Tips from various sources - a few quickies to lighten your day!

the Business Start Page BUSINESS TIPS

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The Business Start Page ~ USERS' TIPS ~

What are websites really for?       Unless you are selling things that can be used online (information) or inside the computer (software), your website is nothing more than an Assistant. Think about it. All the major players have offline commercial avenues and *refer* visitors to their websites for more. Not the other way around! For example... I show at galleries, and refer collectors to the website for advance notice of new artwork. Then they sign up for my mailing list to get notice of secret drawings and other insider info. Online, I have constant contact with my collectors. I just don't have that kind of contact at a gallery. In fact, you could say that my website even helps me differentiate loyal customers from the "just looking." (Hint: Only the fans hit the site.) Nicole Gerl

To write an effective slogan       You have to start by writing the most boring sentence that articulates exactly why customers should choose you. Don't make it clever. Just make it right. If you need to take five sentences to do it, that's okay. You can always whittle them down, but get it on paper first. Also, avoid overused words like "Complete". That kind of language is sales-ese. It falls on deaf ears. It's been promised too often by too many people. Rob Frankel

A TIP FROM A BOOK Buy it NOW from Amazon.com     Keep Track of Your Life - From a little book called, Organize Your Business Travel - Travel with a comprehensive calender that reflects family members' activities as well as your business appointments. By keeping track of family commitments on the same calender as your business schedule, you'll be able to stay on top of what's going on - you won't hurt anyone's feelings by forgetting what's happening in their lives. Nothing disappoints family members more than to have the 'away' parent call, having forgotten about the school concert or championship game. If the date is on your calender, then the first words out of your mouth when you call can be: "How was the game?" or "Did the concert go well?" Then they know you care and are thinking about them.

C.O.M. (Click of Mouse) Advertising       Instead of thinking about advertising your business, product or service, think of investing in new relationships. Quit thinking about what you can sell to them, and start thinking of how you can benefit them. When you think of others first, they think of you first. On the Internet that translates to a click of mouse referrals. Bob Cortez

The Secret to Website Success       Too often websites are viewed as nothing more than business advertisements. Those who think in this manner are often disillusioned and disappointed. Commercial websites are not business advertisements. Rather, a commercial website is a Business! Therefore, in order for it to be successful it must be nurtured in the same manner as any storefront. It, too, must be stocked, marketed, advertised and promoted. Take this approach and more likely than not, your website will become profitable. Bill Davison

ANOTHER TIP FROM A BOOK Buy it NOW from Amazon.com     Cultural Sensitivity - Gary Wederspahn, author of Intercultural Services: A Worldwide Buyer's Guide and Sourcebook, e-mailed us to offer this advice, "When doing business with people from other cultural backgrounds (domestically or internationally) it is a great asset to be aware of your own 'cultural baggage.' The values, beliefs, assumptions, and expectations you take for granted and carry with you into cross-cultural relations determine how others perceive you and react to you."

'Pay Per Click' Search Engines       Without a doubt, PPC search engines such as GoTo.com are worth it. The key to success is knowing how much revenue you generate from each visitor, and then bidding less than that per-clickthrough in order to make a profit. GoTo.com is the most popular PPC search engine but there are many other directories and engines in which you can pay for inclusion / consideration. http://www.promotionbase.com/article.php/321 has a list with comments. Matt Mickiewicz

Be Prepared       The number-1 buyer dislike is lack of preparation on the part of the salesperson. Use the magic phrase, "In preparing for this meeting I . . ." and then detail what you did to prepare. You'll get a more receptive customer and have more productive meeting. Chris Lytle

Self-help       The surest path to success is to consider other people's opinions as possible routes to success only--no matter how smart or "successful" someone is, how much "proof" you're given, how much you trust or respect someone, or how logical something seems.       Make every self-help approach, technique or strategy you discover your own. Shape it, mold it, tweak it, change it. Experiment with an open mind, use what works for you, and discard the rest. Why? Because ultimately, the path that leads to what you define as success will be unique to you. Robert Scheinfeld

A BUSINESS START PAGE TIP     Want to know something? - KnowledgeHound is a directory of free how-tos and your fastest way to hunt a how-to down! For example... Sales, Marketing and Promotion: Tips and tutorials - Creating ads, ecommerce, newsletters. Money and Law: How-tos, tips and tutorials. Green Business: How to start, run or become a sustainable business.       And many other topics, including Hobbies & Crafts, Home & Family, Money, Law, Recreation... KnowledgeHound

Keep It Fresh       To build a successful community around your website, you need to have new content available for your customers every time they visit. If you want to build a community around stocks or sports, you will most-likely need content that updates multiple times a day (if not every few minutes). On the other hand, a community interested in Web design might be best served with weekly or monthly content updates. The best starting point is your current site usage. How often do users return to your site? Aaron Hurst

Trade Show Success is Possible       Avoid Stacking Brochures On Counters: If you stack hordes of brochures on the counters, attendees will grab them and dash away. Displaying only one or two copies of a brochure is more likely to create a request from the visitor.       Avoid Stacking Give-Aways On Tables: Piles of giveaways tend to to attract bag-stuffers. Display only one giveaway. It creates interest but reduces the "grab-and-run" effect.   Dr.Allen Konopacki