Lead Generation is a hot topic for most small business owners. With just less than 4 months remaining in 2010 leads become vital to ensure targets are met and. This is an article I found and though some of it may be common sense there is also a great reminder about targeting. As a business owner yes we all want everything though in reality could we actually cope with the influx. Probably not. So niche is good. This can also help when you are looking for referals as this article also points out.

Feel free to comment.

Lead generation is one of the best ways of getting your business to fly in our new internet age. Within the last decade, having an online presence has become mandatory for every business intending to succeed. It is no longer enough to merely have a store front or a listing in a directory. Now companies need leads to help them with their marketing strategies. Moving leads are compulsory for a moving company that wants to grow. If a company is not interested in having a leads provider on their payroll, then they always have the option of using pay per lead services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jake_W._Freeman

To You and Your Online Success

Denise and Sharon

So what is SEO or search engine optimization. Here we give a quick explanation that explains in a nutshelf what seo is all about.

There are many ways to get found online. It could be recommendation. It could be through an Article you wrote, it might be because of a banner on a website.

All of these activities have one thing in common and that is SEO. This is also something that build over time. The more information you have on the internet with keywords and phrases that appeal to your audience the better it is.

SEO training is much easier than most people realise

The great thing about SEO is that you can learn a lot in a short time and it is one of the first modules we teach on our new membership programme Get Going on Google.

As a first step though you need to know what it is that your audience is looking for online and you can do this through using the google keyword tool. This will give you a great sense of what you market is searching for on line. You can then optimise your website or blog for the search engines.

To You and Your Online Success,

Sharon and Denise

Above is a quick video where Sharon talks about selling on line and what the difference is between selling direct to your customers and selling online. Big hint the basic principles are the same.

Have a great weekend,

Best Wishes

Denise and Sharon

Small Business Website? 5 Reasons Why a blog might Just Be For You

When it comes to making a decision about a small business website many business owners ask the same question should I have a website or a blog?

In fact let me clarify that often the first question is what is the difference between a website or a blog and is one better than the other.

Deciding on a website is one of the first decisions new savvy business owners usually make and yet many people are confused about the best option.

Generally many bricks and mortar businesses seem to prefer the classic style of website and yet this really does not need to be the case.

The website you are reading this Article on is actually a blog. The fundamental difference between a blog and traditional website is that blogs are more dynamic and enable interaction and comment. So below we have listed just 5 reasons why this might be the choice for you.

1. You are on a tight budget.

This is a generalisation and yet simple blogs generally are less expensive to create and have live on the internet. There are many free blog themes on the internet for every conceivable business which also look professional.

2. You like to be involved

Now blogs actually have a content management system included and this can really help if you want to be involved in adding in your own content. If you can type into a word document and you can email then using a blog will be easy for you.

3. You need search engine rankings

Google loves blogs. Especially WordPress. The main reason for this is that blogs enable their owners to update content on a regular basis. As we know Google also loves content and the fresher the content the better.

4. You want to brand yourself as an expert

One of the great advantages of blogs and blogging is the ease with which you can communicate with your audience. For instance, from deciding to write this article typing it and adding it to the site took less than 35 mins. Imagine if every morning you did this. Say you work 48 weeks of the year. Potentially you have just added a potential 240 web pages to your site. Imagine what search engine visibility that will bring you.

5. You want speed of action.

I think the point above just illustrated how quick this can be. Using something that is happening in your market and making a comment on it, could have you in the flow of a lot of traffic. Small business internet marketing can make you nimble in a situation like this. You appear up to the minute with the added bonus that you might just get additional traffic that you never expected. Unless you have a web person on site contacting your web company will take time. You might then have to wait for them to add an additional page

To You and Your Online Success

Sharon and Denise

By popular request we have started to run more Free webinars on online marketing and general business building. The eagle eyed will spot a new page on the site.Our next one is in a couple of weeks on August 25th at 8pm UK and 3pm EST. You can find you local time at the clock below

www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

Please feel free to pass on to anyone you feel would benefit from getting more clients without actually spending anything. Anyone that registers will also get a copy of the recording.

You can sign up for our next webinar on August 25th at 8pm UK 3pm EST by clicking the link below. You will also get a copy of the recording. The strategy we are teaching is easy non technical and works. Just sign up in the box below. If you cannot make it sign up anyway as you will still get the recording. If you come online live you have an added bonus of being able to ask questions! Plus we will be giving away 2 hours of Free coaching live on the evening! ( This is worth over £400 as it will be with both of us )

To You and Your Online Success

Denise and Sharon

Twitter Has Its 20th Billion Tweet: Here Are 3 Reasons Why It Works in Business

Twitter the micro blogging social network reached its 20 billionth Tweet last week. So what you might say? Well true, I occasionally have been known to make similar comments. What is interesting though is the viral phenomenon of social networks such as Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook.

The 20th billion tweet was amazing enough. More astounding is that it took 4 years to mark the 10th billion tweet which occurred in March this year and only another 5 more months to double it.

Twitter started life over four years ago as a way to make blogging easier for people online. The technical term for Twitter is a micro blogging platform. The non geek version is that it is a way to communicate with people in less than 140 characters.

Side note: Blogging actually started life as an online diary where individuals like you and I could keep a diary for the entire world to see. Hence the term weblog. Over time people started to coin the phrase blogging.

The basic remit is that users of Twitter can tell each other what they are doing at any point in time, share information, pictures, images, top tips etc. As its popularity has grown it is also a great place to find out answers to any number of questions you might have and of course to keep up with all the latest gossip.

The concept is to follow and be followed by Twitters’ who have similar interests’ passions. The exciting part for many people is that in theory you have a direct line to people who you might never have in a month of Sundays. This could be possible business connections mentors etc.

As with many “platforms” like this there are surges in cult usage depending on which celebrity as decided to use the social network in question. Twitter has gained in popularity in the UK particularly over the last year with the TV channels and cult programmes like the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent leveraging it for their own viral marketing campaign.

From a business perspective Twitter usage is booming. Though you might have to spend “time” on your marketing efforts with Twitter from a cost point of view actual costs are tiny.

Imagine having over 2000 followers (small by some standards) and what if just 10% of these people went to your website and decided to join your newsletter. That is an extra 200 people on your database that has cost very little.
There are various free software programmes that help you automate processes.

In addition to low cost Twitter has many aligned and easy to use applications that you can utilise to automate following and messaging people. Some business owners have literally thousands of followers. They create this by having a strategy and a plan that helps them connect with their audience.
They also automate this with software…though many might not admit it.
From a small business internet marketing perspective how can it benefit business? Well there are a number of ways. This can be summed by 3 main headings. Communication, Connection and Contribution.

Connection

As small business owners we all want to connect with our market at a number of levels. From the initial introductions, to building rapport and demonstrating that we understand “their” issues and problems and most importantly we have a possible solution for them. We do this through communication.

Communication

Classical sales training will always teach that most customers and clients will only start to buy after the 7th interaction with you or your company. The sales and personal development guru Brian Tracey talks about this at length in lots of his excellent books and training. You can also find even more validation through studying N.L.P and the study of excellence which has numbers, studies and evidence to back up this claim.

It is logical when you reflect on other areas of your life. Generally as human beings we like to get to know one another. The more we see, hear or experience someone the more boxes they tick as we evaluate them at both a conscious and unconscious level.

Think about when you met the certain someone in your life? Yes I know it might have been some time ago. I am sure it might have been love at first sight though my suspicion is you did not get into a committed relationship until you had at least seen them a few times?!
Now think about the beauty of Twitter. This process of communication and connection can happen at a much
faster pace.

Contribution

Let’s explain this one a little more .BNI is a well known networking business. It works on the premise that givers gain. All this is based on the law of reciprocity. In other words you give me something of perceived value to me and I give you something in return. That might be, I open up to listening to you, or I consider buying something from you. We have an example close to home.

Though I may be a bit of a geek. Fixing electrical circuit breakdowns in the house is not my strong point. Luckily for us there is a local electrician in our village. Last year everything went black! I rang Ian our Knight in shining armour. He came round worked his magic and didn’t charge us, the reason being “Well I was on my way home” Now when it came to replacing 6 spotlights in our kitchen who do you think got the work? Correct. By the way if you live in South Lakes Ian Speakman is fantastic as an electrician!

Back on track now! So how does this link to Twitter. Well you can share tips and information about your target markets issues and problems. Suggest helpful websites with information, free programmes reports etc. You know the type of thing. When you are an expert in your field it is easy to give away information that will not devalue you your product or service. It creates trust and helps to establish an unconscious link.

Using an example of how this could work. Say you are selling a product or service to help people lose weight. You could share a link to a site where they can plot their weight loss for free. Or a nutritional website where they can find out what fruit and vegetables are in season. Do this on a regular basis and then you might be surprised how many of them will come and buy your service.

People that are then following you will start to see that you are a good “egg” with something valuable to say. Eventually they start to come and look at your website with all your programmes and services. Then hey presto your phone rings or you here the kaching of a PayPal button. You feel good they feel good and everybody is happy.

Action steps

So what next? Well first don’t ignore this social network. It is exploding because it works and more and more people want to do business with individuals they, know like and trust.

1. Sign Up for an Account

2. Make sure you have a picture of you and a link to your website in your bio. Weird or silly photos for business
will get fewer followers.

3. Connection with your audience. DONT overly promote yourself first. Make it engaging add value and share.

4. Get yourself either a free guide to using Twitter or Google Twitter guides.
You can probably pick one up for less than a fiver! If you Google Mark Shaw he has some great free stuff.

5. Follow people and watch the conversation

6. Follow us and we will follow you back you can find us at http://www.twitter.com/najedaonline

To You and your online success!

Denise and Sharon

Email communication can be a fantastic marketing tool and is something we use with great effect. The trouble is sometimes it can all get just overpowering. So I decided to share a really quick tip today with something that is working for me.

First to clarify though, Small business internet marketing and b2b email marketing will still work with your customers. You just have to make sure that you are adding some value and you don’t abuse the relationship you are working hard to create.

First steps make sure you have more than one email account and special emails for special people, you know the type of thing. So where does the market research come in? Glad you asked that question. If you are a marketer it is actually useful to find out what emails you actually open and which you dont? Put it this way if you don’t open them perhaps your customers won’t either.

So what I do is get on a lot of marketers lists and they all come through one email account. I use Gmail ( yes we can now call it that in the UK) it is easy to set up and great at blocking spam.

Then every few days I scan them. Yep, I just have a quick look. The ones that peak my interest get put into a special folder and then I delete the rest. Later on I go back to them and see if I am still interested. If I am then maybe this subject line might just be one to use again.

Hope the tips help

Best Wishes

Denise and Sharon

Online reputation management is big business now ( Though Denise cheer up!!……perhaps a touch or recording nerves!)

We thought we would share a couple of videos over the next week or so. We have been invited to have a TV channel on Start up TV in the UK.

We are really excited about the possibilities. This is actually a great online ” magazine style site” with contributions from many different angles when it comes to marketing. We will let you know how it goes.

If you are a start up business it would be well worth you going along and signing up for their free newsletter.

This video on search engine repuputation management talks through some of the reasons why it is becoming increasingly important in all walks of business life.

A few months ago we were at a networking event where one business owner was not convinced of the benefit of being online. Which is fair enough, as we are all entitled to our own opinions and thoughts. Yet this particular individual had had some negative press about him which, sad to say was evident on line. This is not rare at all.

A funny story from us is that Denise once objected to a planning application ( eco warrior that she is) and for quite a while this was one of the main things that appeared about her on the internet! Now because of our own knowledge we know how to minimise the impact. It is easy, yet it is important to know what to do when it comes to your own internet repuation management.

First of all make sure whenever you comment on an online forum or blog that the comment you leave relates to your brand and the image you want to portray.

Go and grab your social network names. The power of linkedin and facebook are huge and making sure that your name is listed will probably get you on the first page of Google straight away.

Apart from going to Google how do you know what people are saying? The quickest and easiest way is to go to Google alerts and add in your name as an alert. You will then be sent emails everytime someone talks about you on line.

Just Google Google alerts and you can arrange it in seconds.

So in summary then what can you do? There are hundreds of things. Though below are 7 things you can do that will take you probably less than an hour ( possibly with the exception of adding your name to your website)

1. Go to Google alerts and sign up for alerts on your name and your company name.

2. Sign up for a linkedin account. Even if you are not sure what to do quite yet claim your name

3. Sign up for Facebook

4. Sign up for Twitter.

5. Make sure that you add your own name into your website details and key words.

6. Post on relevant forums under yourr own name and say something “worthwhile”. You just might be picked up by the search engines.

7. Go and sign up for a free blogger blog and use your own name. Just post something simple like an about you 100-200 words.

To You and your online success

The video below was sent to e by a friend.That made me think how quickly I can start to go off on a tangent where video is concerned. The link below is a “different” advert for old spice. Targeted I suspect at the female buying population mostly. Though a couple of my gay male friends I am sure would appreciate it. Amazing isn’t it what a viral campaign can do for you and your product especially when linked to humour …….and attractive looking men and women!!

So why show you this? I guess Old spice is something of an iconic brand and yet it has very much moved into the the latest century having its own video section on its website.

The graph from Google insights below shows how popular Mr “old” spice man actually is. Google insights shows the general upswing of searches compared to the average over time.

So whatt are the lessons for business owners. No it is not about getting the most attractive person to strip off and promote your company:-) though I guess that is always an option. It is more about being opent to possibility.

Ask yourself:

1. What is popular at the moment that can link to me and my brand?

2. At this time of year what can I offer my clients that they need . Can I promote this in a unique way?

3. What can I share with my clients that is different and yet maybe gives them an idea ( hint this quick blog post)

Off to rescue some plants outside. After a hose pipe ban locally ( don’t laugh we live in the wettest county in England ) we have had 24 hours of torrential rain. Umh maybe a subject for another blog post!

Enjoy the rest of your day

Denise and Sharon

For regular visitors you will have spotted that we have updated the Najeda online marketing site with some new nifty branding.

This is in line with how small business internet marketing is developing.

With over 4 billion searches a day on line and internet marketing growing exponentially it is important to keep in the Flow of where you market is.

You will notice on the site that there is a box on the right hand side that says Grab your stuff! Here you can subscribe and join our list where we communicate with you on how to leverage the internet as a small business owner. There is also another way to join via the grey box that appears. We are just testing it at the moment so we will let you know how it goes.

A couple of months ago we sent out a survey to many of you asking what you needed when it came to marketing online. The result was more online information courses videos etc.As a result over the next couple of months you will be seeing more ways appearing to access the information you requested.

We will also be launching our low cost internet marketing training membership programme in a couple of weeks.

You can connect with us on all the different social networks and You Tube. Plus of course subscribe through the RSS button.

Best Wishes

Denise and Sharon