7 Ways To Grow Your Business!

Do you ever have days when you feel like you just won't make it? I can remember waking up some mornings, thinking - wondering - pondering - WHEN will IT ever happen? Success, that is.

As a woman in business, do you ever feel overwhelmed, with the sense you've got to do it all yourself? Well, then you are just one of many. Seriously. You are not alone.

The thing is that you have got to start doing things differently to achieve different results. I want to share a few basic tips on how to grow your business so you, too, can be a wealthy woman leader. Here are some of my favorites - looking back.

1. GET PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU DO - AND TELL YOUR FACE!

I have met so many women entrepreneurs who have been so caught up in the details of 'trying' to make their business succeed, that they have lost sight of the 'why'. They have lost their passion and their energy and are dragging their tired, sorry butts around town doing what they've always done - anticipating a different outcome. News flash! That's not going to work. Get back to basics - take some time to reflect - WHY are you in business? Get back to the passion of what you are doing - and look forward with excitement knowing that the world is waiting for you and what you have to offer.

How Many Marketing Touches Does It Take To Close the Sale?

 There's an underlying principle in marketing that you need to have multiple "touches" with your prospective client before you become top of mind.

I've been researching to see what the latest statistics are...(I've heard anywhere between 7 and 23!) and not surprisingly, there is little agreement among marketing professionals on what the magic number is.

Anywhere you are, we are all assaulted by advertising and marketing messages. Think about it: there are Zappo's ads in the shoe bins at the TSA security checkpoints at airports. Ads on the sides of a bus, bus benches, billboards, bumper stickers, radio, TV, in the trailers before you get to see the feature film at the movies. Online--it's even worse. Facebook has a whole sidebar full of targeted ads every time you log in, even more TV-style spots directly assaulting you when you play one of those addictive Facebook games.

As small business owners, you need to figure out how your message can break through that noise to get you noticed by your best prospects. In order for some one to want to purchase from you, you need to move them along the familiar Know-->Like--->Trust spectrum.

B2B Leads Signify Not Only Opportunities But Also Needs

 You have to face it. People these days don't like salespeople. Even business owners themselves are starting to absorb the mentality from outspoken consumers on the pushiness and eagerness of companies these days. Who can blame them? For decades, many professionals and analysts have admitted that companies have cared more about selling than they are about giving the people what they needed. And in times of economic uncertainty, both businesses and consumers alike have become more focused and aware of prioritizing their needs first.

However, does this mean the end of sales and marketing? Hardly. It only means that a lesson should be learned here. It means that you need to prioritize those needs first. Fortunately for you, businesses are likely to have more needs as entire organizations than simply categorized groups of private consumers. On the other hand, how do you prioritize these needs if you don't even know what they are?

This is another thing that lead generation is supposed to do. And in light of recent developments, it seems to have been forgotten. When you're setting out the criteria for a qualified lead, you shouldn't limit yourself to just the budget or if whether or not a potential client may not be so potential after all in terms of sales. It's shouldn't be just about the money you'll be getting. It should be about whether or not you can give these people what they need. Frankly, the following piece of wisdom may seem tried but it's still well tested. If you're eager more about making a buck than making yourself useful, then you will indeed turn off a lot of decision makers and just all people in general.

Is Content Killing Content Marketing?

For years we've heard that "Content is King," and businesses around the world have been listening. The growth of social media has provided a platform for distribution of content like never before, and companies are churning out articles, blogs, white papers and other content at a record pace.

So what's the problem?

Not too many years ago, content was produced by analysts, researchers, writers and journalists who spent a great deal of time developing well-written, thoughtful and provocative material. This material was published for readers who had a deep and genuine interest in the topic at hand.

Whether it was exploring new vendors and service offerings or researching competitors and market opportunities, consumers of this content could be reasonably confident that what they downloaded would be worth their time - and the price of their email address or contact information.

Not so much these days. Cranking out content has become an end in itself.

For many content marketers, content is simply a sales hook designed to capture email addresses (aka leads). There is less concern about offering a quality product, as long as the goal of building that email list is achieved.

Is Your Business Ready to Blog?

 Not sure if your company should be blogging?

Take this quick, 5-Step Blog Readiness Test to find out.

I hear this question all the time from business owners, "Do I need a blog?"

My answer is usually, "It depends." Every company is different, so answering the question about whether your business needs a blog requires a quick assessment. Answer these questions to see if your organization is ready to take on the blogging challenge:

    Are you genuinely interested in writing a blog? Do you really want to blog, or would you just be doing it because you've heard that you should? If you don't want to write yourself, are you willing to allocate resources from you team (or hire someone) who can bring passion to your blog?

    Are you committed to blogging consistently? Whether your posts come monthly, weekly or daily, you need a consistent blogging schedule. You can plan ahead and post later, as long as you establish a pattern your readers can depend on. Adding fresh posts on a regular basis will help build a loyal following of readers for your blog.

The Benefits of Combining Event Marketing With Online Marketing Techniques

 The simplest way to achieve success in today's marketplace is to establish your business' presence online. The internet has changed the way businesses do their marketing. You need to keep up with the times and use online marketing strategies to promote your business. Investing in lead generation services and other solutions marketing firms provide may give your business the exposure it needs to stand out in the online market.

This does not mean you have to abandon your traditional marketing methods in favour of online marketing. Event marketing, when properly executed, may still provide you with the exposure you need to succeed.

Lead Generation

Finding potential customers, also called "leads", is one of the most important steps in a marketing campaign. In lead generation, you need to use ads and special offers to build up interest in your business. The goal is to get more people interested in what you are offering. The more interested they are, the more likely they will buy something from you.

A Review Of Distinctions Between B2C And B2B Lead Generation

 The difference between leads for B2B and B2C is pretty much basic for even the average business owner. However, it never hurts to make a quick review on some of the easily identifiable differences.

Now the first difference is of course, the target market. Obviously B2C is going to be much larger in number compared to B2B. Why is this so is because products for B2C are meant to serve relatively simpler and more private purposes (e.g. cleaning detergent, laptops, toys). In contrast, B2B leads don't necessarily represent individuals but individual companies. As such, they are much smaller in number but also pay higher than the average consumer.

The second difference is the process in which leads are converted into sales. In B2C, it can happen very, very fast. Take advertising for instance. You see a commercial on TV for this really delicious combo meal that's being served by a popular fast food chain. Suddenly, you realize you were about to go out and weren't sure where to buy lunch. In advertising, business owners use the power of suggestion to direct you to their establishment (or one of them) to make a purchase.

This process can happen quickly without too much thought or discussion but this actually occurs in several, rough steps. Remember, there can be a particular distinction between marketing and sales for business people. In marketing (or more specifically, lead generation), you simply point a prospect into the direction of your business. The sale however, then occurs right after when the prospect arrives there and places an order.