.
Why Blog? The
Benefits of Blogging for Business and Marketing
Computer Consulting Business Plan Sample -
Plan your attack. Define who your
best prospects are, and then determine the best way to reach them.
Will you find them on Twitter,
Google Plus, Pinterest or Facebook, Forums and Blogs?
Look for groups or conversations
that talk about your type of products or services and participate in the
conversations, but don't spam them with constant promos for what you sell. Join targeted Forums such as shown below.
The Corporate IT Forum - Home Page
Forums - TechRepublic
Techist - Tech Forum
TechExams.net IT Certification Forums
What about in-person networking at local
business meetings? Will they be searching for your type of product on Google or
Bing?
Set up a listing for your business
in search engine local directories. Google
and Bing both offer a free listing for local businesses.
To get listed on Google, go to Google My Business.
To get listed on Bing, go to Bing Places for Business
Yahoo charges for local listings,
but you get listed on a lot more than Yahoo if you buy their service. The
service, called Yahoo Localworks, costs $29.99 a month and lists you in 50
directories including
Yahoo Local, Yelp, WhitePages, Bing,
Mapquest and more. The benefit of paying: You have a single location to enter
your data to make it consistent and available on multiple online directories
that your customers might search to find what you sell.
Set your business profile or page up
on LinkedIn, Facebook, Google Plus and Twitter. Be sure your business profile
includes a good description, keywords and a link to your website.
If you're just starting out and
don't have a business card and business stationery, have them made up --
immediately. Your business card, letterhead and envelope tell prospective
customers you are a professional who takes your business seriously. Be sure to
list your website address on your business card and, letterhead and any
handouts you create.
Sign up for an email service, and
send an email newsletter and/or promotional offers to customers and prospects
for your business.
Be sure you ask for permission to
send email before putting any person's email name on your list. One good way to
build a permission-based email list of people who want your mailings is to give
something away. It could be a free ebook, or even a free tip-sheet on how to do
something related to your business.
Attend meetings of professional
groups, and groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, or civic
associations
Ask for work or leads. Contact
nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges, and even other businesses that
have customers who may need your services.
Network with others who are doing
the same type of work you are. Let them know you are available to handle their
work overloads. (But don't try to steal their customers. Word will get out, and
will ruin your business reputation.)
Offer to be a speaker. Industry
conferences, volunteer organizations, libraries, and local business groups
often need speakers for meetings.
Put videos of your product or
service on YouTube and other video-sharing and slide-sharing sites.
If you use a car or truck in your
business have your business name and contact information professionally painted
on the side of the vehicle If you don't want the business name painted on the
vehicle, consider using magnetic signs.
Get on the telephone and make
"cold calls." These are calls to people who you would like to do
business with. Briefly describe what you do and ask for an appointment to talk
to them about ways you can help them meet a need or solve a problem.
Use other people to sell your
product or service. Instead of (or in addition to) selling your products
yourself, look for affiliates, resellers or people who will generate leads for
you in return for a commission on sales.
Get together with businesses who
serve the same market, but sell different products and services. Make
arrangements to pass leads back and forth, or share mailings.
Test buying Pay Per Click (PPC)
advertising on the search engines. If you are not yet advertising on search
engines search for offers that give you $50 or $75 in free advertising to
start.
Read the directions for the service
you plan to use, and very carefully watch what you spend on a daily or more
frequent basis until you are comfortable using PPC ads and see you are getting
a return on your investment.
How to Advertise Your YouTube Videos
- Entrepreneur
ZipRecruiter: Job Search - Millions of Jobs Hiring
Near You
Related Search and
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Odesk
Write an
eBook
Use
Youtube Videos on Elements of Your Service
