “boom” could be in store for advertising in the very near future. U.S. online ad revenues have increased 17 percent in the third quarter of 2010, compared to the same period of time in 2009. In just that quarter, ad revenues reached $6.4 billion, which is the highest recorded quarterly mark in history.

According to IAB, online video ads and traditional banners and pop-up ads are still creating an increase in revenues, but text ads that come along with search results represent the largest amount of revenue for online advertising. Their numbers for the first half of 2010 showed that search ads account for 47 percent of all online ad revenues. This is the exact same percentage that search ads had for the first half of 2009 as well.

Until recently, there were two different reasons for small businesses to be reluctant about utilizing online advertising. The first reason that companies were skeptical about adopting it as an advertising strategy was because of the perceived low rate of return for the ads. The second was the expected time commitment that was required to be able to manage an online ad campaign. This skepticism is starting to be relieved as new online ad services are beginning to target small businesses.

Pete Barlas of Investor’s Business Daily said that Google and various other search providers are trying to help small businesses overcome their hesitance about buying Web ads. He said that they are currently making it easier to select keywords and pick up other search engine optimization (SEO) tricks. Another important development is the increase in location-based services that offer customers discounts and rewards when they check in as they visit an establishment.

Recently Google released a new component for its Google Places services. This service was created in an attempt to make it as easy as possible for small businesses to profit from advertising online, and the newest developments really do help out.

Google’s Google Boost service is only available right now in select U.S. markets. It is a service that promises to feature three-line text ads in the Sponsored Links section of Google’s search page when individuals search for terms that have been specified by and for your business. This service is available for a mere $50.

Online advertising is definitely seeing a steady increase in use and profitability. Many small businesses still have concerns with the tactic, but I really feel that it is the direction that advertising is heading in. Everything is going mobile and paperless, and advertising is no exception. Online advertising is a great addition to small businesses’ already established advertising and marketing strategies. With the right attitude, dedication, and commitment, online advertising that could really increase profitability for your small business.

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3 Mistakes Every Entrepreneur Must Avoid

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It’s a new year. Time for making changes, starting over, and attempting to reach goals both new and old. Maybe you’ve decided to start exercising more or maybe you decided to go back to school. Or maybe you think you’re ready to take the big plunge and start your own business. After all, you’ve had that great idea in the back of your head for months, maybe even years and there are some small signs that the economy is improving.

Before you even decide to start your business, there are a few basic things you need to keep in mind. While you need to be confident in your idea, being too confident can become a problem. If something seems like it’s too good to be true, more likely than not, it is. Look over the list below and make sure you’re not falling into one of these traps before you so much as think about getting that big loan.

1. Sizing Up the Competition. You’ve come up with a brilliant idea and upon Googling it, you can’t seem to find any competition. This has got to be a future business-owner’s dream come true, right? Wrong. Every business has competition; it’s what makes the world go around. If you don’t think you’ll have competition, you’ll need to look further and if you still can’t seem to find any, well, there’s probably not a market for your idea.

2. Maybe it’s not so cool after all. If you find yourself in a position without any competition, maybe you need to rethink your idea. Just because you think it’s awesome, doesn’t necessarily mean it is. Or maybe it’s a neat idea, but it doesn’t necessarily translate into a big business venture. The easiest way to find out is to understand the market. Ask around, ask people what they think of your idea.

3. Marketing. Don’t assume your product is so great it’s gonna speak for itself. Successful marketing campaigns come by putting money and hard work into advertising your product. Once you’ve done the work, it’s possible word of your company will spread like wildfire, but that’s not going to happen if you don’t ignite the flame.

Read more about the mistake business owners make by visiting MSNBC’s Small Business section.

Must-Reads for Marketers

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Must-Reads for Marketers

There are so many business-oriented books out there; how do you know which one is what you’re looking for? How about turning to someone who has read not all, but a good many of them. When author and president of McKee Wallwork Cleveland Advertising, Steve McKee, was starting out as a field marketing manager for Pizza Hut, he found himself unable to earn an MBA. Instead, he developed a love for business books and began reading everything he could get his hands on to help him with his career. Today, he is often asked which book is his favorite. Unable to pick just one, McKee put together a list of branding, marketing, and advertising books that have made an impact on his life. See the list below:

  1. Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy by Thomas Sowell – According to McKee, “Sowell presents practical concepts about how incentives, trade-offs, and other dimensions of the economy really work” and the book is more interesting and more relevant than any economics course you could take in college.

  2. The Marketing Imagination by Theodore Levitt – McKee says this book made the concept of marketing “come alive” for him. Written by a late Harvard Business professor, the book is somewhat dated, but still a great read.

  3. Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors by Michael E. Porter – According to McKee, this book takes a long time to digest and he finds himself referring back to it as he works with his own clients. This is a popular book that is really helpful in any industry.

  4. Positioning: The Battle for your Mind by Jack Trout and Al Ries – This book is all about branding and making a complex subject easy to understand.

  5. Profit from the Core: Growth Strategy in an Era of Turbulence by Chris Zook and James Allen – This book is the result of a 10-year, 2,000-company study. McKee says it won’t make any top marketing book lists, but it does a great job of explaining why all companies seek sustained, profitable growth but only a fraction of them actually achieve it.

  6. The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Jack Trout and Al Ries – The second book on the list by Trout and Ries.

  7. Hitting the Sweet Spot: How Consumer Insights Can Inspire Better Marketing and Advertising by Lisa Fortini-Campbell – McKee says this is the best resource he’s found for account-planning. He says, “Following the disciplines in this book can lead to truly groundbreaking marketing and advertising efforts.”

  8. A Technique for Producing Ideas by James Webb Young – This isn’t exactly a book, so much it as it is a booklet. Originally developed for University of Chicago students in the 1930’s, McKee says the the information in this book is helpful and quaint, and explains how process of creativity works.

  9. Feeding the Media Beast by Mark Mathis – This book explains “how the news business works, the pressures journalists face, and the predicaments in which they often find themselves.” McKee says this book helped him overcome his fears of talking to reporters or appearing on television.

  10. The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White – McKee says much of the business world’s problem is understanding that the written word is still important. No matter how great your idea is, crafting it and presenting it poorly can hurt your cause.

According to McKee, reading just these ten books will put you ahead of most of the business world. You can read more about what he says about the books here: Essential Reading for Marketers

Best Small Business Books of 2009

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Best Small Business Books of 2009
The editors at Small Business Trends, along with a 27-member advisory panel have put together a list of the Best Small Business Books of 2009. According to the website, the decisions were difficult to make due to the “quality of this year’s business book releases.” Here is a look at the books they chose.

  • Anatomy of Buzz Revisited by Emmanuel Rosen: Learn how to build “buzz” into your marketing strategy with this sequel to Rosen’s best-seller. According to Small Business Trends, you can use this book to “build a community of experts and then let them speak freely about the advantages and disadvantages of your product or service.”
  • Escape from Cubicle Nation by Pamela Slim: This guide for aspiring entrepreneurs helps get you out of the corporate world and into your own business. This proves that you have to make the change to be successful. If you aren’t happy in the corporate world, chances are you never will be.
  • Greening Your Small Business by Jennifer Kaplan: According to this book, being isn’t just trendy, it also saves you money. This book shows you how to become “green” and proves that consumer are going to see eco-friendliness as a reason to purchase your service or product.
  • Me 2.0 by Dan Schawbel: This book is all about personal branding and how your brand will determine your ultimate success. Here, you’ll get ideas, resources, tips and on how to find your personal brand and use it for new opportunities, from registering your own website to finding a field to become a known expert in!
  • The New Community Rules by Tamar Weinberg: Everyone is using social media these days and it can be a great tool to help you build and grow your business. This book, written by a social media consultant, will help you use various social media to market your business online. The best thing is this book doesn’t just teach you how to use the general Facebook and Twitter, it shows you the way to other, lesser known tools, as well.
  • Outrageous Advertising by Bill Glazer: This book points you in the direction of tons of direct marketing and advertising campaigns that will help you grow your business and build a larger customer base. The website calls it an encyclopedia of how-to and advertising ideas and tips.
  • Talk Less, Say More by Connie Dieken: There can be many ways to communicate with customers but this book shows you how to cut to the chase and eliminate the excess. Get your message across and get things done with lots of tips and tricks.
  • Super Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner: Small Business Trends describes this book as “fun and engaging.” It shows how the world works and proves there is a solution for more than you think, unconventional as it may be.
  • Trust Agents by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith: Another social media-oriented book, this one helps you learn social media quickly and use it to help with your brand.
  • Upstarts by Donna Fenn: This book looks at 150 different businesses started by Generation Y’ers. Get inspired as you read how a younger generation overcame challenges to make something of themselves.
  • Viral Loop by Adam Penenberg: This book tells the story of some of the most successful viral marketing campaigns and then shows you how to implement some of it into your own company!
  • You are What You Choose by Scott de Marchi and James T. Hamilton: Make decisions based on more than just demographics, such as time, risk, altruism, getting information, meToo status and stickiness or loyalty with this book. Once you understand how to do this, you can implement it into your own business.

    • SMBs: Drive Sales & Get Noticed This Holiday Season

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    According to the Constant Contact Annual Holiday Survey, 52% of small businesses, who participated in the Small Business Holiday Outlook Survey, expect their holiday season sales to improve over last year. Last year, only less than a third of business owners were as optimistic. Constant Contact, a leading provider of marketing and survey tools for small organizations, said that many respondents expressed overall optimism about the state of the economy.

    If you own a small or medium-sized business, chances are you are anxious about your own holidays sales, regardless of what your outlook on the economy is, here are some tips and recommendations for improving your sales and getting your company noticed, this holiday season:

    1. Get Your Customers Involved – Survey your customers to find out what they’d like to see go on sale and use social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook to reach customers and potential customers. If you decide to let a popular vote determine your sale products, chances are customers will pass the word along to friends and family who can also vote, in turn, getting the word out about your company.

    2. Brand Yourself – Make sure you have a good company logo and use it everywhere, along with your name, message and tone. Consistency in communication is key and will help reinforce your brand.

    3. Link Yourself – Have a company website? Company Blog? Company social networking accounts? If not, consider getting them and putting a little time and effort into them. Customers will use them to find out more about your company.

    4. Host a Holiday Event – Show your customers how much you appreciate them by hosting a holiday-themed shopping event with discount incentives. Make sure you market and promote your event via social networks and other outlets.

    5. Don’t Forget Last-Minute Shoppers – They’re out there. Don’t stop marketing a few days before Christmas. Many people wait until after the holiday to their shopping, in hopes of getting great deals and customers are usually loaded with Christmas money or gift cards after the big day.

    6. Remember Why You Stand Out – Do you customers return because of your excellent customer service or because you offer services that other businesses do not? Remind your customers of that every chance you get, through emails, your website, and any other marketing tools you use. Remember, not every customer is looking for the best deal.