Small Business UnMarketing

Coopetition - Eliminating The Need To Compete

I love the word coopetition. I'm not sure who coined this phrase, but I first heard it in 2006. The idea is that you cooperate with others, eliminating the need to compete. As I began to build my business online I saw how this worked very well.

Affiliate marketing and joint ventures are both excellent examples of how this concept works. Every month I promote someone online who has a similar product or service as what I have to offer. Instead of competing with them, I promote them to my prospects and earn an affiliate commission. There are so many people online, there is never a shortage of clients or trainers.

This concept also encourages your clients to see what works best for them. If someone on my list would be better off in someone else's program, I would rather be the one that made the referral. Wha do you think about this idea? Share any experiences you've had by posting a comment.

Small Business Marketing Online - Do You Have Something To Say?

When you write an article, post to your blog, or hold a teleseminar - do you really have something to say or are you just saying something? There is a difference.

There are millions of blogs, articles, and white papers available online. But when it comes right down to it, most of the writing is just about the person writing it and feeling the need to say something. If you wait until you truly have something to say, something that will be beneficial to your readers, you will build an audience that will be willing to soend time with you.

The same is true with teleseminars. Wait until you have a topic you are knowledgeable about, and then provide your listeners with valuable information they can put into use immediately. This will get them excited by what you have to say and hungry to hear more.

Small Business Marketing - Take Your Online Prospects Offline

During these hot August days and nights, my clients complain that the phone isn't ringing enough. Even though I continue to write articles and blog for them - the handyman, insurance agent, and plumbers - it's time to take my online marketing efforts offline.

Every evening I go door to door, in the neighborhoods I have targeted, and hand out flyers. It is great exercise and the homeowners are often outside. I make a direct connection with them and they, in turn, call my clients. I choose neighborhoods of single family homes, around 20 to 30 years old, where the homes are primarily owner-occupied. These are the people who are more likely to use the services of the 24 Hour Handyman, Farmer's Insurance agent Greg Nutter, and Schuelke Plumbing. The flyers also have the blog name and url so the people can find out much more if they are truly in need of these services.

Another great thing about this approach to marketing - it is part of my summer exercise plan.

Help Using A Blackberry For Email In Your Business

If you are using a Blackberry to receive email, be aware that they have recently changed some of their rules. You can no longer access email from hotmail or yahoo Pop 3 accounts. This means that if you have a free email account with either of these services, as well as some others, one day soon you will not be able to access it from your Blackberry.

I found this out the hard way when I changed the password on my yahoo email account. I received one last email telling me that I had to contact my provider. I knew I had paid the bill on time, so when I called I was surprised to find out about this change in policy.

My solution was to add a different email account to my Blackberry and forward my yahoo email to that account. The representative had me up and running in less than 15 minutes. I only wish I had known in advance they were going to do this.

Because I work online, having email access is crucial to my business. Do what you need to do to make this work for you and your business.

Confidence and Success - Is there A Connection?

We all know people who seem to exude self-confidence. No matter what the situation, these people are able to keep on smiling and get things done. Does this level of confidence really lead to success? All research says yes, those with more confidence are able to achieve a higher level of success in their lives. This success  can be both personal and financial.

The question is now - can you build confidence where you had none before? Again, the answer is yes. Here are some tips on how to be more confident in your own life.

• look for the positive in every situation. No matter what is happening around you, think about the best possible outcome and focus on getting the results you want.
• Be willing to take chances and to fail while you are looking for success. People who have more failures also have more chances to succeed.
• Include others in your success. Confident people are willing to give others credit and to work together with others to achieve success.

So, be a team player and a leader and success will be on your doorstep. Boost your level of confidence and the world can be yours. Find out more about building confidence in your life.

Networking - A Chore or a Choice?

Networking means different things to different people. I was recently at my local Chamber of Commerce's monthly mixer and began to question my purpose in being there. I work online and most of my clients are not even in the same state as I am. Did I really want to connect with people I would probably never do business with? A post over at Iowa Biz gave me more insight.

Networking is about connecting with other people. Even if you are not interested in doing business with them, connecting is still a positive thing for all of us. We are all just six degrees from the people we want to connect with, so meeting new people should be viewed as a positive action towards our future. So even if you don't have a networking plan, know that you are connecting with others who are probably thinking about this in the very same way.

Are you accessible to your clients?

One of my clients told me today that she works with me because I am accessible. I thought about that for the rest of the day. Could it really be that simple? Yes, it is. If people can reach you by phone, fax, text message, email, or in person, they are more likely to do business with you. They may only need a question answered or something small, but they want to feel like they can get in touch with you when they need you. Be accessible and your business will flourish.

Small Business Marketing Mistakes

The majority of small businesses are still getting most of their customers within a 50 miles radius of their home location. But according to Small Business Trends Radio, many of these businesses are still making the same mistakes when it comes to local marketing. One of the mistales they talk about occurs when it comes to setting up a website. Make sure your website looks professional and has your contact information clearly visible on each page. If someone comes to your small business website they will become frustrated if they can't find your address and phone number quickly. Remember that, on the internet, a confused mind will simply click away - forever.

Internet Businesses Are No Different Than Brick and Mortar

Many people believe they can start an internet business and then go to the movies for the rest of the day. Not true. An internet, online business is just like any other business - if you don't take care of it the business will vanish into thin air. Keep these things in mind if you plan on starting a business run entirely on the internet.

• Your clients are your gold - treat them that way. If they have questions, problems, concerns or need anything, be there for them.
• Don't forget about customer service. Answer you phone for at least several hours each day or have someone else who will. You can set hours, and they can be short, but remember that some people will want to speak directly to you at some point.
• Know where you want to take your business. Make a business plan for the next 12 months and then focus on achieving your goals.

Keep these things in mind and you will have the potential to reach more people and make more money than you ever thought possible.

What Makes Your Marketing Plan Compelling?

When people find your business online or through an offline method, what compels them to take action and do business with you? Do they think of you and your product or service as being O.K., fine, good, or are they moved to contact you right away to learn more?

Chris Garrett, over at New Media, talks about being compelling in his latest blog post. It made me think about the difference between businesses that flourish and those that just manage to hang on, year after year. The difference is in how you are perceived by your market. If clients and prospects are not compelled to make the next move, they may do so with somebody else.

One way to become more compelling can be through publicity. Download Joan Stewart's best tips from 2007 and see what ideas you can come up with for your small business.