nicheTEAM (NT)

Branding Your Small Biz. Online with Blogging

2011-09-07T14:41:00.001+01:00

Name branding is an important aspect of choosing and keeping your Biz. / company name. It is comes to play when considering how to package your next product, what name to give to it, and how to market it. It can be as simple as choosing between 'star' and 'stellar' when labeling a product. Or it can be as complex as choosing what colours can best convey the worth and mission of your company. If you play your cards right, your company image can stick indelibly to your perspective customers minds, and you can have them coming back for more.

Branding Your Blog

Today, Branding your Small Biz. / Company can be easier if you use a blog (Blog Site). This helps you reach out to customers, at least for up-coming entrepreneurs that can not afford to run a full website for their online biz.

Maintaining a Blog and the use of Blog software helps in the following ways;
* Maintain online diaries,
* Has found use in designing simple web pages,
* Creating online newsletters,
* Keeping prospective customers updated about the activities, products, and services of a business.
* Grants you access to many blog software packages
* Grants your customers the ability to make comments or give instant feedback on a blog page, which can make your blog appear all the more people and customer-friendly.

If you are interested in using blogs to brand your Small Biz. / Company online, then it is important that you first know:

* Your Small Biz. /Company thoroughly.
* Your goals? * Your mission and vision?
* What you are offering;
- products that will last through the long term, or products that will be updated regularly?) Or
- services that can be carried out only online, or that will take place in your brick-and-mortar store?
* Which Blog site to use,
* How much time and money are you willing to invest in updating your blog?

At this point you are ready to brand your Small Biz. / Company online using your Blog-site to fit your Small Biz. / Company's needs.

It is also important to note that creating an image that will be remembered, and that will allow for easy recall is key to successful branding. The first thing that customers will remember, along with your name, is your LOGO. Use your logo colours in your blog site, and design your upper banner line or masthead so that it contains your Small Biz. / Company logo and name and do not forget to use your prospective customers visual memory when designing your blog site and choosing your layout and colours.

Why Your Blog May Go Unnoticed

Going by recent events, the internet has become an environment driven by visual impressions and as such the most beautiful websites gather the most visitors; the most informative websites, even with all their authority and worth, can go unnoticed. Hence, your Small Biz. / Company's blog site will go unnoticed if:

* they are not well-designed or
* not easy to navigate.
* website text not formatted in a customer-friendly manner.
* Non-serif texts are preferred over serif texts.
* Colours not matched against the background. (N.B: dark text over light background, and light text over dark backgroud)
* text size not easy to read.

Interactivity

Give your prospective customers a chance to have their say by installing communication software or programs on your blog, such as; [a guestbook, a testimonial board, a forum, or comments boxes]. This can allow your customers to voice their opinions, and to give you feedback about your products and services, make it interactive. Interactivity, however, also comes with a price and as such you need to have such interactive environments moderated and guarded closely because they can easily be dominated by spammers or flamers, or anyone who wants to destroy your Small Biz. / Company. Farfetched as it may sound; online forums suffer from such people and have to be constantly watched so that other forum or group members are not offended. Do the same to your blog, let your customers have their say, but take out any post that seems to be malicious and not constructive in intention. Although this can appear like censorship, you must remember that, as in the real world, internet communication has its limits. Slander and malice have no place on your site, so state your position clearly and make sure that your prospective customers understand if their comments are not accepted, or if they are banned. You can do this by posting editorial guidelines or a set of terms and conditions on your site, and by asking prospective customers to read them before making comments on your blog.

Blog Content

Lastly, update your blog constantly, and post information that can be important to your prospective customers. If you are in the computer business, give daily tips on how to maintain and protect your computer. If you are in real estate, give daily tips on how to pick the best houses for a person's or family's needs. Always show customers how much you care, and they will remember you for your consideration. Branding is not a new concept, and it requires only a good understanding of people's tastes and your markets whims. That said, engage in branding only after you have studied your market thoroughly, and after you have truly determined and embraced your company's aims and vision. Take advantage of the best of the blogging arena, brand your company online and see your profits soar.

Thanks for your time.

nicheTEAM (NT)

Tips for "Successful Innovation".

2011-07-22T19:54:00.002+01:00

Hey! Your Biz might need these 'Successful Innovation' tips...

#1. Make Meaning -
This so far is one of the most important keys to innovation. As an innovator, developing meaningful products is key to long-term success. By meaningful product i mean such product should be to improve people's lives & make them more productive.

#2. Make a Mantra -
Your mantra should not consist of lengthy mission statement, because most times such lengthy mission statements are not memorable or indicative of where an innovator's focus lies. Preferably, use few words that simply explains why you exist.

Examples: eBay - democratize commerce, FedEx - peace of mind, nicheTEAM - now you can be heard. etc.

#3. Do Exploit -
Do not limit your innovations to incremental changes of existing products, look ahead & think about what kinds of problems could be solved or needs met by a whole new product.

Note:
(*Great products & services are deep & will grow with you along the way. *Actively anticipate the products & services that people will need. *Take a holistic approach by focusing on excellence in pre-sales, post-sales, service, etc. *Seek to create an emotional attachment to your products & / or services, this will help you generate 'brand loyalty' in the process).

#4. Polarize People -
Don't be afraid to polarize your consumer base. Most great products frequently generate polarity among tech communities.

#5. Niche Yourself -
Avoid competition on price, make your product unique with high value.

Thanks for your time.

nicheTEAM (NT).

Biz. Networking Guide

2011-06-20T12:06:00.001+01:00

Hello friends, here are few networking guides that may help you and your small biz.

Networking guide;

#1. Keep in mind that networking is about being genuine and authentic, building trust and relationships, and seeing how you can help others.

#2. Ask urself what goals are in participating in networking meetings so that you will pick groups that will help you get what you are looking for. Some meetings are based more on learning, making contacts, and/or volunteering rather than on strictly making biz connections.

#3. Visit as many groups as possible that spark your interest. Notice the tone and attitude of the group. Do the people sound supportive of one another? Does the leadership appear competent? Many groups will allow you to visit two times before joining.

#4. Hold volunteer positions in organisations. This is a great way to stay visible and give back to groups that have helped you.

#5. Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations. This means questions that ask 'who, what, where, when and how' as opposed to thosed that can be answered with a simple 'yes or no'. This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.

#6. Call those you meet who may benefit from what you do and vice versa. Express that you enjoyed meeting them, and ask if you could get together and share ideas.

(culled from businessknowhow.com).

I hope you will find this article useful.

Thanks for your time.

nicheTEAM (NT)

What's in a LOGO?

2011-05-25T12:24:00.001+01:00

Wow! Greetings to you all.

In this article we shall be looking at 'WHAT MAKES A LOGO'.

I believe we all are going to find this write-up very helpful.

According to Paul Rand, one of world's greatest designers; 'a logo is a flag, a signature, an escutcheon, a street sign...'

WHY DO I NEED A LOGO
It (Logo) is one aspect of an economic entity, and its shape, colours, fonts, and images usually are strickingly different from others in the same market niche.

A logo does not sell (directly), it identifies.
It is rarely a description of a biz.
It derives meaning from the quality of the thing it symbolizes, not the other way around.
Its design process must aim to making the logo 'imediately recognizable', 'inspiring trust, admiration, loyalty' and 'an implied superiority'.

A GOOD LOGO is;
* Distinctive
* Appropriate,
* Practical,
* Flexible,
* Graphic n Simple in form,
* Conveys owner's intended message,
* Has a concept /meaning behind it,
* Effective with colour,
* Durable (i.e. Longetivity).

All these according to Harrison Mcleod; 'takes thought n creativity alongside other elements combined'; such as researching n referencing.

At this point... Take a look at your logo... What do you think?

Hmmm... Thinking what am thinking? *winks*

Your comments will be appreciated.

Thank for your time.

nicheTEAM.

What's your USP (Unique Selling Proposition)

2011-03-11T20:17:00.000+01:00

The origin of USP comes from a man named ROSSER REEVES who was considered the "high priest of hard sell." He was an advertising agency chairman back in the 60's. He wrote a book titled, "Reality in Advertising" that became very popular. It was translated into 28 languages. He introduced and defined the concept called Unique Selling Proposition.

Why do i need a UNIQUE SP? you may ask.
You do because it differentiates, distinguishes, and give you (your small biz.) advantage over everyone in your market place. To be successful in small business you don't have to be the best, you just have to be UNIQUE. For small businesses Avoid a "Me Too" kind of biz. it rarely survives.

When a customer thinks of your product or service, your name must be the first one that pops into her mind. This however explains the need why you should make your USP 'CRYSTAL CLEAR', SPECIFIC and MEASURABLE. It helps create a real and perceived advantage in your prospect's mind. For example; Domino's made a very bold guarantee that if they didn't deliver your pizza within 30minutes of ordering, it would be free of charge. Challenging i guess...

Creating your USP
First identify which needs are going unfulfilled within either your industries or local market. These are called "performance gap". Be bold in creating your USP, but be careful to ensure that you can live up to your USP. Having a USP you can't live up to is suicide!

Integrating your USP
Integrate it into everything you do. Repeat it clearly and consistenly in every forms of your commercials, sales presentation, walls of your business, business card, etc.

Remember, you can't over-do or wear out your USP, especially if it's powerful. It starts with knowing the wants, fears, problems, and needs of your target market and ends by crafting a message that speaks to those problems in a compelling and believable way.

Result.... Your prospect wants to know more!

Thanks for your time.

nicheTEAM (TM)

Your 7-Step 1-Day Marketing Plan

2011-02-28T13:03:00.000+01:00

In reality, being a doer is perhaps the ultimate mark of a successful person. It's what makes entrepreneurs a rare breed. Rather than thinking or wishing, they get out there and make something happen. To "do" the right marketing activities the right way you must start with a marketing plan.
You don't have to kill a tree to create an effective marketing plan. In fact, you can create a successful plan for your small business in just one day.

STEP ONE - UNDERSTAND YOUR MARKET AND COMPETITION
It's as simple as; If you try to sell something that people don't want, they won't buy it.
Your market should consist of people who have dire wants that have not been met such that all you need to do is throw in the bait and it turns into feeding frenzy.
Ask yourself these questions:
1. Are there segments in my market that are being under served?
2. Are the segments of my market for my product or service big enough to make money?
3. How much of a share of that market do i need to capture, to just break even?
4. Is there too much competition in the segment of my market to be competitive?
5. What are the weaknesses in my competition's offering that can capitalize on?
6. Does my market want or value my unique competitive offering?

STEP TWO - UNDERSTAND YOUR CUSTOMER
Don't confuse "wants" with "needs". "People don't necessarily buy what they need, but they will most always buy what they want. To really get to know your customers you will need to ask yourself questions such as:
1. How does my potential customer normally buy similar products? (e.g. in a store, on the Web, door-to-door)
2. Who is the primary buyer and the primary buying influencer in the purchasing process? (e.g. husband or wife, purchasing agent, project leader, secretary).
3. What kind of habits does my customer have? For instance, where do they get their information? (e.g. television, newspapers, magazines)
4. What are my target customer's primary motivations for buying? (e.g. looking good, avoiding pain, getting rich, being healthy, being popular, etc.)

STEP 3 - PICK A NICHE
If you say that your target customer is "everybody" then nobody will be your customer. The Marketplace is jam-parked with competition.
Carve out a specific niche and dominate that niche; then you might consider moving on to a second niche (but not before you've dominated the first one!).
Make sure to choose a niche that interests you and that is easy to contact. There is nothing more destructive than to pick a niche that you can't communicate with or that costs you a ton of money to contact.

STEP 4 - DEVELOP YOUR MARKETING MESSAGE
Your marketing message not only tells your prospect what you do, but persuades them to become your customer.

You should develop two types of marketing messages.
Your first marketing message should be short and to the point. Some may call this your elevator speech or your audio logo. It's your response to someone who asks you, "So, what do you do?"
The second type is your complete marketing message that will be included in all your marketing materials and promotions. To make your marketing message compelling and persuasive it should include the following elements:
1. An explanation of your target prospect's problem.
2. Proof that the problem is so important that it should be solved now, without delay.
3. An explanation about why you are the only person/business that can solve your prospects problem.
4. An explanation of the benefits people will receive from using your solution.
5. Examples and testimonials from customers you have helped with similar problems.
6. An explanation about prices, fees, and payment terms.
6. Your unconditional guarantee.

STEP 5 - DETERMINE YOUR MARKETING MEDIUM(S)
This refers to your communication vehicle through which you deliver your marketing message. This means that you want to choose the medium that delivers your marketing message to the most niche prospects at the lowest possible cost.
Some of these tools may include;
"Newspaper ads, Posters, Contests, Card decks, Seminars, Television ads, Signs, Sweepstakes, Door-to-door, Teleclasses, Radio ads, banners, Trade Shows, Yellow Pages, Articles, Classified ads, Newsletter, Charity events, Networking, Infomercials, Billboards, Take-one box, Telemarketing, magazine ads, Special events, Sales letters, Flyers, Email, Movie ads, Ezine ads, Postcards, Door hangers, Agents, media releases, Fax Broadcasts, Brochures, Gift certificates, Word-of-mouth, Website, Sign picketing, Business cards, Catalogs, Air Blimps, Public speaking, Window display".
The trick is to match your message to your market using the right medium. Success will come when there is a good match of these 3 elements.

STEP 6 - SET SALES AND MARKETING GOALS
A "wish" is a goal that hasn't been written down. When creating your goals use the SMART formula. Ensure that your goals are: SENSIBLE, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVABLE, REALISTIC, and TIME-SPECIFIC.
Once you have set your goals, implement processes to internalize them with all team members. such as reviewing them in sales meetings, displaying thermometer posters, and awarding achievement prizes.

STEP 7 - DEVELOP YOUR MARKETING BUDGET
Your marketing budget can be developed several ways, depending on whether you want to be more exact or to develop just a quick-and-dirty number. It is good to start out with a quick-and-dirty calculation and them=n to support it with further details.

Conclusively, You would have to study up a bit more about your marketing medium(s) of choice, its appropriateness for your message, and its associated costs. But try not to make the development of your plan a laborious, drawn-out task.

REMEMBER: 80% of your result will come from 20% of your effort.
(Article culled from: www.bestmarketingpractices.com)

Thanks for your time.

nicheTEAM (NT)

FOUR GROWTH AREAS – The Key to Your Ultimate Marketing Plan

2011-02-17T10:36:00.000+01:00

FOUR GROWTH AREAS – The Key to Your Ultimate Marketing Plan

These growth areas as listed in our February 14, 2011 post include;
1. Attract more new customers.
2. Increase the average sales amount.
3. Make your customers buy from you more often.
4. Hold on to your customers for life.

In my opinion, small businesses concentrate much of their efforts on #1 & #4. If referral for such businesses is about 40%, then it indicates that they are not spending enough time on attracting new customers from the marketplace.
Also, if a small business focuses all its efforts towards marketing to new customers and ignoring existing customers, you may be missing out on a lot of low-hanging fruit.
Here are just a few ways to improve each of your areas of growth:
#1 Attract more new customers…
• Select a niche market that you can easily contact and dominate.
• Develop an Education-based Marketing program that compels your prospects to contact you to learn more about how you can help them
• Establish a proactive referral program with centers of influence that can open new channels of growth for you and your business.

#2 Increase the average sales amount…
• Up-sell your customers to high quality products and services.
• Suggest accessories and add-on items and services that compliment your customer’s purchase.
• Combine several items into a package that would cost less if sold separately.

#3 Make your customers buy from you more often…
• Establish ongoing communications that present compelling offers that can’t be turned down.
• Follow up with your customers to see how they’re enjoying the benefits of the new product/service you sold them, and suggest products/services that would increase their satisfaction.
• Track your customer’s usage and buying patterns to suggest purchases right before they actually need them (this also helps to keep the competition away).

#4 Hold on to your customers for life…
• Deliver uncommon customer service by going the extra mile.
• Give your customers the opportunity to “go on record” by giving you testimonials about your great customer service.
• Perform stealth surveys with your customers from time to time to gauge their level of satisfaction.
(Culled: The Small Business Marketing Bible – David Frey)

Dear friend, your goal is to design systems and programs that surround these four categories of growth strategies. Perhaps you will have to step back and take a whole new look at how you’re marketing today.

Thanks for your time.
Until our next post: (YOUR 7-STEP ONE-DAY MARKETING PLAN), remain logged-on.

nicheTEAM (NT)

niche: Small Business Marketing

2011-02-14T19:34:00.000+01:00

niche: Small Business Marketing

Small Business Marketing

2011-02-14T19:30:00.000+01:00

Hello Friends,
Happy Valentine to you all.

For the remaining part of February we shall be shall be sharing with you marketing tips. I find these tips fascinating and believe every result-oriented individual, entrepreneur, SME's etc would find them helpful.
These tips were culled from different business books that focuses on small business marketing. You will not only learn how to make your small business stay alive and thrive, but you will learn how to dominate your marketplace.

Note:
A few of the marketing techniques will be completely new and somewhat unusual that it will compel you to re-examine your go-to-marketing strategy. But they work. They are proven. Many may have even practiced some of them.

REMEMBER THESE
* Competition is for real... Get ready to make marketing your first priority.
* Hunt Down and Capture your prospects.
* Re-double your marketing efforts and make them your first priority.
* Establish effective marketing systems and put your small business on auto-pilot (implement them so that they become a system).
* The Ultimate Marketing plans:
- Attract more new customers,
- Increase the average sales amount,
- Make your customers buy from you more often,
- Hold on to your customers for life.

Dear friends, as you read, think about how each strategy can be applied to your small business. Throwaway your ego and ponder how you can customize these powerful tips to fit into your current business model.

Remain logged-on as we embark on this journey of SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING expose.

Until our next post: (4 GROWTH AREAS - The Keys to Ultimate Marketing Plan).

Thanks for your time.
nicheTEAM (NT)

...this is what we do.

2011-02-10T21:14:00.005+01:00

Greetings friends, and thanks for taking the time to check on our page 'nicheTEAM (NT)'.

Our Services include:
all forms of designs, ranging from FREELANCE GRAPHICS DESIGNING, MEDIA DESIGNS, MEDIA PUBLICATIONS, CREATIONS, & ADVERTISING.

You may view few of our works at your convenient time at 'www.flickr.com/photos/nicheteam'.

'So lets hear your design specifications... Beep us Now!'

Also, we are currently running an advertising newsletter (ad-letter), specifically developed to provide SME's (Small and Medium Scale Enterprises) within Owerri metropolis in Imo State, Nigeria with competitive, affordable and effective advertising which will enable customers/target audience have access to these products and services irrespective of your location.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for your anticipated patronage.

For:
nicheTEAM (NT)
...now you can be heard!