Why Email Marketing?

Because personal one-to-one communication with your customers that's targeted and inspires conversions is hard to beat.

•  It's more personal than social media

• 66% of online consumers check their email account multiple times per day, with 13% of online consumers actually checking their email hourly or more frequently

• Makes it quick and easy to follow up, send newsletters, special offers, etc. 

• Email provides you the most direct line of communication for conversion to sales

• It's also amazingly cost-effective

• Good email content deepens your relationship with your audience, builds loyalty, & referrals

• Email inspires action - conversion rate for email was 3.19 percent, compared to 1.95 percent for search, and just .71 percent for social media

Keep in mind that people buy when they have a perceived need or want.  By continuously keeping in touch, you and your business will be 'Top of Mind' when they need your products or services or perhaps refer you to someone.

www.EmailMarketingMadeEZ.com

Why Constant Contact:

- The Leader in the industry
- Easy customizable templates
- Individualized training, help, support, & coaching
- Integration tools of social media, surveys, event
- Easy to use.  No Technical experience necessary
- Image editing & Storage
- Managing all your contacts in one place
- Easily import contacts from other databases
- Keeps lists current with automatic duplicate checks & unsubscribe removal
- Autoresponder
- Spam checker
- Tools to automate & grow your permission based list
- Real-time Reporting, tracking, & integration with Google Analytics

I am a Business Partner with Constant Contact.  I would be happy to help you get started using this amazing tool.  Contact me today and get signed up to try it for FREE for 60 days. 

www.EMailMarketingMadeEZ.com

Happy Emailing,

Annette
www.PaintedLadyEnterprises.com
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good" 

Getting and Keeping Loyal Customers

 

In order to build a relationship it’s important to stay in touch. This applies in our personal lives as well as business.  Just like we nurture a relationship with a new friend we want to nurture our relationship with prospects so they will become our new client.   In order to nurture that relationship, contact is necessary.   And What's more important the value that contact brings the prospect.

Not everyone we meet wants or needs our products or service….now.  But, if we stay in touch and offer value in our communication, perhaps that will change and/or the prospect will refer us when asked, ‘who do you know who sells…..’

Sometimes people just don’t respond to our time table. People are busy.  Life happens.  People forget. Our priorities are not their priorities.  Building relationships with people and trying to establish a helpful giving attitude will come back tenfold.

We can expand the ways we keep in touch which might include:  phone calls, one on ones,  post cards, letters, greeting cards, emails, audios, videos, etc.  Then mix up the forms of contact creating interest and anticipation and offering value.  Although we may have a lot of information of interest about our business, it is important in building a relationship that we take into consideration the interest of our prospect.  By notating their interests and following up with them with information shows that we do truly care about building the relationship.

Every business and sales person can benefit from relationship marketing.  By building the relationship and keeping in touch with clients is a great referral source. I refer to these clients as a “Golden Referral Source.”  If the sales person builds a solid relationship with their client, found them the perfect, home, car, etc., AND stays in touch with them over the years, they will receive referrals and more business from that client for years to come.

Some companies are cutting their prices to keep clients in today's economy.  If a company has a quality product, outstanding service, is dependable, and has built a solid relationship by staying in touch, then that customer is not going to stray just because they might save a few dollars. They realize that the relationship and service they have received is a better value.  

Here are some ways to stay in front of your clients.

• ·        Follow up with a phone call, offer industry information on a periodic basis   

•       Mailing them something personal not bulk or junk mail.

• ·        Personal visit to their place of business and not necessarily to make a sale

• ·        Be their business partner. Take a personal interest in their success.

• ·        Willingness to help even if there is no monetary gain now

Zig Ziglar says that if you help enough people to get what they want, you’ll get what you want.

Remember that it is more costly to find a new customer than it is to maintain and keep the ones we currently have.   If we maintain 5% of our current clientele we can double our business.  Because they will come back to us time and time again and will refer others to us.  

68% of clients leave because of perceived indifference.

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.  ~ Robert Collier

In appreciation,

The Painted Lady

The Quick Connection – Effective Connecting for Effective Results

I was talking with a friend and business colleague last week. We were attending a networking meeting. She said that she had recently talked with someone who said that their business was so bad that they were now having to get out and network. We both agreed that if the person had been doing some effective networking all along, that their business would not be suffering.

One of the most effective networkers I know is Bonnie Ross-Parker, CEO and Founder of The Joy of Connecting. Here is a recent article she wrote on being an effective networker. She gives three strategies that will help to establish rapport and build a solid relationship.

The Quick Connection – Effective Connecting for Effective Results

By Bonnie Ross-Parker

Maybe you’re a veteran of the networking arena and agree you could be more effective. Or, perhaps, you’re just getting started and would like to better understand how to network productively. “The Quick Connection” is a reference tool to help you effectively impact others and increase your success.

Here’s the familiar scenario: Show up. Shake as many hands as possible. Give out and get as many business cards as you can. Tell everyone, “I’ll call you” or expect the people you meet to actually call you. Now, consider another approach that over time will get you better results.

“The Quick Connection” can be implemented any time and in any networking arena. The plan is based on three components: Differentiate, Be Memorable and Make A Difference. If you focus on attending any business environment with all three or any one of the strategies, your success will increase significantly.

Strategy # 1 – Differentiate. Being unique distinguishes you from others, especially those that are in the same industry. Remember when you were young and fitting in meant doing the same thing as everyone else in the crowd? Being the same was a way of establishing acceptance. In the business world, the opposite is true. You will have an advantage when you differentiate. For example, initiate conversations with people you don’t know. Ask how he/she got into the industry they are in, what trends they anticipate or what they did before their current career. Ask what they find to be their biggest challenge. If you’re wondering why this line of questioning, it’s because most business people are more eager to share what they do then to engage in building rapport with some one else. Find out what a good lead is for the individual you’d like to assist. If you want to get to know another business person, consider extending an invitation to an upcoming networking event as your guest. When you implement strategy #1, the emphasis is off of you and focused elsewhere. This is not typical in networking situations.

Strategy #2 – Be Memorable. There are two ways to be memorable – appearance and behavior. In one’s appearance consider branding yourself. For example, men can wear unusual ties, different lapel pins or colors unlike every other man. Women have an easier time? Jewelry can easily help a woman be memorable. Barbara Bush wears her infamous pearls and Larry King is known for his suspenders. They have branded themselves. I always wear cowboy boots. Every day – 365 days a year. While I may not be as well known as Barbara or Larry, having a unique style makes me memorable. People may not remember my name, however, they do remember the lady who always wears cowboy boots. Having a signature style has advantages – especially when you are recognizable!

The second way to be memorable is in your behavior. You must focus on being remembered for the right reason – generosity, punctuality, follow through, integrity and resourcefulness are examples. Being remembered means leaving positive imprints in everything you say and do. People are watching and will choose to do business with individuals that display consistency and integrity.

Strategy # 3 – Make A Difference. You never know who you will meet and the difference you can make in someone else’s life or the difference that encounter will make in your life. Replace a simple thank you with “I appreciate you”. Go out of your way to make a newcomer feel comfortable at a networking event. Over time, you’ll be amazed how differentiating yourself, being memorable and making a difference will impact your success. Like anything new, being conscientious and consistent will take time. Let’s face it, the marketplace is crowded. Everyone is scurrying for their share of business. Find out for yourself if the effort involved in applying strategies of “The Quick Connection” will be worth the results. Get Up! Get Out! and Get Going!

For more ideas on being an effective networker I recommend the book "42 Rules for Effective Connections." This book is by Bonnie Ross-Parker and Cindy Elsberry. The author provides a broad range of strategies that make the difference between networking that is ‘hit and miss’ versus networking that hits the bull’s eye.

Happy Networking,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

42 Rules for Effective Connections

I am thrilled to officially announce that the collaborative book, 42 Rules for Effective Connections, is ready for purchase. Co-authored by CEO and Founder of The Joy of Connecting, Bonnie Ross Parker and Cindy Elsberry of Bumble Bee Virtual Assistant Services with contributions from The Joy of Connecting community. I know you will feel the same pride I feel when you see it for yourself. I am one of the contributing authors. My chapter is titled ‘Keeping in Touch.’

Here is a little about the book:

Tired of the same ‘ole networking chatter? Do you think anyone is really listening to what you have to say? Wish you were somewhere else? If you have to network to grow your business and find yourself spending money going to events, meeting as many people as possible and returning to the office with a handful of business cards without the results you want, you can benefit from the strategies presented in 42 Rules for Effective Connections.

For anyone who wants to improve communication, get better results in any networking environment and alleviate the stress and anxiety that comes from building a business where you have to go out to meet potential customers - 42 Rules for Effective Connections is a must-read. The contributors provide a broad range of strategies that make the difference between networking that is ‘hit and miss’ versus networking that hits the bull’s eye. If you are serious about growing your business and simply are missing the mark on how to make your behavior stand out or if you are achieving success already and want to step up your game, this book will open the door to new possibilities.

There are literally thousands of networking organizations available for anyone wanting to participate. This book is not about which meeting to attend; this book is about how to get better results when you get there! In this book you will learn:

• How to position yourself in a crowded marketplace
• How to start conversations
• What to say to make yourself memorable
• How to insure that others will want to do business with us
• What can we do to improve our performance

Click Here to order your copy today. They retail for $19.95. They are also available as an E-book for $11.95. I would also be happy to personalize and sign your copy for you.

Happy Effective Connecting,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

Don't go Naked on the internet!

Yes, you read the title right. And what does that mean you ask. I heard the term from a friend of mine and she was referring to the signature field when you send an email and not using this area to include your contact information, business name, and maybe your tagline.

There are several reasons to do this. Below are some that I thought of and I've also listed some other information about general posting to the internet. If you have others, please share.

1. Include a phone number. Don't assume the person you are communicating with has your number at their finger tips or programed in their speed dial. Many times I have had the need to call someone back and one of the places I look for their number is a recent email. I did this the other day when I was suppose to meet with someone for coffee. Yes, shame on me for not asking for and writing their number down. Anyway I checked the last several emails we had exchanged about our meeting and no phone number, so I resorted to sending an email to confirm our meeting. Luckily the person received it and it all worked out well.

2. List your company information, i.e. website, tagline, etc.. Someone might be interested in your products or services. That's how I found the greeting card business. I was surfacing the web looking for information on 'The Laws of Attraction' and read a post that had a signature line about sending a greeting card. So I did, now it's part of my business.

3. Post a photo, not a cute avatar, company logo, etc. especially on social networks. How can someone warm up to you or get to know you when they have no face to relate to. And make it a recent photo. Everyone now a days has a digital camera or camera on their phone. Take a few minutes and have someone take your photo and post it. I have a business associate who has a massive following on Twitter, but she will not follow anyone that doesn't have a photo. And what about Facebook! Have you ever searched for someone on FB? You might get several of the same names and with no photo, how are you suppose to know which one is the right person! What do you have to hide?

4. When you join a social website, put some information out there. Let people know who you are, what you do, what your interests are, etc. Again it's a
S O C I A L network. If you don't have any info out there, then you're just a lurker or stalker.

5. Participate. It doesn't take hours, but it can become addictive. Post a status, a comment, an opinion, a compliment, say happy birthday, congratulations, etc. Just like you would if you were at any other social gathering. Don't be a wall flower.

So if you want to get to know people, whether it's for personal or business reasons let them know something about you, The REAL You. Don't go naked on the internet.

Happy Networking!
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"