Home Business - Part 2

Archive for the 'Home Business' Category

Write Great Sales Copy in 10 Steps

Sunday, May 18th, 2008

When you embark on copywriting, it usually involves a product, person, service or concept that you want to deliver content about in a persuasive manner the reader feels compelled to read. If you are selling anything, or if you want your users to sign up for an opt-in email list, you’ll need to master some basic copywriting principles to achieve your goals.

1. Persuasive is the name of the game when it comes to headlines. You want to grab your reader and hook them in that first three seconds they’re reading. By the time they get to the end of that headline, they need to want to read more. If you can’t do that, your headline has failed. It’s got to be catchy, challenge, entice or exploit some current event. The headline must lead the reader directly into the rest of the text on the page. The hook must make them feel compelled to read the rest of the text on the page.

2. The tone has to be casual, informal and conversational. Just like how you talk to a friend. Be good with grammar, but don’t be conventional about it - for example, you can have some one-sentence paragraphs too.

3. There has to be a section that talks about the advantages of your product and each advantage must be written in brief, preferably formatted in a bullet form.

4. Now this is important: The writing has to be simple - no humungous words, no long sentences, no confusion - everything should be written lucidly in a simple style and the copy must flow logically from one paragraph to the next. The reader should be able to understand everything in one go.

5. The copy should always emphasize on the reader’s wants and desires. So, before writing the copy, put yourself in reader’s shoes and ask what is it you’d like to see written.

6. There has to be a commitment or a promise made early on, preferably before the end of second paragraph.

7. The way the paragraphs flow together should be seamless and most of all logical. If there is any fluff, wandering or digression, clean it up and toss it out. Web visitors have short attention spans and even shorter tolerance for extremely long-winded copy that appears to be imploding.

8. Your claims have to be supported by proof. If you say your product contains a magic ingredient, then there should be a testament by a leading authority certifying the value of the ingredient. If you mention your product can help people achieve something, then it must be backed by testimonials, and so on.

9. Once you reach a point when everything sounds persuasive and is backed by adequate testimonials, you must make an offer. Understand that the buyer is only interested in a good deal - so, if you make him a good offer he cannot refuse, you will strike gold.

10. If there are any questions left in the readers’ mind, any doubts, this is where you quash them. You need a finale, just like in the movies, but in this case it compels the reader to take action. Whether you offer a truckload of extras, promise a secret formula only for buyers or some piece of free software they get in addition to their main order, this is where it’s offered. You want to spice it up to the point where it is irresistible. In some cases, I’ve actually heard of people who bought because the bonus was so good and the product was just okay. That’s the excitement you want to bring to your closing copy.

These principles will get you off to a good start when starting to copy write and build sales letters. Some of the best teachers for good copywriting are in your face as you surf. When you come across a particularly compelling piece of copywriting, bookmark it and study it. The best and brightest are all around you. You simply have to stop and look.

Learn tips for marketing an online business, or how to start a home based internet business. Visit the website marketing tips blog at http://www.nitromarketing.com/blog

- Kale McClelland

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Four Effective Tips For Providing Great Customer Support

Sunday, May 18th, 2008

As a small business if you want to set yourself apart from the rest, then you will need to focus on providing excellent customer support. As a small business you may not have many employees, and often you are the one left carrying the torch. This is not necessarily a bad thing, especially in light of the fact that you will be able to manage your customer service more effectively. Let’s take a look at what steps you need to take to ensure your customer service ranks among the best.

1. Give out discounts

If you have preferred customers, customers who have been with you since you started your business, make sure that you treat them well. They are what your company is based off of, and it is extremely advantageous to make sure that they keep coming back. Make a list of the customers that you consider your best clients and do something nice for them, whether you give them a discount on an order or you simply send them a gift with the next purchase. Word of mouth is still a great way to get business, so make sure that you treat your old customers right.

2. Handle complaints immediately

When it comes to customer complaints you need to deal with them immediately. As a small business you do not have to get bogged down with paperwork. Get out in front of any issue that arises. Investigate and find out what the facts are. While we all know that the customer is not always right, one thing is for sure, if the good will of the customer becomes damaged it mat affect your bottom line.

3. Add a Personal Touch

These day’s with all the technology that we have to communicate, many business people are not out there talking face to face with their customers. Provide your customers with a direct line of communication. This is one effective card you can play against the bigger companies. By the very fact that they can talk to you face to face, you will set yourself apart from the rest of the field.

4. When You Say You Will Deliver - Deliver!

If you cannot deliver on time then you need to explain why. Reliability is the key to your success, so always try and deliver on time. As a small business your relationship with your customers is critical, a healthy relationship means that your business will have a good reputation, one that your customers can rely on. Communicate openly and always make sure that your customers know what is going on with their orders, bottom line under promise and over deliver.

Did you know? FACT: 68% of people will quit doing business with companies that have poor customer service. Find out how to give great customer service - get effective customer service tips at http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Give-Great-Customer-Service

- Kale McClelland

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Giving Out Great Customer Service!

Sunday, May 18th, 2008

Have you ever being on the phone with a big company and find yourself going from one representative to the next without achieving anything. This of course can become very frustrating. However big businesses utilize this process to run their customer service in a more efficient manner; at least in a more cost efficient manner, however as a small business owner you do not have to put your customers through this, as a result you can provide them with a positive customer service experience. This in effect is to your advantage and when you take care of your customers they will keep coming back to do more business with you.

When you are looking into providing excellent customer service, the best thing that you can do, first and foremost, is to make sure that you keep your promises. If you give someone a deadline, stick with it, and remember that this is the best way to build a reputation for yourself. Even if you suspect that you can get a project done early, give them the regular lead time. If you get done early, it will be a bonus, and in either case, you will be able to keep your word regarding his work.

Remember that something else that you can give a customer that a larger company cannot is a high degree of face time, so to speak. When you speak with your client, you are speaking professionally, but you are also speaking to them as regular people. You will find that this is a great way to get repeat business, because they will be able to put a face or a voice to the name. Make sure that your customer can get in contact with you. Whether you use e-mail, phone or chat, make sure that you answer promptly and with a great deal of enthusiasm This will help make you come across as someone who wants their business.

When you make a mistake, admit it. Do not try and cover things up, instead get out in front of any issue that occurs. You must always have your customers best interests at heart, they may have deadlines, and you have to understand their priorities. So if there is any issue or mistake made on your end, you do not have to go into detail, but you must communicate and let them know what is going on. Once you have identified a problem explain it to the customer, yet do so in a solution orientated manner. Challenges arise every day in business, your customer will understand, as long as you are proactive and provide solutions. Never skip on your responsibilities, and if at fault offer a refund, then make things right.

If you’re really looking to boost your customer service, pay attention to their needs and put in the effort to deliver on your promises. Good customer service is the key to your success, so make sure and get it right. Be there for your customers and they will continue to do business with you.

Did you know that 68% of people will quit doing business with companies that have poor customer service? Learn the keys to good customer service - get effective customer service tips at http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Give-Great-Customer-Service

- Kale McClelland

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Making Mistakes in Business and Surviving Them

Saturday, May 10th, 2008

One thing you may run across, in fact inevitably you will, is making a mistake. We all do from time to time. You may find yourself thinking that a larger business never would have made this mistake. While certainly possible, and there are things at which a larger company is simply better at, and there are difficulties you’ll face that a larger business owner would not encounter, you do have some advantages over those companies. As a smaller operation, you can recover from a mistake much quicker, meaning you have a much better chance of retaining your customers. Keep reading - we’ve laid out a few vital steps to recovering from a mistake.

1. Own up!

Nothing looks worse or more unprofessional than trying to cover up a mistake, unless its doing so badly. If you have made a mistake and a customer is involved, before they find out about it, let them know. Let them know what has happened, and if they are curious, let them know why it happened. You’ll find that the sooner that you tell them, the more understanding that they will be. This is significantly better than trying to hide it from them and having it come out later down the line.

2. Fix it

This goes without saying. While many larger businesses will simply give the client their money back and move on, this is not something that you have the luxury of doing. Your clients are important, and you’ll find that you can go a long way by treating them like it. Find a way to deliver what you promised, or at least something close to it. Speak with them personally, whether it is on an instant messenger service or on the phone.

3. Give them options

When something goes wrong, a client can feel very helpless when things are taken out of their hands. One way that you can help them feel a little bit better is by offering them a little bit of agency. Ask them about timeframes and what they want and what you can deliver. Ask them about their preferences and make sure that you incorporate this into your solution. You’ll find that the more in control they feel, the better disposed they will be to you.

4. Go above and beyond

Acknowledge that the problem has cost your customer, either in money or time. Offer a gift or a coupon for their next purchase after the problem has been remedied. It is important to leave your customer with a good impression of you, even if they have had a problem with your product or service. Handling these situations properly can even enhance your reputation for customer service.

As you can see, there are many things you can do after you made a mistake. Take advantage of the personalization that is available when you are a small business and think of this as an opportunity to show your customer how versatile and valuable your service can be.

68% of people will quit doing business with companies that have poor customer service! Discover how to give great customer service - learn the keys to good customer service at http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Give-Great-Customer-Service

- Kale McClelland

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Basics of Press Release Writing

Saturday, May 10th, 2008

Some people equate a press release to a bland announcement, some people think it is a communication meant to hype up things, some consider it as a mere formality - well, who says some people can’t be wrong all the time! A press release can boost traffic, create quality backlinks, generate customers and even engineer tie-ups - provided it is done the right way, and here’s how it should be done:

Essentials of a press release

1. Always remember that a press release is not a sales letter. It is, however, an announcement about the introduction of a new product or service. If you don’t have a new product or service, you might want to hold up writing a press release.

2. A good press release doles out valuable information about a product, service, offer or organization. There should be no hype in a press release.

3. The headline is the hook of a press release. Without a good headline, a press release can have great content and be overlooked. There must be an element of drama created in the first paragraph that will cause the person reading to want to read the second paragraph. It must include the what, why, when, where and who in the first paragraph of the press release.

4. Content in a press release must always be newsworthy. It may be picked up the national media services and become part of a bigger story, so you need to write it like it is going to a large newspaper.

5. The press release must be interesting to read. While it is true that you’d like to glorify your product, it is also true that the reader wants to feast his eyes on worthy content - so, always think like a reader when you draft your press release.

6. Avoid all cliched statements.

7. Avoid stale headlines such as “New Website Offers 10% Off”; instead work around the forte and USP of your product/service and hammer that message in.

8. Add testimonials where possible. A press release is factual about a product or service, and with back up, it increases in credibility.

9. Press releases are known for being factual, devoid of fluff and without any exaggeration. Keep the adjectives to a minimum when writing and state facts.

10. Use dynamic, peppy language, but don’t use slang. The press release must be written in an active voice.

11. Keep your press release clear and concise. Use the KISS* method when crafting your piece. (*Keep It Simple & Savvy).

12. Avoid overusing uppercase letters and follow basic rules of grammar.

13. When writing your press release, keep in mind that you will need to summarize it. All PR websites publish press releases in total, but for their listings use your summary. Be very clear in the summary and push benefits for reading further.

14. Develop a strong resource box that talks about you or your website and carries a link back to it.

These were some guidelines for writing a good press release. Follow them, and you’ll come up with a cracker that will get you hits, publicity and therefore more sales. Good luck!

Learn tips for marketing an online business, or how to start a home based internet business. Visit the website marketing tips blog at http://www.nitromarketing.com/blog

- Kale McClelland

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Create Buzz and Get Your Site Noticed Today!

Saturday, May 10th, 2008

A well-laid out website with great sales copy is great. If you are the owner or webmasters of such a site, traffic just makes things better and better. If you have to choose between the two, which would you go with - great eye candy or a website that’s over run by visitors? Of course, you’d take the latter, lots of visitors jamming your site. Well, now you can do that and here’s how you can divert massive traffic to your website.

Whee, it’s free!

Now, if you are selling a product, say coconut oil used in cook, and you want to give away a freebie that will give customers incentive to sign up for your email list. If your e-book or report talks about the best dishes to make with coconut oil, it will be well received on a site about coconut oil. The point of this example is this - freebies attract people, visitors who will arrive at your website because the freebie strikes a chord or fills a need. Along with the freebie, they will join your list to get it and then you can sell to them again in the future and stay in touch with them now.

Gee! It’s not free!

Relax! We’re talking about PPC (Pay per Click) advertisements that you can release by budgeting a small amount, say $100 or so. PPC ads on search engines can really draw traffic if they are cleverly written. Search engines will ask you to bid on keywords and pay a deposit. Research keywords first, pay the deposit, get a killer ad developed, release it and then watch the fun! By the way, if you’re offering a service, go with Google; if it’s a product then try Yahoo Overture first.

Getting Going With Link Building

You build links when: (i) someone likes your website so much that he plants your link on his own website; (ii) you pay a web design firm for placing links on other reputed websites, and (iii) when you exchange links with other reputed websites. Note the use of the word “reputed” above - if you build links with scamsters or link farms, your website will receive a negative rating by search engines. Always, build links with reputed websites and avoid exchanging links with your competitors.

Article submission

Write articles (only professional level, mind you!) on subject relevant to your website’s content and hand them around to reprint directories (such as e-zine.com). At the end of each article, add a resource box that focuses on your website and carries its link. Other website owners who need content come looking to get some articles from reprint directories; if they like your article, they will publish it along with that resource box carrying your link. Result: your backlinks will increase and your visibility will increase manifold!

Affiliate marketing

Sign up with an affiliate network such as CJ.com or Linkshare.com and invite affiliate publishers to host your product/service on their website for a commission. If they do, your visibility will increase along with your sales - this works especially if you have a low-cost, fast-moving product that needs more publicity.

Running a Contest or Sweepstakes

Use the services of websites such as Feedback and Response-O-Matic to plant forms on your website. Now, ask users to fill in these forms to qualify for a prize. This way you will collect a massive database that you can use for email marketing.

The Power of Viral Marketing

Register with social networking websites and plug in fun and engaging content that will draw the members to your own website. Your traffic will receive a super boost using viral marketing.

These methods will generate a lot of continuous traffic. While online advertising is always available, consider using some offline advertising techniques as well. You can give away freebies off line as well as on including stickers, business cards with a calendar on the back and more. No matter what you decide, do it with style.

Learn tips for marketing an online business, or how to start a home based internet business. Visit the website marketing tips blog at http://www.nitromarketing.com/blog

- Kale McClelland

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10 Ways to Own a Successful Home Business

Saturday, May 10th, 2008

When you own a home business that is profitable and successful, it is a wonderful thing. Many people, however, struggle to make this a reality. Below are 10 good tips to get your started on the road to home business success.

1. Do Research: Many people get enamored of the web-based business industry but fail to research each opportunity well. As in the real world, some opportunities sell well and others do not. In order to determine which types of business are viable, it is important to look at product trend, marketing reports and the like in order to get enough information to make a determined decision. While you may need to pay a small subscription fee in order to obtain unbiased information, it will pay for itself many times over in time and money savings.

2. Look at the product thread: When you pick a product, look at its follow up possibilities. Is it a one-hit wonder or are there a number of items that will either go with it or complement it for continuous sales. For instance, if you were selling Proactol which is a natural fat binder used in weight loss products as well as eliminating constipation and cleaning the colon, there is also Isabgul which is also a natural laxative. This can be offered for people who don’t want to lose weight and just want to eliminate constipation.

3. Presentation: Your presentation must be unique. This is not to say that your website must sport a jazzy design - far from it, in fact, a simple website with user-friendly navigation will work wonders. Now, about the presentation: Let’s assume once again that you are selling Proactol. The focus of your presentation must be to hammer home the advantage of FDA approval for Proactol over other natural herbal colon cleansers, which are not backed by any regulatory seals.

4. The power of good copywriting: Words are power on the Internet. While you want your site to be easy to navigate, you want your words to grab your readers and impact the message you are trying to convey in a sincere, truthful and clear manner. Enticing the reader to take action at the end, you let your word make the case for why they should buy. In this area, avoid doing the writing yourself. This is the job for an expert so outsource it to a professional and reap the rewards of an excellent presentation.

5. Payment system: Tie-up with a reputed merchant banker who offers you a variety of payment options. Also, build in a PayPal ordering procedure, as many freelance professionals prefer to pay via PayPal.

6. Promoting and traffic building: There are many methods available for ramping up the traffic to your website once you are ready to receive visitors. Placing keywords in your content is a strategic method of gaining exposure in search engines. You an also offer a free newsletter or other freebies; advertise on search engines using Pay-Per-Click advertising, setup and post to a blog and get affiliate marketers to sell your products. In the new Web 2.0 world, you can also join a number of highly active social networking sites and attract visitors to your site through your social site. This is the new viral marketing model of today.

7. Updates: When people subscribe to any of your freebies or buy your products, always update them (by sending them an e-mail) about what’s happening on your website.

8. Tracking: Once the ball starts rolling, always keep track of your visitors and find out where they come from. If they are concentrated in a certain geographical location, then you can build your advertisement campaign around that.

9. Webhost: Always choose a reputed webhost who employs the latest technology and has redundant space and power capacities.

10. Interest: Finally, always choose a product that you will be interested to work with and promote. There’s no point selling guitars if you’re not interested in - if you promote a product you have a keen interest in, you will get a nice psychological boost every time a check comes in.

These tips will go a long way towards making you happy and prosperous in your online business pursuits.

Marketing on the internet is not as difficult as you may think. Find legitimate ways to make money online, or how to increase your website traffic at http://www.nitromarketing.com/blog

- Kale McClelland

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Communicate With Your Customers Effectively

Saturday, May 10th, 2008

In your quest to become the ‘biggest’ of small businesses, the way to success is banking on the things you, as a small business can offer that your larger competitors can’t touch. Rather than try to come off as a larger company than you are in reality, be honest. Tell customers about the special things you can do for them by virtue of being a small business. This, of course would be the ability to focus on a very narrow sector of the market - because if there’s one thing small businesses don’t usually do as well as the large players, it’s being able to give customers the variety a big business can. You also can provide personalized, friendly customer service; this is what will really make you stand out. Read on for some tips that will help you do just that!

First of all, get your business set up to make it easy for your customers to communicate with you. With big businesses, customers are often frustrated by how long it can take, and how difficult it is to be able to talk to someone outside of the customer service phone bank. Make yourself available to your customers on a regular basis, as much time as you can possibly spare. This will make your customers trust you, which will build loyalty in your business.

When you are working with email, the response turnaround is expected to be very high, if not instantaneous. People are fairly immune to the positive effects of autoresponders at this point, so think about how often you can check your email. Check it at least twice a day, if not more, and make sure that you respond promptly and enthusiastically to anything that you find in there. Having a good response time for personal email is a good way to make sure that your reputation for customer service is high.

Similarly, put your phone number out there, and then answer it when it rings! Make sure that people are aware that this is a line that runs directly to you, and then prove it to them by responding to it in a prompt manner. Having a phone number out there for your customers is ideal because it allows them to immediately place you in their heads as a real person, something that can be a little difficult to do if all they are getting is email. A phone number helps them associate you and your voice with the work that is being done.

Last, but most certainly not least is to follow up with your customers. Give them a call in a few weeks and inquire how your product or service is performing. Be certain to ask if there’s anything else you can do for them; every customer appreciates this little bit of extra personalized service. This also lets you evaluate how your product or service is doing by your customers, and ensures that your customer will be left with a good impression of you, your company and your product.

Communication is key to a small business. Don’t neglect this; a small business succeeds or fails based on customer service, so be sure to ingrain this idea into your corporate culture.

- Kale McClelland

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