Experienced business owners value the importance of their customers.  They will tell you that customers are the lifeblood of their business.  Because of that, many business owners believe that the key to success is to constantly find new customers.  But this is not the case at all.

Smart business owners know that the real key to success is to develop long-standing business relationships with their clients and keep them coming back for reorders and new products or services.

This has many benefits.  First of all, when a business owner has clients coming back for repeat purchases, the business owner will not need to spend as much time on finding new customers.  This gives you more time to focus on the business itself instead of more marketing.

The business’ income will not suffer, as new work will be coming to the business, instead of the business constantly chasing new work down.

Not only will this save time and resources, it is also a more cost-effective way to do business.  The business owner won’t need to invest as much in their marketing and advertising campaigns.  Putting together new ad campaigns can be a serious drain on time and money.

Happy customers are also more likely to send referrals to a business.  If a satisfied customer runs into a friend or colleague needing the type of services and products you offer, they will give that person your contact information.  This results in even more work coming into the business without the business owner chasing after it.

If you like the sound of enjoying repeat business with your current customers while spending less time and money attracting new clients, you may be wondering how to put this into action.  Here are some tips on how to keep your customers happy and coming back.

* Offer quality products and/or services

While it is hard to say which of the following tips is the most important, this one is extremely important.  Without a quality product or service, there is not much reason for your customers to come back.

* Practice effective communication

This is important whenever a business owner is dealing with a customer or client, but it really comes into play for service providers.  It can be very difficult for a business owner to turn over a piece of their business to someone else, especially someone who does not live close by.

But that is exactly what happens whenever a business owner hires a virtual assistant, ghostwriter, web designer, or other service provider.

Service providers can keep their clients happy and at ease by providing regular updates on project statuses and asking questions whenever they are in doubt about something.

Also remember that this is a business relationship and keep that communication professional.

* Provide good customer service

In the above tip, we talked about effective communication skills, but that is just one part of a good customer service plan.  You have probably received poor customer service from a business in the past.  How did that make you feel about the business, and did it change your mind about doing business with them again in the future?

A general rule of thumb is to always treat your customers the way you would like to be treated.  That simple statement will ensure you will have customers coming back time and time again.

Share This

For Internet entrepreneurs and home-based business owners, forum networking is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to build online business connections. It makes sense – a business is built on relationships, and online forums are the best places on the Web to meet people, share your knowledge, and ask your questions.

But before you log on to the first forum you find and start promoting your new business opportunity, take a moment to brush up on your forum etiquette. Like any other social activity, forum networking has its own mores and guidelines. Follow these seven steps to become a savvy forum networker.

1.    Read the rules before you play the game. Most forums have threads that explain how they work. Look for threads titled Forum Rules and FAQ and read them before you make your first post.

2.    Get a feel for the forum by reading previous posts before you jump in. This will help you find the right place to invest your valuable time.

Who are the members? Do they discuss issues that interest you? As a writer and a mother, I look for forums that discuss writing and the challenges of being a work at home mom.

Do you have the answers they’re looking for? If you have the expertise that the members need, you can make a valuable contribution to the community and build your reputation as an expert in your field.

Forum networking is also one of the best ways to learn about your ideal client. Join some of the forums your target market frequents and you’ll learn what’s really on their minds.

3.    Once you’ve found a forum you like, take the time to introduce yourself. Look for an Introduce Yourself thread, or something similar. Share who you are and what you do. Let the other members know you’ve joined their group and that you look forward to getting to know them.

4.    Don’t mistake “telling them what you do” for “advertise your business.” Ads are not welcome in any your forum posts, and they make a particularly bad impression in your introduction. Look for a thread called Ads and save your promotional material for that thread only.

5.    No ad you post will ever be as persuasive as engaging in meaningful conversation with the other forum members. Let others get to know you through your friendly and informative posts, and you will win their trust and loyalty for your business.

6.    Place a link to your website in your signature and add your signature to the end of each of your posts. Here is where you get to advertise your newsletter, describe your latest business opportunity, brag about your newest e-book. If you’ve made an interesting and helpful comment, other forum members will be tempted to click on the link and learn more about your business.

7.    Spend some time every day visiting each of the forums you participate in.  Create a folder of forums in your browser’s Favorites folder to help you keep track. It’s a good personal goal to submit an informative post and welcome a few new members each time you visit.

Combine your informative posts and signature with regular visits, and you’ll be well on your way to building your network and making friends online.

Denise Willms,a homeschooling mother of two, helps work-at-home-moms get targeted traffic to their websites through copywriting, article writing, and press releases. Subscribe to her newsletter, WAHM-Articles Ezine, and receive 105 Power Tips to Get Your Online Business Noticed and Profiting.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Share This

Mineralicious has everything you could ever need for makeup. Foundation, blush, eyeshadow, brushes and face wash all in one site. All homemade by a fellow Mom. Of course a major selling point to myself is that another Mom owns the site and makes the products, but the price is very affordable. The economy is super tight, but we still need to look good and feel good. Doing so does not have to break the bank and Mineralicious proves that!

Shop or join for a very affordable price. Mineralicious for those looking for mineral makeup or a new job opportunity. The owner is there for you all the way.

Share This

Message boards are becoming more and more popular as a means of meeting and communicating with others.  Message boards can be found on many websites these days. Look at a site like iVillage.com. They have hundreds of boards to choose from.

Message boards are a form of communication. Think of a message board the same way you’d think of a social party. If the party was from the PTA, you’d expect schools to be talked about. If the party was being given by an investment firm, you’d expect money and finance to be discussed.

What you would not expect at either of the above parties is for folks to enter the party and run around saying “buy my products” and “visit my store” without ever even saying hello to anyone at the party.  What are the chances you’d buy from that person or even visit that store?

Here are several do’s and don’ts for message board use:

Do introduce yourself to the group. Leave the ad behind on your introduction. Let folks know who you are, where you live and why you’ve come. Did you come to the group to learn from others? Did you come to contribute your own knowledge? Did you come to talk about one of your favorite hobbies? Did you come to hear how others view parenting?

Do contribute to topics that are of interest to you. I recently found a message board about picky eaters. My own daughter, who is now 23, was once a very picky eater. I jumped right in and began sharing many stories from my daughter’s childhood.

Do develop a profile on the site you are visiting. Most sites allow you to fill in your name, your hobbies, where you live and often your URL. Take advantage of these profiles and share yourself with others.

Do create a signature. My own signature is usually just my URL. However a line or two under your URL is just fine, as long as the community you’re visiting allows this. Always check the signature rules before creating your own signature.

Do read some of the posts to get a feel for the community. Some communities are more formal than others. Some communities are very laid back.

Don’t post ads. There is nothing that will leave a bad impression like an ad. Some communities will both delete the ad, and also ask you to leave the community.

Don’t post messages that say nothing. If you have nothing to say, wait for another topic. I’ve visited one community where the same person answers every topic with “I agree”, and then puts her signature there. Is it no wonder that she once posted she gets no sales from her networking efforts? The same is true for messages that say “welcome to the group”. I think the only time I’ve posted “welcome” is when the original poster shared something personal and I’m answering that personal part.  Leave the “welcomes” to the group host.

If you are new to message boards, try http://messages.yahoo.com/index.html They have many boards there to choose from. Or try http://www.ivillage.com/messageboards?ice=iv,mp,rn,mb Again, they too have many boards to choose from. You can also do a web search for _______ message boards. Fill in the blank with the topic you’re hoping to talk about.

When I first learned about message boards, I read for at least a solid week before I posted anything. I really wanted to understand the personality of the group. Since that day, I have met hundreds of people through message boards. I’ve made purchases, made sales, and made friends, all as a result of posting on message boards.

Audrey Okaneko has worked at home since 1983. She can be reached at audreyoka@cox.net or visited at http://www.recipe-barn.com

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Share This

There are a lot of Moms and WAHMs out there looking for a company to join. At WAHMchats, we would like to help them make an informed decision when it comes to starting a new venture.  Check out multiple companies in one day and enjoy a class to you help you pick the company that is right for you. Find out all the details about joining their company and being active in the party and then ask the rep the questions YOU really need answers to.

Business Opportunity Fair Schedule

11-11:45 - Mary Kay : Diane McLachlan : We are more than makeup. We are more about proper skin care. Everyone has skin and everyone wants it to look wonderful. You can help others feel good about themselves.

11:45-12:15 - The Scented Tub : Val Selby - US Manager : Join now and receive your sign up fee back in store credit! Sign ups start at only $5.

12:15-1 - Unique Diva Boutique : Sabrae Carter

1-1:45 - Usborne Books : Tina Peterson : **September’s Kit is $35 with a FREE website and I will be offering an additional $25 in FREE books (your choice) as a gift from me! Come see what Usborne Books has to offer you, your family & your community! Click to see September’s special: http://www.ubah.com/consultant/PDF/sept2008recruiting.pdf

1:45-2:30 - Greeting Card Connections : Lauren Haugh : Lauren Haugh : Who do you know that could benefit from an unexpected card? Learn about the 3 ways to become a “Sender of Cards” and the business opportunity that gives you 7 ways to earn. Join as an Entrepreneur to receive compensation as you help others become senders of cards.

2:30-3:15 - Tomboy Tools : Linda Jirous : Tomboy Tools is offering a $99.00 dollar new consultant special!!! This is a savings of $60.00! The tools alone are valued at over $140.00 plus you get all the business materials. I am offering to a new team member a $25.00 Tomboy Tool gift certificate after they hold their first event.

3:15-4 - Gold Canyon Candles : Heather Magallanes : Gold Canyon MORE THEN JUST CANDLES SHOP ONLINE - $5.95* SHIPPING EVERYDAY!
New Demonstrators – Choose Your Discounted Kit and More! New Demonstrators can choose between the full Demonstrator Kit for a discounted price of $99 (Save $76) or the Sampler Kit for a discounted price of $49 (Save $50).

4-4:45 - Homemade Gourmet : Nikki Ilgen : ** Homemade Gourmet is one of the top Up & Coming Homebased Businesses according to Family Circle.**…Homemade Gourmet provides the products & ideas that makes today’s home cooking easy for people with busy lifestyles….Sign up by 9/30/08 for only $39.00 (plus shipping & tax) and receive a bonus coupon for $39.50 in free product with your initial order. Entry Level Opportunity!

5-6 - Business Class - “Choosing Your Direct Sales Business” We’ll go over great tips to help you choose the right business for you. All participants will also get the incredible ebook for further information.

6:15-7 - UndercoverWear Parties by Marylyn : Marylyn Friedmann : **September Recruit Special for Military Dependents…FREE $125 Kit (Value $250)! **September Recruit Special: Receive $60 FREE additional merchandise to add to kit!**

7-7:30 - Lokelani Designs : Marianne Glynn : September Sign-On Bonus! Consultants who sign-on in September receive our versatile 3-Strand Rolo Necklace ($60) for FREE!

7:30-8 - ~Passion Parties by Janet~ : Janet Piccarillo : Join my team Today and receive: **250 biz cards **$100 worth of Passion products to get you started with your new business!!

8-8:30 - Taste of Home Entertaining : Holly Weissenhofer : Smart Start incentives for new consultants! Earn product, free gas, an iphone, laptop and more! Special incentive for anyone signing by end of Sept….also earn a free new metal tray after your 1st party! Check us out!

8:30-9 - Thirty-One Gifts : Patti Wentz : Join my team and get 25 extra catalogs to get you started right away!

9-9:30 - South Main Designs : Charity Treat : Free to join! Join my team, & receive a FREE pair of earrings!

9:30-10 - Cherish Bound : Tara Brown : Anyone who schedules a sponsoring appointment at the close of my presentation and holds it within 48 hours of the event will receive a free Cherish Bound Story Starter. New Consultants that sign up will receive $29 in publishing from me! Kits start at $99.

Share This

Networking is a powerful tool and an integral part of business and professional development. Some people are natural networkers, although many of us find ourselves avoiding events because we don’t know how to take advantage of them.
It’s not all hard work. With the right method it can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Here are some ideas which you can use to help you get the most out of your network.
What is networking?
As described in the Collins dictionary, a network is an interconnected group or system. Therefore networking is the process of using a network or interconnected group to your advantage.

Why network?
Networking gives you the opportunity to gain insights into other businesses and contacts, and increase your exposure. At a networking occasion you are presented with the opportunity to tap into a wealth of information and experience in one room. A great asset of networking is that you never know what treasure is around the corner.
If time allows for it become involved with a networking organisation. This will open up even more opportunities. Budget and time permitting, organise to be a guest speaker or a sponsor as this will greatly increase exposure for you and your business.
How to network
This is perhaps the most daunting part of the process. Follow these tips to make it easier:
1. Make sure you have enough business cards to hand out and make sure you swap cards; this one of the most important items you can take from the event.
2. Look professional and dress accordingly.
3. Set out objectives for the evening. Are you looking to build your contacts or are you after a certain type of contact? Try and hit your objectives early, then you can generally mingle and increase your exposure.

If you do not find it easy to start a conversation pick a couple of current news topics you can use.
5. Take a colleague or business associate if turning up to an event on your own seems tough. Alternatively it could be a good opportunity to take a new business contact.
6. Take a look around the room – if it’s not a seated event look for opportunities to enter conversations.
7. Manage your time and don’t get stuck in one conversation. The room is full of ideas, so use the time wisely. Have a general rule of 15 minutes per contact.
8. Remember that everyone is there to network, so the person you are speaking to is also after knowledge and contacts. Think about what you can provide them. Even though you might not get an immediate return you might see potential in the future for a returned favour.
9. Don’t dismiss any opportunities – you never know where conversations might lead.

10. Set up future meetings at the event – it’s much harder for people to reject you face-to-face.
What to do with the contacts
So, what happens to all those business cards? Firstly you need to categorise them. You can then enter them into an appropriate database which can be set up in Excel or Access. Your database should include information such as contact details, where you met the contact and any special interests or insights you might have gained during your conversation.
Make sure that all ideas are written down in your database and that actions are documented straight away. Networking is mentally and physically draining so notes will ensure the benefits are not lost.
You then need to work out what to do with them – do you have any immediate tasks?
Reaping the benefits
The most important part of networking is ensuring you are able to learn and grow from the experience. The more you gain the better. By setting up some tools you can make sure you don’t miss any opportunities. Eventually what once seemed like the daunting process of networking becomes second nature and an important part of growing your business.

Claire McLennan is a business analyst  writes articles for Microsoft Small Business

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Share This

Our first business opportunity fair will be on Thursday Sept. 24. Unlike other events, this will be specifically about telling everyone the benefits of your company and products! Join in on the fun and get to recruiting as the holiday season gets into full swing. Be a VENDOR!

If you already have a team, schedule our rooms for you team meetings!

Share This

One of my favorite marketing activities is networking online. Many of my clients engage in this activity as well. But, soon after starting online networking, many people find themselves in a state of overwhelm – so many groups – so little time! First, how do you know which groups are ideal for your business, and second, how do I effectively manage my online networking and avoid becoming overwhelmed with it all?

First, let’s talk about some of the ways that you can networking online. You can participate in online networking groups such as the type you might find at Yahoo, Ryze, or Zaadz. You can also participate in special online events through organizations like WECAI.

It’s important to find networking groups where your niche is hanging out. These are the people that you will be able to help build your business. When you visit sites like Yahoo, do a search on keywords for your niche and see what kinds of groups are out there. For example, if I’m looking for networking groups, I might search on “women entrepreneurs.” Hanging out with your niche will help you gain clients, and it will help you discover what your niche’s needs are as they relate to your business.

You can also join networking groups where your peers congregate. These are great to discuss industry trends, get business questions answered and share ideas. For example, I’m a member of a few groups that are geared toward coaching.

You want to be sure the groups you’re interested in are fairly active. An active group usually has a couple hundred members, and will have at least 15 to 20 messages in a week – some have a lot more than that, but that’s a good number to look for.

When you join a group, spend a few days getting to know what the rules and expectations are. For example, some groups do not allow e-mail signatures, some groups have special days for ads. Also, spend some time reading the discussions and learning about the members.

When you’re ready, post your introduction, and jump into any conversations you feel you’d like to join.

If a group is busy and it seems like the conversations move fast and there are new threads constantly being added, you don’t have to respond to everything. When you visit the online groups, usually there is a message archive that you can browse. All of the threads are usually grouped by topic, so you can choose which discussions you’re interested in following and responding to. It is completely fine to only respond to the threads that you are most interested in. Don’t forget to offer your expertise in discussions where it is warranted. This will help members get to know what you can offer them, and it is a great way to establish yourself as an expert.

Another rule of thumb is to not work a sales pitch into every post you make. That can seem insincere. Save your sales pitch for ad days and for your e-mail signature. The goal of networking in any situation is to build relationships. You may not make sales or get e-zine subscribers the first time you post – and that’s ok. You want the members of the group to get to know you, and you want to get to know them.

Consistency is the key to make online networking work for you. Decide how much time you’re going to devote to this marketing activity and then be consistent. For example, you may decide to visit your online groups three times per week and spend 2 hours responding to posts. Or, you may decide to only visit once per week and spend 3 hours networking. Be organized with your efforts and stick to a schedule. This will make it easier to manage, and it will ensure that you don’t get stuck socializing when you really should be working

In addition to making really great business connections, online networking is a way to make amazing friends and meet fantastic people. Remember, not every single person you meet through networking will become a customer, but they will be a great connection – and you never know where that might lead!

Jenn Givler is the Catalyst for Thriving Businesses. She teaches entrepreneurs how to break through fear, frustration and overwhelm in their business. Visit her web site and receive your free report: The 5 Reasons Your Business Is Still Stuck – Even though you’re doing everything right. http://www.jgivlercoaching.com

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Share This

You’ve finally created your website and you need ideas to promote it!

But where do you promote your website? How do you promote it?

There are literally tons of marketing ideas out there. But I wanted to focus on the concept of Forum Marketing. There are message forums everywhere.

Work at home, home business, webmasters, affiliate programs, and articles…are just a few of the various types of forums out on the Internet today.

So which forums do you promote on?

Well, this will depend on what your website is all about. Is your website about working at home? Is it about a particular home business you are a representative for? Is your website about affiliate programs?  You will need to base your marketing around what your website is about.

For example…If your site is basically about “work at home,” you will want to join “work at home” forums. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

So…you’ve joined some message forums that relate to your website, what is your next step?

Here is a simple laid-out plan on forum marketing:

1) The first thing you will want to do is find the “Introduction” folder. Make your first post, introducing yourself to the forum members and share a few things about yourself. Important…NO ADS in this post! If you post an ad here, it will most likely get deleted.

2) Browse the forum and get aquainted with the community. Take the time to read through a few threads and get a feel for what the forum is focused on and what it has to offer.

3) Check out the Forum Posting and Signature Rules. On most forums, this is usually located fairly close to the “Introduction” folder. Make for sure you fully understand the rules of the forum and follow them carefully.

4) Post in a few topics that you are interested in or share some advice. Try and make your posts consist of as much quality as you can…not just, “I agree” or “nice post.” Forum members usually just scroll by these type of short and sweet messages and don’t even bother to find out what YOU have to offer the community…thus, resulting in a complete waste of time on your part.

5) Create your signature. While doing so, make for sure you follow the forum signature rules. A signature is a block of text that displays your name (if you care to share that information), and links to your website or affiliate programs. There is usually a character count limit. Always include your signature in all your future posts. If you are unsure of how to create a signature, click on the FAQ link, (usually found at the top of the forum).

6) Post your ads ONLY in the advertising folder. If you post your ads elsewhere, you run the risk of losing your forum account. ALWAYS read the rules of this section.

7) Get to know the community…have fun and make friends. Share your work at home experiences and any knowledgeable advice or tips. Ask questions on areas you need knowledge or more information about.

The idea here is to establish a good reputation for yourself and gain trust and loyalty from the forum members. You will quickly discover that you will bring in far more traffic to your business or website by doing this rather than spamming ads in the advertising section and not engaging in good quality work at home conversations.

Something that most forum spammers are not aware of…I have found out through forum marketing, most people don’t read the advertising section anyway. Most of them are there for searching out knowledgeable marketing techniques and related business resources. So, it is much more beneficial for you if you utilize the message forum for what it is really intended for…NOT for spamming your ads and then leaving.

The forum members will get to know you and grow curious about what your signature links have to offer. The end result…they will be much more inclined to sign up for a business opportunity under you if they grow to trust you by conversing with you on a day to day basis in a friendly forum atmosphere.

This is called “Proper Forum Networking.”  Give it a try…it works like a charm everytime.

Article written by: Tammy Embrich

Tammy is an Internet Marketer and is the

Owner of: http://www.onestopwebemployment.com
And Owner of: http://www.real-wah-jobs.com/

Tammy’s two WAH websites focus on free telecommute job leads and more.

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Share This

Firstly let’s think about social networks generally and what their aims are. The best way to think about this is that they are similar to search engines where they want to make the best content available to users. However the value of the content is determined by the popularity from its members and not from a mathematical algorithm. For examples the articles with the largest number of diggs will find themselves on the front page of Digg.com.

I hear you asking, how can this benefit my business? Well let’s think about what social networks can bring you, firstly they can bring valuable exposure and so increasing traffic to your site. They also can bring more back links to your site and so helping to improve your search engine ranking which in turn will bring more traffic to your site, which is the aim of the game.

Now I bet your thinking, how can I take advantage of these opportunities? Well it is very simple really and below are the main steps to using social networks to improve the profile of your business:

1.Research the sites you want to use. There are the obvious ones in MySpace, Facebook and Digg but there may also be some that are business specific and industry specific.

2.Once you have decided on your sites then you will need to set up a profile. Make sure this includes as much interesting information on your company as possible and includes a link back to your website.

3.Now you need to make connections. Firstly start by finding old friends from school, university and previous jobs. It is also a good idea to search for people that are interested in areas that are related to your business and try and build relationships with them.

4.Get yourself seen. A good way to do this is to go to Forums on your selected sites and join in discussions. If people are having problems that you can help with make every effort to help them, remember to include a link to your site. This will not only increase the validity of you and your business but will also increase your connections on these sites.

5.Update your profile regularly. Many social networking sites will send a notice to your friends if your profile has been updated and as people are naturally nosey many will come to see what you have done which will increase the coverage you get.

6.Send out announcements to your friends. If you have some company news or you have a special offer it might be worth letting all your friends know about it, this may bring you valuable business. Remember though be reasonable with this, if you are continually sending out notices and leaving information for friends they will rapidly become annoyed and disinterested which may undo all the hard work you have done.

Conclusion

Social networking is a vital component to any online marketing campaign and it should be included but not overused. The best thing about using social networking is that you get advertising for free so if only 1% of the people in your network use your services or buy your products you will still have an amazing return on investment. Forget the power of social networking at your peril.

If you have found this article useful then you can get more information from Dazines - search engine optimization, London UK.

Dazines - a href=”http://www.dazines.co.uk”>website design and webdevelopment company London UK

Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

Share This