ask the expert | How can I make my call to action more compelling?

today we have a guest post from our expert partner in coywriting: anne maybus from clever streak, answering a very important question...

How can I make my call to action more compelling?

If you are wondering why the orders aren’t coming in thick and fast, perhaps you need to take a look at your call to action.   It could be that you don’t even have one.

I think too many of us believe that a good call to action is hard to write but really, all you have to do is ask people to do something.  Think about it.  How hard is it to say “Please Share” on your Facebook post?  It’s not hard at all and yet it brings a great response.  Try it.

When you want people to take a specific action, you have to tell them what to do.  Make it easy for people. The more specific you are, the more likely it is that they will do as you ask.

Ooh I bet you are tempted to click that, aren’t you?

It’s got some good things going for it. 

It is visible.  It’s big and clear with a button coloured in that urgent fire brigade red that makes fingers itch as soon as you look at it.  Even the text is big and easy to read.

It uses clear, simple wording.  No big words, no confusion.  It has a simple message that tells the reader what to do.

It offers a reason to click. Those ‘click here’ and ‘buy now’ buttons have their place but there is more to a call to action than that.  Give your readers a reason to push the button (or take that action) by showing them the benefits.  It’s the answer to the “what’s in it for me” question.  The report is targeted at people who aren’t succeeding with their current calls to action and the thought going through their heads is ‘What am I doing wrong?’ so that is what I have tapped into.

Choose your words.  A touch of urgency is a good thing.  Strong words like ‘NOW’ or ‘Ending Soon’ add some pressure to the call.  Just don’t use them on every call because it can look very salesy.

Position it carefully.  Make it obvious and keep it towards the top of your page where it will be seen as soon as the reader lands.  Don’t crowd the area around it with text or competing images.  It needs to stand alone.  Depending on what the call to action refers to, you might consider putting it on every page of your site. Pop over to MailChimp and have a look at their pages.  They’ve placed a button on their most important pages.  At any time the reader decides they are interested there is a clear step to take right there in front of them. 

Now, there is another step involved here.  That big button up there is designed to take you to a page where I can encourage you to give me your details in exchange for my free report.  That means your call to action has to be hyperlinked.   You’d be surprised at how often I’ve clicked on a call to action only to find that it doesn’t work or that it takes me to the wrong place.   Straight away you’ve lost me.  I know this seems like an obvious thing to think about but it only takes one page to be renamed or moved and your link is broken.

So now it’s your turn to take action.  Go over and look at your website.  Do you have a call to action?  If you do and it isn’t working, start crafting a new one.  Test and test again until you create one that hits the nail on the head.

Anne Maybus has a mission to banish the dullness from business writing. She believes that your business deserves to have personality shining out of every word. She writes content that catches your reader by the eye and pulls them pupil-first into the wonderful world of your business. Visit cleverstreak.com and on facebook and twitter too.

expert post | Way to Grow

today we have an awesome guest post from our expert partner in planning & strategy, megan gallagher of method & madness. i am really needing these tips right now, how about you?

Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think that getting started is the hardest part of owning your own business.

In reality, it’s the growing that can stop you dead in your tracks.

There are so many directions your business model can go in, sketches and product ideas you have ready to make, and dreams that you want to make into reality. That’s a lot of high-pressure decision making on your shoulders, no? I know I’ve felt that way before with my own business—completely unsure of which way to go; so I stood at the proverbial intersection way longer than I needed to. And that cost me in terms of money, developing new business, and in my general health.  Stress is not good.

What I’ve learned since then, and we’re going to talk about today, is that knowledge really & truly is power. To grow your business is to know your business. And hopefully by the end of this post you’ll be ready to get up close & personal with your own indie business—and grow it in a sustainable, smart, and profitable way.

We can really boil this whole issue down to one question:  what should I (really) focus on?

(If we can all be honest here, doesn’t the thought of “focusing” itself kind of stress out your creative mind already?)

So, let’s redefine our idea of focus:  instead of linear, single-minded thinking and having to choose “that one thing” to put our attention to, let’s look at focus as creating a minimal structure to create a maximum of creative space.

(That feels better, no?)

To create a minimal structure requires your due diligence, first and foremost. Which means: do some homework. Grade your product lines by how much revenue they generate for you, and by how your customers responded to them.  Did they help to build your brand name or do you really need to go back to the drawing board for a few of them?  You may ask why this is important.  Here it is:

If you can use this knowledge to build more income from your existing line, think of how much time you can spend (without any stress or guilt or worry about making money) just being creative. Like, for the fun of it.

Know what product is your #1 money-maker? Find a way to make more of it.

The next thing to do is get a little ruthless.  Cut away the excess that isn’t doing anything for you but taking up space in your life. Make room for new ideas to come to the forefront, and give yourself the space to redesign what could be better.

The other element that will help sharpen your focus is your mission. Every product sketch, idea, and initiative you want to take in your business should be filtered through your mission statement.  If it doesn’t fit, it doesn’t pass go.

Your mission is your very best barometer of whether or not to put your energy on a particular task or idea.

If you don’t have a clear mission yet, that should be the very first thing you work on.  If you don’t know why you’ve gone into business, you’ll be out sooner than later. The mission is what drives you, and keeps you pushing forward when the deck seems stacked against you.  No mission leaves you with scattered energy and no momentum. You stay still instead of moving forward. 

So:  Know your mission. Analyze your business. Grow from what you know. Trim the fat. Find your focus…

…And grow an amazing indie business!

Hey—did you know you can work with me one-on-one to design your perfect product line? Check out the Single Shot Sessions for a personalized 60 minute coaching call around your unique product line.

Megan Gallagher is small-business strategist working with creative indiepreneurs over at Method & Madness. She works with a diverse creative clientele through one-on-one strategy sessions, small group workshops, and the DIY guides now available on her website.

5 Reasons to Create an Information Product for Your Little Biz Today

today we have a guest post from melissa vandermeer of zayth - a new online marketplace for moms who want to rock out their life, and are looking for the information that will help! 

Do you want to infuse your little biz with an instant dose of energy?

Do you want to build your mailing list and attract thousands of targeted customers?

Do you want to be viewed as an expert in your niche? 

Do you want a new way to market your business?

Well, my friend, you need an information product that delivers, is kickass awesome, and reflects your business ideals and values perfectly.

And before you say “But, I can’t really write an eBook to go with my biz!” consider this: an information product does not have to be an eBook! You could create a short guide, a checklist, a printable planning sheet, a podcast, a webinar, a course delivered over a few days or weeks, a how to, a directory… the possibilities are endless. Just think of what information your customers would need, and then think of how you could package it and deliver it.

Here are 5 great reasons to put your head down and create an information product that will take your small business to the next level:

1. Achieve Expert Status

First and foremost, an information product is an effective way of achieving the expert status that most business owners want. If you’re in a competitive niche, chances are you’re a small fish in a big pond. Putting together a seriously awesome information product will help you stand out, share your knowledge, and establish your expertise in the industry.

2. Provide Value to Your Customers

Next and most importantly, you will be adding a lot of value to the relationship you have with your existing customers. They will not only come to recognize and know the person behind the brand and business, but will also glean a lot of useful information from your information product.

Let’s say you’re in the cloth diapering industry. This is a niche that is quite small and competitive. By creating a series of podcasts or, even a series of small but well-organized eBooks, you can easily establish expert status AND help your customers know more about cloth diapering. Alternatively, you could put together a free cloth diapering eCourse for new moms and help them identify the best cloth nappy for their baby and lifestyle, as well as how to use, wash and care for cloth nappies.

3. Reach Newer Audiences

While you would be adding value to existing customer relationships, you will also be reaching new target audiences thanks to your information product. Yes, you see, content-rich and well-organized information products are often shared widely.

Karen recently put together a series of inspiring and awesome ‘little biz’ graphics that reflect what she feels passionately about – the little biz, the mumpreneur’s biz, the eco biz, and more. She spent time and effort to create these graphics and then, gave them away to us. And what did we do? We shared them. On Facebook, on Pinterest, on our own blogs.  Yes, we helped spread Karen’s awesomeness far and wide and led more mums with little biz’ straight to her virtual doorstep!

4. Easy, Effortless Marketing

Creating a free information product is an easy way to market your business. For instance, you create an eBook. You set it up with your email service so that anyone who signs up automatically gets that eBook. Simple, stress-free, and successful marketing. 

5. Free Advertising for Your Business 

Finally, the information product you create carries your unique branding. It reflects your business values and ideals. It’s infused with your passion for your niche. It makes the perfect ad for your little biz on a little budget. Your brand, business name and, of course, information reaches thousands of potential, interested customers with virtually no cost at all. Why would you pass up this opportunity?

Bonus: Make Some Extra Money

Yes, you can consider selling your information product and actually make some money in the process. Diversification or products and building multiple sources of income are key when you’re a small biz, so why not add information products to your list of offerings? You establish expertise, reach newer markets, and make money in the process. Plus these are great passive forms of income; once you create them and set up the system to sell/deliver them your work is done. Win!

So, what’s holding you back from creating an information product to build your little biz? Add your comments - we can address them in a future post!

Creating an information product for your little biz? Sign up here for the Zayth newsletter and let us help you sell more of it! Melissa Vandermeer is the founder of Zayth, an online, virtual storefront for digital products and services. Launching in May 2012, Zayth will be your go-to, one-stop resource for eBooks, eCourses, and services. Pop over to the facebook page to say hi!

ask the expert | Do I Need to Register My Trademark?

today i have asked Jacqui Pryor from Mark My Words Trademark Services to provide us with a little "TRADEMARK 101".  i recently had a new biz very closely mimic my biz name and branding, and jacqui was kind enough to answer my questions about brand protection, so i know this post will help all little biz owners! 

Trademark Registration = Brand Protection!

So you’ve invested time, money, blood, sweat and no doubt some tears into coming up with the perfect name for your business or product or the perfect logo that tells customers who you are (I know I did!)... but how do you protect them to make sure they are yours and remain yours? The answer is simple – register your distinctive names, logos, slogans and other ‘signs’ as trademarks!

Whilst the answer is simple, the area of trademarks can be complicated and often misunderstood. There are so many things to consider and understand about trademarks and trademark registration in order to successfully protect your brands. To explain every aspect in this post could see me writing for days and you reading for days, so I hope to address some of the ‘main’ points in this post. I invite you to read our full Guide to Australian Trademark Registration for an in depth look at the process.

What is a Trademark?

Technically, a trademark exists whether registered or not. It is any ‘sign’ that you use as a badge of origin for your goods or services – the distinct element that ‘brands’ your products and business as yours and separates them from others. It can be a name, image, slogan, colour, scent, sound, aspect of packing or any combination of these.

A registered trademark is a protected version of the above. The owner of a trademark is given the right to use that mark for goods/services they nominate (a right you don’t get otherwise – a business or company name registration doesn’t actually give you the right to promote that name). They also gain the right to license use of the trademark to other people, as well as stop others using the same or confusingly similar trademark.  Without trademark registration in place you run the risk of infringing someone else’s rights, but you are also close to powerless in stopping others from using deceptively similar names and logos.

How do I know if I can register my trademarks?

There are certain things that simply can’t be registered as trademarks. For example, anything too scandalous or would be contrary to law; anything that would straight away confuse the public. Generally speaking there are two main things to consider:

1. Is your trademark actually a trademark? If your name is too descriptive or is too common in connection with your industry it could be difficult to register;

A trademark search can help identify any problems you may face during the trademark application process (which takes a minimum of 7.5 months in Australia!). To save time, money and potential heart ache we always recommend a search be done as early as possible.

Goods & Services

Trademarks are registered specifically in relation to the type of products or services they are used to brand. All goods/services are separated into classes or categories, which must be nominated at the time of filing your application. Therefore, it’s important to have a clear idea of not only your current products and services but also where your business may grow to. Including as many classes of goods/services now could save time and money in the future.

For example – if you have a new logo that you use for a clothing label, you would register in one of these classes that cover clothing. However, if that same logo is used as a brand for handbags & wallets, then you would need a second class. Ultimately, you then gain the registered rights described above in relation to clothing, handbags and wallets.

I export my products, so if I register in my country will I be covered?

Unfortunately not. Intellectual Property rights, including trademarks, are a country-by-country. For instance, if you register in Australia you have the right to use, license and control the use in Australia. If you export a branded product to the United States for example you should also register there – plus, make sure no-one else already has!

Australia is member to certain international agreements that can offer benefits when looking to register outside of Australia. One of these agreements gives you a 6 month period to file overseas (from the date filed in Australia) and the international offices will treat the application as though filed on the same date as in Australia. The other is an international filing system that allows you to file a single application and nominate member countries (there are around 80 members to select from), rather than having to file a separate application for each country. International trademark registration, and use of the ‘single filing system’ can be complex, and success is dependent on a number of factors so advice should always be sought. For more information about international trademark registration, read our Guide to International Trademark Registration.

Isn’t that the same as copyrights and patents though?

Nope. Trademarks, copyrights, patents and other things are types of Intellectual Property with each protecting a different thing. Copyright is an automatic right granted to the author of original works that are categorized as copyright; trademarks protect ‘distinctive signs’ that are used to brand products and services and patents cover new devices, substances, methods etc that are inventive and useful.  You can also protect the appearance of a new product through design registration and even protect new breeds of plants! Whilst copyright is automatic and doesn’t require registration, to be seen as the official owner and gain protection of trademarks, designs or patents you must officially register.

Top Tips:

• Have a trademark search conducted as early in your business as possible. And, where possible before investing time and money into business/company registration and logo design. There’s nothing worse than finding out after you are set up and operating that you have been inadvertently infringing someone’s trademark rights and have to rebrand and start over.
• Use the ™ symbol with any distinctive names/logos. This will deter people from copying, as they will assume this means a protected trademark when it doesn’t. Note that you cannot use the ® symbol though unless fully registered. This represents a registered trademark and it is actually an offense to claim something as registered when it’s not.
• Seek professional advice and assistance! On the surface applying & registering a trademark can appear simple, but often it’s not. There are many advantages to using a trademark agent. It might seem more costly initially but will often be less expensive in the long run. 

Jacqui Pryor is the director of Mark My Words Trademark Services. Jacqui has 13 years of experience in Australian and International trademark matters and her company aims to provide affordable, friendly and reliable services to small businesses in an area often assumed reserved for big business. Click here to receive your free trademark search.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER!!

Mention Build a Little Biz in your enquiry or search request to receive 10% off professional fees for your application!

ask the expert | What is the Best Kept Secret about Branding?

today we have a post from our fabulous expert partner in branding: Kim Timothy, the Owner & Creative Director of Boutique By Design. she is sharing her insider secrets that will help us make an impression with our branding, and has included a FREE printable to help us out. awesome!

You have a business. You’ve invested in defining its brand and you’ve nurtured the results. Your hard work has paid off as today your business has an expression all its own, a unique look & feel that connects with all who experience it. Ahhh, business life is good!

Most at this stage would kick their feet up and revel in a job well done. Most, that is, who do not know the best kept secret of branding…

What if I told you that branding success, and therefore business success, relies on one very important thing – consistency. Let me repeat that incredibly important idea: The success of your business relies on a consistent brand.

 When you have a strong and consistent brand that represents your business people start to recognize it. When your brand is used reliably on everything associated with your business, you begin to build rich customer loyalty. And that customer devotion results in business success. Cha-Ching!

Just to prove to you that this simple little idea results in colossal rewards, let me list a few examples of brands who follow this secret: CocaCola, Apple, Nike, McDonald’s, Ikea, Gucci, GAP, & Starbucks to name a few.

Now, go back over that list and take note of what you “see”. Each one conjures a consistent image and personality – right? For every situation that you can recall, these brand images and qualities remain strong and consistent. See? I told you it worked!

So how do you ensure this success for yourself? It’s easy. The branding pros call it a “Brand Standards Manual”, but I prefer to call it a “Style Sheet”. It’s a guideline that highlights everything important about your brand and how it should be used. By having one to use yourself or passing it on to anyone handling your brand, you are able to guarantee consistency.

To help you get started, I’ve created a basic Style Sheet Outline for you to use. Simply click here to download the file. Then fill out your details digitally or print the download and scrap book your brand together.

So there you have it! The secret to branding success is revealed. Ahhh, now business life is truly good!

You can find Kim Timothy & Boutique By Design at www.boutiquebydesign.com and www.facebook.com/boutiquebydesign

guest post | 4 Time-Tested (but Trendy) Business Ideas

today we have a guest post from Anita Campbell of BizSugar, which is a fantastic place to find and share small business news and tips. whether you are just getting started with your little biz, or you want to find ways to stand out in your niche, these time-tested ideas will definitely help you out!

Ever wonder why some businesses stand the test of time while others fizzle away in the night? If you’ve ever started your own business or even pondered it, I’m guessing the answer is yes.  As always-aspiring entrepreneurs, we want to be in the habit of creating business that are going to last. We want to build brands that will resonate, be relatable, and that are just trendy enough to garner attention without being written off as a fad.

But how do you do that? How do you build something that’s time-tested, but audience-approved?

Below are four trustworthy techniques to consider when marketing your next business idea.  They’re four small things that have proven to work time after time after time.

Idea 1: The Time Saver

We’re all busy. And you know what? That’s not changing. With more things grabbing at our attention, we have even less time today than we did a year ago.  Focusing your business idea around being a “time saver” for your customers is going to help you stand out from the masses.  We all want more time – time that we can spend with our families, having a life, etc.

How can you take advantage of this customer want?

If you’re a local market, maybe it means you begin offering a delivery service so that busy moms and dads can have their groceries delivered to their door. If you’re a local florist, maybe you can promise a faster turnaround time than your competitors. Or you allow customers to schedule a year’s worth of flower deliveries in one shot online. “Never miss a holiday again!”

Figuring out how your product can save someone time is a great way to ensure your name is one they never forget.

Idea 2: The Easy Button

There’s a reason Staples clings so tightly so it’s “that was easy” slogan.  Because we’re so busy and pressed for time, we’re looking for more streamlined, more efficient ways of accomplishing our everyday tasks. Sure, fancy features may be nice to look at, but they’re not what we’re really after. What we want is more things done quicker and with less effort. 

Life is hectic enough, base your product around solving an everyday frustration that your customers face.

The good news is as a small business owner, this is where you have a huge leg up over your larger competition because they don’t understand this concept. They’re always trying to be bigger, badder and more confusing.  How many times has your favorite Web site been “redesigned” to be more complicated than ever before?  How many times have you switched away from your once-favorite product because it became harder to use? Too many.

For your product to win fans for the long term, look for ways to streamline an existing process or to simplify an everyday task that your audience faces.  They’ll love you for it.

Idea 3: The Do It Yourselfer

We live in a world of consultants and do-it-yourself enthusiasts. Spend a few minutes searching the Web and you’ll find yourself running across communities passionate about finance, trendy business ideas, getting married or virtually anything else you’d dare to search for.  

And they’re not looking to hire someone to help them with these areas; they want to learn how to do it for themselves. Embrace it.

You may not want to base your entire business on helping others learn what you do for themselves, but find ways to incorporate it into your business model.  Maybe you offer a training class. Or you start a blog. Or you participate in webinars where you talk to people and help solve their issues. 

However it is that you decide to help people learn, you’re giving them added value to keep coming back to your business and your Web site.  We like organizations that help us to accomplish our goals and to allow us to feel smarter while doing it.  It’s not something we forget.

Idea 4: The Do-Gooder

Make it easy for your customers to feel good about doing business with you by doing good for others. 

If you’re a local screen printing shop, let people know that you only use recycled inks and paper.  If you own a retail outlet, maybe you donate 10 percent of your yearly earnings to a charity that is important to your customers.  If you’re a local animal hospital, maybe you volunteer your services at different animal shelters throughout the year.

These are things your customers are looking for. They want to know that you care about things outside of yourself and that you’re a good citizen.  Doing so makes them feel good about doing business with you and it makes them feel better about themselves, simply by supporting you.

Making people feel good about giving you money? What’s a better way to stand the test of time than that?

Above are just four ways to help aspiring small businesses create time-tested, but also trendy, business ideas using proven themes. By incorporating these elements into the products you offer, your mission statements, your ad campaigns and even the technologies that you use, you can position your company in new and more-lasting ways.

Anita Campbell is the Founder of the Small Business Trends website and CEO of BizSugar, an online community of small business owners.

ask the expert | How to Create a Social Media Editorial Calendar for Productive Networking

today we have a fabulous guest post from our expert partner in social media, Perna Malik from Social Media Direct. i love the ideas she has here to help us manage social media engagement for our biz.

One of the challenges that most mom entrepreneurs face when they come to me for consultations is the time that social media requires. Let’s face it, we only have a limited number of hours to work on our businesses and while we do know social media is important for us to create a community, reach out to our customers and boost sales, we don’t really want to get sucked into spending ALL our time on Twitter and Facebook, right?

I’ve been there more than once. After all, managing the social media accounts for several businesses along with our own means that I really need to be on top of things, all the time.

So, here is my go-to tool for focused, productive social networking – a social media calendar.

1. Identify Your Core Values

Begin by identifying 5-7 of your business’s core values. This would determine the essence of the messages you’d be sharing via social networks and ensure that you stay on track and don’t get overwhelmed by ALL the content that’s out there.

2. Outline Your Goals

Next, you need to know what you’d like social media to do for you. How can social media support your vision for your business? It is vital that the time you spend on social networking sites supports the end goals for your business in some way. So, spend some time on this step and outline your goals from each of the social networking sites that you’ll be a member of.

3. Create Themes or Topics for the Next 3 Months

Here’s the fun part. Once you know your values and goals, you need to brainstorm themes for the next 3 months. I like working on 3 months at a time, since trends change so fast in the online world. But if you prefer you can thrash out themes for 6, 9 or 12 months.

A good way to arrive at theme is by answering the question – what problem would I like to solve for my clients or customers this month?

Once you have broad themes in place, break them down into sub-themes – one for each week, if you’d like.

For instance, if you have a business that sells toys, your monthly theme can be Indoor Play and the sub-themes can include board games, creative or imaginative play, activity-based toys, vehicles and remote control, and puzzles and games. If you’re super-organized, break these down further into tips, ideas and brands, so that you have content for every day.

4. Put it All Together

Finally, it is time to put your calendar together. You can either use Google Calendar or Docs which is awesome for sharing and mobility or you could use a simple Excel document and chart out your calendar, print it out and put it up on the office bulletin board. Next, schedule some updates using an application like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck. Third, schedule time in your daily planner for real time networking because a completely automated process would remove the ‘social’ from social networking.

A social media editorial calendar can help you focus your efforts, use the right tools for networking and optimize the time you spend on Twitter and Facebook.

Do you use a social media editorial calendar for your business? How has it helped you?

Prerna Malik works with ‘little’ businesses on their web content and social media strategy. Co-owner of Social Media Direct, she offers quality, customized support to entrepreneurs and business owners helping them to build better brands online. Be sure to sign up for a FREE one-on-one strategy session and move towards focused, productive social networking. 

ask the expert | What is the 'bare minimum' for a little biz online marketing plan?

Today we have a post from our expert partner in online marketing: Martina Iring from Small Business Bliss. She is answering a question I get asked often...

What is the 'bare minimum' that I should be doing to market my business online? 

This is one of the most common questions that I get from small business owners – what do I need to do to market my business online?

The answer always is “it depends.” When it comes to internet marketing strategy, there is no one size fits all plan that covers absolutely every little biz. I’ve recommended that clients not use Twitter, for example. Or that they don’t take on email marketing. 

There’s a reason for personalized strategic plans – every business is different!

However, with that said, there are some basics when it comes to online marketing that every small business can benefit from. Here are 4 things that your biz should cover online.

1. A website

This is an absolutely no buts must-have. No, it’s not enough to have a Facebook page or a Google Places profile. You need to have an online presence, even if it’s just a very simple few pages, that you completely control. That no one can take away from you.

Websites don’t necessarily need to be scary, overwhelming, pricey beasts. With all the great inexpensive website building options out there, any business can afford to have their own website. The question really is, how can you afford not to?

I still see countless businesses, especially really small local ones, that have no web presence. And it’s frustrating. I want to support them, but if I can’t even find basic info online, it makes it challenging. You can’t assume that potential customers will take on the leg work of calling you or getting in touch to get answers to their questions (assuming they can even find your phone number or email address). If your competitors have a website and you don’t, who do you think will get more business?

2. A blog

Having a blog has really become a standard in online marketing. Any website system worth its weight will have simple to install blog functionality. A blog is an easy way to provide updating, refreshing content to your customers (and to search engines). If you need a little more convincing, check out 5 reasons blogging rocks for small business.

Remember, you are a small business owner, not a professional blogger, so you don’t have to worry like crazy about the content you create. Have fun with your blog! Longer, educational posts are great for customers (and for search marketing) but that’s not all you have to do. Use your blog to post about events, special promos, new products, pictures, videos – whatever makes sense for your biz. A blog is a way to get people to like and trust you and your business. I know that one of my first stops when visiting a website is the blog. It’s like an inside window into the biz.

3. A way to reach out and connect with customers

It’s important that you have a way to foster relationships with current and potential clients and keep your business on their radar. People will not necessarily keep on coming back to your website or your blog of their own accord – you need to find ways to reach out to them.

It could be an email newsletter. If your business benefits from having repeat customers, building an email database is crucial. You don’t even need to send out a full-on e-newsletter to start building a database – you can use your blog to effortlessly execute email marketing for free.

It could be a social media channel (or several) – if you’re not sure which social channel is right for you, Karen wrote a great post on that here. You need to choose carefully where to focus your social media efforts so that you don’t stretch yourself too thin. Figure out where your customers are hanging out and start there.

4. Search marketing basics

Search engine marketing is not an overnight thing. Getting noticed by the search engines takes time and requires consistent effort. For this reason, it makes sense to get the basics, such as keyword research and site optimization, going as soon as possible. It’s like laying a foundation, and then building up from there.

If you decide months or years down the road that you need search engine visibility, you’ve got a long, uphill battle ahead of you. Covering the basics right from the get-go is a better bet.

Check out Why No Business Should Ignore Search Engine Marketing for more details and to answer the question of why you should bother with that search stuff, even if search rankings aren’t really that important to your biz.

While there is no internet marketing plan that will work for each and every small business, the 4 areas above are a great place to get started.  Now it’s time to decide how exactly you are going to execute these online strategies for your little biz.

Got questions? I’ll meet you in the comments!

Martina Iring works with entrepreneurs overwhelmed with all that web stuff. She’s on a mission to help the little guys make sense of internet marketing, teaching small business owners how being online is not only profitable, but enjoyable! Her blog, Small Business Bliss, offers up gobs of marketing info and doses of inspiration just for little biz owners. Be sure to go visit and grab a free website improvement guide.

guest post | Should you list your prices on your website?

today we have a guest post from Alli Price of motivatingmum.com answering a question i get asked often by little biz builders: Should you list your prices on your website?

An interesting discussion came up at a recent Businessmums’ Club in Melbourne. Interesting because it pretty much split the room and there seemed to be no agreement as to what was the right thing to do.

The question? Should you list your prices on your website?

The answer? It seemed there was no answer. And the reason was that every mum in that room had a different income, a different attitude to what they would pay for services for themselves and their families.

The only thing everyone could agree on was that listing your prices on your website is as dependant on your target market, your business vision and you as every other decision you make for your business. However, there are a few points that can be considered to help you make the decision that’s right for you:

1. What are your personal views on whether prices should be listed? Does it drive you crazy if they’re not there or do you expect not to see them?
2. What are your target markets personal views? What would they expect to see on a website offering the service you do?
3. What are your target markets presumptions on viewing a site without prices? i.e. too expensive, I won’t call or a quality service
4. Is your service priceable? Can you price even a basic service or package and invite contact for more involved work?

So, the answer for me is yes.

• Personally, I hate when prices aren’t listed on a site and am loathe to call as am expecting the pitch,
• My target market like to see prices as many can’t afford the high price of business services
• My services are priceable – pricing a mentoring session or an event is not as tough as putting a price on developing a website.

So what about you? Do you list your prices? Do you like to see them listed? 

a not from karen: the answer for me is yes too. i will often not bother contacting the biz owner for prices if they are not listed - i will just go with the biz that has listed prices. and for my photography biz i feel like listing my prices helps to narrow in on my target - i weed out all of those people who i am not the right fit for and save myself time answering inquiries that won't go anywhere. what do you think? add your comments below, we would love to hear from you!

ask the expert | How can The New Enterprise Incentive Scheme help me with my biz?

today we have a guest post from our expert partner in administration, kelly evans from mary poppins - virtual assistant. she is sharing some great info about the NEIS program in australia. if you live in another country start by checking with your local small business support centre, your local government office, or do a search online for small business grants/schemes in your area. from this post i would say it is well worth having a look!

I had never intended to join the NEIS Program. I had a vague idea in my mind about what it was about and I didn’t really think I would be eligible (or that it really was for me).

NEIS stands for the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme and now that I have been through the program – I would highly recommend it! 

I had actually called my local Business Enterprise Centre for some advice on a business I was thinking of setting up, and ended up having a meeting with one of their business mentors. He gave me a totally new perspective on my ideas and at the end of our meeting suggested I look into the NEIS Program!

There are some eligibility requirements – like you need to be eligible for a Centrelink payment (like Parenting Payment or Newstart) so it is not for everyone. If you are in doubt check with your local Centrelink and you might be surprised. You also need to have a business idea…

Simple right? You fill in the application form, complete a few weeks training (provided free) and then you get paid a fortnightly NEIS allowance (currently $486.80 per fortnight) – regardless of your business income (yep you can even earn a million), for a full 52 weeks! It’s great to have that payment as a backup, to give you the space to focus on your business (and if you’re renting you could also receive 26 weeks of rent allowance).

The initial course gets you set up with your business basics, you develop a business plan (covering market research, marketing, operations and finances - including budget projections). 

If your original business idea appears to be not too viable over the course of training, they will help you evolve your idea so that it will be profitable (and it’s always much better to change your offering at the start of your business, before you have made a loss).

As part of your training you receive a qualification too (either a Certificate III in Micro-Business Operations or a Certificate IV in Small Business Management - depending on your NEIS provider).

Also included is free business mentoring and support during your first year (as part of the Scheme). I was quite surprised to receive a professional mentor with a wealth of experience, and she was very easy-going and approachable. She is always there to encourage me and suggest new paths.

For me the NEIS Program has supported me to grow and evolve my business, and given me the courage to try things I wouldn’t previously have thought of. If you have a business idea and you qualify – I say go for it! Give NEIS a try, and see what you can do!

For more info on the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme

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Kelly Evans is a virtual Mary Poppins. A qualified trainer, assessor and book keeper, with over 10 years experience in administration in both the private and public sectors. Her mission is to make small business easy with quality administrative assistance. Visit www.virtualmarypoppins.com.au