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Who’s Twittering??
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Are you twittering? If so, follow me at http://twitter.com/indiebizchicks
For those of you who don’t know what Twitter is yet, it’s a social networking site where you can make friends and keep them updated on what you’re doing.
But it’s gotta be short and sweet, because you’re limited to like 140 characters or something. You can also send and receive updates via text, if you’re away from your computer.
For me, it’s kind of like hanging out at the virtual office water cooler… i pop in every now and then and see what the people I know in the work at home community are up to and let them know what I’m doing.
And if I’m ever stuck on something, it’s a great place to ask for some quick help…
Why don’t you try it out and see what I mean?
Power Publicity And Promotions Coaching Program
If you are ready for your business to finally get the attention it deserves, join me in The Power Publicity And Promotions Coaching Program.
You’ll be working one-on-one with me throughout the 6 week long program. You’ll learn how to focus and develop your marketing message, how to make the most of your website and blog, how to use social networking to your advantage, write press releases, use content distribution to build links to your site, form profitable partnerships, develop a long-terrm marketing plan, AND MORE!
This program starts July 21 and is limited to 25 students.
Click Here to learn more and to reserve your spot today!!
An exercise in getting to know your target audience
Many small business owners struggle with promoting themselves. They know they need to get the word out so they start to think about advertising. There are so many options when it comes to promotions. Where should you advertise? Print? Online? On the side of a bus? The key to answering these questions lies with the answer to another question……Who is your target audience?
Let’s use an example and say your target market is moms. Well, a mom can be many other things. This is a large and diverse group of people so let’s try to break it down further. Let’s pick one mom to be your ‘ideal’ customer.
Where does she live?
What kind of income does her family have (remembering she often controls the family income)
What kind of house does she live in? Does she rent or own?
When she gets dressed in the morning what does she wear?
Where would she have bought those clothes?
What does she make herself for breakfast? Does she make a big family meal or just have coffee while trying to get her kids out the door. Or maybe she prefers to drink tea?
When she piles the kids in the car what type of car is it? A minivan? Crossover SUV or is it a 1989 station wagon?
Once the kids are at school where does she go? Home, work or to a yoga class?
Ok, so I think you see where I’m going with this. In order to reach your target audience you need to get inside the head of your ideal customer. Think about the places they go, the magazines they read and the websites they surf.
If she owns her home, wears sweats and drives that 1989 station wagon then I doubt she’s reading the newest issue of Vogue so don’t worry about how you’ll afford to advertise there. Maybe the local paper would be a better fit so she sees your ads while placing a classified to get rid of her wagon.
If she wears a dress suit, drives an SUV, works full time and grabs a Starbucks on the way she may be reading that issue of Vogue on her lunch break. That’s a pricey publication to get into so think about some alternatives. What about putting up a flyer at her favourite lunch stop (she likely eats out instead of brown bagging it) or sponsoring her daughter’s soccer team?
If you’re thinking it’s all a bit stereotypical then you’re right, it is. Being too narrowly focused isn’t right either but, it’s a great starting point. Once you have a feel for your ideal customer you can branch out a little to expand your audience. This will give you a bit of room for error and hopefully your message will reach its target and you will begin to see a return on your investment.
H.E.Eigler also blogs at Maternal Spark - a blog for creative moms.
Reform School For Email??
Did you realize that “email marketing” can be one of the most effective ways to generate sales? This is the process of starting a mailing list to collect the names of people interested in your business and your products or services. Whenever you create a new product or decide to have a sale or other promotion, you can email your past customers & the people you have requested to be on your mailing list.
Since these people have already expressed interest in hearing from you, they are more likely to purchase your products and services than somehow who has never heard of you.
If you are at a loss for what to say in these emails, don’t worry. I have your back! My friend and mentor, Alice Seba, has created a guide called “24 Ideas For Endless Email Topics” (click on the link to read it online, or right click it to save the guide to your computer).
Alice is also offering an Email Marketing Reform School to a very select group of 25 students. Registration begins May 12 and will close on May 19 (or when the 25 spots are taken, which ever comes first). Your lessons will be delivered via email, and you will also have access to a private coaching area where you can ask questions, receive feedback, etc. Click Here for more info.
Freebie Friday: Lots of free stuff for Indie Biz Chicks Day
Yep, yep - the day has come! It is officially Indie Biz Chicks Day. So, if you are a women in independent business, celebrate by taking a bit of time off to go do something nice for yourself.
Now what’s a holiday without presents?? Everyone LOVES presents! And I have some for you, and that includes guides on starting an online business, blogging, increasing your sales through the words on your site, tips on outsourcing and more (check out the line up at http://www.indiebizchicks.com/ibcday.html). If you are a subscriber to The Weekly Biz Tips, there should have been an email waiting for you this morning with the info on how to download the gifts.
And if you’re not a subscriber, you can subscribe through the box on the top right or through the link I mentioned in the above paragraph. Your gifts will be sent to you within a few moments.
Happy Indie Biz Chicks Day!