Co-authored by: Michelle Frechette Ames, MBA. Marketing Diva

Transcription

1 Michelle Frechette Ames & Christine Baker Marriage Co-authored by: Michelle Frechette Ames, MBA Marketing Diva Christine Baker Marriage, LMT Business Mentor for Bodyworkers and Speaker

2 You started your business to make a difference in the world, be your own boss, and make your own fortune. You are good at what you do but you might still need help in certain aspects of your business. That s where we come in. This e-book has tips for marketing your business. Need more help? We are both here for you. Feel free to reach out if you need it and remember Happy Reading! ~Michelle & Christine B C F O R B E S 2

3 25 Ways to Build Your Business Today 1. SOCIAL MEDIA WHY: Social media is the hottest, least expensive way to get your name out in front of hundreds (and potentially thousands) of people. It is like having the word of mouth celebrity status shared amongst people you have never met. TO DO S: Post to your accounts an article, open hours, new products & services, or an inspirational quote to remind your friends and followers of who you are, where to find you and why they should work with you. If they like you and align themselves with your work values and ethics they are more likely to work with you and to promote you as well. 2. DISTRIBUTING 5+ BUSINESS CARDS EVERY DAY WHY: It is the first impression you make with a prospective client or colleague. Handing your cards out invites others to get to know you better, to connect with you (especially if it includes other information besides your phone number) and to pass along your information to those they think might benefit from your services. TO DO S: Hand out at least five business cards to new people every day. Cashiers, friends, teachers, bus drivers, waitresses (and beyond) could all benefit from your services or know someone who else could. 3. PHONE CALLS WHY: Personal Communication will never go out of style even in the age of cutting edge technology. TO DO S: Call at least 5 clients every week whom you haven t seen in a while to reconnect with them, to let them know of upcoming promotions and new services added, or to see how they are doing and offer how you might be of service. 4. LETTER OF INTRODUCTION TO OTHER PROFESSIONALS WHY: Other professionals may not know that you are around, let alone what you do. By introducing yourself through a professional letter, you are establishing a professional connection and letting them know about you and your business. TO DO S: Write a letter of introduction to area professionals. Follow up in a week with a phone call and offer to explain more about how you could benefit their business. 5. ASK FOR REFERRALS WHY: If you don t ask the answer is automatically no (at least that is what our mothers always said). There is nothing wrong with saying to your clients, I am looking to expand my business, so if you know of anyone who could use my services, I would appreciate you giving them one of my cards. TO DO S: Ask this week s clients for referrals. Give them each 5 business cards to share with others. Perhaps initiate a referral program in your business. 25 Ways to Build Your Business Today! 3

4 6. YOUR CLIENTS WHY: Not everyone will be on Social Media or think to go searching on your website. Alert your clients and potential clients with your news! TO DO S: your client database (using Mail Chimp or other mail marketing managers) to promote your open hours. Add content value with articles or helpful tips. 7. PLAN AN OPEN HOUSE WHY: Inviting people into your space to see your environment offers a social opportunity for people to get to know you better and to feel comfortable using your services. TO DO S: Invite people you haven t seen in a while. Invite people who have never been to your office. Promote through , social media and handbills. Do a drawing for a giveaway as incentive for people to attend. 8. CELEBRATE AND TALK ABOUT YOUR SKILLS WHY: People don t know what they don t know. So it is up to you to tell them. Be proud of your hard work! TO DO S: Have you taken a professional development class recently? Tell people what you learned. Are you particularly good at a specific service? Tell people. If you don t tell them, they won t know. 9. OFFICE SELFIES WHY: (Not of your beautiful face but of what your potential client will see.) Giving your potential client something to assess how you operate and your style will help them decide if they want to book with you or not. First impressions really do make a difference so create an authentic visual representation of what to expect when a potential clients arrives at your office. TO DO S: Post photos of your office on Facebook and your website. If it looks inviting, people are more likely to visit. Please do not use stock photos to represent you and your environment. 10. ASK CLIENTS FOR TESTIMONIALS AND QUOTABLES WHY: This builds credibility. Not only are you good enough to talk about, but they are willing to associate their name and identity to your business. This speaks VOLUMES! TO DO S: Get them to put in writing why they benefit from your services. With permission to use their first name and last initial, post to your Facebook or website. Use in marketing. 4

5 11. MAIL POSTCARDS WHY: Snail mail is just another way of reaching out to people. Postcards get your name, business, and contact information in front of people and on their desks. It is especially great when you want to reconnect with those occasional clients. TO DO S: Mail out postcards to at least 100 people and invite them to check you out, set an appointment, or invite them to a special gathering at your office. 12. PUBLIC SPEAKING WHY: Speaking publically about your area of expertise gets the word out, and puts you in front of potential clients. It will also help establish you as an expert in your field. TO DO S: Offer to speak to small groups. Hand out brochures about you and your business and demonstrate how you could be of service to the group. 13. VOIC GREETING WHY: Being professional during the very first interaction between you and your client will help alleviate any doubts that you are the right person to work with. TO DO S: Make sure your voic identifies you as Your Name, title, and business. You can also offer website information, open hours or a business tip. 14. MAKE SURE YOUR WEBSITE IS UP-TO-DATE WHY: You wouldn t go to a client meeting in cutoffs and flip-flops. Or attend a business luncheon wearing slippers and a concert t-shirt. You wouldn t attend a gala in jeans and a tank top. If you wouldn t wear clothes and hair from 1999, why would you let your website? To Do s: Make sure that your website is mobile responsive, has all of your current contact information on it, and is designed well for optimum client use. 15. ATTEND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CLASSES THAT WILL HELP YOU HONE AND EXPAND YOUR SERVICES WHY: Expanding your education makes you a better business person, allows you to add new skills to your repertoire, and inspires confidence in your clients. TO DO S: Look for classes that intrigue you, and that you feel would complement your business. Then make sure to let your clients know! 16. APPROACH EACH PROJECT WITH INTENTION WHY: Focus on your projects will allow you to give everything you ve got to your clients. Distraction and judgment pull your attention away and can decrease the value of the work you produce. TO DO S: Set your intention before you begin your work. 25 Ways to Build Your Business Today! 5

6 17. START A NEWSLETTER WHY: Keeping in regular contact with your clients helps them with tips and business information, and helps you stay in their minds. TO DO S: Create an account with an ing company like MailChimp, Aweber, or Constant Contact. Collect tips, stories, and information to share on a monthly or quarterly basis with your clients. 18. JOIN ORGANIZATIONS FOR NETWORKING WHY: Networking groups (also called referral groups) exist for the sole purpose of recommending one another and your business. The larger the group, the larger the referral network. TO DO S: Look online for meetup groups, chambers of commerce, and other referral groups to join. Or find other small business owners and start your own! 19. BLOG ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES IN YOUR BUSINESS WHY: Search engine optimization relies on strategic content. Blogging supplies fresh content to your website, giving your clients new information on a regular basis, and helping your site be ranked. TO DO S: Blog at least weekly, and make each post between words. Make sure to spell check and check for grammar to look professional. 20. SEND OUT HOLIDAY CARDS WHY: Special occasions and holidays provide a perfect opportunity to get your name in front of your clients. Take advantage of these opportunities to remind clients how valuable they are to you. TO DO S: Keep a list of clients with their addresses. At holiday times, print postcards or greeting cards and include your logo, address, hours and contact information. 21. ALIGN WITH A LOCAL CHARITY (LIKE THE LOCAL FOOD SHELF) AND OFFER A SMALL DISCOUNT IF CLIENTS MAKE A DONATION TO THAT ORGANIZATION WHY: Everyone loves an organization that gives back to its community so be that organization. Collect canned goods for the local food shelf, blankets and coats for the homeless, or toys for needy kids at the holidays. TO DO S: Get the word out to your clients. Offer a small discount if they contribute, too. Then write a press release when you make the donation and get a receipt for your taxes, too! 22. FOLLOW UP WITH NEW CLIENTS AFTER YOU HAVE COMPLETED A PROJECT WHY: Showing genuine interest in your clients and their business goes a long way toward building lasting relationships. TO DO S: Set aside a half hour a week to make calls. 6

7 23. CONSIDER AN ONLINE BOOKING AGENT (LIKE FULL SLATE, SCHEDULICITY, AND GENBOOK) TO MAKE IT EASY FOR YOUR CLIENTS TO SCHEDULE 24/7 WHY: If your business has you booking appointments regularly, you might want to invest in an online booking agent. Many of us think about things like scheduling appointments when it s after hours and too late to place a phone call. Online scheduling allows clients access to your available calendar 24/7. AND it frees you up from answering calls and returning calls. TO DO S: Explore which option might work best for you, and that fits your budget. Add the schedule now button to your website and social media accounts. Let your clients know that they can now book online with you. 24. EVALUATE YOUR BUSINESS CARD WHY: Does your business card include all of the necessary information? Is the font easy to read? Are the colors pleasant? Do you include a tag line? Phone number? Website? Address? Are your name and title easy to see and read? If not start over. TO DO S: Your business card is a mini billboard that potential clients will put in their pocket, rolodex, wallet, refrigerator, desk and more. Make sure that it represents you and your business well. And use the back to your best advantage. That s seven square inches of untapped business card potential. 25. CLAIM YOUR GOOGLE BUSINESS LISTING WHY: It s a free listing and helps people find your business, leave feedback, and share your business TO DO S: You don t have to have a physical office to claim your listing. There are different settings to indicate how you deliver your business to others. It takes about 10 minutes to set up a decent listing, and it s FREE! 25 Ways to Build Your Business Today! 7

8 We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share this information with you. We would love to know how it helped you in your business. Please feel free to stay in touch! We would love to hear your feedback. Best of luck to you and as always, we are here to help support you as you as you build your business, so don t hesitate to reach out. Michelle and Christine Michelle@marketedbymichelle.com Christine@ccbakermarriage.com 8