MTR Virtual Solutions, LLC

Posts Tagged ‘small business resources’

Companies with small business websites may want to boost their ranking for their websites through link building.  For those on a tight small business budget with limited resources, there are several ways to go about building backlinks to a website. Read the rest of this entry »

There are a lot of email marketing solutions for small businesses to utilize in their internet marketing efforts.  Email marketing providers offer a variety of packages designed to meet the needs of small businesses.  There are some things that should be considered when shopping for the right email marketing solution.

How large is the subscriber list?

The email marketing solutions available online have pricing plans that factor in the number of subscribers.  Most of the email marketing providers assign a range of subscribers around a particular pricing plan.  The small business should consider the size of the subscriber list and how likely the list will grow in volume over a period of time when evaluating email marketing services.

How user-friendly is the solution?

The email marketing provider should be user-friendly.  The small business can take advantage of a trial period to get a feel of the email marketing solution.  There are also review the video tours that are available on many of the email marketing service sites.  An advertising product should not be too difficult to navigate and learn.

What metrics can be measured?

Many of the email marketing services offer reporting tools for the user.  The small business should consider to what extent the email marketing campaign efforts will be measured.  Some of the solutions offer reporting on statistics pertaining to the open rate, bounce rate, undelivered emails, links visited, spam forwarding, and the number of unsubscribers.  The email marketing provider should offer these types of reporting mechanisms.

What are the automation features?

Many of the email marketing providers offer various automation features for the small business.  The user may want to have certain processes scheduled using the email marketing solution.  Some of the common automation features include: scheduled delivery, auto responder, subject line spam analysis, and reporting statistics.  The most common automation features are the autoresponder and the scheduled delivery.

Will it meet the customization and design needs of the small business?

There are templates available with many of the email marketing services.  The number of templates can facilitate the design process of a small business newsletter.  Customization is another important consideration.  The email marketing solution should provide a variety of customization options that allow the user to manipulate the color, design and layout of a newsletter.  The customization features should also be easy to navigate.

The small business should consider these important factors when exploring email marketing solutions.  The email marketing provider should have all of the features listed in the pricing plans being advertised.  Most email marketing services offer trial periods or a video tour to help the user evaluate which product is best for their small business marketing needs.

Free small business marketing tools

Marketing costs for small businesses can be challenging.  There are several ways a small business can market itself for free online.  There are some free small business marketing tools that entrepreneurs can use.

Social networking sites as a small business marketing tool

Small business marketing can be done through free social networking sites.   Many entrepreneurs market their business endeavors through their social networking profiles.  Individuals should utilize their profiles as a form of advertisement for services and products.

Blogging tools within social networking sites

Small business marketing efforts can use free blogging features offered through social networking sites.  Entrepreneurs that utilize Ning social networking sites can take advantage of the free blogging tools.  Some online communities promote quality blog posts by prominently display them in high-traffic areas within a site.

Classified sites can be a great advertising tool

Small business marketing can utilize free local classified sites to advertise their products and services.  The small business should avoid excessive spam to decrease the likelihood of their ads being removed by viewers.

Link exchange is a free way to advertise

Exchanging links can also be beneficial in small business marketing.  Entrepreneurs can seek out other small businesses interested in exchanging links.  This can help a brand promote itself to a potentially larger audience and help another small business at the same time.

Small businesses can market their products and services for free using any of the following methods listed above. An entrepreneur on a budget can leverage the various free forms of advertising mediums to get its message out there.

SharePoint is an exceptional productivity tool that is being used by businesses of all sizes.  Small businesses that utilize SharePoint do so with business intelligence, efficiency and organization in mind.  SharePoint offers the necessary tools for a business to meet the challenges of tracking, managing and organizing data.  Here are two ways that small businesses are using SharePoint.

To track invoices

Small businesses that desire to save in physical storage space use SharePoint as an online file storage system.  Online records management systems like SharePoint help a business keep track of important records like invoices and purchases orders.  Because the invoices are stored in a centralized location, the research process of financial records is streamlined.  Excessive physical files often come with maintenance limitations.  This is especially the case if the files are stored offsite, or if filing systems change frequently within a given business.  Small businesses maintain and track financial records in systems like SharePoint because electronic records are easier to manage, update and research.

Small businesses collaborate in SharePoint

Small businesses use SharePoint as a project management tool.  SharePoint comes equipped with collaborative workspaces, issue tracking mechanisms and other project tools designed to help a company effectively manage multiple projects, often larger in scale.   Teams are able to collaborate in a meaningful way utilizing SharePoint because users are able to update specific tasks and milestones included within a project.  Some small businesses choose to use SharePoint in conjunction with MS Project.  The two combined allow an entity to manage budgeting, milestones, tasks, resources and other aspects of a project through the modules provided.

Small businesses use SharePoint to track, manage and organize data.  Benefits associated with using SharePoint include streamlined business processes and improved project management capabilities.   Small business solutions like SharePoint help a company target areas for improvement and meet performance standards.

Where did this pen come from?

Businesses looking to increase their brand awareness understand the importance of marketing.  The marketing effort of a business can translate directly into sales.  Some companies that look to increase their brand awareness use a combination of offline and online marketing campaigns to target their desired audience.  Many businesses forget about the marketing approach which uses promotional products to increase brand awareness.

The perfect marketing formula consists of product, price, place and promotion according to Neil H. Bordon.  A business must do its best to marry all of the ingredients successfully to increase brand visibility.  Promotional efforts of a business must involve all ingredients to ensure a certain level of success in marketing.

Engaging the senses

In a networking environment, there are many faces to recall and many business cards to collect.  The higher the volume in attendees, the harder it can be for a business to leave a powerful impression.  Promotional pens and promotional key chains make it easier for a business to stand out.  While an individual might struggle to remember the name of an individual that handed them a business card, an individual will have an easier time remembering the logo of a business or service when reminded visually by an item.  Statistics show that communication is 55% visual.   A person is more likely to remember the business or logo, if a visual reminder is presented upon introduction.  A Georgia Southern University study found that 71.6% of attendees at a tradeshow were able to recall the name of the company that gave them the promotional product.  While most individuals will struggle to remember the name of an individual at a networking event, they will more likely be able to recall the person that gave them a promotional pen.

Another benefit to using promotional items in marketing efforts is the tangibility factor.  Touch is the way people learn as infants about the world around them.  The sense of touch is still very much a part of the learning experience for adults.  Handing an individual a promotional gift further engages the senses.  A person is able to then assign a particular encounter to memory through touch, as touch reinforces memory.  Communication is more effective when individuals engage multiple senses.  This is precisely why some individuals use promotional marketing items for business purposes. Promotional pens invite the customer to become more familiar with a company.

A Call to Action Maybe?

A promotional item presented at a business event can act as a call to action.  It invites the contact to explore what a business has to offer.  It’s very hard for an individual to avoid studying an item received at an event.  Out of curiosity, the individual can feel the need to become more familiar with the business or service the pen represents.  Whether or not this translates into an actual sale or website visit, an individual will most likely attempt to explore the promotional gift and learn more about the business.  The customer will especially appreciate the token if it is useful.

Utility Matters

If a person were to present someone with something useful, the person will probably use it.  It is always to the benefit of the business to select a useful promotional item for marketing purposes.  An LJ Market Research study reports that 73% of people that received a promotional item reported using the item at least once a week.  A promotional mug or notepad all make for great gifts to give to potential clients.  A promotional item should be practical and useful.  The more useful the item is the better, as it gives a business a change to promote service offerings on a continued basis repeatedly with each use.  People that drink coffee will see the promotional mug as beneficial, just as people that struggle to keep up with a pen will find the lone pen with a logo on it useful.  Practical items make for solid promotional gifts.  A person is more likely to recall an individual that handed them something useful.  A study shows that 55% of people reported keeping promotional gifts for over a year.  Just as people like useful gifts, they love free gifts.

Generosity

Nothing piques interest in a business like free stuff.  A business card is a popular choice in networking events, but free stuff can boosts a company’s popularity significantly in a professional setting.  Businesses are used to paying for services and products, so many attendees will find it refreshing that someone gave them something more than a simple business card.  Giving really pays off.  A study from Baylor University found that businesses that used promotional products in their marketing efforts received 22% more referrals.  Another study from Southern Methodist University found that individuals presented with promotional gifts reordered items 18% quicker than those who received coupons.  The business that invests in free promotional key chains to clients can expect a reasonable return on the investment, possibly increasing the likelihood of repeat business.

Gratitude

Businesses that use promotional tools in thanking a client for business can increase the chance of repeat business.  Where many companies simply attach the message of ‘thank you’ to an invoice, an unexpected gift of appreciation from a business will be well-received.  The promotional mug or keychain mailed with an invoice and card require extra thought.  The client will know that this required additional thought and will be more likely to respond in kind.  Word of mouth in the form of a referral could end up as the result of such a generous act.  A Wayne State University study found that sales increased with companies that provided gifts accompanied by a ‘thank you’ letter.  Sales increased 400% among customers that received a promotional gift in addition to a card within 6 months.  Securing the business proves to be as equally as important as thanking the client for the business.  Imagine the phenomenal return on investment in a promotional item can yield.

Affordability

A business invests in a message that it wants to send its target audience for a fixed price.  Businesses that want to be able to control portions of their advertising budget find that bulk orders of promotional gifts present a business with flexibility.  Businesses that want to get the most out of their advertising budget realize the importance of getting a message sent repeatedly to the audience at an affordable rate.  When a business orders items at a fixed rate, the business is able to control marketing costs.  Promotional gifts are one of the few ways that an increase in quantity needed can actually translate into savings.  There is also a convenience associated with the use of promotional gifts.

Outsourcing a portion of marketing processes

When using promotional gifts, a business is partially outsourcing its marketing efforts.  When the proper company is selected as a provider for the desired promotional tools, the company can take over the design process, the logo, and the messaging of a marketing campaign.  When more promotional tools are needed, the process becomes partially automated as the business only has to reorder the items.  A company is able to focus on its core competencies when it effectively utilizes its resources allocated toward the production of promotional pens.  Promotional gifts used in a company’s advertising efforts offer some advantages.

As a component in advertising

The use of promotional marketing items also complements other advertising efforts for a business.  A company must be able to consistently deliver the same message to an audience in several ways.  A company cannot rely solely on networking or web presence alone.  The use of promotional marketing items such as pens or mugs helps a business expand its marketing efforts by enhancing the current advertising efforts of a business.  A Louisiana State University study found that brand credibility was highest among participants who were exposed to multiple mediums of advertisement.  The favorability of a brand improved up to 44% when promotional tools were introduced to the target audience.  Another study on promotional marketing items was conducted with Georgia Southern University and it produced similar findings.  This multi-dimensional approach translates into higher brand awareness for businesses.

The use promotional marketing tools in a business is becoming increasingly popular.  The use of promotional gifts has proven to be a sound investment by the companies that use them.  As a way to increase brand awareness and favorability ratings among consumers, promotional marketing tools are frequently used.  The use of such promotional products increases the name brand recognition through repeated exposure and by engaging the senses.  Customers are appreciative of free useful items they have received and the use of the items has been found to increase referral and reorder rates with customers.

Business owners often purchase expensive specialized software for their businesses.  They purchase the software in hopes of it benefiting their business in the areas of efficiency and overall process improvement.

Often the business owner is able to successfully install the software with great ease.  The hard part often comes with learning the actual software and utilizing it to the point where it actually makes a difference in the business.

There’s a person for that …

That’s where the software enthusiasts like me come in to learn the software for you.  It is essential for small businesses to have this kind of resource available to them.  All businesses need to have access to a training resource that will take the time to assist the business owner with becoming more familiar with the applications.

Virtual conferencing makes it easier for businesses to take advantage of affordable virtual seminars. If you prefer to find a resource that provides training on site, then make an effort to find that resource.

Software is only useful if it is properly installed and being fully utilized to the benefit of the small business.  If you don’t have time to learn the software, then pay someone to learn it and train you on it.  That’s what super-users are for.

A portfolio can be important for an individual that owns a business that is heavily reliant on the aesthetic presentation of one’s work.  While many rely on MySpace and Facebook to showcase their work professionally, a business owner may find it hard to drive all clients to social networking websites.  This post will provide ten resources for building a portfolio and sharing photos online.

Most of these resources allow the user the ability to edit, wallpaper, and create slideshows (or screensavers) from within the application.

1. Flickr: www.flickr.com. (can make DVD’s, personalized gifts and cards)
2. Tagged: www.tagged.com (can created personalized gifts)
3. Photobucket: www.photobucket.com (can post to blogs, MySpace, website and Facebook)
4. Spaces (Windows Live): http://home.spaces.live.com (can also share videos and blog with this tool)
5. Shutterfly: www.shutterfly.com (can create stationery, posters and other personalized gifts)
6. Fotki: www.fotki.com (has address book, can post to blogs)
7. Webshots: www.webshots.com (can create mugs, calendars, jewelry, mousepads)
8. Twitpic: www.twitpic.com (restaurants promote menu items, realtors promote properties)
9. KeepandShare: www.keepandshare.com (can be used for online backup of doc’s and calendar sharing)
10. Ovi: www.ovi.com (also has map, calendar, music and address book features)

These applications all offer similar capabilities and are extremely user-friendly.  It is recommended that one opens several accounts with several providers to experiment and find a preference.  All are extremely cost-effective solutions and perfect for the small business owner that needs to share his/her work virtually.

*** Who would benefit from this tool? Wedding/event planners, realtors, restaurant owners, photographers, construction/remodeling firms, travel agents, interior designers, professional organizers, fitness trainers, cosmetologists, stylists, etc.)

In these hard economic times, it has become more important than ever to cut costs wherever you can.  There are so many minor changes a business owner can make in their daily routine that can result in savings in the long run.  By slightly altering a routine process, your overhead can be greatly reduced.

1. Copying- you can save on paper by using both sides of the paper for your faxing and regular printing.
2. Print to PDF- if this is not correspondence that requires printing, why print it out?  You can print the file to PDF and save to DVD and PC for later use.
3. E-fax- There are so many e-fax service providers out there and they are usually cheaper than using the traditional fax machine (no ink, no phone line, no paper).  You don’t have to have a phone line, which works out great for professionals who primarily use their smart phones.
4. Offer paperless billing- Save a ton on paper by asking your clients if they would be interested in electronic billing.
5. Verify before you print-When printing forms from online, especially government forms, I have found that there are also additional pages included that do not require printing.  Adjust your printer settings to print the actual portion of the form that needs to be printed out, nix printing the directions and the other stuff!

I hope that these five tips are helpful to you.  Start saving today by altering your business processes a little, it will be worth it in the long run.

The beginning stages of getting a business off the ground is tough.  As a business struggles to get established, it has to consider things like: personnel, service providers, advertising methods, administrative processes, overhead costs, etc.   A mistake in any of those areas can prove to be a costly one.  Business owners often make the costly mistake of poorly managing their records.  Small businesses often neglect their records management process because they don’t understand exactly what’s to be considered in terms of design.

Here are some important things  to consider when determining your business  needs for records management:

1. Consider what records will be stored.
2. Figure out if your records will be paper, or paperless.
3. Number of people that will require access to those files
4. Categorize the files into no more than ten categories, initially (typically all a small business would need)
5. Crunch the numbers to see what your business can easily afford for records storage
6. Estimate the amount of time in a given week you will be able to allocate towards records management
7. Based on the budget and the hours of labor available, decide if the process will be outsourced or handled internally
8. Track the number of files that are being created on a weekly basis
9. Consider how long the records should be held to meet business, legal, or other requirements
10. Identify where the records should go once they have aged.

All small businesses can benefit from a well-planned records management system.  There are many systems that are ideal for records management, some of which are extremely affordable.  As you consider the necessity of having a such a system, consider how long it could take you to recover a lost file.   Think of how difficult it would be to reorganize/revamp your entire filing process when the volume of records increases dramatically.

Email marketing is changing the way small businesses market their services.  It’s an affordable way for small businesses to advertise and educate their clients about the services they offer.  There are many companies out there that provide email marketing packages at affordable rates and I’ve provided you with a list of ten providers below!

All of the providers below offer email marketing packages with templates and email list management features.

1. IContact- Their packages start at $9.95/mo.
2. Constant Contact- Packages start off at $15.00/mo.
3. Easy Contact- There’s a package for small campaigns that starts off at $0.  They offer a pay-as-you-go plan, as well.
4. My Newsletter Builder- This provider has packages that start off as little as $10.00/mo.
5. StreamSend- The starting price for their packages is $19.95/mo.
6. Contact Pro- This company’s lowest package starts at $9.00/mo.
7. Campaigner- The lowest package starts at $10/mo.
8. Benchmark Email- Their packages also start at $9.95/mo.
9. Mail Chimp- has email packages that start off at $0, if you’re sending less than 500 emails on a monthly basis.
10. Mailer Mailer has a package that starts off at $0, if sending less than 200 emails per month.

If you think your small business could benefit from an effective email marketing campaign, check out a few of the vendors above.  The perfect email marketing campaign educates, entertains, and sells to the reader.  Be sure to connect with your audience on a personal level and be consistent in your marketing efforts.