Archive for August, 2009

So you’ve got a great product, but you’re not getting the traffic that you’d like.  What can you do about that?  It’s a huge dilemma, for sure.

One of the best ideas around is to give something away for free–seriously!  News of something F-R-E-E spreads like wildfire online!  Social networking has made that more prevalent today than ever before.  Let’s think about it…

• In the early days of the Internet…and even up until about 5-6 years ago, you could email news to your friends (those who had email, of course!).
• Then, individuals started having personal websites, but that was really one-way communication…
• Until blogging (can you hear the harps?).  Blogging has helped us to communicate in a way we couldn’t imagine.  It was interactive–and fun to leave comments and communicate with people around the world!  It was a way to express what was inside of you and get feedback from people who you may not even know!  (Not to mention cathartic!)  It was totally addicting, but the idea of blogging for business didn’t really catch on for several years.
• Now, we have Social Media–networking on steroids!  For me, Facebook was the first.  One friend was on Facebook and she convinced me to join.  She was my only friend for quite a while, but eventually I found old friends, classmates, and distant family to connect with.  I didn’t really “get” Twitter for a long time, but when that lightbulb went on, I was totally hooked!  I could go on and on about social networks, but you get the idea.

So, here’s the plan.  Use all of the above to your advantage! I’m not talking about in a spammy way,  just,  in a networking, get-the-word-out way.

1. Plan on doing a contest or giveaway on your website.  If you’re trying to grow your email list, make signing up a requirement to enter.  You can run the contest however you want–it’s YOUR contest!  You can even team-up with another person (the formal term is “Joint Venture”) and both of you can receive some benefit from the contest/giveaway.  Make sure you’re item is really good and has value–you want people to come back again!
2. Tell your friends on your blog, in email, and on whatever social networking sites you frequent.  People L-O-V-E to tell others about the potential to win something or get something for free!  Many times, your friends will “retweet” or “share” your news with their network of people and your news can grow exponentially!  If you have a few close/influential friends who you feel comfortable asking for retweets, etc. in a personal email, that’s okay, too.
3. Run a good contest.  Send out reminders several times, as deadlines approach for the contest, etc. (example: “Only 2 days left to enter for your chance to win.”)
4. Keep up the momentum.  Offer a discount or consolation prize to those who don’t win the contest/giveaway.  The good will of this will leave everyone with a feeling of good will toward you and may even bring in future business.

I’m actually at the tail-end of a Joint Venture with Erin from The Mom Buzz for my first contest/giveaway.  I am giving away a completely customized, 1-3 column, widget-ready WordPress theme to one lucky winner!  You can read all the details in my original blog post or on The Mom Buzz.  The great news is, if you are reading this on Monday, August 31, you still have until midnight to enter, as Erin will be drawing the winner on September 1!  Don’t forget to get your special bonus while you’re reading the details!  Just for signing up for my email newsletter list with the special link, you’ll receive a free copy of the e-book, “Let’s Talk Social Media For Small Business” by John Jantsch from Duct Tape Marketing!  How cool is that?  Erin wrote an awesome review of Dramatic Design–be sure to check it out!

I am very excited about this contest and can’t wait to see who will win!  I’ll write another post later, revealing the winner, along with the design that we come up with!

Have you gotten some ideas about a contest that you could run for your business?  I would love to hear about them in the comments!  If you’re playing along with the Monday Marketing meme, be sure to sign up below with your blog post, so we can all get some inspiration from your ideas and give you some encouragement as you market your business purposefully this week!

Hans is a local photographer who brings the world to you.  Her landscape photography is mostly from her many travels to distant lands, but you will also find some local scenes.  Hans is originally from the Netherlands, but currently resides in the Grand Rapids area.

She has come to be known as “One-shot Hans” because she generally only takes one shot of her subject and moves on to the next focal point.  Hans’ photography is also unique in the fact that she shoots her subjects with 35mm film and has no plans to switch to digital.  Her artwork can be seen in banks, doctor offices, and college hallways in the Hastings area.

Hans has a wonderful eye and the ability to capture beauty.  She is planning a trip to Germany–and I can’t wait to see what she comes back with on her film!

Hans writes:

I have only known Kim less than two months, but it did not take me long to realize how competent she is in the business she now has had for 10 years.

As I am very much a computer novice, she patiently helps me along, if and when I despair. With her help the website will get done.  I had a very bad experience [with another web designer] before I met Kim.

I trust her honesty and knowledge.

Oh, in case you are wondering–yes, she does sell prints of her beautiful photography, matted and ready for your favorite frame!  Be sure to visit www.PhotographyByHans.com to see what she has to offer!

This is a design I created for Amy at www.trendigirl.com. (It is not installed yet.)

This week, I’d like to talk about a concept that has always interested me, but I’ve never actually done–Cross Blog Conversations.  There was a very interesting post over on Profitable Mommy Blogging this past week about how to successfully run a Cross Blog Conversation.

These are the steps:

You write a post that first explains what a Cross Blog Conversation is, then tells your readers who you’ll be conversing with.  Finally, you’ll write a section like a letter composed directly to your conversation partner, ending with a question for them to answer.

Now, on their blog – they will let their readers know that they have been engaged in a Cross Blog Conversation.  They will link back to your explanation and question.  Then they will write a section directly to you, answering your question and closing with a question for you.

Now, on your blog – you will let readers know that you’re continuing the Cross Blog Conversation, link to their answer and question – then write a section directly to your CBC partner, answering their quesion and asking another of your own.

Now it’s their turn.  They link to your question, answer it and ask another.

Now it’s your turn.  You link to their question, answer it and ask another.

Now it’s their turn. They link to your question, answer it and ask another, letting readers know this is their last one.

Now it’s your turn – answer their last question and close the CBC with a special thank you for their participation.

CBCs are a great way to build your traffic with new visitors, as well as helping your CBC partner to share in your traffic.  It sounds like a lot of fun to me!  I would love to partner with someone to do a Cross Blog Conversation on the topic of marketing or website development.  Any takers?

It’s important to keep your client in the loop.  Let them know about the new services that you can offer them and give them great ideas that will keep them coming back.  One thing that works well is a newsletter.  Your newsletter may be through email or it may be a physical mailing.  I use both.  Each month, I include a monthly newsletter when I send out my monthly bills.  My clients realize that I want them to succeed because I’m giving them valuable information–not just trying to sell to them.  Yes, I do let them know if I’m offering a new service that may help them, but I’m not pushy about it.  If they are interested, I know they’ll contact me–because I’ve established a relationship with them.  Here is a sample of my September newsletter.

September News

Can you believe that Summer is almost over?  It’s been a very busy summer for Dramatic Design, which is a good thing!  I’m meeting with two new clients this week and have a few more things in the works.  I’m always thankful for your referrals—it tells me that I have earned your trust and you value my work.  Remember, if one of your referrals signs a contract with me, I credit you with a free month of hosting!

I would encourage you to visit www.dramatic-design.com every week for some marketing tips and ideas.  I have created a weekly meme–“A quiz or survey that is copied from one webpage or online journal to another, each participant filling in his or her personal answers.”   If you have a blog, I invite you to “play along”.  Here are the guidelines:

• Every Monday, write a blog post about what you are going to do to market your small business this week.
• Include the Monday Marketing graphic code (on the Dramatic Design site) in your blog post.
• Sign up with the form below my Monday Marketing post so we can visit your blog and gain inspiration and ideas.

Even if you don’t have a blog, you can still use the ideas to market your business.  Feel free to email me suggestions for future Monday Marketing meme topics or questions.

The point is—you need to be purposeful and persistent in your marketing and do something to market your business at least once a week at the bare minimum.  To be blunt, if you don’t market your business, it will not succeed.  If you don’t know what steps you should be taking to put this plan into action, I can help—but I can’t help if I don’t know you need help.  So, talk to me!

Until next time…

How do you keep in touch with your clients?  What successes have you seen from this method?  What advice or tips can you give to other readers about keeping in consistent communication with your clients?  I can’t wait to hear your feedback!