Keep Your Business Growing ... Today's Way!

5 Ways To Post About Your Business Without Talking About Your Business

2015-07-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

How do you talk about your business in daily online postings without appearing to be selling, advertising, simply trying to push people into doing business with you?

How can I post about my business, but mix it up. Make my postings be related to my business but be more interesting and not all sound the same?

These are questions I get asked quite frequently. And there are so many answers. There are literally unlimited ways to post about your business comfortably AND in a variety of "original" interesting ways.

Here are just 5 ways for you to post about your business without talking about your business:

Share your industry news with readers.
Readers will see these posts and connect you to your industry. For "new" connections it's a first step for them to associate you to your industry and for your "regulars" it is a show of your professionalism and being on top of your game. The Pulse section of LinkedIn is a great place to find up to date industry news and of course, Google is king! Keep your eyes on the news in general and if there is any connection between the world/local news and your industry ...post about that!
Share your "value."
Talk about what your business provides without mentioning your business products and services. For example, for a business that sells boats; A post could be as simple as - "The value of a day out on the water! All the worries of the office are gone! " OR you could use a story format such as,
"Picture this! You've had a hectic week in the office. It's Friday and you're heading down to the docks to board your boat just in time to unwind with a beautiful view of the sunset. A few friends come by to visit and you all go for an evening sail. The cares of the work week are gone. Let the weekend begin!" Share you VALUE ... no business talk.
Share client stories.
This is similar to the above but in this case, you would generically use a client story to share the "value" they received and are experiencing. A popular format is "Before and After." For example your post might be: "Just heard wonderful news from a Mom who brought us her teenage daughter several months ago. Before: Shy, Reserved, Uncomfortable about her skin. After & NOW: Confident, Lively & Engaging, Comfortable with herself. Love contributing to these changes!" No mention of products and services. You are just sharing results.
Share Photos!
One more about value using photos. Photos are worth 1,000 words, right? Post images/photos that present what is received via your business offerings. If you provide business loans, show photos of an investment property. If you provide relaxation, show a photo of a beautiful mountain stream or someone just being happy! If you provide energy, show a photo of a runner, a mom running with her kids, and so on. You might add "your own" quote on some and leave some plain. NOTE: A fun idea; create a story over several posts via several photos!! Remember to number them though. Also .. try taking local "real" photos vs stock photos. Be original.
Talk about community activities.
Promote and share what is going on where you live. It works for local business but it is also great for national and international audiences. The activities you share can be a common denominator with people and ignite a "reach-out" to you! Talk about your involvement OR just that something is happening. It adds a nice dimension to your online presence both personally and business wise.

Hope these 5 ideas will give you some new energy and direction for your posting success. Include them into a "mix" of types of postings. You must still include postings that make a connection between a reader's needs and you solutions .. .postings that lead your buyers through the states of attract, connect, engage, and convert.

Today's Way has a variety of ways of helping businesses create effective postings that reach out and connect with buyers. Postings that talk about one's business without talking about your business and also learning how to create posts that sell with out selling. Know how to lead your clients to you. If you would like to know more, schedule a complementary conversation from available times on my calendar this coming Monday & Tuesday. Click Here to schedule!
Enjoy your online posting!
margie hanson
www.todaysway.net

7 Ideas For "What To Talk About" In Online Business Postings!

2015-03-04T12:32:00.004-08:00

Are you one of many out there who can never think of what to talk about in your online business postings? It is probably the one factor that makes people "think" social media takes too much time ... they never know what to say!
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The fact is there is so very much for you to share as business people! There are endless thoughts, types of information, news, insights, etc available to you. There is absolutely no reason to ever suffer from writer's block.

Here are 7 ideas for "what to talk about" in your online postings. Take them to heart and they will propel you into an endless generation of awesome business postings. Postings that will attract, connect and convert your readers into clients. Postings that help you grow your business!

Your Industry.
Google "what's new" in your industry. Or maybe you already know from other sources. Share a specific about what is happening within your business world .... a statistic, an announcement, any happening that will let readers know about "your world." This type of posting is great for attracting potential prospects to your "world"... what your business cares about ~ the success stories of your industry .. your purpose.
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Community Reach-Out
Another great way to "attract" but also "connect" with new prospects. Many a business relationship was born because of shared community interests ... products and services followed. Talk about how your business is involved with community activities .. what are you supporting, participating in, donating to etc. Be appreciative of being a part of a cause. Show a caring for those the cause or community event is supporting, etc.
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You can also just let people know what is happening! Yes, it can be that simple. For example, just share that it is National Wear Red Day and explain what that means! Or locally that there is a eco-drive at a school on a certain date coming soon. People love to know what you "care" about!
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Products & Services
This, for some reason, seems to be so difficult for people to know where to begin. To cut through the overwhelm, try this tip. Write on a piece of paper just "one" item that you sell, product or service. Next to it write 3-5 different demographics that purchase it. Next to each demographic write WHY they buy it ... what are they "getting" via your product/service. Let's use a sailboat for example. Sailboats are bought by single men, sailing enthusiasts, and families. Single men buy to impress dates; sailing enthusiasts buy to race; families buy for convenient weekend vacations! Do this for everything you offer .. individually and in packaged offers. You will be buried in posting ideas for attracting, connecting and converting!
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Tell A Story
Everyone loves a story. Can't think of one? Again, think of something your offer BUT don't think of it via your mind. Focus on your "heart" as you think about it. Bet you'll remember something touching, an experience, or a happening that you can turn into a story. It doesn't have to be long. Actually the shorter the better. Just three sentences will do it .. include a beginning, the message, and an ending~ You're done!
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Your Clients
Who loves what you offer? Talk about them! People love to see where they "fit" so talking about who purchases and uses what you offer is a great way to "attract" and "connect!" You can't always talk about what you give, so mix it up by talking about who likes to receive and benefit from your business.
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The History Of What You Offer
Everything has a beginning. Where and how did what your offer begin? What made what you offer happen? Even services have a "birth" .. by you, by the industry, by users, etc. Talk about it! It's great information to deepen relationships and it's also usually interesting information to read!
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What People Say!
Testimonials can be great to share in a posting! Ones that refer to specific results with what you offer are the best. Always introduce them though so that readers don't think you are the one giving your own business all the praise. Remember, your buyers are your best sales people.

Did you think there could be so much to talk about in your your online postings? Just remember to pick specifics in all cases. Don't try to cover it all in one post. Spread it out. Your audience is huge .. there is time to cover it all.
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Hope this posting helps you go forward to attract, connect and convert readers into lots of new buyers for your business, keeping it growing and blooming! Helping businesses create effective online postings is part of what we do here at Today's Way. Contact us for a customized program to help you with your online postings.

Keep Your Business Garden Growing,
margie
www.todaysway.net

How Did You Name Your Business? Some Food For Thought.

2015-02-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

How did you name your business? Did you choose a name to make a statement, have an energy of its own? Did you intend it to be a reflection, a symbol or perhaps send a message?
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There can be a lot to think about when choosing a name for one’s business and sometimes the names just come easily! You usually begin with some kind of “starting” principle or point of reference, just as you do when naming a baby or even a pet! But then what happens?
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Let’s look at a few major companies and how they chose their names:

MacDonalds - rather simplistic. The originators were Dick and Mac McDonald. Their first go round was as McDonald’s BBQ but realizing they sold more hamburgers than anything else they changed to just selling burgers and simplified their name to McDonald’s! They put 2 golden arches over the stand to attract people driving by!

Cisco Systems - The founders, employed at Stanford,, were driving by Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and realizing their newly invented product would make a huge advancement in the “bridging and compatibility” of data connections, immediately grabbed onto the name “cisco” ( short for San Francisco) and their logo was created, patterned after the San Francisco bridge.
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Nike - Nike takes its name from Nike (Greek Νίκη, pronounced [nǐːkɛː]), the Greek goddess of victory. The swoosh logo was the result of a designer sketching multiple “marks’ … the swoosh being the one chosen by Nike. Some people say it symbolizes a simulation of the greek goddess Nike’s flight
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All very interesting.   And, I bet all of you are extremely familiar and probably even customers of each of these businesses and never even thought about the origin of their names. You simply know them for what they do and what they contribute! Very normal to think that way, which leads me to asking, "what is it that happened between the naming of each business and what their names mean today?"
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Think you have to say their names are still in sync with why they were given their names, even as they have grown and expanded their market share and customer visibility. They have each been successful in staying true to the original intention of their names … with a slight tweaking by McDonalds. And therefore they each carry an essence that comes at the very mention of their names. There is really no need or reason to go back and discover where or how their names evolved. There is no gap that creates the curiosity to wonder where did "that" name come from? It just "is" even when it might not make obvious sense.
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My question for all of us to ponder is, “are we doing this with our businesses? Are we developing and deepening the soul and essence, of our businesses? Are we keeping the original intention of our business name in mind as we grow and expand - creating a deep footprint?   You might be asking, “are you referring to branding?”    Yes, that is part of it but it goes beyond branding. It speaks to the purpose and goals you create that lead to your branding. Hope that makes sense.
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Let’s turn to you and your own "personal" name. If you look in the mirror could you see yourself as the holder of any other name? At this point in your life, would it fit? Would it work?    Try the same exercise with your business name. Could your change your business name today? Would another name fit at this point? Would it work?
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If you said no to the ability to change your business name at this point, you are most likely in sync. If you said yes, take some time to think about your business before renaming. Maybe the name is good and you just need more focus on your business activity. On the other hand, maybe a name change is a good thing to do! Look at what McDonalds did as they simplified to just serving hamburgers.
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It’s not for anyone to say a business name is good or bad. It’s what the business name represents that makes the statement.   What it portrays to people when they hear it and "that" comes with what you do under your business name.
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Going back to the 3 businesses mentioned above, each of their names represent today a true essence of their beginnings … but what people see today at the mention of each of these business names goes way beyond when the names were originally assigned. The San Francisco reference for "cisco" is lost to many, but the intention of "connecting" is as strong as can be! How many people know there is a goddess named Nike? But - Nike products are worn by those out there in the sports field who experience "victory" and are chosen by many a weekend warrior for that reason.

Lots to think about with your business name -- when you create it and as you develop and expand your business. Just giving you some food for thought! Enjoy!

Keep Your Business Garden Growing,
margie
www.todaysway.net

Linkedin's New "Profile" Feature - "Relationship"

2014-12-03T22:43:00.000-08:00

Have you gone into your Linkedin Directory lately and seen what's new on the profile pages of your connections?

There's a fun, but also very useful, new feature with which you can assign all sorts of information to your connections! You can find it by going to your directory and bringing up the profile page of any random connection you have. Underneath their profile image you will see two tabs ... 1) "Contact Info" which has always been there, and 2) "Relationship" - the new feature!

Think you'll find it very robust. Using will enable you to see when you last contacted someone in your network and you can even add notes, set a reminder and jot down other useful information.

When you click on "Relationship" several options immediately appear for your use:

Notes - here you can enter any info you like! No one can see it but you.
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Reminder - this feature makes it easy for you to stay connected with your network. You can type in what you need to remember and then choose to have an alert sent to you in one day, one week, one month or even set up recurring reminders!
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How You Met - Store the details of how, when and where you met your connections and who, if anyone, introduced you. Great for putting who may have introduced you or who you had in common when you first met.
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Tag - Assign any category you desire to your connection. You may later do a search by the tags that you create as you build your communications with the members of your network.

What do you think? Would love you to share ideas you may have for its use? Just leave a comment below. My favorite part is the "tag" capability. Love to see how my network builds out by interest and types of businesses! The "tag" feature will let me do that! Again, let me know what you like best!

Keep your business garden growing ...
margie
www.todaysway.net

5 Marketing Ideas For The 5 Final Weeks Of 2014

2014-11-11T15:21:00.000-08:00

Wow ...

Can you believe there are only 5 full work weeks left in 2014 and that includes this week? It's true, and with that you have to look at the marketing opportunities, of course!

The abruptness of it all hit me while having my morning coffee, but taking pen in hand, here are 5 marketing ideas that came to mind.

Implement A "Drip Marketing" Campaign.
Wikipedia defines drip marketing as a communication strategy that sends, or "drips," a pre-written set of messages to customers or prospects over time, usually via email. Sounds perfect at this time of year for those who deal with healthy eating, exercise, finances, relaxation, psychology, travel, etc. Create a "drip" campaign that will guide your prospects and clients through the holiday season as appropriate for your industry.
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Create A Gift Certificate or Shopping Coupon
Most people think "retail" when gift certificates and/or coupons are mentioned. If you are a retailer, make sure you have your own gift certificate/coupon for year round use, but also become creative for the holidays. See if you can partner with an associated business for a package gift certificate/coupon that will make both or you (or as many businesses as you include) more successful and attractive than going solo.
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Gift certificates and/or coupons are also very useful for professional service providers. Given the number of entrepreneurs that exist today, the gift of a coaching session, tax appointment, even a small insurance policy or stock certificate could be welcomed with open arms! Think of what you might be able to put together that would work for the recipient of the gift and how the gift might introduce your services to both the recipient and the gift giver for ongoing business.
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Gather Email Addresses
No matter what type of business you are in, gather everyone's email address all the time.. Retailers, it just comes naturally with every purchase you receive, but even more so during the holidays. So easy to ask to use for follow-up, special dates, anniversary/birthday reminders, refills, new items etc. For everyone else the holidays make it much easier to ask for one's email address just because it's the holidays! Say you want to include them on your holiday mailing list. At the same time ask if you can also stay in touch with them throughout the year, via email. A very easy way to get permission!!
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Share Your Favorite Non-Profits.
People love good things! The holiday season is a perfect time to let people know what your favorite non-profits do and for you to tell your story about why you support them. It will strengthen your bond all the way around and also help your favorite non-profits. Love and goodwill ... sounds like the holidays to me!
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Review Your 2014 Marketing Strengths and Weaknesses
Grab a cup of coffee or glass of wine and review your business over the past year;. What were your strongest marketing efforts and what were your weakest. What will you let go of and what do you want to work on. Use your best and your worse to carve out your marketing direction for 2015. Now is the perfect time for getting all your thoughts together. Come January, you'll be too busy!!

Hope some of these look enticing to you and will propel you forward during these last five weeks! You are welcome to add some more of your own. Please do!

In the mean time,
Keep your business garden growing ....
margie
www.todaysway.net

How Easy Is Writing Online For You? Do You Feel Like Yourself?

2014-11-09T19:44:00.001-08:00

Writing online can be intimidating. You are speaking to an individual reader multiplied by many, many, many more! It's a very intimate connection to a huge audience! Simply like nothing else you've ever experienced!

It's no wonder that many find it difficult to be just "themselves' when writing online. It's a skill that definitely does not come naturally to many, yet, the more natural you can be via your online communications, the more opportunity you have for creating online relationships that trust you and believe in you.

Let's just look at writing.

When we write it's just us speaking so it's very easy to come across as talking "to" people. But. that doesn't work so well online. You can get by, but it's not the ideal for maximizing your opportunities.
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Also, when we write, it's easy to talk about yourself and write from your very own perspective. That doesn't work so well online either. Your writing style appears to be a presentation, possibly staged, cold, resembling a term paper or research report ... definitely not authentic nor natural.

Looking back at my own experience, one of my favorite ways to get away from these more stilted ways of writing was to pretend there was a person sitting with me at my desk. I would speak out loud to this invisible person and write the way I spoke.. This worked really well..
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Next what I worked on was my online personality or style. That meant, to me, defining my perspective about my writing. I established in my mind my ongoing audience, who was in it, and what were their interests. With this defined I could then "share" what I was writing with this invisible audience. I could imagine their questions, ask my own questions, and achieve somewhat of an intimate ongoing natural conversational style.

What it took to perfect and cement my own natural style was a daily blogging just to myself! I committed myself to 30 days of blogging, just to me. By the end of the 30 days both ideas and my writing were flowing. Am also happy to say that was more than 3 years ago and all is still good! At least, I hope you'll agree!

Whether you do it my way or via a way of your own, do find your own natural style. Being natural allows more value to come from what you write. You show more interest in serving and helping your readers. You are sharing. You are "with" your audience.
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Some of what we do at today's Way is to help people be more natural in their online writing. If you think this is a challenge for you, think about getting yourself some help. Very few can change their style overnight. Your first step is to consciously want it and then step 2 - do it. Practice will make your perfect ... and natural!
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Let me know your thoughts. Leave a comment with your experience!

In the mean time ..
Keep your business garden growing!
margie

www.todaysway.net

What Are We Going To Do For Your Online Mktg Today? Do You Know How To Answer?

2014-11-04T07:11:00.000-08:00

What Are We Going To Do For Your Online Marketing Today? How do you answer this question? Do you know where to begin?

There are so many ways this question can be answered. By now, just about all of you are a bit seasoned with online marketing but a lot of help and guidance is still required. What seems to be happening currently is that what helps one does not help another.   Straight A-Z classes are not the answer for many. More targeted desires are out there, but do you know what help to ask for?

In thinking of ways to connect your need to a solution, I was reminded of a hair cutter I once knew.   She would greet all her clients by saying, " Hello! What are we going to do for your hair today?"   The replies she received were all over the place but, of course, all coming from women and men with hair on their heads.

Given that I am communicating with women and men, all of who are using online marketing for your businesses, I thought it might be fun to equate your marketing needs to what you might have a hair cutter do for your hair!

Relax and have fun with the following, but also pay attention to it. It might give you some guidance on how to ask for the help you need.

Here we go:

Hair Cut - Your hair has gotten too long for how you think it looks best.
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Online Mktg - You've added too many different resources and your communication flow has lost its shape. You need help getting back to your core mix of resources and maximizing their use.
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Just A Trim - You like what you've got. You just need to catch it before it gets too long.
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Online Mktg - You had a good mix of resources and knew what you were doing. Things are just starting to get a little out of control. You are not up on the newest capabilities of your resources so not sure what you are doing. Some training on just the "latest" ways to use what you've got would be great.
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Hair Color - You want to brighten up your hair color. Maybe add high-lights! Hide the grey. Change the color totally!
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Online Mktg - Knowing how to add video would liven up your social media and other resources. How to add text to a photo also! Some ideas on the text content of your postings could also add some new found "color" to what you are communicating and liven up your overall online presence.
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Styling - You want a new look. One that is best for your hair, face shape, etc.
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Online Mktg - You want a new look to your online presence. Also some continuity between resources in look and "style" of text content. Some branding and a better representation of your business.
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Up Do - Need to look especially lovely and "done" for a special event!
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Online Mktg - How to get special attention for an event you are hosting or are a part of. Use of facebook event and perhaps their "promote post" feature. Twitter hashtag, Linkedin email, and other "special" ways to communicate a "special" message and/or event.
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Straighten - You want to remove the curl from your look
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Online Mktg - You need to learn how to write content that gets to the point. You are too wordy, verbose. Your posts are not being responded to. Your emails are not being opened. Too much of nothing ... you need to get straightened out with your message.
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Permanent - You want to add some curl and body to your hair.
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Online Mktg - Training is needed for being more interesting online. More accurate ways to connect with people. More body, quality content presented and written in an interesting way. One that readers will connect with!
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Bangs Cut - only your bangs need cutting
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Online mktg - Need a spot check-in. A quick "how-to" or refresher. Today's Way $1 per minute coaching is perfect for this!

Hope this was fun and I bet you can now come up with more on your own!

The point of this post is that so many of your needs in implementing online marketing are specific to "you" and your business. Here at Today's Way we welcome you to call and discuss what's going on and what we can do "together" to move you forward. We tailor just about all that we do to each individual client.

Let me know your thoughts and also if you have some great thoughts to add to each of the above "requests!"

In the mean time,
Keep your business garden growing ..
margie

www.todaysway.net

The Easiest Way I've Ever Known To Ask For The Sale!

2014-11-01T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone ..

This past week much of our discussion here on the blog has been about closing business. It used to freak me out. I could handle all elements of the sale but when it came to asking for the business, it felt like a huge wall went up between the prospect and myself.

Then I was introduced to what was referred to as a track. It worked like a charm and I have never looked back.

It begins with your mindset. Your objective going into your first meeting with a prospect is that you are looking for a "match" between their needs and your solutions. As much as they are exploring you for your solutions, you are exploring them for being a good client. To make this happen you must ask lots of questions and receive lots of replies. Take the pressure off of yourself and enjoy the session.

Once you've done all your adventurous exploring you can see if all tallies up into a match for both of you. If so, have your prospect verbally agree that a match exists and that all the criteria is there for moving forward and completing a deal. Ant, at this time, the question you ask is, "what do we need to do to put this together?" Or something similar, What needs to happen to have this up and running for you? Let's make this happen! What do we need to do? etc.

If your prospect says, "who do I make the check out to?" you are good to go!
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Otherwise sit down and together map out a timeline of what needs to happen.
- Do you have a time line when all has to completed?
- Do you need to speak with other clients of ours?
- Also include what needs to be done from your side of the partnership.
This is also a great time to pre-ask common objections and get those answered early on.

Once you both have your timeline in hand it is all downhill. You are working from a predefined agreement that makes calling your prospect quite comfortable, asking how a certain task on the timeline is moving along quite comfortable, etc.

One additional thought. Include in your timeline what you do after the sale. State that your policy is to check in every so many months and get an agreement for that. That way you won't feel awkward and like you are just calling for more business.

All of this is just basic communications.   Finding a match between a need and a solution and identifying how to put it into action. That simple. Nothing more, nothing less. Creating links for making a strong connection between the two of you. Too often people think "sales" can jump over these links and that some type of hocus pocus makes it all happen. Skip the hocus pocus and just lay out the details.
Both your prospect, now client, and you will be happier.

No more asking for a sale. Start creating partnerships.

keep your business garden growing ... margie
www.todaysway.net

How Do Trick-Or-Treaters Get Their Candy? What Is The Process?

2014-10-31T19:47:00.002-07:00

Do you live in a neighborhood where one house or maybe even one street attracts all the trick-or-treaters? Why do you think that is? Probably because they have the treats! They are into Halloween! The "get" the holiday! They "connect" with the trick-or-treaters!

So, OK ... But then what? The door is between the trick-or-treaters and the home owner. What is the next step? All the trick-or-treaters know the process for the sale. They know that the process is, cry out "Trick-or-Treat" and magically, the door opens and the candy is given. Knowing the final process is what motivates the trick-or-treaters to participate and get their candy.

Let's switch the topic to your business! How do you attract all your buyers? What gets them to your door? Why are they there? And once they are there, what opens the door. Do "they" know what the process is for making the sale happen? You might get more people following through and doing business with you if you make your process obvious to them.

How do you do this? For the sake of this blog post let's stick to your website. Here are some questions for you to answer.

Do you tell your website visitors, "How To Do Business With You?"
Do you have a webpage that is all about "How to get started with us " or something similar?
This is a page that tells your "shoppers" what steps have to take place in order to be a match for your solution. It works very well with professional services. It establishes what paper work, financial criteria, time frames, etc are required for your professional services to be delivered. It lets the shopper know if you are right or wrong for their interests It also helps you weed out those who would just be wasting your time if they got to you before seeing this page. It makes it easy for your buyers to proceed and close a deal with you!
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Do you have a way for website visitors to let you know what they specifically need?
Do you clearly state "click here to contact us with your specific requirements?" The "click" could take them to a form where they would be able to submit their criteria to you! This is great for people who sell insurance or other services such as nutritionists tax professionals, and many more. This is opposite from No. 1 just above. This "process" allows the shopper to tell you what they need and let you determine if you are a match. It also allows your shoppers to proceed and potentially close a deal with you.
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If selling via a shopping cart, do website visitors know how to purchase? Where to go?
Perhaps you simply sell a product in a shopping cart on your website. Is you shopping cart easy to find? Do you tell visitors its process, i.e. which credit cards you accept, purchase terms, the minimum order, return policy, quantity discounts, delivery time frames, etc? And are your terms easy to see? Make your process known!

Bottom line ... if buyers know your buying process you will have more buyers! Make it difficult to connect and/or not communicate the final steps and they will go to the next website or just give up on making a purchase!

While typing this I just had a group of little ones at my door. All dressed up! Bags for treats in their hands ,,, but they didn't know the process!! (too little). It was funny... I felt weird just giving them the candy. Had to coach them to say, Trick or Treat! It's the process!!

Happy Halloween everyone!

Keep your business garden growing ... margie
www.todaysway.net

Selling - A Trick Or Treating Adventure!

2014-10-29T00:56:00.003-07:00

Happy Halloween!
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Do any of you get scared about selling? Is asking someone to buy what you offer right up there with public speaking?

Put your fears away. Start looking at the entire selling process as an adventure, just like "trick or treating!" How does that work? Very basically.

Business is all about people with needs finding solutions and people with solutions finding needs. So it's all about matchmaking. The adventure is the process of finding the right matches. So embrace the adventure. Here are four tips:

TIP #1. Stop thinking you have to do the talking! You only need to be listening!
Your first meeting with a prospect should just be about them telling you their pain.
Ask questions to deepen your understanding and find your matches! Explore, be curious, find the unique ways your solutions will heal their pain ... how "magical" is that!
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TIP #2. Think of yourself as the hero in an adventure!
You are the provider of what someone needs! Isn't that the definition of a hero? A life-saver? Yes, that's you. No more feeling icky cause you sell something. Think of yourself as being of service!
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TIP #3. Be full of fun & love .. Fun of exploring & adventure - Love of helping people!
You are the solution so desperately searched for and now found by a lucky prospect. How cool?
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TIP #4. Start thinking of yourself as the TREAT! Not the TRICK!
It's sad that "tricking" is so often associated with selling and why we don't like it.
Time to apply some hocus pocus to that way of thinking.

Feeling a bit different about selling now? Hope so!!

Happy Halloween everyone!
Keep Your Business Garden Growing ...
margie
310-306-1453

Is Choosing Your Online Resources Overwhelming? Not When You "HIRE" Them!

2014-10-25T19:40:00.001-07:00

Choosing online resources doesn't have to be an overwhelming experience. It can be quite simplified if you look at it as simply hiring "people" to work for you! After all, in many cases your online resources are replacing people!

So, just start at the beginning - your business. -- For purposes of this blog post I am making up a business, but just fill in your own as you read. It will make sense! --- You own several local gyms with fitness programs. Who would you hire to help make your business a success?

Sales is often first on the list, so lets define what your expectations are for a sales person?

Prospect for new members from businesses - company programs & individual memberships
Make sales appointments, meet, form relationships, identify matches, and convert to sales.
Provide demonstrations of exercise equipment and additional pieces of fitness program
Connect to existing or past members to know their experience
Invite to the gym to meet the people and take a tour.
Educate on the experience of being a member, benefits, and other high-lights.

You are now ready to make your job opening public.. Which resource(s) are a match for each of the job expectations? In your first round of interviews just do some preliminary sorting. The following is a typical first go-round of possible candidates.

Number 1- Social Networks - LInkedin - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest
Number 2- Social Networks - LInkedin - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest
Number 3- Youtube - Webinar - Slideshare
Number 4- Webpage of Testimonials - Linkedin Profile Reference Section
Number 5- Blog - Website Pages - Youtube
Number 6 -Social Networks - LInkedin - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest- Tele-Seminars

Now you are ready for your second round of interviews. You have narrowed down your list of options by each expectation. Your next step is to really look at the purpose of each expectation and match that to each of the resources you have identified in terms of best match to worse match. You will end up, in most cases, with a group of resources that will work together to give you the whole.

In the above example it will be one or two of the social networks teaming up with Youtube, your blog and your website testimonial pages! That combination will build a "core" communication plan from which you expand on if you wish and if you have the time.

The largest benefit you will gain is that you "KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING WHEN YOU GO ONLINE!" You know what you are expecting to be done per each resource so you can create your messaging accordingly.

The next largest benefit you will gain is that "YOU WILL ACHIEVE RESULTS!" That actually might be the largest benefit for many of you!
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This is a process I implement with all of my clients and I am happy to answer any questions you have. Please leave as a comment so all can be shared.

You are also welcome to contact me if you would like to explore how you could get help with creating an online resource hiring plan for your business! Mention this blog posting and you will receive a 20% discount on the service!!

I hope to hear from you. Again.. just leave questions and/or comments below!

In the mean time ..
Keep Your Business Garden Growing
margie
www.todaysway.net

How To Use Social Media Networking For Multiple Jobs

2014-10-23T20:46:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone ...

Using social media networks for multiple jobs! How does that work? Does it mean that being active via "social networking" will accomplish two or more jobs for your online marketing? YES ...but only if you are active with direction, purpose, and pre-defined tasks. Then you can use social media networking for multiple jobs successfully!

Let's go back to comparing employees to online resources. Picture that you're working in HR at a company. Your boss says, I'm short a person in shipping. I'm going to use you in shipping today! You go over to shipping and work there for the day. Or maybe you went back and forth during the day. OR ... maybe you are able to do both from one desk. In any of these scenarios, different tasks are being done from the same source, YOU. Your boss is just using you in different ways.

Question is, did you just know how to do both tasks naturally? Of course not. You had to be made aware of the job expectations, the purpose and the tasks needed to be done on the day(s) you worked each, correct? Well, it's the same thing with your online resources.

Social media networks can by "hired/used" for advertising, marketing, prospecting, opening sales, cementing sales, post sale support, services, and more.
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BUT, can all of the above happen just by the fact that you post on a social network? NO. Simply being there does not get the job done ( just like with people). AND the social network by itself does not make it happen either. Do not think because you have a facebook account that "facebook" will make things happen.

When using social networks, each time you create a posting you must know your assigned job expectation, purpose, and the task you want to complete. It's that simple.

Putting some thought into each post will create results. Simply randomly posting and being seen ... well, how productive would an employee be who just randomly showed up to be seen? It's the same thing with your online resources.

Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Would love to know your thoughts!

Keep your business garden growing,
margie
www.todaysway.net

How to Create A Road Map For Your Online Communications!

2014-10-21T14:56:00.001-07:00

A Raod Map? Yes, why not?

When you think "internet" do you just see resources to choose from?
Do you then pick and choose, go by suggestions, see what happens when you try something?
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When you think "traveling cross country" do you see endless highways to choose from?
Do you then decide to layout a route and map how you'll get to where you want to go?

Imagine if you responded to "traveling cross country" the way you might when choosing your online resources ... maybe you'll eventually get there. But maybe not!

So, why not create a road map for your online communications? You'll be amazed at how much easier your online marketing life will be.

How do you do this?

Look at your online marketing communications and where you begin and where you end. Most businesses begin in the office putting the word out and end in the office with sales!   So what happens in between?
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Draw on paper the steps from start to finish and assign a resource to each step. See what you come up with for your resources. That alone is a good "thinking" exercise. You might have the same resource doing a couple of different steps. Is that possible? Yes and my next blog post will discuss that. For now just know that you can.

Here's a sample outline you can refer to. Use it to sketch a map for your purposes.See what you come up with! Please share!! Would love to hear about your results.

Head Quarters ( your website)
HR - .Mktg/Sales - .Products/Services - Ops - Manuf - Service -Shipping - Training - Contact
.
   Reaching out ...
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Marketing
Going where potential buyers hang out and "attracting" them to you
Assign resources ... what will they do?
   .
|
Advertising
Targeting potential buyers with purpose of "attracting" them to you.
     Assign resources .. what will they do?
.
|
Prospecting
Looking for matches .. your solutions to their needs
Assign resources... what will they do?
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1st Sales Appointment
Creating a "connection" ... good first match solution/need
Assign resources... what will they do?
.
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Selling for Deepening Knowledge
Developing a "connections" ... deepening the match, solution/need
Assign resources... what will they do?
.
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Close the Sale
How to Purchase - Where to Purchase
Assign resources... what will they do?
.
|
Service
How to Service
Assign resources... what will they do?
.
|
Stay in touch - Repeat and Referral Business
Staying in front of your buyers ... reminding them you exist!
Assign resources... what will they do?
. Hope you have fun doing this as well as see how productive it can be! Today's Way is ready to help you fill it out if you have problems and/or questions.

In the mean time ...
Keep your business garden growing!
margie
www.todaysway.net

Do Your Email Subject Lines Reflect Your Professionalism?

2014-10-19T12:40:00.001-07:00

The email subject line - Do you give it much thought when you create one? You should!

The intent of the subject line is to have people want to open and read the email message. It's amazing how much time can be put into the writing of an email only to have the subject line inspire readers to delete or just pass on by without opening! Something is going on .. laziness, assuming too much, just not thinking? Who knows? But it's catchy! Seems like people are saying, "if they get away with it, I'll do it also."   Not good!

The subject line is also a first level "connection" to all you communicate with. It provides you with an opportunity to present yourself "in front" of your business clients and co-workers frequently. So I ask, do your email subject lines reflect your professionalism? And in what way ... good or bad?

If you want to send out the emails that recipients what to receive, open and read, and reflect quality professionalism, start with the Golden Rule of online communications!
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                  "Remove The Need For Readers To Have To Think!"
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Ask yourself if "your" subject lines follow this Golden Rule. Are you being clear, distinct, to the point and leaving no question in the reader's mind as to what the message is "about."   Your reader's head stays clear - no grey requiring "guessing, confusion, ie.having to think?"

Also remember that emails are meant for quick communications. Readers are going into their inbox and scanning down while they have a "minute" to check their emails.    Make your first few words "speak" to what the rest of the subject line is about. It's those first few words that will be seen, i.e. Invitation To Promotion Party For John Stevens vs. You Are Being Invited To A Promotion Party For John Stevens. Both subject lines "are" distinct ... but the first one gets to the point faster for the reader.

Last, but not least, much of creating a good subject line is basic consideration for others, good etiquette, manners .. .call it what you might... but it boils down to thinking of your recipient, not yourself! Making it easy for "them" not you!

Start using these tips and ideas for creating better subject lines and see what happens in your office and with all your business interactions. Are you getting better replies, are you seeing better subject lines sent back to you, are your overall email communications better. Would love to receive your comments and thoughts.

Also, know that Today's Way offers one-on-one email workshops and seminars specific to individual businesses. Call to inquire how we may help you!

In the mean time,
Keep your business garden growing! margie hanson
www.todaysway.net

Which Way Do You Begin Your Messaging? "YOU" "YOUR" or "I" "MY" "OUR"

2014-10-18T17:23:00.001-07:00

Have you ever noticed how intimate the connection is between you and your computer screen?

It's a very private one-on-one moment. Just you and your thoughts about what you are looking at . Your readers experience this same intimacy and it's power is so great that you are throwing away opportunity if you don't use it wisely.

One major way to maximize this intimacy and create quality connections with your readers is to always put your reader first! Your readers are "in their heads."   They have all sorts of thoughts going around in their head and if they have a need for what you offer they only care about how what you have will help them!

How do you put your readers first? Begin your postings and messaging with "you" and/or "your." Write to your reader's mindset. Any use of "I" - "We" - "Our" .. etc. just gets in your reader's way and distances your message from your reader. And, that gives your readers a space in which to "disconnect" and move on!!! You don't want that!

Here are a couple of examples. See which creates a stronger connection with "you" Which one brings you into the message more. Which one is more intimate?

#1a
I have a wonderful product that cleans your car within minutes. Would you like to make your car washing easier?
#1b
Would you like to make washing your car easier? Take a look at this product that will clean your car in minutes! Worked for me ... let me know what you think!
#2a
I want to invite you to a great training on marketing. I am teaching how to increase your sales by 100% in a month.
#2b
You are invited to a great new training on marketing! If you'd like to increase your sales by 100% in a month you might want to check it out. It will be taught by me, ________. Find out more here!
or
Does doubling your sales in one month interest you?   If so, you're invited to a training that will teach you how! It's being taught by me, ______. Find out more here!

Added Value: This way of initiating a conversation works great in live conversation as well! Start all your conversations by putting who you're talking to first!

Sometimes you won't catch yourself because as the writer, you are in your mind also!   You have to make the effort and create a habit of thinking about your "reader's" mindset before you start communicating..   One great habit to get into is to never push the "post" or "send" button until you re-read as though YOU were on the receiving end.

Would love to get some feedback on how it goes for you. Or if you agree or disagree. Just leave a comment below. Thanks so much!

In the mean time,
keep you business garden growing,
margie hanson
www.todaysway.net

Does Your Website Make A Good "First Impression?"

2014-10-14T17:45:00.002-07:00

What is the "first impression" people have when they land on your website?

Do visitors know immediately that your business is a match for their need?
OR, do they have to guess if your site is right for them?

If you answered "yes" to the first option you are looking good. If nothing else this one element can make or break you. If visitors don't immediately see a match, very few will stick around to form any kind of impression.

First impressions are never so important as they are on your website. AND believe it or not ... it's not how pretty your website looks that makes the first impression, but how well you connect to your visitor!

Websites that make good first impressions include:

An immediate clear, distinct and short welcome that lets visitors know they have found a match for their needs. Sometimes this can be done with a single sentence. Sometimes you'll see bullet points that list several specifics. In either case ... clear & distinct. No thinking required.
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A welcome message that is easy to "see" .... does not requires "left to right" reading. The message is received via a single glance! Cannot be missed!
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"Next steps" that are easy to see and access after landing on the website and connecting with the welcome message. Not all will go to the same "next" destination, so you must make choices visible for your visitors that are, again, easy to be seen and opted for! Have clear navigation choices.
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Self introductions, especially if you are a professional service. Allowing your new visitors to get some idea of who you are... a photo, an audio, and a video is ideal. This is so important if you are in a business where personal chemistry matters, i.e. doctor, dentist, massage therapist, etc. If you have this type of business, who "you" are is the elephant in the room until your prospective client can see & know a bit about you! Show your visitors you understand that and you will make a good first impression. .
Clean and simple presentation of all content. Lots of white space is always good and makes it easy for visitors to see where you want them to first land and then easy for them to know their choices for their next landing spot. People like uncomplicated!!
Up to date resources, i.e. have social media icons that go to live pages! Have a blog and/or newsletter. You don't have to have all the bells and whistles but do show that you are up to date what is going on in the technology industry.
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Current photos & news items. If you did a promo on the July 4th parade and your booth at the event on your home page and it is now, November, you are NOT making a good first impression.
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Content that connects and speaks with your visitors! Your website is a conversation with your visitors and they want to know you are talking to them about what they need. They do not care about you talking about you.... hope you see the difference?
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An attractive color scheme is always a plus. Same thing with the font face and size that you use. Make it easy on the eye(s). HOWEVER, as mentioned above .. this is secondary to all 1-8 items listed above. r.

Remember, first impressions last. They form the base of trust for everything that happens afterwards. In life AND on your website!! Give your website homepage a once over. See what you discover.

Keep your business garden growing,
margie
www.todaysway.net

Your 8 Step Process For Having A '2015 Ready" Website!

2014-10-11T22:30:00.003-07:00

Hello ....

You have been hearing a lot about the 2015 needs of a website. So, it seems fitting that you know what you would experience if you chose to work with us here at Today's Way when creating your 2015 website!

When working with Today's Way, "you" enter into a partnership with a graphics and programming expert and myself, a communications "connections" expert. The three of us, together, initiate a process that can be as ongoing as the life of the website requires! But ... the process to get you from start to the finish of an initial "2015 ready" website includes 8 steps!

Before we cover the 8 steps, it's important to know that Today's Way websites are custom designed, both in content layout and presentation and programming. And, all our new websites use a wordpress fully responsive software platform. If required, we can also provide copywriting services.

Now ... let me walk you through the Today's Way 8-step experience:

You tell us about your business. Then you are asked to pretend that you will be speaking to an auditorium full of your ideal clients and we ask you three questions:
1) Who is in the auditorium? What are the demographics?
2) After you speak, what actions do you want them to take? Can be from one, up to any number.
3) What do you offer to make them take those actions?
Upon mutually agreeing upon your answers, we proceed to your website content and layout.
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Next step: What is your "core" solution to what problem. What is your primary purpose? Given that website visitors decide very quickly if they will stay on your website OR click off your website, we next identify the primary "hook" that is needed upon landing on your home page to connect your ideal buyers to your website.
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Where do visitors want to go after connecting with your hook? Upon identifying the "hook" on the homepage, we must determine where visitors want to go next. This depends upon what level of the buying decision process your visitors are at. So once again, together, we identify each stage of your buyers decision making process and with that, identify what they need to see on the website to connect with you for their onsite content needs and/or offsite needs (access to social media, youtube channel, etc)
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Now we build your HUB. How will your visitors easily see and connect to where they want to go next? Once we have all the pieces of the above step we can begin to assign and place your content to areas on the website and build your HUB. Right now Today's Way is only building wordpress websites so there are choices of pages, posts, pages with posts, and sidebar widgets) Also which formats and resources will best support the content so that communications can take place - forms, slide show, video, photos, video galleries, photo galleries, live feeds, etc.
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Navigation comes next. How many navigation menus do we need/want, how should they be constructed and where should they be placed. What will allow your visitors to easily see "their" unique next step choices for learning about your business.
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Design elements are now finalized. What are your colors? What design features, touches, accents, etc will enhance the content and allow it to be seen! It's all about the content!
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Throughout the process you see the website and give your approval and/or your suggestions. Seeing is knowing. We've learned over the years that what you "might" think will look good, will not look so great and vice versa! No matter what, the customer is always right. We go with what you want. Suggestions will be made, but bottom line, our clients will have what "they" want.
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Last but not least - training! Upon the completion of your new wordpress website you receive up to five hours of free telephone training for using your website.. Yes, you may split it up.

That's the Today's Way 8 step process! Again, all our current wordpress websites are custom designed and custom programmed on a wordpress fully responsive software platform, allowing viewing on all sizes of screens and mobile devices. We review all content with you, providing our insight on it's layout and presentation for the best connectivity. If you need it actually "written" for you, copywriting services are also available.
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Here are links to some of our wordpress websites:
http://www.ServeTheGoddess.com
http://www.TimeshareLocators.com
http://www.FlightPathMuseum.com
http://www.AngelWalkAbouts.com
http://www.dmnphoto.com
http://www.dougrappoport.com

If you would like a complementary discussion for your 2015 website contact me at 310-306-1453 or margieh@todaysway.net. I am happy to discuss how Today's Way can make your 2015 more successful.

In the mean time,
Keep your business garden growing ....
margie

www.todaysway.net

The

2014-10-11T18:52:00.002-07:00

How Well Do You Know What "Triggers" The Need For What You Provide?

2014-10-10T18:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!

Just wondering how well you know what "triggers" the need for what you sell?

Why worry about that? Because it's never been so important to find ways to "connect" to your buyers in the very early stages of their need ... ideally BEFORE they have a need!!

Now you probably are really asking WHY. Think about your own buying choices. When you "need" something, do the providers that you have already heard about have a better chance of being bought? Maybe not always but overall in the big picture?

Also, with the Buyer 2.0 you have people who are doing their own research on what they will buy. If you have been out there connecting to the very early, early layers of their need(s), they already have a connection with YOU! Who do you think they will favor?

So how do discover these triggers? Work your way backwards. What needs bring people to you? Once you get that defined, ask yourself, "What circumstances, happenings, changes, etc occurred for the need to show up in the first place?"

If you create some social media presence that connects to the "triggers" of the needs you have solutions for, you show that what you do relates to the associated situations. When those "triggers" occur in your buyers life, you hopefully will come to their mind! Now put that awareness and familiarity next to solutions that they have to research from point zero, which solution would you say has the better chance of being bought? Yours, of course!

Sit down and really think about your buyers. Interview them. Give them questionnaires! Do what you need to do to know the triggers that generated their need for your products and services!!

Find out more about this topic in my weekly mailing for this past week. Click here!

In the mean time,

Keep your business garden growing!
margie

Is Your Website Ready For Buyer 2.0 Connections?

2014-10-06T23:43:00.001-07:00

Oh that Buyer 2.0!

There are soooo many ways they want to get to know our businesses! They research and find the answers to their shopping questions on their own!

What does this mean for business owners? You have to have content out there on the internet that can make a "connection" to each decision making stage of your individual buyers so that you get found by them in the early and ongoing stages of their buying process.. AND you have to know what they are "really" looking for ... what is their "real" need or want! Think outside of your normal box and discover what surrounds the decision to buy your goods!

So how do you do that? With lots of online communication activity, good keyword application, and an understanding that goes beyond the boundaries of your products and services.

Regarding your website specifically, here are some ideas for opening & making connections:

Emotions:
What emotions and feelings are associated with your products & services? Romantic, happy, sad, loving, angry, etc. Does you website reflect these emotions?

Energy:
Do your products & services play into a certain type of energy? Busy, eclectic, quiet, sleepy, wild and crazy, etc? Add that type of energy to your website!

Experiences:
What type of "happening" is associated with your offerings? Marriage, drive in the country, promotion, moving, new job, sports, etc. Are any of the experiences that surround the needs you provide solutions for reflected on your website?

Stories:
Does your website have a way to share stories, short & long, that lead your buyers from their initial needs to what you offer? Maybe a video? Audio? Or a 3 sentence story highlighted in a scripted font?

Welcome video:
Do your prospective buyers get to know you? See you and hear you so chemistry can do its magic thing!

Interaction:
At a minimum your website should have clearly marked icons or links to social media sites that you participate on. If appropriate to your site's energy, a live feed from a social network can be beneficial.

Questions & Answers:
Q & A sections show that you understand your prospects and buyers and what they might be needing answers to. A form for submitting questions is also a plus. Many people do not want to search through a bunch of questions & answers and not ever find exactly what they want an answer to. Providing a form is convenient and shows you are thinking of your buyer, not yourself.

Easy Navigation:
The Golden Rule of online communications success is to remove the need to "think" when a website visitor visits your site! A great way to make a strong connection with every website visitor you have is to have a clear and distinct navigation for them to use.

Visual Presentations:
A picture is worth a thousand words! Do you have great images on your website professionally reflecting what you offer?

Value-Added:
You never ever know exactly why someone buys from you! Make sure your website includes all the value-added pieces of doing business with you! If you are a restaurant with lots of free parking, mention that! An online store with shipping included should be in clear sight! The value-added pieces can often be a requirement before your product is even reviewed. For example, take the restaurant. If you want to go out to eat you might say, "which restaurants have lots of free parking?" When you find the free parking, BINGO! That will be the restaurant of choice - who cares what the food is!! :-)

Return Policy or Warranty
What comes after the sale? That can be something researched by your buyer 2.0 clients. They want to know your post-sale terms, pre-sale!

Are you getting the idea? Think you can now go forth and start preparing your website for your Buyer 2.0 shoppers! Please leave your comments here.

In the mean time,
Keep Your Business Garden Growing
margie
www.todaysway.net

The 2015 Website - A HUB To All Your Online Communications!

2014-10-05T00:36:00.000-07:00

Hi there ....

Have you started to see the role of your website changing?

It used to be that our websites were the "go to" place to find out all the details of our business. The website's content was pretty permanent requiring updates only from time to time. Actually, more updates were done for acquiring more up to date design elements than content.

Enter social media, blogging, smart phones, tablets, and more! The internet has never been so busy! AND, you as a business owner need to be out there where the paths your buyers take can cross with what you offer!

As your buyers get to know you from maybe a social media site, article you've written, or mention via a mutual acquaintance/friend, they may want to pursue knowing more about you in additional ways. This is when they look for your website address and visit your site!

Then what happens? Is it easy for them to choose where they want to go next in getting to know about your business? Can they find out how to connect with your communications on specific social networks? Go to your blog to get to know your "inside scoop?" Join your mailing list to stay in touch with your news and announcements? Explore your products and services and understand their "value?" See or learn about "real time" uses for what you offer and why you? Find out how credible and reliable your business is? Hear what other people have to say about you? Know how you service your clients? See a demo? Be invited for a conversation? Know about a seminar or training you have?

There are so many "different" reasons people will go to your website! Do you have solutions for these reasons/needs? Do you have avenues for your website visitors to take, no matter where they are in the buying cycle? And is it easy for your website visitors to see, know about. find and connect with that "specific" they may be seeking?

In 2015 it is a must for you to know how your buyers might choose to be in touch with you and what they will be looking for from your business. Which layer in their decision making process are they at? What do they need to know about your business per their level of interest each time they visit your site AND ....is what they are looking for easy to find? They may be able to find what they want from your business in other online locations, BUT your website still serves as an anchor and point of reference out their in cyberspace.

In that regard, do think of your website as a HUB. Buyers cross-connecting to and from all your communications platforms and building confidence and satisfaction in doing business with you! Think about why "you" visit websites. Personally the most often reason I go to a website is to find a telephone number and/or their social media sites! The message being:, don't overlook the practical nor the tiny pieces of your site. Have a clear phone number and make those social media icons be visible!!

Old style website platforms are difficult to support the constant communications that comes with buyer/seller connections of today. You can make it work, especially with small businesses,by using clear navigation layouts, sidebars with links, and headers with links. Don't think you have to create a new site. However, if it's in the budget, do look for content management type websites that allow you to make changes easily and store data that can be easily accessed and if possible include a "search" function by your visitors. Wordpress is a popular choices but there are others.

Bottom Line: Make your website 2015 ready .... make it be clear, easy to navigate and a HUB for whatever the communications and information that your buyers will be looking for from your business.

Keep your garden growing ...
margie
www.todaysway.net

Transitioning In & Out Of Blog Topics .... What To Do?

2014-09-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get caught in a topic?   I mean do you ever create a series of blog posts on different aspects of "one" topic and then to switch it up are not sure if you should "transcend" into something similar OR change to a completely new & different topic?

Both can be correct. However, one rule to remember is that too much similarity can cement in only one part of an audience and you'll lose the rest ... so you don't want to stay in one "topic" too long. The thing to keep in mind is to make sure each "purpose" varies quite a bit for each post under the same topic.   Giving the "purpose" unique identities can bring a wider audience to the same topic. Are you still following all this? :-)

Let me outline it a bit. Single topics can be chosen for a series of blog postings. BUT each post within that series should have a unique and specific purpose. The more you can vary the "purpose" for each post the wider the audience potential. Hope that clarifies it a bit.

As far as transcending or jumping ( as I refer to a huge switch in topics) the rule of thumb that you might want to follow is to think what umbrella of thinking your topic comes from. Move up in your thinking and transcend at a higher level ... this will "change up" the topic but keep it all under the larger umbrella of your industry and solutions.

For example, I am just coming out of a series of blog postings on editorial calendars. This post is following that series and is actually a part of the planning for that series. Why, you might ask? It doesn't mention editorial calendars, etc. The answer is, because the first week you plan on your editorial calendar is the easiest. Challenges begin when you say, where do I go from here!   So that's the "why" of this post! And, also why it is closing up that "specific" series.

Now the next series of blog postings being planned falls under the role of "today's" website!   You might call that a "JUMP" but stay tuned.   Maybe not!!! I went up to the level of "planning online communications" and where do all communications from a business begin & end? The website.

Hope you'll visit my blog again soon and see how it flows! Your comments are welcomed.

In the mean time,
Keep Your Business Garden Growing,
margie

LOVE Using An Editorial Calendar!!

2014-09-25T23:56:00.003-07:00

Have always recommended using an editorial calendar, especially to businesses where more than one person does online posting for the business. And have suggested editorial calendars to those who do their own posting but struggle with knowing what to say and/or getting it done!

Using an editorial calendar for myself never really came into the picture as I have no problem with taking on my online marketing with joy! I "thought" between a few notes here on my "to do's" and what was in my mind that all was just fine! However, when I wasn't fitting in what I wanted to include in my weekly online presence I thought that using an editorial calendar might be the solution. AND it sure is! What a difference it is making in more ways than I ever imagined!

Now, it hasn't been that long, BUT I can't say enough good things!! Have been enjoying surprises daily/ Here are just a few:

First .. I couldn't believe that even when giving 100% of my attention to listing all the mediums I wanted to include on my calendar, that I still forgot one major one! Thank goodness for being able to "see" what I was including. No wonder when I was doing everything in my head that I would forget tasks that I wanted to take on but never got too!   Writing things down does work!

Second ... I found extra time! This was a BIG surprise! It was so weird .. kind of noticed that something was different on the first day but it was very apparent on day two that I had all this extra time! It appears that writing and mapping out my online activity took it out of my head. ( isn't that what they say about making lists also?).   Anyway ... because I have never struggled with ideas for what to say or what I want to do, I never noticed how much background energy was going on in my head. Creating the editorial calendar seems to have just automatically removed all the noise making me 100% ready to take on other tasks. It simply made me feel like I had so much extra time!!! LOVE IT!

Third ... there was much more depth in my daily posts! Take note that I did not create the posts in my calendar. I simply wrote down the purpose that I wanted each post to have. Maybe having the same topic made them come together better?   I really don't know.

So, I hope you'll create an editorial calendar for yourself! Would love to have you write some comments below after you try one for yourself. If you already use one, please share your experiences below also. And of course questions are always welcomed! To know more about how I went about making mine click here!

It's for sure that I'm hooked! Can't wait to plan my next week's editorial calendar! One more benefit is that I just feel more on top of my game!!   What business owner doesn't want to feel that way!?!

Hope to hear from you all soon!

In the mean time ...

Keep Your Business Garden Growing ...
margie

Walking My Talk With An Editorial Calendar!

2014-09-22T21:40:00.001-07:00

Hello, Hello!

Have you been blogging? I hate to admit it, but I've been bad about it.

But. this morning, there was a great article on LInkedin that included 3 great reasons to blog! Not only were they great reasons, they were also inspiring reasons that hit me front and center with questions! Why haven't I been blogging?   I enjoy it when I do blog. What is my problem?

Creating editorial calendars is how I coach clients who are in this type of situation.. Am a bit embarrassed to say that I never thought "I personally" needed an editorial calendar, as creating online content is what I do and my mind is trained, right?   But, given when I did my last blog posting, the time appears to be right for me to walk my talk with with an editorial calendar for myself!

What is an editorial calendar you ask? It is sitting down, planning and putting into writing on a calendar, what you want to say in the next week, when you'll say it, how you'll say it, to who and WHY!   There are fancy templates online that you can use. They are probably best served if you are coordinating several people doing messaging for you. However, if you are doing it all yourself, the basics are all you need.

So, today I am walked my own talk by creating my own editorial calendar. I am not using any of the fancy templates, Am just keeping it very simple! I first listed all the ways I wanted to have online visibility via written messaging this week - for example, blog posts (of course), my weekly mailing, daily postings, etc. Then I assigned a topic, a purpose and a day of the week for each message type!

One benefit immediately appeared. After being sure I had made a finalized list of desired ways to be visible, I printed it up and THEN realized that I had forgotten one major way I wanted to be visible! The benefits of writing everything down were immediately showing up for me! No wonder I don't get everything done when I keep it just in my head!

The entire process took me about 45 minutes.

As the day continued a second immediate benefit showed up for me I felt like I had more time! How often does that happen? Having all my online creative and marketing messaging already defined, written down in detail and assigned per day, for the week, appeared to have freed me up more than I ever thought I wasn't previously free ( if that makes sense to you?)   It was amazing to feel the calm, and to have a clear mind for other things that needed to be done. I realized that prior to creating my first editorial calendar I had been keeping a percentage of my mind and energy busy with an ongoing undefined "thinking" .about my messaging... it was always on my mind as again, that is what I do! Writing it down hasn't stopped the creativity it has just contained that part of it freeing me up for using it 100% in other aspects of my business. Simply amazing the difference!!!

Now ... I realize this is only the first day. So my next blog posting is on the calendar for this Thursday after my Garden Club call. It's topic is to share with you how this week continues as I use my editorial calendar! Should be a great post!

If you want more detail on how I created my calendar, join my mailing list by clicking here. I will detail it in my weekly mailing going out tomorrow!!! And check in this Thursday evening to see how this week goes!!

In the mean time ...

Keep Your Business Garden Growing,
margie

Curated Content vs Original Content

2014-05-27T11:45:00.000-07:00

The study is on! And I might add, "AT LAST!"

Watching the growth and acceptance of social media has been interesting. People were shy of it in the beginning and the "excuse" was, "I don't want everyone to know my business" or "it's for kids!"

As time went on, the business community caught on to the benefits of social media as a medium with a reach beyond all other! They adopted it, they used it, they created personnel & departments with a full focus for using social media and the study of its metrics! That was it ... social media officially arrived and is here to stay!

HOWEVER . the growth curve continues for many small businesses. Giving up on the notion that social media can be ignored, the small business owner/entrepreneur has realized they must participate. (Kind of like when they realized they needed a website.) BUT, the small business owner/entrepreneur doesn't come equipped with a marketing and sales team. They are often skilled at what they do and not so much in the selling aspect of what they do.

The challenge for the small business has been what to say on social media. Using quotations was discovered! It has saved many and at a minimum it does get your business name in front of people with good feelings attached. There are also places one can go online to find "content" that can be used online postings. Also sharing industry news, community news, other items of "interest" can be used. Anything that can be shared, i.e. videos, songs, photos, etc. can be and is used for content.

All of the above is what is referred to as "curated" content. Basically you are finding relevant content pertaining to a specific category of your business and passing it on. This technique has been keeping businesses pretty happy to date. You are out there in front of your market ( known or a guess? ), and you can even get away with hiring outsiders to do your posting for you ( if a budget is available).

BUT what is "now" happening is that the business owners/managers who thought they were having social media success are discovering "NOT! " The metrics are there .... lots of LIKES, SHARES, and positive comments! But who doesn't like a great quote, photo, video, news, etc It doesn't always translate into prospects, business connections and buyers!!

Some business owners are not getting any results! Very few LIKES, SHARES, or comments. They feel like it is all a waste of time.

Enter "ORIGINAL" content! Original content is required by business of all sizes "IF" you plan to target and make business connections that will buy from you!! Hootesuite just released a white paper in which IT managers nationwide are projecting an increase in their use of "original content" for all the reasons discussed here.

So, it's time to bite the bullet business owners! YOU MUST know how to create, from your business offerings, online social media content that is "original and specific" to what your buyers need! Content that will attract, connect and convert! Content that will create new, repeat and referral business.... but doing so via relationship building, not ads and not "selling." Matching needs and wants to solutions, sharing concerns, "hitting the nail on the head" for what "your" buyers are looking for "via what" you offer, not "what" you offer!

It's not difficult to do. It can actually be lots of fun and eye opening! Business owners have turned to me and said, wow .. "I never realized the "true" benefits people get from my services!"

And, It's not difficult to learn how to do if you need help. Again, it can be FUN to learn and again, eye opening to what you are contributing to your "communities of buyers."

Today's Way has always promoted the use of "original content" so we feel as if our day has come! Each of our clients is unique so a variety of ways have been created to help you start from scratch, fine tune, or pick up the pieces somewhere in between.

Let us know where you are at and we can map out a plan to make you 120% with your online social media "original" content. We offer as low as $1 a minute coaching ( 15 - 45 minuter), have packaged programs that are individualized for you, and hourly ongoing coaching.

Right now our popular "It's Time" program is reduced to $295 (normally $500) until the first day of summer, June 21st. Walk away with purpose, know-how, & control! Find out more about it and how to proceed by clicking here

The choice is still yours ... Curated or Original? Can't force you in a direction but if all things were equal which way would you go?

I welcome your thoughts on this. Please leave comments below.

Enjoy and ...

Keep Your Business Garden Growing
margie