Is your Website Leaking Business??

They do, you know... Most websites have holes where potential business and customers fall between the gaps and cracks. No website is leak-proof but there are a few things that will do the most to minimize the lost potential.

1. Be Phone-Friendly. At least 20-25% of website traffic is mobile (maybe more depending your industry). And if you have every visited a website that is hard to see or confusing to use on your phone, you most likely left it, possibly never to return.  The solution is to DESIGN a phone-friendly website that is concise (likely a subset of your main website) and clear (with prominent CLICK-TO-CALL, CLICK-FOR-MAP or other buttons that will make it easy for them to connect with you).
2. Be People-Friendly. Websites have evolved from simple on-line brochures. With slideshows, videos, on-line chat, and links to social networks, websites can now be designed to ENGAGE your audience which will keep them on your website longer. What's more, you want to look different (and better) than your competition. You want your visitors to say "Holy Cow", not "Ho-Hum".
3. Be Business-Friendly. The CLICK buttons on a mobile website is just one example of making it EASY to do business with you. Create a simple (and prominent) button to buy, register, schedule, book, call, email... You can make it even more compelling by providing a sense of urgency (limited time offer). You can also personalize how your website appears depending on the time of day (is it Happy Hour yet?), location of the visitor (where is your office nearest to them?) or time of year (are you open late for the Holidays?)

These are just a few of the myriad of strategies to get you more business from your website. We offer a FREE Digital Diagnostic (limited time offer!) where we will look at your website and make suggestions based on your business. There is no obligation and to buy anything and we GUARANTEE we will find a hole (or two) you can patch and will offer suggestions on how to patch it/them!

CLICK to schedule today!

Susan, Web Ninja

PICK the Video to SUIT your Purpose!

Videos are a great way to share information on the WWW. And each type of video has its strengths based on the purpose of the video.

Here are just a few examples...

ASK a Question... GET RESULTS!

Mark Victor Hansen, co-creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul, said that the simplest way to get results is to ASK: ask for the sale, a referral, the contract... And if you are not there yet, you can start by asking a question!

I have often used this analogy:

The adage is "If you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door". Not true!! First they have to know you have a better mousetrap and second, sometimes you have to educate them that they have mice!"

A survey is a great way to ask the right question to demonstrate they have a "mice problem". And it's far more effective when the prospect has the "aha" moment of "I have a problem!" than if you were to tell them that...

The question is not "Do you need a new (widget)?" 

The questions are:

1. Does your (widget) do A, B, and C? 
2. No? Might that be costing you time, money, customers, or all of the above?
3. Would you like a demo, consultation, or more information about this potential problem?

Before a sale, a survey serves several purposes:

1. It ENGAGES the prospect. It lets them feel like they are involved in the process instead of simply reading a marketing message. 
2. The best survey will RESPOND to their answers: display information or the next question based on their response. This intensifies engagement because it is personalized.
3. The CALL TO ACTION at the end of the survey will be customized based on their feedback. 

After a sale, a survey:

1. Lets our new customer know that their opinion is important and that their feedback has value. People like to be HEARD. It gives them an opportunity to vent if they had an issue (better to you than directly to Yelp) AND reminds them to post a review on Yelp, Google+, etc. if they like you!
2. Gives you  a chance to FIX a problem: whether for that specific customer or in your business process. 
3. If the feedback was positive: now you can ADD a positive testimonial or success story to your website.
4. Provides an(other) opportunity to ask for a REFERRAL, reminds them of additional SERVICES you provide, and INTRODUCES* them to other businesses that might be of service to them: "Oh, by the way..." (OBTW)
5. Occasional NEWSLETTERS or FOLLOWUPS will keep you top-of-mind for future referrals, repeat business and OBTW opportunities. 

NOTE: Business introductions demonstrates your "value-add" to services beyond your scope of expertise. PLUS, the marketing benefit to you is that YOU are introduced to prospects you don't know yet in the other business' surveys, followups, and newsletters.

Intrigued? (good cause to be). CLICK HERE to take OUR survey for a demonstration of just what a well-crafted survey can accomplish. It's the GET (answers) that keeps on GIVING! 

Right-On-Target Marketing Done RIGHT!

Imagine if someone invited you to enter a darts tournament. There was BIG prize money available so this piqued your interest, even though you don't consider yourself a darts expert. You would certainly ask these questions:

1. What's the target?
2. What do I get if I hit it?
3. What does it cost to enter?

No brainer questions, right? 

Well I know many businesses that invest LOTS of money NOT knowing the answers to these basic questions which also apply to marketing. If done RIGHT, you will know the answers before you even get started.

1. What's the target? Knowing exactly what your target looks like helps you know what you are aiming at and your chances of hitting it. Also knowing the odds of hitting a bullseye, how many attempts you will need to make before you get a hit, and if there are any wins beside a bullseye.
2. What do I get if I hit it? Here's a definition of a bullseye in marketing: you acquire a new "ideal client". What's an "ideal client"? Well, it depends on your business but would be one that you can provide the maximum amount of service for with the most profit. You will want to know the "average lifetime value" of that client: how much they spend (on average) each year, how long (on average) they remain a client, how many new clients (on average) they refer. All clients might not be a "bullseye" but at least you will know what each "ideal client" will put in your pocket.
3. What does it cost to enter? Once you evaluate the return-on-investment, you know how much you might be willing to spend to enter the marketing game. We don't engage in marketing for the sport, we engage for the WIN. So know the RETURN so you will know how much to INVEST.

So let's look at an example and "do the math".

Let's say a bullseye is worth $1000. It costs $100 to get 10 darts. You are pretty good and can usually hit two bullseyes for every 10 tries. If you enter and do your "average" you would profit $2000+ for a $100 investment. Would you enter?

Here's the politically correct response: "Duh!" 

Truth be told, you could hit one out of 30 and still do well enough to justify the investment. 

Marketing works the SAME WAY. Understand your target, evaluate your odds, and do the math! If you need help for YOUR business, contact us at GetYourNetInGear.com for a FREE Digital Diagnostic (we focus on the Internet but will explore ALL forms for marketing options).

Networking Works (if YOU Work it!)

Networking has many benefits. The adage of "many hands make light work comes to mind". Also the "total is greater than the sum of its parts". And thus netowrking is a great advantage to use since most of us could use help to do more with less,

To Blog or NOT To BLOG (that is the question...)

Blogging was around way before social media but that does not mean it is outdated by any means. I recommend most of my clients start a blog. Blogging a a relatively easy way to generate content for your website*, emails, and social media posts.

How videos can add some M.A.G.I.C. to your on-line markeitng

Google Video Tours

Google Video Tours

Follow-Up Systems: Do YOU see YOUR Holes?

Think of your marketing campaign like a bucket brigade, where the goal is to get as many prospects from point A (initial contact) to point B (point of sale) as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

TRAFFIC SCHOOL: Lessons from the Sea

There are indeed "plenty of fish in the sea" however unless you are actively fishing, every day, you will likely go hungry... The same is true on the Internet. Just about everyone (Google says 97%) is using the Internet to find products and services. Having a website is just the beginning: you have a boat. Now let's take a few lessons from the sea to see how to make the boat work for you.

TECHNOLOGY: Can't live without it, don't always get it

Most of us remember a time when a phone was only used for making calls and technology was something that only engineers had to deal with. Now phones are "smart" and tech-stuff isn't just for geeks anymore...

Tech-Wise or Dollar-Short

Technology such as websites, emails, blogs, social media, etc. has positively and completely revolutionized the way we do business in the past decade.. It allows us to reach new customers and connect with current ones in cost-effective ways most of us never imagined. It has changed and continues to evolve so fast most businesses feel overwhelmed, frustrated, confused or all of the above.

Does your website have the right S.T.U.F.F.?

As you get ready for 2014, now is a good time to re-evaluate your website and how effective it is in generating business for you. Many websites have "holes" in them that are leaking business. By understanding and then patching those holes with the right S.T.U.F.F., your website can be a more effective bucket to capture business as opposed to a sieve that is leaking opportunity... So what's on your website's "bucket list"?

Get Your 'Net in Gear (with Google!)

We have been saying that for years. It's even posted on our car. We want every business to take FULL advantage of the internet to help them capture more business, be more efficient, and to be an asset to your business.

We shared a "Who Am I" riddle years ago:

Get Your Business On-Line

I think we will all agree: we want a healthy, happy, and flourishing community. One where businesses are thriving and residents of all ages can easily find, access, and share the resources and information that will help them with all their needs for their families, businesses, and community. Resources that cover everything from work, play and community service.

Top Three Reasons you NEED to Mobilize your Marketing

There are several reasons why EVERY business should consider creating a mobile version of their website... Biggest reason is if your target market is mobile (and stats are showing an increasing number of people are), then you might be missing out...

I Blog therefore I Am...

Well, that’s not entirely true... You can also "be" if you post, pin, or tweet too. These are various ways to not just exist on the World Wide Web but to "work it"! You would never go to a networking event and NOT talk to someone, right? You make an effort to reach out and meet new people with the goal to generate business. The same applies for the Internet. “Out of sight, out of mind”. If you are not doing something to interact, it’s like you  showed up but didn’t talk to anyone.

What's in a (Domain) Name?

Our Internet Service Providers often provide us with a FREE email account and their name for us (like MyName@att.net). Or we can sign up for a FREE account through hotmail.com, Gmail.com, ad infinitum. However, if you have a business, it makes a LOT of sense to register a domain name even if you don't need a website*.

Time to Mobilize your Marketing

I must confess that a year ago my mantra was "a phone is a phone" and I saw no need to make it "smarter" than it was... However a business trip to Kauai last year (where there was questionable access to the Internet) prompted me to upgrade... Within two days I was hooked: voice command Google searches, GPS, and other features make the phone an indispensable business tool as well as personal life-saver!

Push Me, Pull Me

The term is Push-Me-Pull-You from Dr. Doolittle but this blog post isn't about talking to the animals. It's about talking to and reaching your target market, your potential customers, your next client! I'm talking about push and pull marketing.