Author: Mariana

The words viral marketing can sound a little disturbing, but it’s an unfortunate name for an extremely profitable marketing scheme.  Whether it’s referring to people or computers, the word virus has never really been a good term. It’s something associated with destruction and death, but that’s not what viral marketing is about.  If used properly, viral marketing can be a valuable asset.

The basic concept of viral marketing is that you start small, but employ others to help you spread your product or ideas.  Think about someone getting a virus – at first, only that person gets sick, but they also spread it to three of their friends.  Then each of those friends spreads it to three more people. Eventually, a large percentage of the population has been infected with the same virus.

 

Now, imagine that the virus is your advertisement or product.  You start by adding a few customers, then eventually, everyone has been exposed to your message.  Viral marketing is just a method of not only sending someone information about your product but also giving them the incentive to pass on your materials to others that they know.  Assuming each person it reaches passes it on to more than one person, the number of people who hear about your products and services will grow exponentially and reach thousands upon thousands of people.  Even if just a small percentage of the people you reach end up becoming your customers, you still have the potential to make a large profit.

To have a successful viral marketing campaign you need to have a good product, a good copy, but most importantly, a good incentive to pass the copy or product on to others.  So what exactly makes a good incentive program for viral marketing? While all incentives are different, most of them have one thing in common – they’re free. Whether it’s a free service, a free product, a free newsletter, or even a free ringtone, free brings people in.

 

Before picking an incentive, you need to make sure it’s something you can afford based on your product and potential income.  There’s always the chance that if you have a great incentive, your message will get passed on, but you still don’t have good sales numbers.  But assuming average sales, you should still be able to make a profit from your campaign, deducting the cost of the incentives.

A good viral marketing campaign not only has good incentives, but it also makes it very easy to pass the information from person to person.  It may be a button added to your website or social networking page; it has to be something easy, fast and virtually effortless. The easier it is to pass the idea on, the better it’s going to work.  It works even better if it uses the resources of others instead of your own.

 

If you’re looking to expand your business exponentially like viral marketing campaigns can be sure you can handle the amount of business you’ll be getting if your campaign works.  Having thousands of people use your product or come to your website isn’t much of a help if your website crashes or you can’t properly distribute your product. If you are going to market virally, get ready ahead of time for a rush of business.

Viral marketing may sound a bit like a “get rich quick” scheme but it has proven it’s effectiveness over and over.  But it does require thought, planning, and sometimes a substantial investment.

Storytelling is not just for bedtime anymore. It is now a strong marketing tool that can help you connect with your customers in powerful ways.

 

Why Storytelling?

Storytelling is as old as mankind. From cave paintings to oral transmission to books, there is nothing quite like a good story to entertain, teach and give examples. Stories provide a context for a journey of discovery and lessons learned, of solving problems and discovering knowledge that can transform.

A good marketing story can do this too in relation to any product or service you are selling.

 

The Structure of a Good Story

Every story has a beginning, middle and end. We can also say before, actions taken, and after. This can be a powerful structure for illustrating exactly how useful your product is to your customers as they share their stories through reviews and testimonials.

 

The Ring of Truth

Customer stories are so powerful because they have a real ring of truth to them. Studies have shown that people on social media are far more likely to accept the word of a relative stranger in their network compared to marketing material produced by a company. Simply put, stories sell.

 

Stories Reveal a Struggle and a Journey

As a marketer and product creator, you should be offering products you know speak to the needs of your target audience. How can you know this is the case? By researching their “pain points” – the things they commonly struggle with in relation to a particular topic within your niche. This is the “before” part of the story.

Then they try your product, get results, and live happily ever after (you hope). That is the “after” part of the story. And of course, we all enjoy a story with a good ending.

Your target audience should be able to identify with the struggle. The solution you offer should be an effective one that will really work. The ending will help your target customer imagine a life free from the thing that has been challenging them. And you can accomplish all this without any media “hype” or any hard sell.

 

Your Business Journey

Your own company’s story can also be a powerful marketing tool. For example, if you were a teacher but decided you could reach even more students via the internet so you could help them gain the skills they need to succeed through the books and courses you publish, that is a positive journey that a lot of people would get behind. It is a lot more compelling than starting an online business just to make money.

If a percentage of your profits go to a certain charity, like animal rescue, that can be a compelling story as well. Telling your story gives your business a more human side and can be related to more easily. Customers have a choice about where to spend their money. They might choose you because they support your mission.

 

Stories Are Full of Action

Stories are interesting because the main character takes action and gets a result. Even if it isn’t the one they intended, they have still tried something and learned from it. They have come through their journey older and wiser.

In the case of products purchased, they may have had to try more than one until they found a solution that really worked. This too can be a powerful part of a customer story — looking for the right solution several times until they finally found your product.

 

Be sure to ask for reviews and testimonials and you should soon see a change for the better in your marketing results.

 

Story-based marketing has been growing by leaps and bounds, changing the way prospective customers see business and connecting with them in all new ways. These new connections can help gain sales and customer loyalty.

There are a number of best practices when it comes to marketing using storytelling. Here are a few to consider.

 

Your brand story is important but it is not all about you

Your brand story tells why you got into business and what drives your efforts, but it is not only about you. It is about the effect your story has on your target audience. You want them to feel an emotional connection that will make them eager to join your mission. For example, a lot of people admired Steve Jobs because he founded Apple in his parents’ garage. He had a vision of success and followed it, even when he lost control of the company for a time.

You may have gone into business just to start a college fund for the kids, but consider what your wider concerns might be – such as going green, helping with animal rights, and so on. Then your mission will be about so much more than just making money.

Your brand is not just about shopping; it’s about enhancing lives, so anything you can include in your story that emphasizes this should resonate with your audience.

 

You Won’t Always Have Control of the Stories Told about You

As soon as reviews and testimonials start to come in and get published on sites like Amazon or comments are made on social media, your brand’s image and reputation, and people’s perceptions, can change significantly – and not always for the better. If this happens, don’t turn a spark into a forest fire. Just redouble your efforts to get honest, positive reviews to drown out any negativity. Get them from real people. Don’t write them yourself in an attempt to fool people. It will make things that much worse if you get caught.

On the upside, consumer-generated content that is positive will help with content creation and give an authentic ring of truth to your sales materials.

 

Consistency

Your story should be consistent across all your channels. Who are you, what do you do, and what motivates you to do it?

 

Different Voices, Same Story

Anyone in your company can contribute to the storytelling. They can talk about where they get their ideas to help people, why it is so great working for a green company, and so on.

 

Multimedia

Offer written stories, video and audio. Encourage your customers to record their testimonials. Consider giving them a few questions or prompts to help get the ball rolling.

 

Include Images

Everyone loves good images that support what the text is talking about. Use images, memes, infographics and more to make your stories stand out.

 

Authentic

Your story should feel real, honest, and authentic – not hype. If your content isn’t getting passed around a lot, chances are it might not feel authentic enough to your target audience. Or perhaps they feel they have seen it before and your story is a bit stale, or not unique enough.

 

Storytelling can take your brand to a whole new level. Use these best practices to make the most of this form of marketing.

 

Networking online is a great thing. It helps you stay connected with your peers and can make working from home a little less lonely. However, there are some pitfalls to networking online.

On the internet, you don’t have face-to-face interaction with people. You also have a larger amount of people to deal with at any one time. Most of the people you’ll meet are anonymous and this anonymity can often create a feeling of freedom in people. Meaning they may not moderate the things they say and often times may behave completely different from how they would behave offline. This can lead to a lot of negativity and often harshness.

Here are a few tips to help you avoid the negative situations that sometimes creep up in the online world.

 

Find the right networking group. If you love to visit a specific forum but find that you always leave there feeling worse than when you first logged in, it may be time to cut your losses and find a new group.

Some forums can be very exciting and fast moving but that also tends to draw a large variety of members. At the worst of times, people may get insulting or downright mean. This isn’t really a situation you want to be in, specifically when you need to stay positive in building your business.

The bottom line here is that if you don’t feel good, you should move on. Listen to your gut instincts about what you’re feeling and don’t worry if the specific forum seems to be “the place” to be – if the negativity is too much for you, you’ll be better off building your network elsewhere.

 

Read between the lines. Often times, when people write online what they say can be misinterpreted as “harsh” or “negative” when it may not be the case. Remember, online we can’t see people’s gestures or facial expressions so it may be worth not reading too much into what someone is saying.

If you’re in doubt you can always ask them to explain what they mean. You may find they didn’t mean to sound negative in the first place.

 

Find a mastermind group. Mastermind groups can be a comforting place to find support and build a strong network, as long as you choose a group of like-minded individuals. Researching and taking the time to find the right mastermind group is worth the time, as the right group may help your business grow in leaps and bounds.

A good mastermind group is worth its weight in gold. You’ll be able to connect with people who are positive and there to help each other. The negativity and playground games get left behind and you can get down to the business of building your business.

 

Ignore the situation. There is always someone who ruins it for others. Take the strength away from negative types by simply ignoring them. Enjoy your networking group and look over the few bad apples. With any luck, they’ll get tired and go find a different playground to spend time in.

 

Build yourself up. Negativity can be found everywhere we look for it. So perhaps it’s time to look the other way – to positivity. Work on yourself first by visualizing and living the life you want to live. Stay positive about your business and you’ll attract more like-minded people your way, making the negative ones seem insignificant.

Motherhood is certainly a life-changing event.  Our children become the center of our lives, and we must make adjustments to make sure they’re cared for.  Instead of hiring a babysitter, more and more moms are choosing to start their own businesses so they can be there for their kids and still contribute to the family income.

Self-employment offers a certain amount of flexibility.  But in most businesses, a certain amount of time outside the home is required.  At the very least, you’ll need to meet with clients in your home. This can be rather inconvenient for moms, especially when they have small children.  So many of them are looking for opportunities to make money online.

 

Starting an online business has a number of advantages for moms.  These include:

Start-up costs for an online business are often low.  So even if you are not currently working outside the home, starting an online business is usually within reach.  Setting up a website and buying some software are often all that’s needed to get started, and that can be accomplished for a few hundred dollars or less.

 

Doing business online doesn’t require one to keep regular hours.  You can work early in the morning before the kids get up, during the baby’s nap, or late at night when everyone is in bed.  And with the automation that the Internet has to offer, orders can be processed and virtual products delivered while you are sleeping or taking care of the kids.

 

You can get some work done with the kids right by your side.  Older children may even be able to help you with simple tasks. Did you know that the IRS allows you to deduct wages (up to a certain amount) paid to a child who is age seven or older to work in your home business from your taxes?

 

There are all sorts of online businesses that are great for moms.  You could sell your crafts on eBay or Etsy.com, or you could start your own e-commerce website.  You might offer services such as writing, transcription, web design or virtual assistance to customers around the world.  Or you could create and sell information products. Even blogging offers impressive money-making potential. The possibilities are many, and there’s sure to be something out there that’s just right for any mom.

 

Moms make up a large portion of the people who are making money online.  This allows them to take a hands-on approach to raising their children while still making money to support the household.  They don’t have to count on a sitter to take care of their children’s needs, and they don’t have to make a commute part of their daily routine.  It’s no wonder that the number of moms starting online businesses is growing in leaps and bounds.

There is no shortage of books about entrepreneurship.  Just visit Amazon.com and you’ll find that there are many thousands of titles available.  But all books on starting a business are not created equal.

Women entrepreneurs are making great strides in the business world.  This trend has resulted in numerous books geared toward them. Here are a few must-reads for the entrepreneurial lady.

 

The Chic Entrepreneur:  

Put Your Business in Higher Heels by Elizabeth Gordon and Leanna Adams – The Chic Entrepreneur is an entertaining guide to building a successful business.  Full of case studies and illustrations, this book is easy to read and understand. It covers topics such as choosing a niche, attracting great employees and marketing your business.

 

The Woman’s Advantage:  

20 Women Entrepreneurs Show You What It Takes to Grow Your Business by Mary Cantando – Would the advice of twenty successful female entrepreneurs help you grow your business?  Then this book is for you! The Woman’s Advantage features stories of women who have overcome adversity to become owners of lucrative businesses. But these stories do not simply serve as inspiration.  Each one highlights a specific strategy that can help women succeed in business.

 

Business Capital for Women:  

An Essential Handbook for Entrepreneurs by Emily Card and Adam Miller – Obtaining funding for a business venture can be a huge obstacle for female entrepreneurs.  This book details everything a woman needs to know to get the money she needs to start a business. From borrowing money from friends and family to finding an angel investor, Business Capital for Women provides step-by-step information to help you get the funds you need.

 

The Mary Kay Way:

Timeless Principles from America’s Greatest Woman Entrepreneur by Mary Kay Ash – Mary Kay Ash, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, was one of the best known and most successful women entrepreneurs ever.   In this book, she shares her management and marketing philosophies. Popular among independent beauty consultants, The Mary Kay Way also provides lots of helpful information for all types of entrepreneurs.

 

The Accidental Entrepreneur:  

The 50 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Starting a Business by Susan Urquhart-Brown – Here is a story that a great many entrepreneurs can relate to.  The author jumped into starting her own business head first, almost on a whim. In this book, she shares the mistakes she made and what she learned from them.  This is an invaluable resource for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned veterans alike.

 

These books and others like them are great for entrepreneurs who are just getting started, as well as current business owners who want to take their businesses to the next level.  By reading what has worked for other women, you are investing in your own success.

What is a media consultant? It’s someone who helps businesses with their media needs. This can range from writing a press release to getting them interviews with the local and national media.

Many companies are on the lookout for media consultants as they know that good media exposure can work wonders for any business. When a business advertises it’s viewed as just that – advertisement. However, when a business gets media attention then it’s free advertising that works much, much better than traditional paid advertisement would.

 

For this reason, media consultants are in high demand. Here are some of the services you can offer:

* Press release writing and distribution. Offer press release packages for your clients which include the writing and distribution. A simple press release can lead to great media attention.

* Media page and kit development. You can develop a client’s media page and web kit to make it easy for the media to find them.

* Media interviews. You can contact related or local businesses to line up interviews for your client. You can also line up interviews with traditional media outlets.

* Contacts and development. You can contact related businesses for your clients and help to work out partnerships – perhaps your client can become a regular blogger on a high profile site, for example.

* A good media consultant will offer a range of services – from getting the client interviews to advising them on what to wear for a TV appearance.

 

To get your business off the ground here are a few tips:

Build a website which really showcases your talents as a consultant and more importantly shows potential clients how you can help them achieve media success. List your expertise as a media consultant and include case studies along with a list of the services you offer.

 

Show samples on your website of press releases you’ve written, campaigns you’ve worked on and media kits you’ve produced. The more tangible results you can show your clients, the better. Many clients don’t know a lot about the media and giving lots of examples will help them to see how your services are important.

 

Educate clients about the media. This step will help you stand out as an expert in your field and make it easier to get clients. Show your clients why media attention can help their business and explain how the different types of media work.

 

Being a media consultant can be very rewarding. The pitfalls can sometimes be the need to educate clients about the media and the importance of your services. If you can strike a good balance with this then you should do well.

Everyone is good at something.  What if that “something” could make you money?  If you have a hobby with that potential, you could be making more money.

You might wonder how people come up with some of the ideas they have for businesses.  Mostly, it comes from a love of a certain hobby or a skill that a person possesses. There are several hobbies that can be turned into money generators – just look at eBay.

If you have been looking to start a home-based business, consider your skills and any hobbies that keep you busy on a regular basis.  Here are a few questions to ask when considering a hobby for your business enterprise:

 

1.  Is my product unique?  New products peak people’s interests.

 

2.  Is there a market for my product?  Some markets are saturated with certain items so it’s important to do some market research to see if your idea is viable.

 

3.  Do I have the time to devote to the business?  Since you already do what you do as a hobby, the answer to this question is usually going to be “yes.”

 

4.  Can I meet the demand?  Making crafts, if that’s your hobby, takes time.  It is possible to get a large demand and go out of business because you can’t fill your orders in a reasonable amount of time.

 

Now that the wheels have started turning in your brain, you are probably wondering what types of hobbies or skills make good home-based business ideas.  Here is a short list of some common ones:

* Crafts

* Tax preparers

* Consultants

* Selling surplus items (on eBay)

* Sewing (clothing, wedding dresses)

* Writing

* Health products

 

These are just a few.  Service businesses do well if you have a space in your home to conduct business.  Other businesses can be run from home with customer contact done through telephone, email, or fax.

If you want to turn your hobby into a home-based business, here are a couple of more things to work out before you get started.  These pertain to running the business.

 

1.  Register your business.  Choose a business name and register it with the city or town where you live.

 

2.  Create a business plan.  This is just a road map to get you started in the direction that you want to go with the business.

 

3.  Check out the tax implications of a home-business.  The IRS website has tons of information about tax requirements and deductions for the small business owner and the freelancer.

 

4.  Work out your method of product delivery.  With crafts that are delicate, you don’t want anything to get broken in shipment.  You can package the items yourself or pay a shipping company to do it.

 

Hobbies are good ways to start a business at home.  You have the advantage of being familiar with the product and in control of advertising, with low overhead, so go ahead and start!

In today’s economy, many people are looking for new options for making money.  It might be because they’ve lost their current job, or would like to find a more stable industry.  One option you have is buying a franchise.

A franchise is a business relationship where a company, generally with an established name and good customer base, sells the rights to operate a business under their name.  The franchisee pays fees and operates the business. There are available franchises in everything from fast food chains to traveling science teachers.

 

Advantages

Name recognition – When you open a new business, getting people to start buying from you is often the hardest part.  People often go to the same place for specific products and are unlikely to try something new unless they have a problem with where they currently go.  With a franchise, people already know and like your product, and this saves you time and money on marketing your new business. This alone can often make up for the difference in initial start-up costs.

 

Mentoring – By working with a franchise, you get the benefit of having people around you who know what they’re doing and generally want you to succeed.  This means they’re willing to help you establish your business, give you advice, and even help you out with business-related problems.

 

Reduced Costs – Suppliers always charge less the larger the amount of product you buy, which can be a severe hit for a small business owner.  Because franchise companies buy products in huge bulk, this generally reduces your costs. Sure, you can’t shop around because you are required to use a certain product, but you’re still probably getting a better price.

 

Disadvantages

Cost – The initial cost for setting up a franchise is extensive.  Not only are there franchising fees, but you also have to pay for the other things involved in opening a business, like the location, construction, and supplies.  Also, some franchises require you to pay certain costs out of your own pocket, separate from any money you are loaned.

 

While it may be more expensive than starting your own small business, you’re also much more likely to get a loan.  Small businesses are a risky venture for a bank, but if you are buying an established franchise, you’re a much more stable investment to a financial institution.

 

Lack of freedom – While it’s often great to have established business practices and products already in place, this can also be a problem for owners with new ideas on how to fix and change things.  Franchises work because everywhere you go, the franchise is the same. This takes away a lot of your flexibility when it comes to your business.

 

Franchises are obviously not for everyone.  It is important to look at your own personality and preferences before becoming a franchisee.  It’s also important to choose the right franchisor for your unique preferences and needs.

With the economic state these days, it’s even more important for companies to have reliable employees who are productive and motivated. However, keeping your employees happy shouldn’t only be a concern when the economy is suffering. More employers should be considering their employees’ wellbeing at all times. Studies have shown employees who are less exposed to stress in the workplace are more productive and healthy.

By considering the following and how they could be implemented into your own business environment, you will show your employees that you are an employer dedicated not only to the happiness of your employees but their overall health as well.

 

Set clear expectations – By taking the time to ensure every employee is aware of office protocols, you alleviate the potential for any misunderstandings or crossing of boundaries. By doing this you are providing your employees with healthy leadership. Spelling out the office rules and regulations, policies and procedures can be easily accomplished by putting together an office employee manual, as well as taking the time for group and one-on-one discussions.

 

Make employees feel valued – Encourage your employees and offer praise when praise is due. Thank them for a job well done to let them know you value them as part of your team. If a particular situation needs revision, don’t approach your employee like a scolding parental figure. Simply review the correct procedure and offer some encouragement. If errors of the same nature continue, you may need to reconsider if this person is in fact a proper fit for the position.

 

Create a productive atmosphere – The layout of workspaces needs to be considered for maximum productivity. Appropriate working materials and supplies need to be accessible to each employee. They also require enough space to work in an environment which is as comfortable as possible. Ergonomic design could be considered for positive motivation.

 

Eco-therapy – Another element which assists in a healthy workplace is eco-therapy. Live green plants have an great ability for making the office setting more pleasant, therefore allowing for higher productivity and less stress. The connection to nature while indoors can do wonders for each person’s morale. Pictures and murals of nature scenes can also assist in this process.

 

If possible, allow your employees to keep their office windows open. The benefit of fresh air will keep them healthier. If this is not an option, opt for air-cleaning filters and take responsibility for the maintenance and changing of filters.

Use natural lighting in your office. For workspaces not equipped with window access, install plant light bulbs in all lighting fixtures.

 

Brain food – Keep healthy snacks available in the office break room. By avoiding junk food, you are giving your employees the opportunity to eat healthier as well as improve moods and positive thinking.

 

Family time – We all know trying to balance home life and work can be tricky. Make it a policy in your office to allow employees some time off for staying home with sick children, or attending school events without using their vacation time. Consider daycare services either in the same building or at least nearby. Employers who offer daycare services have noticed actual savings resulting from decreased absenteeism.

 

Healthy work culture – Employers may want to consider holding a seminar for their employees on how to integrate physical fitness into their busy schedules. They can be shown how little chunks of time during the day for stretching or activity breaks can keep them healthy and more productive. Perhaps giving your employees the option to switch their office chair for a pilates ball could help with this as well.

 

With a little effort and change, not only will your employees be healthier and happier, but your company will win in the end as well. After all, you have the most productive workers in town!