1. Blog – A blog (a shortening of the term “web log”) is an easy-to-use type of website that also offers social and SEO benefits. Blogs are usually a series of more or less regular entries of commentary, news items, and other material such as videos. As most blogs are interactive, you can easily use this medium to interact and engage with your customers, existing and potential.
2. Newsletters & Email Marketing– Email newsletters are great ways to connect directly with prospective customers and stay connected to current customers. Newsletters provide a way to offer useful and targeted information to nurture leads and provide opportunities to find out more on products and services.
3. Media Coverage & Contributed Articles- Word of mouth is priceless for all businesses, especially small businesses. Getting mentioned in the local business media and trade publications can boost awareness, credibility and directly generate new business.
4. Resource Center - One way small businesses are often beating their larger competitors in search and in building authority, is to be more personable and quicker to react. And they are perceived to be a better resource for customers through useful content. Common formats for helpful information about buying, using and related information on products and services can include articles, videos and podcasts.
5. Social Networks & Media – In the way that customers expect a toll free number, website and blog, they’re beginning to expect the brands they buy from to be social. That means having a presence in the social networks that are most relevant to customers. A small amount of time consistently spent on interaction and relationship building can go a long way at developing a community.
6. Events– Networking for small businesses is as old as word of mouth marketing itself. Events are a great way to connect with prospective customers, marketing partners, new employees and influentials in your industry.
Based on an article by Lee Odden
“How Small Business Can Get BIG Online with Content Marketing”
Now where did 2010 disappear to so fast, hm? With another new year upon us (in the best possible sense), many of us take a look back at all the good, challenging, rewarding and inspiring things we encountered over the past 12 months. And many are planning ahead, making new year resolutions. So what will be happening here at Cavalletti Communications? And what does 2011 have in store for you and me as small business owners out there, I wonder?
2010 was an eventful year on all fronts
Cavalletti Communications celebrated its 1st official birthday, our team of talented experts has been growing steadily, friendships and collaborations have been formed across the net and at networking events. I have had the honour of meeting many business owners and thought leaders who shared their expertise and knowledge. You, my clients and connections have been kind and generous in passing on referrals to me, and thus help my business grow. Thank you!
Running an expanding business has also thrown challenges my way, of course: How do you do it all in only so many hours in the day? When do I find the time to put all those fantastic (I think) ideas into practice? Surely I can do that myself? We have to learn the hard way at times, and so have I here and there.
On a personal note, 2010 saw me getting married and meet the huge gaggle of what is now my new, significantly larger (but equally lovingly boisterous and fun) family. So, 2010 certainly held a lot of changes for me, on all fronts.
Starting off a successful 2011
So far so good: January of this new year is already over, and has been a good month for most of us. Like many of you, I have made plans and set goals on various fronts. On where, how and when to grow my business. And personal ones (hello, fitness & balance!).
2010 will see a new range of Cavalletti Communications writing & marketing services developed. I am already in exciting conversations with a number of very talented people regarding affiliations and working with us. And Cavalletti Communications will get another boost via our about-to-be-signed-off membership at the Artisans chapter of BNI.
But as business owners we also are people. And as people we need personal challenges – and time to relax. I was lucky to be able to combine the two on a recent camping trip in the beautiful Snowy River and Snowy Mountains regions. If you like a glimpse of the stunning view from Australia’s highest peak, Mt Kosciuszko, below is a little video for you. I scaled my first mountain for 2011. : )
So, what are your challenges and inspirations for 2011?
Looking forward to reading your take on the new year!
What’s your favourite blog?
Which websites do you enjoy reading?
Seen an ad lately that stayed with you for a long while?
Chances are, their writers were saying something that mattered. To you.
They appealed to you because you could find out quickly what the writer was trying to say. And they were relevant, not just waffling on. They may have been funny, entertaining, educational, silly, serious, or even pure marketing.
What they have in common is good writing – with you, the reader in mind. They “got” what you need, what you were looking for. Rather than just going on about themselves, without saying anything that matters to you, their reader/client/prospect/fan. People and companies can get very wrapped up in their own jargon, their way of talking about their services and products, because they are just too close to the topic they write about. It’s their baby, after all.
Getting a professional copywriter like myself involved, does not mean you loose control of what’s written. A copywriter or editor helps you say what you want and need to say – but in a way that actually gets your message across.
Seth Godin, marketing “guru” extraordinaire, has this example of copywriting gone haywire on his blog:
“The firm will remain competitive in the constantly changing market for defense legal services by creating and implementing innovative and effective methods of providing cost-effective, quality representation and services for our clients.”
Now, I am sure you’ll agree: there are better ways of saying whatever it was the writer intended to communicate.
Remember: Communication is what’s received.
Now… fire away & let me know your thoughts on this topic.
Looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
We are all prone to a good dose of procrastination or “what are my priorities again?!” struggles.
Some days (or weeks, months,… years) just don’t flow the way we want them to.
There are many, many different reasons why we tell ourselves that we will just do that particularly nasty-looking thing later: The summer sunshine is too tempting, the winter cold too paralysing and plunging us into lethargy. Or something needs to be done first, urgently. Now. Sorry, just can’t wait. Honest, the world will end if I don’t deal with that (more pleasant looking) thing right now. Uh-uh!
But let’s face it, most of these oh-so-urgent (read: preferred) things can wait a while.
What it really comes down to is this:
We all rather deal with the pretty prince(ss) than the ugly frog first.
That ugly amphibian can wait, thank you very much!
Well, it can’t.
More often than not, the things we like to do least are the ones that are the most important to tackle.
If not for what they are in themselves – the insurance for the car or business IS important, even if it is boring and mind-numbing to get through the forest of paperwork and jargon – then for the challenges they pose.
What is the real reason I keep postponing a particular task? Do I worry about spending money and my financial security, or perhaps about not understanding the insurance jargon and subsequently getting the wrong cover?
So, what to do?
I have used a few techniques to help me hone in on the nasty-looking items first, get them out of the way. I find that the smaller, less daunting tasks end up looking quite pretty afterwards – and are a lot easier and faster to deal with once the dread of the ugly toad has vanished.
To kiss the ugly frogs good-bye efficiently check out Ask Rebecca How’s own Rebecca Well’s blog here.
Or perhaps you prefer to chuck a tomato at the little blighters? Try the Pomodoro Technique.
What works for you?
How do you set your priorities & overcome procrastination?
And now, I better sort that insurance out…
Until soon, Daniela
Wow! Some information I gather, read, like, digest and get (very) excited about is just too spot-on to even try to change! So, here is the text of marketing “guru” Seth Godin’s latest blog offering – shamelessly repeated in its entirety.
He poses some very important questions that are worth considering before you start any new project, job, venture or adventure. I hope you will find his writing and ideas as useful and thought-provoking as I do. Enjoy!
If you’re starting out as an entrepreneur or a freelancer or a project manager, the most important choice you’ll make is: what to do?
As in the answer to the question, “what do you do?”
Some questions to help you get started:
Who are you trying to please?
Are you trying to make a living, make a difference, or leave a legacy?
How will the world be different when you’ve succeeded?
Is it more important to add new customers or to increase your interactions with existing ones?
Do you want a team? How big? (I know, that’s two questions)
Would you rather have an open-ended project that’s never done, or one where you hit natural end points? (How high is high enough?)
Are you prepared to actively sell your stuff, or are you expecting that buyers will walk in the door and ask for it?
Which: to invent a category or to be just like Bob/Sue, but better?
If you take someone else’s investment, are you prepared to sell out to pay it back?
Are you done personally growing, or is this project going to force you to change and develop yourself?
Choose: teach and lead and challenge your customers, or do what they ask…
How long can you wait before it feels as though you’re succeeding?
Is perfect important? (Do you feel the need to fail privately, not in public?)
Do you want your customers to know each other (a tribe) or is it better they be anonymous and separate?
How close to failure, wipe out and humiliation are you willing to fly? (And while we’re on the topic, how open to criticism are you willing to be?)
What does busy look like?
In my experience, people skip all of these questions and ask instead: “What can I do that will be sure to work?” The problem, of course, is that there is no sure, and even worse, that you and I have no agreement at all on what it means for something to work.
