Monday 31 August 2009
Having worked in radio promotions and marketing for 6 years you can only imagine the amount of stunts I have organised.
Stunts, if planned and organised correctly, are a great way to generate free publicity for your business. Just think of all free publicity Richard Branson has gotten over the years.
For a stunt to be successful there are a number of important factors to consider:
*Be creative and think visual - media love a good picture or audio
*Make sure you have the correct insurance, permits and legals done
*Think of signage opportunities and logo placement
*Use Web 2.0 to promote your stunt - video updates, blog entries, twit your pictures etc
*Allow yourself enough time to promote it properly
*Try and plan stunts around special events or occasions eg Valentines Day, Fathers Day. Media are always looking for new angles to cover such events.
*Use locations that already have a built in crowd factor
*If you have a marketing budget, consider planning your other marketing activities around the stunt
*Consider using a PR professional or virtual assistant that has experience organising this type of publicity, as a stunt-gone-bad can have a lasting negative impact on your business image.
*Stuck on ideas for your stunt, consider breaking a world record.
So grab some friends, a glass of wine and get creating that next great stunt.
View previous mi virtual pa blogs
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
55 Twitter update ideas for small business
Monday 24 August
Ok so as a small business, you get the need to be on Twitter. But just getting onto Twitter isn't enough to help you connect with your customers, and build relationships with the wider community.
Providing regular and informative Twitter updates is the key. Remember it is about building relationships and not directly selling your products or services (well most of the time).
So here are some ideas for Twitter updates that can help you connect with and attract more followers.
1. Announcement of sales, specials and discounts
2. Welcome a new staff member
3. Promote a new product line
4. Recruit members for a focus research group
5. Run competitions and giveaways
6. Recruit new staff by listing job vacancies
7. Post industry articles that support your products or services
8. Promote happy hours for online stores
9. Retweet your supplier messages
10. Welcome new clients
11. Promote your next event
12. Get customer feedback
13. Welcome new suppliers
14. Comment on current affairs in relation to your industry
15. Share useful websites for your business
16. Link to your new blog posts (yes its time to get a blog as well)
17. Broadcast updates made to your website
18. Lessons learnt from business that day
19. Promote your other social media networks eg. Facebook, LinkedIn
20. Conduct customer surveys
21. Notify customers to changes in upcoming events
22. Showcase your new TV, radio or print ads
23. Tell your customers about great service you have received from another small business
24. Get feedback on any new systems, software or equipment you plan to purchase
25. Search for new suppliers and contractors
26. Notify customers of product recalls
27. Promote associations and organisations your business belongs to
28. Appointment availabilities caused by last minute cancellations
29. Give tips to show you are an expert in your field - yes free advice, no catches
30. Broadcast news in relation to your industry
31. Highlight your business's recent media coverage
32. Highlight your Twitter milestones eg. 1000 Followers
33. Profile your staff members
34. Celebrate company milestones eg. 25 years in service
35. Post changes to schedules, timetables or opening hours
36. Update stock information and shipment arrivals
37. Discounts for mentioning your Twitter posts
38. Any appearances you are making eg. trade shows, workshops, seminars
39. Link to any instructional videos you have created
40. Seasonal greeting to customers eg. Merry Christmas, Happy International Left Handers Day
41. New address and phone numbers if you have moved
42. Any unfortunate outages or delays in customers getting service or products from you
43. Promote your client's product, event or services
44. Highlight any community involvement or charity associations
45. Send reminders to your customers eg. end of financial year approaching, Father's Day
46. Going on Holidays- set automate Twits to connect to your customers in your absence
47. Give your business a personality - share a joke or two.
48. Link to photos from your latest event, staff party or networking function
49. Promote a business award nomination or achievement
50. Link to forums you regularly participate in (yes you should be doing that as well as Twitter updates)
51. Share cost savings you have made in your business
52. Use twitter as a customer service/help desk for your business
53. Fundraise for a local community organisation
54. Encourage people to follow some of your favourite Twitters
55.If all else fails, make a comment on the weather, that is always an ice breaker!
Don't have time to even think about Twitter? mi virtual pa can help you update and grow your Twitter and other social media accounts so you make the most out of this very powerful and free marketing medium.
So how do you use Twitter for your small business?
View previous mi virtual pa blogs
Ok so as a small business, you get the need to be on Twitter. But just getting onto Twitter isn't enough to help you connect with your customers, and build relationships with the wider community.
Providing regular and informative Twitter updates is the key. Remember it is about building relationships and not directly selling your products or services (well most of the time).
So here are some ideas for Twitter updates that can help you connect with and attract more followers.
1. Announcement of sales, specials and discounts
2. Welcome a new staff member
3. Promote a new product line
4. Recruit members for a focus research group
5. Run competitions and giveaways
6. Recruit new staff by listing job vacancies
7. Post industry articles that support your products or services
8. Promote happy hours for online stores
9. Retweet your supplier messages
10. Welcome new clients
11. Promote your next event
12. Get customer feedback
13. Welcome new suppliers
14. Comment on current affairs in relation to your industry
15. Share useful websites for your business
16. Link to your new blog posts (yes its time to get a blog as well)
17. Broadcast updates made to your website
18. Lessons learnt from business that day
19. Promote your other social media networks eg. Facebook, LinkedIn
20. Conduct customer surveys
21. Notify customers to changes in upcoming events
22. Showcase your new TV, radio or print ads
23. Tell your customers about great service you have received from another small business
24. Get feedback on any new systems, software or equipment you plan to purchase
25. Search for new suppliers and contractors
26. Notify customers of product recalls
27. Promote associations and organisations your business belongs to
28. Appointment availabilities caused by last minute cancellations
29. Give tips to show you are an expert in your field - yes free advice, no catches
30. Broadcast news in relation to your industry
31. Highlight your business's recent media coverage
32. Highlight your Twitter milestones eg. 1000 Followers
33. Profile your staff members
34. Celebrate company milestones eg. 25 years in service
35. Post changes to schedules, timetables or opening hours
36. Update stock information and shipment arrivals
37. Discounts for mentioning your Twitter posts
38. Any appearances you are making eg. trade shows, workshops, seminars
39. Link to any instructional videos you have created
40. Seasonal greeting to customers eg. Merry Christmas, Happy International Left Handers Day
41. New address and phone numbers if you have moved
42. Any unfortunate outages or delays in customers getting service or products from you
43. Promote your client's product, event or services
44. Highlight any community involvement or charity associations
45. Send reminders to your customers eg. end of financial year approaching, Father's Day
46. Going on Holidays- set automate Twits to connect to your customers in your absence
47. Give your business a personality - share a joke or two.
48. Link to photos from your latest event, staff party or networking function
49. Promote a business award nomination or achievement
50. Link to forums you regularly participate in (yes you should be doing that as well as Twitter updates)
51. Share cost savings you have made in your business
52. Use twitter as a customer service/help desk for your business
53. Fundraise for a local community organisation
54. Encourage people to follow some of your favourite Twitters
55.If all else fails, make a comment on the weather, that is always an ice breaker!
Don't have time to even think about Twitter? mi virtual pa can help you update and grow your Twitter and other social media accounts so you make the most out of this very powerful and free marketing medium.
So how do you use Twitter for your small business?
View previous mi virtual pa blogs
Monday, August 17, 2009
Is 33 mid or early 30s?
Monday 17th August
This week I approach 33, and yes I am still in my early thirties. As I am dreading reaching the age of 40 is this an occasion to celebrate?
My friends and I have recently experienced a few 'moments' that have made us realise that we have well and truly left our 20s. So lets share our misery.
1. When you buy a top and the perky 20-something sales assistant says "enjoy your dress"
2. Complain at a rock concert that the main act isn't on yet at 9pm and you are considering leaving early to beat the traffic
3. That you are disappointed you have to go out on a Saturday night.
4. You choose to drive when there is free alcohol at an event
5. A hip injury caused by jumping at a rock concert
6. Getting excited because you got a chair for your birthday
7. You talk more about your ever-increasing number of doctors appointments than drunken escapades
8. You like what your mother is wearing and wish you could share clothes (she is 72)
9. There is not one band on the Big Day Out line up you have heard of
10. You actually start imagining how your boobs used to be
But besides all that, with a fanastic family, loyal and fun friends, a beautiful home and a job which I love, there is no way I want to be 20 again!
mi virtual pa blog
This week I approach 33, and yes I am still in my early thirties. As I am dreading reaching the age of 40 is this an occasion to celebrate?
My friends and I have recently experienced a few 'moments' that have made us realise that we have well and truly left our 20s. So lets share our misery.
1. When you buy a top and the perky 20-something sales assistant says "enjoy your dress"
2. Complain at a rock concert that the main act isn't on yet at 9pm and you are considering leaving early to beat the traffic
3. That you are disappointed you have to go out on a Saturday night.
4. You choose to drive when there is free alcohol at an event
5. A hip injury caused by jumping at a rock concert
6. Getting excited because you got a chair for your birthday
7. You talk more about your ever-increasing number of doctors appointments than drunken escapades
8. You like what your mother is wearing and wish you could share clothes (she is 72)
9. There is not one band on the Big Day Out line up you have heard of
10. You actually start imagining how your boobs used to be
But besides all that, with a fanastic family, loyal and fun friends, a beautiful home and a job which I love, there is no way I want to be 20 again!
mi virtual pa blog
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Friday, August 7, 2009
It's Ok to Say No
As a new business I am very keen to say 'yes' to any money making opportunity that comes my way but for the first time this week I had to say no to a potential client. And it felt great.
Having started my business recently I am finding that I get excited when a number comes up on my phone that I don't recognise - is this the call of a wealthy, desperate millionaire in need of my assistance?
So joy rushed to my head as I answered a call from an unfamiliar number, and yes finally a potential new customer was on the other end. Though she was desperate, she was certainly no millionaire.
I put on my official-phone-speaking-voice and did a great rave about the services I had to offer.
All is going well, and dreams of my client Christmas card list growing, were swimming in my head.
Until I mentioned my rate. I have worked hard over the years developing expert skills and experience to be able to offer my clients a superior service at the right price. My rate is very competitive, in fact significantly lower than similar providers. So I was rather taken aback to have to justify my rate to someone excepting to pay half the price. This wasn't going to be pretty.
Once I explained the benefits and experience I could offer, she begrudgingly agreed to pay my rate. However than informed me she could only afford my brilliance for 2 hours. I am happy to work within my clients budgets, but she was wanting me to commit to a timeline without seeing the scope of the job. Could anyone out there possibly copy write a sales email, set up a database, design an email template and distribute the email within two hours? If so, contact me so I can make money off you!
So at this point she wanted to pay me less than junior award wages for a typing assistant, and complete the task in record time.
The deal breaker was when she told me she would have the work to me by 2pm that day and would need it completed by 4pm. It was 12.30pm.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy the challenge of tight turnarounds and understand situations arise were tasks need to be completed immediately. In fact, I look forward to those days when I can put on my lycra Superwomen outfit and save the day for my valued clients.
But this was never going to end pretty.
She was shocked when I explained to her that I had prior client commitments, and that I would not be able to complete the project until Friday morning (it was Wednesday). Nor was she willing to incur a small surcharge for such speedy service.
So the conversation ended quite quickly after that, and I didn't believe her when she ended the call with a "I'll get back to you".
I put the phone down with a big smile on my face. Ohh the joy of being able to say 'no' and be in control of my workload. No longer do I have someone telling me what to do each day, well except my 3 year old.
It is important to remember the values you create for your business. Don't compromise your reputation for a quick dollar and a lot of headaches.
I would never have made this client happy, not from lack of trying, but from unrealistic expectations and lack of respect for my business.
Having started my business recently I am finding that I get excited when a number comes up on my phone that I don't recognise - is this the call of a wealthy, desperate millionaire in need of my assistance?
So joy rushed to my head as I answered a call from an unfamiliar number, and yes finally a potential new customer was on the other end. Though she was desperate, she was certainly no millionaire.
I put on my official-phone-speaking-voice and did a great rave about the services I had to offer.
All is going well, and dreams of my client Christmas card list growing, were swimming in my head.
Until I mentioned my rate. I have worked hard over the years developing expert skills and experience to be able to offer my clients a superior service at the right price. My rate is very competitive, in fact significantly lower than similar providers. So I was rather taken aback to have to justify my rate to someone excepting to pay half the price. This wasn't going to be pretty.
Once I explained the benefits and experience I could offer, she begrudgingly agreed to pay my rate. However than informed me she could only afford my brilliance for 2 hours. I am happy to work within my clients budgets, but she was wanting me to commit to a timeline without seeing the scope of the job. Could anyone out there possibly copy write a sales email, set up a database, design an email template and distribute the email within two hours? If so, contact me so I can make money off you!
So at this point she wanted to pay me less than junior award wages for a typing assistant, and complete the task in record time.
The deal breaker was when she told me she would have the work to me by 2pm that day and would need it completed by 4pm. It was 12.30pm.
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy the challenge of tight turnarounds and understand situations arise were tasks need to be completed immediately. In fact, I look forward to those days when I can put on my lycra Superwomen outfit and save the day for my valued clients.
But this was never going to end pretty.
She was shocked when I explained to her that I had prior client commitments, and that I would not be able to complete the project until Friday morning (it was Wednesday). Nor was she willing to incur a small surcharge for such speedy service.
So the conversation ended quite quickly after that, and I didn't believe her when she ended the call with a "I'll get back to you".
I put the phone down with a big smile on my face. Ohh the joy of being able to say 'no' and be in control of my workload. No longer do I have someone telling me what to do each day, well except my 3 year old.
It is important to remember the values you create for your business. Don't compromise your reputation for a quick dollar and a lot of headaches.
I would never have made this client happy, not from lack of trying, but from unrealistic expectations and lack of respect for my business.
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